I love to cook and for someone who has taught herself how to cook, I would give myself a B+ in my culinary skills.  I do have a fetish for cookbooks and seem to buy them regularly.  There is something about the pictures and the description of the foods that I lose myself in the pages and it becomes hard for me to part with the book.  I experiment with spices and herbs and different flavors and delve into cooking different cuisines.  My cooking repertoire definitely improved when I started teaching the Food and Culture course and the students were asked to submit a list of their favorite foods and recipes as part of the cultural artifacts assignment.  I would compile a cookbook from all the recipes submitted and then give each student a copy at the end of the semester as a surprise.  The cookbook became more than just a collection of recipes, as it became a multi-cultural artifact for the class and the students were excited to have a keepsake for themselves.

Over the years, I have tried several recipes from cookbooks and started baking too. I enjoy baking breads more than cakes and pastries for some reason. The only difference with baking I have found is that I lack the skills to experiment that I tend to do with cooking. With baking, I make sure to follow the recipe down to the teaspoon to assure myself of a good product.  So in the last few years I have found myself baking easier desserts that are not too complicated, at least in my mind.  One such dessert is the Baked Apple Roses.  For me they are the easiest, prettiest and fairly guilt-free in my dietitian mind. I bake them every holiday season and my family and neighbor’s look forward to them.  Recently, I baked these goodies for a holiday party and posted the pictures on Facebook which caused a flurry of requests for the recipe.  So here is the recipe along with the instructions to create the roses.  I am not a food blogger and the photos have been taken with my iPhone, but you get the idea. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do!

Baked Apple Roses

Ingredients:

Here’s what you need to make 6 of your own roses:

-2 Red Delicous apples, cored and halved (leave the skin on)
-Juice from 1/2 lemon
-3 Tbsp fruit preserves (I used mango but you can use your favorite fruit)
-2 Tbsp water (plus more for apple soak)
-1 sheet of puff pastry
– Cinnamon powder, to taste (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius)
• Core apples, cut vertically in half and slice thin
• Put apple slices in microwave safe bowl. Fill bowl with water and juice from half a lemon. Use enough water to make sure apple slices are covered by water.

• Microwave for 3-5 minutes until apple slices are soft but not cooked. This process will soften the apple slices and make them more pliable for rolling up.
• Next grab a sheet of puff pastry. Flour your board and roll out the puff pastry enough to make 6 strips at 2 inches wide. I scored and cut mine with a serrated wheel but you can use a knife. I use my granite top to roll out the puff pastry sheet.
• In a bowl mix your favorite fruit preserves with a couple tablespoons of water. Then spoon out the preserves in the center of the strip of puff pastry. I used mango jam as it is my favorite but any jam would do
• Next place the apple slices long ways halfway on the strip. Keep adding slices until you reach the end. Sprinkle cinnamon powder. Then fold the puff pastry over the bottom of the apple slices.

• Roll up the puff pastry and place in a greased muffin tin.

• Bake the apple roses for 30-35 minutes.
• Pull out of oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar

Tips:

• I used Red Delicious apples for this recipe, but have used Honey Crisp apples also and they work just as well too
• Substitute cardamom powder in place of cinnamon powder