After a solid week of hard work I’m celebrating with a caramelized apple pie topped with Havarti cheese. It’s cooling in the kitchen now and smells so ridiculously good.
While I wait for it to be ready I have a few moments to tell you about the projects I told you about yesterday.
The first is a blog for the farm where I live in Australia: Citadel Kalahari. It will be a place for stories about the gorgeous Kalahari and Kalahari Bohr goats I look after each day, homey recipes, and the adventures we have on an Australian goat farm.
You can visit by clicking here: Citadel Kalahari or Citadel Kalahari on Facebook.
The second is a blog for my dear friend Ann: thisAnnthat. You’ve heard about Ann here before. She’s been an incredible friend to me, welcoming me right into her family and teaching me a myriad of things about gardening, goats and cheese-making. I love her to pieces and am so excited about this new blog of hers where she’ll be sharing recipes and tips for everything from cheeses and breads to ethnic foods from her beloved Hungary.
You can visit by clicking here: thisAnnthat.
My third project is still in progress, a blog for the Australian medieval enactor group I joined: Black Wolf Caravan. I love this group of crazy folks so much. They are the jolliest bunch and meet at the farm nearly every weekend to eat, brainstorm and make all sorts of fabulous things like chain mail, camel saddles, and weapons from the 12th century. This blog will feature stories of our adventures together, projects, medieval recipes, and educational materials on the life of a trader caravan on the Silk Road during the 12th and 13th centuries.
You can visit by clicking here: Black Wolf Caravan or Black Wolf on Facebook.
My fourth project this week (phew!) is taking on the role of Community Manager at my beloved Travel Belles (yay!!). I’ve been writing for this wonderful site for nearly two years now and treasure the relationships I’ve forged there.
If you’re interested in travel, reading great books, eating good food or just like being inspired by the adventures of others, I’d love to have you join us. You can join the Travel Belles Community by clicking here:
And that, dear friends, is that. 🙂
Now it’s time to head out into the sunshine with a slice of homemade pie.
What’s your favorite way to relax after working like a trooper?
Caramelized Apple Pie with Havarti Cheese
Ingredients:
6-8 large apples, cored, peeled and sliced thinly
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp each of nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup brown sugar
4 slices Havarti (or extra sharp cheddar)
pie crust dough (enough for double crust pie)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In large frying pan melt butter over medium heat.
- Add apples and saute 5 minutes until they begin to brown.
- Add spices and saute 5-10 minutes more until apples are browned and softened.
- Add brown sugar and stir until melted and well-mixed. Let simmer 5 minutes.
- While mixture is simmering, prepare pie pan but pressing half of dough into bottom of pie pan.
- Pour apple mixture into pie pan.
- Top with slices of cheese and top layer of dough.
- Brush with beaten egg or melted butter.
- Bake 30-40 minutes or until crust is browned.
- Serve warm.
You’ve been such a busy girl Krista, and that pies just looks gorgeous.
Thank you, Cathy! I admit I am TIRED!!! But it was worth it. 🙂 I just had a big wedge of pie and it was delish. Mmm. 🙂
oh for a piece of that pie!.. inspired me to make one for my ladies’ tea today!
Oh good! I know they would’ve loved it!! 🙂
What a great assignments you have! Congratulations! I’m wondering if your friend, Ann, is originally from Hungary (or her parents)? This pie looks so amazing I would love to try!
Thank you, dear Zita! 🙂 Ann’s parents are both from Hungary and raised her with the culture and food. 🙂 I bet you guys would have TONS to talk about. 🙂
You are going to be very busy Krista. I hope you still have time to do some baking and share your great recipes!. The pie looks delicious
I sure am, Jenny, but the really hard stuff is done and now I get to do the fun things like photo shoots and write-ups. 🙂 I promise to always make time for good food and recipes. 🙂
Wow you really have been busy Krista. The new sites look great. Excellent job.
