Chunky Cinnamon Applesauce

8 Medium Tart Apples, Peeled and Quartered
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Red-Hot Candies

Place apples and water in a 5-quart sauce-pan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until tender. Mash the apples. Add sugar and candies. Cook, uncovered, until sugar and candies are dissolved. Remove from the heat; cool. Refrigerate until serving.

Makes: 6 Cups

We like this served with City Chicken.

Green Grape Salad

This weekend for a family reunion, I was supposed to take a side dish or a dessert. There always seems to be a ton of desserts and so I opted to take a side dish. The big question was, what side dish to take. My sister had found this recipe on Pinterest. She had never had it but suggested it to me to take. I decided to take it because it looked like something that would go together in a hurry. It was a huge hit! I have to admit it was very simple to make and was delicious.

4 Pounds Seedless Grapes
1 (8 Ounce) Package Cream Cheese
1 (8 Ounce) Package Sour Cream
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
4 Ounces Pecans, Chopped (Not to fine)
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

Wash and dry the grapes. Take them off the vine and put them in a bowl. In a seperate bowl, mix together the sour cream, cream cheese, white sugar and vanilla. Once the mixture is smooth, place the cream cheese mixture over the grapes. Stir until the grapes are evenly coated. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans. I did stir it just a bit so not all the brown sugar and pecans were not all on the top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Mango Pico De Gallo

This recipe is to be served with the Lime-Chili Steaks that recipe is posted on this blog. However, this is a fabulous recipe and would make a great mango salsa to be served with chips.

1 Cup Small Cubes Mango (About 1 Medium to Large Mango)
1/2-1 Large Jalapeno Pepper (1/2 without seeds is nice, mild-medium heat; go from there)(If you are making this to go with the Lime-Chili Steaks, I would not add any seeds. The steaks already have a kick to them and so adding seeds I think would make it too hot. Only do that if you like intense heat.)
1/4 Cup Cilantro, Chopped
1/4 of a Medium Red Onion, Finely Chopped
Juice of 1 Lime
2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
Kosher or Sea Salt To Taste

Combine ingredients. Serve. I try to prepare it a couple hours ahead of serving so that the flavors can blend together. This will keep for a day or so, but after that, the mangoes will go mushy.

Frozen Fruit Cups

2 Cans (20 Ounces Each) Crushed Pineapple, Undrained
2 Packages (10 Ounces Each) Frozen Sliced Strawberries, Undrained
12 Ounce Can Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate, Thawed
6 Ounce Can Frozen Lemonade Concentrate, Thawed
6 Medium Bananas, Sliced (I never add the bananas. I think bananas over-power the other fruits.)
Sprite

Combine pineapple, strawberries, orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate, and sliced bananas. Pour into foil lined muffin tins. Freeze until solid. Let thaw 30-40 minutes before serving. Place one cup in a custard dish, removing the foil wrapper. Pour some Sprite over the top. Nice and refreshing on a hot summer day.

Cranberry Pomegranate Salad

I found this recipe in a ward cookbook. I love pomegranates so I loved this recipe. Seeding the pomegranate is an act of love but it is well worth it. This salad is nice and festive for this time of year.

1 Bag Fresh Cranberries
1 Cup Sugar
1 Pint Whipping Cream
1 Apple
Seeds of 1 Pomegranate

Place cranberries in a blender or food processor. Turn the blender on and off just enough to chop the cranberries. Place the cranberries in a bowl. Mix with the sugar. Let set 2 hours. Whip 1 pint whipping cream. Add vanilla and powdered sugar to flavor. Combine with cranberry mixture. Let set overnight. Just before serving, add grated apple and pomegranate seeds.

Key Lime Fruit Dip

My mom was here this past weekend. While she was here, we made this yummy fruit dip that I found on this website:

1 Key Lime Pie Yogurt
7 oz. Container Marshmallow Cream
8 Oz. Whipped Cream Cheese
Zest of one Lime

Pour all above ingredients into a medium size bowl and blend with a mixer until smooth. Serve with apples, strawberries, bananas, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, etc.