Individual Desserts, Part 2

Now, for the "unhealthy" individual desserts. I combined two different recipes that I found in order to create what I thought would be tastiest. The two original sources:

• http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/peach-crisp-in-a-jar-diy-favors/
• http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-crisp-ii/

Individual Apple Crisps in Mason Jars

Ingredients/Supplies:

• Filling
• 6 apples (I used 3 Granny Smith and 3 red ones... I don't know what kind)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 eggs, beaten
• lemon juice (to prevent browning of apples)
• Topping
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 stick of unsalted butter, melted
• Base
• 16 graham crackers (squares, not rectangles), crushed
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• Other
• 6 - 4 ounce Mason jars

Instructions for Making Different Components:

• Filling
• (This can be prepared in advance to save time. I would suggest no longer than 1 day in advance. Store in airtight container in the fridge if you choose to make ahead.)
• Peel, core, and dice apples. Place in large bowl. Add lemon juice as desired. Mix in dry ingredients (sugar, flour, cinnamon). Mix in beaten eggs. Set aside.
• Topping
• (The dry portions can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container.)
• Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. 
• Add melted butter and mix well right before you place the topping on the crisps.
• Base
• (The dry portions can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container.)
• Combine all dry ingredients and mix well.
• Add melted butter and mix well right before you place the crust in the jars.

Instructions for Putting Together and Baking:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Line up all of the jars. I used 6 and the quantities were just about perfect for six.
• Add 1-2 large spoonfuls of "base" into each jar and press into a firm base. I used a shot glass to press it down firmly into the bottom. A spoon wasn't flat enough to create an even base.
• Add 1-2 spoonfuls of "filling" into each jar after the base has been added. Make sure to get some of the soupy goodness in there too and not just the apples. I loaded the apples in there and then added the soupy goop to fill in the cracks. 

• Add 1-2 spoonfuls of "topping" into each jar after the filling has been added. Try to keep it below the top of each jar. I made it even with each jar and I had a bit of overflow when baking (still tasty and pretty though).
• Place onto a baking sheet.

• Bake on center rack at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. For the last 2 minutes, switch to broil to brown the topping.

• Let cool a little while (I'd say at least 15 minutes... those glasses are hot!!!), then serve! We served with vanilla ice cream. If you don't fill the jars as much when you make it, you could put the scoop on top of the crisp itself. NOM NOM.

Reviews were good all around. None left!!!!

Individual Desserts, Part 1

Yesterday Jonathan and I joined in a progressive dinner with two other couples on our block: appetizers at Justin and Kirby's, dinner at Ryan and Meghan's, and dessert at our house. I couldn't really decide what to make, although I love making desserts. You see, I had two problems:

1. I didn't want to make a HUGE dessert with lots of leftovers that I would be forced to consume by myself over the next week.
2. My friend Meghan has been super strict on eating healthy lately and I didn't want to derail her too bad, so I didn't know if I should make a healthy option or an unhealthy option.

Solution: make two types of individual desserts, one healthy, one... not so healthy. I'll detail the healthy option first, and the unhealthy in a later post.

Healthy Option: Individual Smore Desserts

Source: http://www.diabetes.org/mfa-recipes/recipes/2013-02-individual-smore-desserts.html

Unfortunately, I didn't take play-by-play pictures, so I'll have to use the picture from the original website.

Ingredients:

• 2 - 1.4 ounce boxes of sugar-free instant chocolate pudding
• 4 cups of skim milk
• 6 graham cracker sheets (large rectangles, not the squares)
• fat free Cool Whip
• mini chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Mix pudding powder and skim milk according to package instructions. Chill in fridge for 5-10 minutes. 
• While chilling, place graham crackers in baggie, then crush into pieces with hand/rolling pin.
• In individual parfait cups (I used small drink glasses), layer:
• pudding
• graham cracker
• Cool Whip
• pudding
• If you're not ready to serve yet, chill them (covered) in fridge.
• When ready to serve, add another layer of Cool Whip (I tried Reddi-Whip in the can for the top layer and it didn't hold up well), then sprinkle with chocolate chips.

Delicious! And quasi-healthy!