Thank you so much, Barbara. 🙂 They still need a little tinkering but I’m so happy that they’re up and running. 🙂
Beautiful! Love the PIE!
Thanks so much, William! 🙂 I’ve missed you! 🙂
Congrats on all of your projects! I’m so glad to hear you’re keeping yourself busy. And well-fed. That pie looks unreal delicious.
Thank you, darlin. 🙂 It’s been a lot of work but so fun in a challenging sort of way. 🙂
Wow so much exciting news this week Krista. It makes me tired just thinking about it…wink. I think that baking bread is very therapeutic.
LOL! It made me tired writing it, Val! 🙂 Sometimes when you put your head down and just go, go, go, it’s amazing what you can accomplish. Now I need a nap. 😉
well Krista you have been very busy…. congrats on all your efforts thus far …enjoy your projects……..oh Can i please have another piece of pie………..luv the medieval theme…..a time long lost……. a time of chivalry and honour
If you were closer we’d pop over with a whole pie just for you, Neil. 🙂 I love the medievalishness too. I’m still a novice in the whole thing, but I love learning. 🙂
this is pure heaven! what a lovely and artistic and fun and delicious post… the goats look related to some of mine from my South African Boar line 🙂
Beautifully done Krista! I also enjoyed visiting Ann!
Thank you, dear Susan! 🙂 I’m sure they must be distant cousins of some sort. 🙂
Yay! Congrats on all your new projects, I’m looking forward to reading them. I’m also looking forward to “chatting” with you more over on the Travel Belles Community! Hope all is well.
Ps. I’m so happy you posted this recipe. I can’t wait to try it 🙂
Thank you, dear Cailin! I’m so excited to visit with you more too. I’m loving the new book, by the way. Such an interesting story. 🙂
That pie is splendid and it must taste wonderful!
Indeed, you are busy girl!
I love goats…
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you, Rosa. It was so good – especially with strong Italian coffee. 🙂
The apple cake sounds so delicious. I never really had it with havarti, but surely sounds very tempting.
It was my first time having it with Havarti too, Elra, but the creaminess was just perfect. 🙂
Checking out these links now! Ummm can you fedex that pie to me???
I would LOVE to, Andi. If only it would arrive intact. 🙂
oh my…i LOVE this. what kind of camera do you use? i could practically lick my computer screen over that pie.
Thank you, Rain! 🙂 Just a little point and shoot, I’m afraid. 🙂 Nothing fancy at all.
Oh my goodness, you have been busy! And I have to say, apples with cheese (especially Havarti!) might be my favorite thing ever. 🙂
Isn’t it the best combo, Amy? Yum!! 🙂
A lovely post, how do you find the time to do all your different roles. I am just shutting down the internet for the weekend but I will take a look at travel Belles when I have more time.
I work hard all week and then try to do like you and shut down for the weekend. It keeps me sane to have two internet-free days a week. 🙂
I’m not into medieval stuff but I’d go just for the food!
The food rocks, Ayngelina! 🙂 Meat slow-cooked over an open fire, EVERYTHING cooked over an open fire. 🙂
I love the idea of havartu in apple pie! It’s my favorite cheese to eat with apples, so why not? Yum! And, as usua, your photos of all of your many projects are just wonderful!
Thank you, Katie. 🙂 It just struck me as something yummy while I was making the pie and popped it on in. 🙂
You are a busy, busy, busy girl. I know you are loving it! You have gone from Washington to Australia! The pie is over the top-nice. I would eat that up in a moment.
Velva
I AM loving it, dear Velva. 🙂 It feels good to do work that I love. 🙂
the pie looks very tempting krista ! i love shooting fruits/vegetables…gorgeous clicks
Thanks so much, Shruti. 🙂 I love shooting food too – it looks so beautiful. 🙂
YUMMY adventures I see! ENJOY!
Apple and cheese is just the BEST combination ever!! And hurrah – you are raising SOUTH AFRICAN GOATS! Awesome :))