Apple Bacon Caramel Pie

Some friends hosted a Pie Contest so I frantically tried to think of something fun to make that could maybe stand out.  I have only made a few pies in my life so I am not that well versed in the field.  This "ABC Pie" is not the one I submitted, but should have.  There were NO Apple Pies in the running!  I went with a Triple Cookie Pie, which was good, but this was better.

This was the first time I've ever candied Bacon, I'll never go back.

Bourbon Soaked Apples, Bacon, Caramel Sauce and Cinnamon.

It turned out really well, a great twist to a classic Apple Pie.

I used my extra Pillsbury Pie Crust to make Pie Pops.  They looked cute but it's hard to get the filling to crust ratio even.

Highlights from the Pie Contest.

There were so many various types of pies: fruits, meats, vegetables, creams and even a cow pie.

My Homemade Apple Cake

While I was in the Hamptons this Summer, I came across this adorable Apple Cake Mix. Although I really don't like desserts with hot fruit (like apple pie), I'm a sucker for good packaging, so I bought it. This mix comes with all the dry ingredients ready, and is wrapped in an adorable keepsake kitchen towel.



All I needed to do was add in sliced apples (I threw in some pear too), walnuts, and 2 eggs.



Mix it all together, and pour into a pie pan to cook for 45 min.



The entire house smelled like apples and cinnamon, it was amazing.



After cooling for a few minutes, I added some vanilla custard fro-yo from The Bigg Chill, and went to town. While it has the same flavor as an apple pie, the texture is purely cake-like. That's what makes it so amazing. It soaks up any potential sogginess of the fruit, leaving the apple slices to be a perfect consistency. It's almost like a muffin or coffee cake, but much much better.

The Dessert Bloggers' Great American Bake Sale

Last week I went to The Great American Bake Sale, which sold desserts baked by various bloggers to benefit childhood hunger.

There were SO many things to drool over...








I chose these:


Macarons by Daydreamer Desserts - Mojito, Coconut and Cake Batter


Nutella Handpie by ShowFood Chef


S'Mores Cookies


Apple Pie Pop by Adventures In The Kitchen



The Couch Potato Cookie by Budget Foodie - Chocolate Chip, Pretzel and Caramel


And best for last... Salted Caramel Chocolate Bars by Kitchen Runway.

The 2011 Grilled Cheese Invitational

This was the second year I went to the Grilled Cheese Invitational in Downtown LA, and it was amazing. I have so much to share, but I'll keep it simple. While I only voted for a few of the actual competitors, I had a couple winners of my own...

{Click on the Images to Enlarge}

The Vendors

The Dogtown Truck

The California Dog, Avocado, Fried Onion, Arugula, Tomatos, Basil Aioli - My Favorite Hot Dog

Grub

Betty Fraser, from Top Chef and Owner of Grub, Serving her Grilled Cheese


Homemade Ginger Ale, Grilled Cheese with Dill, and Tomato Soup *WINNER*


The Fosse Cookie: Chocolate Chip with Potato Chips

Tillamook

Three Cheese

Campanille

Burrata with Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes


Assorted Spicy Meats


The Feast Truck

Tomato Basil


Turkey, Pepper Jack, Stuffing and Cranberry Aioli *WINNER*


Apple Pie


The Competition
There were several people competing, but it was such a mob scene I was only able to taste a few...














The Scene:


Grilled Cheese Inspired Poetry Contests


Free Water, very necessary


The Crowds


Free Samples


Chef Ricardo Zarate in the Competition, who was just named Best New Chef by Food & Wine


Me with the Tillamook mascot

Serafina

Serafina was staple restaurant for my friends and I in high school, so I thought it was the perfect place to meet up with friends the one night I had free in NYC. It's simple Italian food, but SO good. I think it's my ultimate comfort food. After two pizzas and pasta, we ordered three desserts: a tiramisu, an apple pie and dark chocolate Nutella soufflé.







They were all great, but of course I liked the soufflé best.