Ain't no party like an East Coast Party

So I've been deployed to New York to help our customers effected by Hurricane Sandy. Actually that's the direct verbiage they instructed me to leave on my voicemail. The word "deployed" makes me sound really important, really work sent me here to wade in ankle deep mud to write estimates on flooded vehicles.

Ill be here 21 days and obviously without a kitchen there won't be much baking, but that doesn't mean there won't be pure entertainment brought to you from your's truly. What it does mean is that after working a 12 hour day I may not be as funny as I should be.

So, let me start by saying I wouldn't suggest watching a show on the "Top 10 worst plane crashes" right before you board a plane. Again, just an ADHD tidbit.

I left Minneapolis knowing that we had nearly 18,000 claims to handle on the East coast but details were minimal. When a hurricane knocks out your power and drowns your city apparently issues with gas, heat and basic necessities arise. That doesn't exclude claims adjusters. We too get to check into hotels without full power and lug our 80 lb suitcase up 12 flights of stairs. The only close restaurant with power just happens to be, Applebee's.

I have customers that are 700th on the rental list. I've seen people who are staying at this hotel because they no longer have a home, there are people with boats in their living room wall, so I'm grateful to have a kitchen to go home to.

Before I left I had to leave behind some leftovers and my parents live right by an apple farm so I give you a really easy and so yummy apple pie variation.

Recipe:
Peel and core (don't go all the way through the bottom) 4 small apples. Mix butter, brown sugar, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon (use whatever amounts you want to make it look tasty). Pit into center of apple.

Make a pasty dough crust, roll into squares. Brush edges with egg white. Roll up over apple, pinch edges. Brush egg over and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 350 for 30 or until brown.

Fill the apples with pumpkin or cheese cake filling, nuts, etc and change your flavor!