RaspApple Cooler- Sam's Club Challenge and Giveaway

When Sam's club contacted me about a summertime cooler challenge I was immediately on board. This summer has been a hot one! Nothing soothes like fresh fruit and no one does fruit like Sam's Club.
I stocked up on my favorites like mangoes, pineapple, cantaloupe, apples, bananas and raspberries, excited to see what I could do with all the fresh fruit, you just can't buy pineapple, mangoes or bananas cheaper any where else.

I did not know, and I don't know how I missed it, but Sam's has a 200% guarantee for fresh meat, produce and bakery items. That is right, if it is not fresh they will refund double the Member's purchase price or refund the amount and replace the product.

 Raspberries- need I say more?
I think we all love berries, colorful bursts of juicy ripe berries is the key to any fruit cooler in my book. Rich in antioxidants and high in fiber they add a healthful boost to the start of your day.
Paired with apple and pineapple, they give a smooth, sweet blend to round out my cooler.

I will be giving you two options to make the RaspApple Cooler.


First up Juicing
If you have a juicer you probably already know the benefits of juicing.

 RaspApple Juice

quarter 1 medium apple, no need to peel or core when juicing
1 cup of peeled pineapple
1/2 c raspberries
Juice and drink immediately
Serves 1

  A lovely sunrise juice full of color and healthful benefits.
Tip- when eating pineapple go ahead and eat the core! (easy when juicing)
the core is high in Bromelain, a pain and inflammation fighter.

Need to know what to do with your whole pineapple? Click here.

Next Up
RaspApple Protein Smoothie

In a blender blend on high
1/2 c raspberries
1 c pinapple, peeled and cored, see tip above
1 medium apple, peeled and cored
6 oz water
1 Tbs honey
1 scoop of Pure Protein Plus
ice cubes
Serves 2
This may be made without the protein powder and will be just as good, but why not add a scoop of great tasting whey vanilla protein and up you diet by 23 grams of protein to get you off to a good start or pick you up during the mid day.

Both honey and Whey protein are available at you local Sam's club.

Why not try to come up with a Summer Cooler yourself?
Need a start on some ideas? Need an idea for dinner or dessert? Check Sam's Simply Delicious Meals

GiveAway

Sam's is providing one of my readers with a copy of their Fresh, Fast and Fabulous cookbooks.
All you need to do is leave a comment here on this post stating your favorite summer drink.
If you do not have a blogger ID, be sure and leave an email address, if there is no way of contacting you, a new winner will be drawn.
Facebook Fans
If you are a fan of North Dakota Kitchen on facebook you may enter by leaving a comment on the fan page mentioning the cookbook giveaway and you too will be entered.
Giveaway Ends and Winner will be announced August  25th. The winner's email will be forwarded to the Sam's club representative and the cookbook will be directly mailed to them at that time.

Apple Angel Cake

 Quick
Easy
Sweet!
2 ingredients is all you need to make this fast super sweet dessert.
Mix 1 package angel food cake mix with 1 can of apple pie filling. Add no liquid.
I first placed the apples in the bowl and chopped them into finer pieces with a kitchen scissors. Then added the mix until well combined.

Spread in a 9 X 13 sprayed pan and bake for 20-30 minutes. I used a stone baking pan and it took about 27 minutes. Do not overbake, cake will be browned on top and edges but will appear as thought it is not completely set. This is when it is done.
Bake at 350
Now....if you use a glass pan, my grandma always said for angel food lower the oven temp to 325.  If I were you I would listen to her.

I also sprinkled on some cinnamon and sugar before baking, this is optional, it is a very sweet dessert so this could put it over the top for you.  Too sweet does not exist for me so I also drizzled on a little caramel topping. We ate it cooled but warm with ice cream would be divine!

Cran Apple Crisp

Is there anything better than warm apple crisp on a cool fall evening? I don't know, first that amazing smell in the kitchen then the burst of apple and cinnamon...why not push it to the limit with a little cranberry.


Ingredients
6-8 large apples, peeled cored and chopped
lemon
1/4 c  white sugar
3/4 c dried cranberries
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1 c flour
1 c oats
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2/3 c softened butter + 1/4 c

Place sliced apples into a bowl with lemon, white sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Mix well, add cranberries, set aside.
spraya 9X13 pan
In another bowl mix brown sugar, flour, oats, 1 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, cut in 2/3 c butter with a pastry blender or fork until coarse crumbs are made.
Drain apples and cranberries and place in pan, dot with 1/4 c butter. Evenly spread crumb mixture over top and bake at 350 for 30 min or until apples are tender.

