Apple Hand Pies & German Chocolate Cake Mix Pound Cake

Hi everyone today I am bringing you another yummy review from my favorite cookbook series, Gooseberry Patch. I know Spring has sprung, but I have been in the Fall mood for the last couple weeks. I can blame all that on this delicious cookbook Quick & Easy Autumn that I found waiting for me on my doorstep.

I love Spring but Fall is my favorite time of year. The changing of the leaves the nip in the air, pumpkins, apples and pecans those are a few of my favorite things. Goodness now I have that song stuck in my head. I can't help it those are my favorite Fall things.

Gooseberry Patch's Quick & Easy Autumn lets you enjoy the flavors of fall without all the fuss of complicated ingredients. I think that's what I love most about this book. Most of the recipes require only 8 ingredients or less and can be prepared in or under 30 minutes. Who doesn't love that?

Quick & Easy Autumn has over 220 delicious recipes for autumn occasions like Homecoming, Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving! I really enjoy reading the little tips and craft hints at the bottom of each page. They have so many inspiring and fun ideas. Most times they are fun little projects utilizing items you have laying around your house. I love that!!!

What I love most about the Gooseberry Patch Cookbook Series is that all the recipes are from home cooks just like you and me. Tried and true cherished recipes that have been passed down from family and friends, so you know they're good. This cookbook really put me in the Fall spirit and it was so hard to choose just a few recipes to sample. This cookbook is divided into 6 yummy categories.

• Breakfast & Brunch
• Snacks & Appetizers
• Soups, Salads & Sides
• Mains
• Desserts
• Slow Cooker
• 
  

Here are some of the recipes just to name a few. Homemade Donuts, Applesauce Baked Oatmeal, Quick Cheese Danishes, Beer Dip, Monster Munch, Graveyard Crunch, Ice Box Mashed Potatoes, Pear Harvest Salad, Turkey Spaghetti, Stove top Lasagna, Holy Cow Cake, Pumpkin Pound Cake, Tennessee Fudge Pie, Sweet Potato Candy and Autumn Country Ribs and Cranberry Chicken. Goodness Gracious all those recipes just make my head spin.

For my first recipe I chose Mini Apple Hand Pies from page 180. These were a big hit in our house. I especially loved this recipe because I had all the ingredients on hand. Chopped apples, raisins, cinnamon, sugar and butter are tucked away into a little pocket made with refrigerator biscuits. I almost added pecans but remembered my kiddos don't like nuts. Oh well maybe next time.

This recipe did not call for a simple icing but I thought it was only fitting. I think these scrumptious little hand pies would be perfect for breakfast, dessert or quick snack. Anyone who loves apples will love these.

The second recipe I chose was from page 162, German Chocolate Pound Cake. German Chocolate Cake is one of my favorite cakes. Sometimes I just don't have the time to make it from start to finish. What I loved most about this recipe was that I could indulge in my favorite cake without all the fuss.

This recipe utilizes a cake mix which I really like. I don't think there is anything wrong with using a cake mix. Actually I think cake mix cakes make a great base for some pretty awesome cake recipes and I have a few of my own here at Mommy's Kitchen. 

In this cake recipe the frosting is added into the batter instead of used as a topping. Pretty nifty idea if you ask me. By adding the frosting into the batter this makes the cake so moist. No frosting is needed on top just a dusting of powdered sugar will do the trick.

As you can see by the recipes I choose they were all desserts. 

I couldn't help myself I'm a sucker for sweets. I did make the Jolly Pumpkin Oatmeal from page 20, but that photo is sitting on my desktop computer that decided to die last week. (god rest her sole). I can vouch for it's yumminess though. Who would of thought pumpkin and oatmeal would go so great together as a hot cereal.


German Chocolate Cake Mix Pound Cake

1 - 18 1/2 oz package German Chocolate cake mix
3 - eggs, beaten
1 - cup water
1/3 cup butter
1 -16 oz container coconut pecan frosting
garnish with powdered sugar or additional coconut pecan frosting (melted)

Spray a Bundt pan with non stick baking spray. In a large bowl, combine the dry cake mix,

eggs, water and oil. Stir until well blended. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed

for 2 minutes. Slowly beat in the frosting until well blended.

Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 55 minutes. Test cake for doneness

with a toothpick. Allow cake to cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing.

Invert onto a serving plate and allow to cool completely. 

Dust with powdered sugar or melt some additional coconut pecan frosting on the defrost setting of your microwave until you have a pourable consistency. 



Mini Apple Hand Pies

1 - 2 granny smith apple, peeled, cored & finely chopped (I used two)
1/4 - raisins
3 - tablespoons sugar
1 - teaspoon cinnamon
1 - 12 oz tube refrigerated biscuits

2 - tablespoons, butter, diced

Combine apples, raisins, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Toss to mix and set aside.

Flatten each biscuit to a 3 inch circle. Place one tablespoon apple mixture onto

each biscuit. Dot with butter. Bring up the sides of the biscuit and pinch it in the

middle to seal. Place in a greased muffin cups. Bake at 375 degrees for 11-13 minutes,

until golden brown and bubbly.

Makes 10 pies.

You don't have to take my word for it. If you want to get a quick jump on some pretty outstanding Fall recipes I recommend that you defiantly get this cookbook. Quick & Easy Autumn wont be released until May 16Th 2011. But now worries you can pre - order your copy at Amazon for only $10.71. That is such a steal for any of the Gooseberry Patch Titles.

How To Enter The Giveaway:
Just leave a comment on this post letting me know what your favorite Fall Food is. (mandatory entry) For me it's a good old fashioned apple cake & pumpkin bread.

Additional Entries:
You can do any or all of the following for extra entries. Please leave a separate comment for each one.

1. Become a Fan of Gooseberry Patch on Face book. When you have done that, return to this post and leave a separate comment letting me know that you are a fan.
2. Join Gooseberry Patch "Circle of Friends" so you can stay Gooseberry Patch updated.
3. Become a Fan of Mommy's Kitchen on Face book.
4. Mention this giveaway on your face book page. Come back and leave a comment telling me so.
5. Become a Google Follower to Mommy's Kitchen (left side of my blog page)
6. Tweet the following for another entry: Win a not yet released copy of @gooseberrypatch Quick & Easy Autumn @mommyskitchen http://tiny.cc/l0u4g #reviews

Last day to enter this giveaway will be Tuesday May 3rd at midnight (CST). I will pick a random winner using random.org and announce the winner on this blog, face book and twitter. Good Luck to everyone. Contest open to U.S & Canadian Residents only due to shipping charges. If you leave an anonymous comment please include your email address so I can contact you in the event that you are the winner. Good Luck!!!

Congrats to Christina Stewart {Comment #349} . She is the winner of Quick & Easy Autumn. Enjoy your cookbook.

Disclosure: Gooseberry Patch provided me with a copy of "Quick & Easy Autumn" for the purpose of this review. They also provided me with an additional copy to use in a reader giveaway. With that being said the opinions & comments stated above are entirely my own. I would like to thank Gooseberry Patch for choosing Mommy's Kitchen as a "Early Bird Reviewer" and for sponsoring this giveaway.