Apple Cinnamon Compote

This was so yummy over oatmeal. I seriously don't like oatmeal; so if I'm going to eat it, I have to doctor it up. This is also amazing over Vanilla Ice Cream or  Pancakes. It is so simple to make and it is so impressive.

4 apples - I use Gala or Granny Smith
1/2 cup fresh orange juice - it usually takes 1.5 - 2 large oranges
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
salt - a little dash
1/2 tsp vanilla

Chop apples. Combine chopped apples, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a sauce pan. Cover and cook over medium heat until the juices have become like a thin syrup, about 15 minutes; stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

Homemade Dark Chocolate Sauce

This stuff is ridiculously good. The first time I tried it, I was home by myself. I considered consuming the entire thing and not telling anyone, or hiding it in the back of the fridge. I don't care for most store bought chocolate sauces, as I find them to be overly sweet. This one is just perfect. I lowered the sugar called for in a recipe given to me by a friend, and swapped regular cocoa powder for dark. It is delicious over fresh fruit,  ice cream or brownies, and makes a perfect glass of chocolate milk. It is way easier to prepare at home than I ever dreamed. I halved the batch because it's just my husband and I that use it, and having a lot around could be bad news for us. If you have a bigger family or can control yourself around chocolate, go ahead and double this recipe. It would make an awesome gift.

You will need:

3/4 cup Water
3/4 cup Sugar
1/2 TBS Corn Syrup
3/4 Cup Dark Cocoa Powder (I use Hershey's Special Dark)
1 TBS Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt (I use Kosher)

Bring the water, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to low, whisk in cocoa powder 1/4 cup at a time. Cook for 5 minutes, or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and salt.

Sometimes I sub out part of the vanilla for other extracts. Hazelnut extract makes a delicious sauce that tastes like Nutella.

Comeback Sauce

Comeback Sauce is a dipping sauce I've had at a few restaurants here in The South. It's one of those condiments I had never heard of  before I moved here, like White Barbeque Sauce. I've only seen it at a few restaurants, but it is an excellent dipping sauce for french fries. The first time I had it, it was served along side green bean fries and fried green tomatoes. Whip up this simple sauce the next time you make fries or potato wedges. Make it for a BBQ or putluck. This stuff is delicious the day you make it, but knock-your-socks-off good the next day.

You will need:

1/2 cup Ketchup
1/2 cup Mayo
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
2 tsp Dijon Mustard ( I think yellow is standard, but I prefer Dijon for this)
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 TBS Black Pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Chill. Serve with fries. It's also great on burgers.

Tomato Basil Vinaigrette

I came up with this recipe when my tomatoes were just a tad too ripe to be chopped up for my salad. It's not one of my favorite dressings.

2 ripe Roma tomatoes, though I suppose any tomatoes will work
1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped
10 fresh basil leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp sugar
3 TBS red wine vinegar
1 TBS extra virgin olive oil

Combine all ingredients in blender, and process until smooth. Delicious. I like to let it sit in the fridge for a few hours before I use it, so the flavors have time to come together.