MAJESTIC DOMAIN and APPLE PIE POPPERS

So funny when I take pictures of mountains, I feel they are glorious. When I see them on the computer or pick them up from the photo lab, they are pretty but they just arent, well, majestic. You can capture feelings on photographs of course but there is simply no way to translate a mountains majesty. You have to feel its grandness and your smallness in person to truly appreciate it. It's the same way with fall's rich colors. A picture, no matter how perfect, could never translate the breath taking beauty of the rich tapestry of fall colors.

My husband and I were away in Ithaca, NY for our anniversary this past weekend. Ithaca is located in the Finger lakes Region of NY State. Great wines and beautiful panoramic views of the lakes. I love it there. I make my way to that area in one place or another just to get my fill of fresh air and gorgeous scenery. Usually stopping and getting fruit and or vegetables as well.

On our way home we stopped at a picnic to meet up with my parents and our kids. Friends of ours have some of those wind turbines on their property. During our hay ride up there we got a closer look. So funny, you think they are poles until you get up close and whoa, they are huge. I know that they really break up the vistas but certainly we really need to find alternatives to our oil dependence! I guess there is always a trade off for everything isn't there?

This is the base of a turbine. You can see the stair case leading up. The whole turbine is about 425 feet. One propellar is about 100 feet. They have weather devices n board. The turbine turns and faces the wind for optimum speed.

Amazing isnt it?

Okay, I bet you thought I wasn't going to talk about food but of course I am. Long winded today but the recipe here is quick and easy. I had some leftover dough from my grape pies that I made and thought I would do some minis.




The pastry is here. I revamped it to suit the small tarts. Inside the pastry is apple filling. I can't get over how good this crust recipe is. Go Elise!

APPLE PIE POPPERS
Lori's Lipsmacking Goodness

filling:

2 apples, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar

Heat butter in a pan and begin to brown it. Add sugar and let cook a few minutes. Add chpped apples and heat until cooked but not mushy. Spoon into mini pastries.

pastry:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, very-cold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 to 4 Tbsp ice water

Combine flour, salt and sugar in a food processor. Let spin and add butter while it is spinning. Add ice water, tablespoon by tablespoon, very slowly until dough forms a ball. Stop immediately. Remove dough from processor and knead, just to incorporate. Place in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Cut into small balls about the size of a quarter and roll out into a small circle. Stuff into a mini tart pan, trimming off excess at the top. Push any overlapping together.

Fill tarts with apple filling. Bake at 375 F until crust is golden.