Apple Turnovers & Pudding "Cocoa" | "Once Upon A Time"

          Last night I hosted a little get-together for the premiere of "Once Upon A Time" season 5 and the special "Dark Swan Rises" pre-show. It was a lot of fun! I had a bunch of ideas for treats, one being the obvious apple turnover (minus the poison), and for something relatively quick I decided on an easy idea from "Home is Where the Mouse is": chocolate pudding pretending to be cocoa! Please give "Home is Where the Mouse is" a click through to see what else they've got going on.
          For the get-together I also had real hot cocoa available–with cinnamon, of course–as well as apple cider. Once of the guests even brought bottled root beer which did make an appearance on the show! I had a little raffle too, and the prize was a tiny OUAT book necklace that I made (you can see pics here)!
          Other treat ideas for a "Once Upon A Time" party could include small meat pies & little egg-in-a-basket appetizers (two of Rumplestiltskin's fav foods), frosted sugar cookies with silver dragees (a'la Oz), blue candy melt-dipped sugar cone & cookie Sorcerer hats sprinkled with edible stars, pretzel stick and string cheese brooms, chocolate-dipped caramel fairy wands–or simply pocky, little grilled cheese sandwiches, kale salad, sugar cookie & royal icing daggers, rocky road ice cream and carrot sherbet (courtesy of the Snow Queen), red candy melt and black candy melt-dipped strawberry "hearts"; my goodness there are just so many possibilities! I'll be having more of these little events in the future, for other shows, and perhaps another one for OUAT, so stay-tuned!

Regina's Apple Turnovers

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Ingredients:
3 Red Apples, cored & cut into 1/4" slices
1 1/2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1/3 Cup Water
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
Pinch of Salt
4 Sheets Defrosted Puff Pastry (or make your own here)
1 Egg
1 Tbsp. Water
Turbinado (Raw/Brown) Sugar

Directions:
1. In a large pot on medium heat, combine the apple slices, cinnamon, sugar, & water. Stir & cook for about 8-10 minutes, until just tender, not mushy! Remove from heat & stir in the lemon juice & salt, & then set aside.
2. Preheat your oven to 400ºF & line a tray with parchment. Lay one sheet of pastry out on a flat surface & brush around the edges with the egg wash. Using a pizza cutter, cut the pastry into even quarters (4 squares). Spoon a small mound of apples into the center of each square, & then fold the squares over into triangles. Place the triangles onto the tray & brush them with egg wash. Use a fork to press around the edges of the turnovers, sprinkle generously with the turbinado/raw sugar, & cut 2 diagonal slits into the top of each.
3. Slide the tray of turnovers into the oven & bake for about 20 minutes, or until puffed & beginning to brown. Serve warm as is or have some vanilla ice cream handy! I promise, these won't put you in a coma!

Emma & Henry's Cocoa Pudding Cups

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Ingredients:
5.9 oz. Instant Chocolate Pudding
3 Cups Cold Milk
8 oz. Cool Whip
Ground Cinnamon
Crumbled Chocolate Oreos (optional)

Important Items:
2 Plastic Sandwich Baggies (or a larger size is more convenient)
Several Serving Cups (I used these adorable little paper cups w/ handles)
Little Spoons (I used silver plastic ones that I found at the Dollar Store)

Directions:
1. Whisk together the pudding powder & milk & put in the fridge to set–it should only take about 5 minutes or so. Spoon some of the set pudding into 1 of the baggies.
2. Line up the cups on a serving tray. Snip a corner from the pudding bag & pipe pudding into the cups up to about 1/2"-1" of the top. If you're including Oreo crumbles, layer them alternately with the pudding.
3. Scoop Cool Whip into the other plastic baggie, snip a corner, & pipe the whip in thick spirals onto the pudding. Sprinkle cinnamon generously on the top of each pudding cup, just like Emma & Henry like it, & slide a little spoon into each cup. All done!