Caramel Apple Cookies

1/2 C shortening
1.5 C brown sugar
1 egg
2 1/4 C flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1/2 t nutmeg
1 1/2 cup chopped apples
1/2 C white raisins
1/2 C apple juice
1 C chopped walnuts

Frosting
1/4 C butter
1.5 C powdered sugar
2.5 T milk
1/4 C brown sugar

Mix shortening, sugar and egg until smooth. Sift flour & other dry ingredients. Slowly add to blended shortening then add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Bake for 10 minutes at 350. For frosting, melt butter & sugar together. Stir until blended & add powdered sugar & milk. Beat well. Frost each cookie while still warm. Makes about 6 dozen.

Grandma's Porch Swing

Roasted Garlic Herb Purple Potatoes

Though the purple potatoes that I planted never grew, I did buy some on sale and decided to roast them with some garlic and red onion. It's much yummier than regular potatoes! The carrots caramelize and are sweet and delicious too.







1 cup of baby carrots
1/2 red onion cut
5-6 chicken tenders cut into bite sized pieces
2-3 lbs. purple potatoes (or red potatoes)
4-6 tbsp. olive oil
1 head of garlic
3 tsp. crushed rosemary
3 tsp. parsley
3 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.

Cut the top off of the head of garlic, mix together with the other ingredients. Arrange in a 9 x 13 pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes or until they are golden brown. Serves 6.

Tiramisu cake with brandied espresso frosting, adapted from the recipe at smittenkitchen.com. Somehow this was The Coffee Hater's favorite cake so far. I think it was the liquor.