Nothing Shows Appreciation More Than Baking

Oh how I miss Teacher Appreciation Day. We no longer have children in school. Even our grandchildren are grown. And as for Little Miss Hazel, she’s not yet 3 so our first great-grandbaby is only now beginning preschool.

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I can remember as a child wanting to be a teacher. My dad bought me a blackboard and everything I needed to turn our back patio into a classroom. Every day I’d come home from school and try to teach my younger siblings what I had learned. My only brother refused to attend. My sister, Linda, 5 years my junior, was a very good student. She is now a retired teacher. My other sister, Ann was difficult in pretend school and grew into a handful in real school. She was as stubborn as the day is long, and defiant. In Elementary School I was average, polite and quiet. By high school I was taking over administration buildings and organizing protests. Pool Linda, by the time Ann and I had gone through the teachers, they cut Linda no slack, pointing out that they had taught her sisters and there would be no funny business. So unfair, since Linda was the good one.

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My step-sister (who really isn’t step as far as I’m concerned) is currently a school teacher. I don’t know if it’s because I have sisters who have taken on this thankless occupation, or because I remember some amazing teachers who were able to harness my creative energy in positives way, but I hold teachers in the highest regard. Good teachers are few and far between. And that’s a sad commentary on our society today. Everyone has an addenda. Everyone has a box to check, and our children are suffering because of it. More and more conservative families are opting to home school rather than send their children to public school. I think the right home school environment works – with networking and social interaction among other home schoolers. Children need to be social and to develop those skills without being indoctrinated in the process. Once upon a time our public schools respected family boundaries. It was their job to teach reading, writing, independence thought but not morals or faith-based values.

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. If your child has been blessed with good, caring teachers, do something extra special today. Drop off pastries or make a gourmet coffee run. Show your appreciation not only for the teachers, but the staff that make it possible for your child to shine. You could give them an apple, but baking Strudel is even better!

Caramel Apple Strudel
5 medium Baking Apples
3/4 cup Apple Cider
1/4 cup Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Allspice
1 sheet Puff Pastry, thawed
1/4 cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping, divided
1 large Egg
1 tablespoon Water
1 tablespoon Coarse or Raw Sugar

Optional for Serving
1 cup Heavy Cream
2 tablespoons Sugar
1/4 cup Caramel Ice Cream Topping

Thaw puff pastry. Peel and dice apples. In a large saucepan, combine Baking Apples, Apple Cider, Sugar, Cinnamon and Allspice. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to simmer, uncovered for about 20 minutes or until apples are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching. Let apple mixture cool completely.

While the apples cool, heat oven to 375-degrees.

Unfold puff pastry onto a large sheet of parchment paper. Roll pastry into a 16-inch by 12-inch rectangle. Transfer pastry on the parchment paper to a rimmed baking sheet; short side facing you. With a slotted spoon, arrange cooled apples on the bottom half of the pastry to within an ince of the edges. Drizzle apples with caramel topping. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with the bottom side. Spinch seams to seal; tuck ends under.

In a small bowl, whisk egg with water; brush over pastry. Sprinkle with coarse or raw sugar. Cut slits in the top to vent. Place strudel in the heated oven to bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

While the strudel bakes, place heavy cream in a chilled bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk. Whip cream with sugar until stiff peaks form. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

Transfer strudel to a serving platter. To serve, slice, place on individual plates. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

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 Your right hand saves me, O Lord.