Sweet Onion Sauce

(Subway copy cat inspiration, not exactly like it, but maybe better.  Not as sweet.  Way good as a sandwich dressing, condiment for chicken or fish.)

Combine in sauce pan and bring to hot temp, but not boiling:

2/3 c white sugar

2 T brown sugar

1 c water

2 T red wine vinegar

4 T rice or white vinegar

1 T onion granules or minced

2 tsp prepared mustard

2/3 C fresh grated sweet onion

1/2 t poppy seeds

1/8 t black pepper

pinch garlic powder/granules

1/2 tsp pink salt

 1 t. paprika

Cool, then take about 1 cup of the mixture, blend in with a fork 3 T of corn starch or arrowroot. Add back to the pan. Bring to boil again just enough to thicken.

Apple Pie Jam

 Recipe inspired by ThriftyDiva, but with my own spin of course. This one is a winner.  Heat and serve over vanilla ice cream for a hot apple pie sundae!  

Ingredients:

About 8-9 cups of golden or red delicious apples, peeled, cored and chopped. (While you're doing this, let them soak in water with vitamin C or Tang.)

About 4 cups of sugar, mixed with 2 1/2 Tbl. of LOW SUGAR pectin.  (It has to be the low sugar variety or it may not turn out.  This is approximately 1/2 package.)

1 Tbl. butter

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

optional:  2 Tbl. orange zest and 8 drops orange essential oil

Also optional if you are low on apples:  Use up to 3/4 cup of applesauce.

Cook the apple pieces and orange zest in about 1 cup of the vitamin C water until tender.

Measure out about 6 cups of the cooked apple mix.  If you have much more than that save it for another batch or something else.  Return it to the pan.  Stir in the sugar mix and butter.

Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Cook at a boil for 1 minute.

Remove from heat.  Stir in the spices and oil.

Ladle the mixture into half pint jars.  Fills about 8-9 jars.  Secure the hot lids and rings.  Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes or a steam canner for a full 10 minutes once the steam emerges.

Butter Mints

(Inspired by "Serious Eats",  Modified by Judy)

Cream together in a mixing bowl with the paddle attachment:

4-5 oz salted butter

2 oz. cream cheese (or can use all butter)

1 cup powdered sugar

Add 1 t. vanilla and  about 1/2 to 3/4 tsp.  peppermint essential oil  (depending on how "minty" you like them) If you are doing "drops", this translates to 16 to 24 drops.  A nice change would be spearmint essential oil.

Add 2 more cups powdered sugar; keep mixing.  Add about 2 tsp. milk. Keep mixing until it is a fairly solid glob.  If too runny, add more sugar.

When it is about the consistency of play dough, remove from mixer.  Take little gobs of it in your hands and make "snakes" about 1/3" in diameter.  Lay them out on a tray.  Let dry at least a couple of hours, preferably overnight. Then use a sharp knife to cut them into mint-size pieces.  Let dry a few more hours.