Tahini Salted Caramel Apples

Every autumn I start to dream about caramel apples. I think it started when I was a little girl, window shopping with my mother in fancy department stores. There was always a display of the most decadent looking caramel apples, loaded with chocolate and nuts. But the prices were outrageous.




They're still outrageously expensive so I definitely go with homemade for my annual caramel apple

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Individual Apple and Peanut Butter Crumbles

Last weekend, when I was at the farmer's market, I could practically smell the apples a block away. So many fresh ripe varieties to choose from and all sweet and perfect. I bought some just for eating as snacks with peanut butter but I also wanted to make an apple crumb cake.




Once I got home, though, I wasn't really in a cake mood. I still wanted the crumb topping because, let's face it,

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Middle Eastern Wedge Salad with Crispy Cauliflower Rice

I, personally, celebrated when the old time wedge salad became popular again. They're the steakhouse classic of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and blue cheese dressing. What's not to love? And I'm all for them never going out of style again. But there's also no reason we can't make variations of it.




Because I love Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, I took this wedge salad on an

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Warm Apple Fritters

Yay! It finally cooled down enough for me to turn off my air conditioner. I mean, seriously, this was the hottest summer ever in New York and I was over it a long time ago. Bring on autumn with its apples and pumpkins and open window breezes.




Autumn also brings up memories of many drives upstate to go apple picking and makes me nostalgic for the aromas coming out of the orchard farm stores

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Cheesy Meatball Sliders

Summer may not be officially over but summer schedules definitely are. It's back to school, back to work, back to real life. And that also means back to meal planning for quick and easy dinner ideas.




Meatballs are one of my favorite make ahead entrees. I cook up a large batch on Sundays and they keep beautifully for a few days in the fridge. All I have to do is make a salad and maybe a

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Za'atar Crusted Steak with Spicy Shatta Chimichurri

I'm always experimenting with steak sauces that enhance but don't overpower the meat. As much as I love barbecue sauce, once I put it on, it's pretty much all I can taste. And it's a shame to buy good quality beef and spend time cooking it well only to not get the flavor.




Pesto sauce is always an option but I think the strong flavor and aroma of basil can also overwhelm the steak so I

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Frozen Coconut Blue Hawaiian

Late August is usually when I feel some cooler breezes in the air, autumn catalogs begin to arrive in the mail and, much as I hate to rush the seasons, I start to think about baking with pumpkin. The key word here is usually because this year, it's still hot as hell, my air conditioner is working overtime and all I can think about is cold drinks. And ice cream. I think about ice cream.




So,

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