Baked Apple Almond Pudding

I made this yummy dish last week for thanksgiving. It was almost like an apple upside down cake. The bottom layer was apples, which were topped with almond batter. It almost tasted like almond biscotti with baked apples at the bottom. This is a dish definitely worth trying !!!

Ingredients:(Serves 6)
Golden Delicious/McIntosh/Cortland Apples - 5(about 2 lbs)
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Granulated Sugar - 1 cup
Eggs - 2
Almond Extract - 1/4 tsp
All Purpose Flour -1 cup
Butter - 1/2 cup, melted
Toasted Almonds - 1/2 cup, finely chopped
Salt - 1/4 tsp

Method of Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Butter a 2 quart baking dish or a round souffle dish.
2. Peel, halve and core the apples. Dice the apples into 1/2 inch pieces.
3. Add the apples to a large mixing bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of sugar and vanilla extract. Spread the apples in the bottom of the prepared dish.
4. In the same bowl, beat the eggs with the remaining sugar, almond extract and salt until blended. Add the flour and melted butter and beat until smooth. Stir in the chopped almonds.
5. Spread the batter evenly over the apples. Bake until the top turns golden and the apples can be pierced easily with a thin sharp knife, around 50-60 minutes.
6. Serve the pudding warm.

Sending this to Champa's 'Bake-off'

Iced Mint Apple Green Tea

Green tea contains antioxidants which guard us against few of the diseases. Mint is known to settle nervous stomach. An apple a day keeps doctor away. When you are getting the triple benefits in a single refreshing drink, do you think you need any other reason to make this quick, simple and wonderful drink?

Ingredients:(Serves 2)
Green tea bags - 2(Can also use 1/2 teaspoon loose green tea instead of the tea bags)
Mint/Pudina - 20 leaves(You can use mint flavored green tea bags and avoid the mint leaves)
Apple Juice - 1 cup
Boiling Water - 11/2 cup

Method of Preparation:
1. In a bowl place the tea bags, fresh mint leaves and pour boiling water on them. Cover and let it stand for 10 minutes.
2. Remove the tea bags and let it cool for 20 minutes.
3. Remove the mint leaves, stir in the apple juice.
4. Fill the glasses with ice and pour the mint apple green tea over the ice.
5. Garnish with mint and serve the iced mint apple green tea.

Apple Dates Milkshake

If you are looking for a quick energy boosting drink, you should definitely try this. This is a drink that does not need lot of ingredients. All you need is a small apple, few dates and milk.

Ingredients:
Apple - 1 medium sized, chopped into small pieces
Dates - 5-6
Milk - 1 cup
Almonds - 2, finely sliced(optional)

Method of Preparation:
1. Chop the dates roughly and soak them in hot milk for 20 minutes.
2. Add the chopped apples, the soaked dates along with the milk they are soaked in and the remaining chilled milk to a blender.
3. Blend to a smooth puree.
4. Serve the milkshake in tall glasses and garnish with finely sliced almonds.

Variation:
Add a banana along with the ingredients and blend, this enhances the taste of the drink and fills your stomach too.