Apple Pie Treats

 Published in Taste of Home Aug 2010

1 1/3 c chopped peeled apples
1/3 c chopped walnuts
1/3 c dried cranberries or raisins
1/2 c sugar, divided
2 Tbs flour
2 tsp. cinnamon, divided
dash salt
1 pkg large refrigerated flaky biscuits
2 Tbs melted butter

Combine apples, walnuts, cranberries, 3 Tbs sugar, 3/4 tsp cinnamon, flour and salt in large microwave safe bowl, cook 2-3 minutes or until almost tender.
Flatten biscuits to 5 in. circles and place equal amounts in center, seal and place into greased muffin tins.

  cut an X in the center,
Baste with melted butter and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon and sugar.

Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes.

Caramel Apple Cake

Topping
 1/2 c chopped walnuts
1/3 c packed brown sugar
1 c coconut
 Cake
2 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1/2 evaporated milk
1/3 c water
2 c finely shredded, peeled apples

Caramel Sauce
1/3 c brown sugar
1/4 c evaporated milk
2 Tbs butter

Combine walnuts, brown sugar and coconut topping and set aside.
Next combine flour, sugar, soda, salt, powder and cinnamon.
In a small bowl mix eggs, milk and water...add apples.

Mix wet ingredients with dry, mix well. Pour into greased 13X9 pan, sprinkle with coconut mixture.
Bake at 325 for 45 min or until cake tests done.
While cake is baking, in the last 10 min, heat sauce ingredients. Cook over med heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens, about 8 min. When cake comes out of oven and is hot, poke with holes using a skewer and drizzle sauce over top. Let cool completely.

Dutch Apple Cake

  3 med peeled, cored tart apples, sliced  1/4 inch thick

1 c plus 3 Tbs sugar, divided

1 tsp cinnamon

2/3 c butter, softened

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 c all purpose flour

1/8 tsp salt

in a med bowl, combine apples with 3 Tbs sugar and cinnamon, allow to stand 1 hour. This is called macerating the fruit, a process that draws out the juices. You will use the apples but not the juice, allowing for a firmer cake.

Cream butter and 1 c sugar, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Combine flour and salt and add to mixture until smooth. Place batter in greased 9X5 loaf pan.

Push apples into cake batter, close together. Bake at 300 for 1 hour and 40 min or until tests done with a toothpick.. cool 10 min and loosen from pan.

To make even more like a dessert, cut slices and top with caramel sauce and whipped cream, or ice cream.

This is not to be confused with previously publish Dutch Apple Bread, that recipe is here.

stop by Foodie Friday 

 and Lamb Around

Apple Bacon Salad

 Mix 6-8 cups mixed greens in a large bowl. I use spinach and Romain lettuce.
Crumble in 8 slices crisp cooked bacon
1-2 large apples, cored with peel left on, cut into 1/2 in cubes
cube 8 oz of jalapeno or pepper jack cheese -mix in
Toss with dressing of choice. (I think the Vadallia onion from Sam's is perfect.)

Dutch Apple Bread

1/2 c butter, softened
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c buttermilk
1 c chopped peeled apple
1/3 c chopped walnuts
Topping
1/3 c all purpose flour
2 Tbs sugar
2 Tbs brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 Tbs butter

Cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, soda and salt in another bowl. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with milk. Fold in apples and nuts and pour into greased 9X5 loaf pan.
Topping
combine flour, sugars and cinnamon, cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over loaf batter. Bake at 350 for 55 min or until tests done in center. Cool 10 minutes then remove from pan.

Cinnamon Apple Pizza

Quick and so easy!!
1 tube (12.4 oz) refrigerated cinnamon roll dough
1 can (21oz) apple pie filling
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1 Tbs butter, melted

Set cinnamon roll icing aside, take rolls and separate, roll each into a 4 in flat round, place in circle slightly overlapping, on  a 12 inch pizza pan. Bake at 400 for 8 min. Spread apple filling over, mix butter and brown sugar, sprinkle over top. Bake 6-8 min longer. Cool and drizzle with packaged icing.

Rustic Apple Tart

Place one pie crust onto a lightly sprayed baking sheet or a stone.

Peel and core 5 large apples, slice and toss with 2 Tbs lemon juice to avoid browning.

Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 c sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

dash of cloves

Place apple mix onto center of crust and fold up 1 1/2 inches of crust, pinching along the way, dot with butter.

Bake at 350 for 45-55 min, or until apples test done. Serve with whip cream or ice cream or try drizzling with caramel sauce.

Cranberry Apple Salad

Chop 2 heads of Romain lettuce

2 c fresh spinach

dice or leave in rings, 1/2 red onion

seed and chop 1 large apple, leave the peel on

toss in 1/2 c dried cranberries

add 1/2 c pecans or walnuts

drizzle with Balsamic vinegar and olive oil, or top with your favorite dressing.