The Spicy Apple

As the cold weather starts to kick in and the season changes, many of us tend to catch a cold. I thought I'd share with you this powerful and electric drink from The Juice Truck cookbook (see my book review and more of their recipes here). It doesn't require many (or special) ingredients to make, as most of us usually have apples, lemons, and ginger in the fridge and cayenne in the pantry, but this is not just your average apple juice. It's got some special kicks from the ginger and cayenne and a little hint of rosemary (I highly recommend using it). Besides, the apple season is here! If you happen to have too many from your own apple picking adventures, here's an opportunity to put them to good use. Sniffles, sore throat, or indigestion - you name it - this drink will help you to survive the cold season and feel good to boot!

Baked Pear & Ricotta Wonton Hand Pies with Rosemary and Chocolate 巧克力梨子奶油起司香酥派

Whenever I make Chinese wontons, I almost always have some extra wonton wrappers left. Of course, the simplest thing is to wrap them and store them in the freezer until the next use, but why not use them to make something completely different? Since pears abundant this time of the year, I thought they would make a perfect filling for the season. With the rosemary, it adds a fragrant woody aroma to make this dessert even more special, not to mention that it goes perfectly well with chocolate, too! There's no sugar, just a little maple syrup, and since it's not fried, you can pop as many as you wish without worrying about your health or feeling guilty. Next time you have some leftover wonton wrappers, turn them into this simple, yet sophisticated dessert!