An APPLE A DAY - DAY 4

Slow-Cooker Applesauce

This is something that is so yummy, fun to make with kids, and makes your house smell incredible.
It is so nice to read about our northern friends apple-picking, and having an abundance of apples-here's a treat for you!

8 apples-peeled, cored, and thinly sliced-use your favorite variety (I always use a few tart a few sweet)
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Place apples and water in slow cooker for 6-8 hours on high.  Last thirty minutes stir and add sugar and spice.  That's it - serve over a pork roast or as a side dish.

APPLE RECIPES DAY 3

Apple Berry Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

This fruit salsa makes a great appetizer or a nice healthy alternative to bring to a tailgating party this fall.  It's fresh and fabulous.  The recipe is not an orignal or mine, I have seen it in several cookbooks and cooking magazines over the years- we just love it.  The salsa is also great over frozen yougurt or ice cream or with graham crackers.

CINNAMON CHIPS

4 (7-inch) flour tortillas
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

SALSA

2 med Granny Smith apples
1 cup strawberries -- sliced
1 kiwi fruit -- peeled and chopped
1 small orange
2 tbsp packed brown sugar
2 tbsp apple jelly

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. For cinnamon chips, lightly spray tortillas with water. Combine sugar and cinnamon in flour/sugar shaker; sprinkle over tortillas. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges; place in single layer on round baking stone. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Remove to cooling rack; cool completely.

For salsa, peel, core, and slice apples. Cut apples into quarters; chop with food chopper. Slice strawberries and chop kiwi. Place fruit in 1 quart bowl. Zest orange and juice. Add orange zest, orange juice, brown sugar and apple jelly to fruit mixture, mix gently. Serve with cinnamon chips.

APPLE RECIPES DAY 2

Okay I am back, I actually owe you two recipes today one now and one later - thanks for not getting too mad I missed yesterday....

Today's Recipe: Baked Brie with Apple & Cranberries
(A Infamous Recipe from The Pampered Chef)

Baked Brie with Apples & Cranberries
Prep time: 15 minutes

½ ¼ ¼ 1 ¼ 1 1

cup chopped apple (½ medium apple) cup sliced natural almonds cup dried cranberries tablespoon packed brown sugar teaspoon Cinnamon tablespoon butter or margarine, melted round (8 ounces) Brie cheese (about 4 inches in diameter) Crackers or cocktail bread slices

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Coarsely chop apple with food chopper. Combine apple, almonds, cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon in small batter bowl; mix gently. Stir in butter just until ingredients are moistened.
2. Cut Brie in half horizontally using utility knife. Place one half of Brie, rind side down, on small bar pan. Spoon half of the apple mixture onto bottom half of Brie, spreading evenly. Top with remaining half of Brie, rind side on the bottom so the cheese is facing up (why? so when melting-the cheese doesn't spill out) - Smart - no INGENIUS!. Spoon remaining apple mixture over top. Bake 12-15 minutes or until cheese is soft and just begins to melt. Serve with assorted crackers or cocktail bread slices.

Yum! Yum!  I know personally I could eat it all myself - oops a little secret that Baked Brie is in my top 5 favorite things to eat!!  I hope you'll try this at your next get-together or maybe for a great start to a romantic dinner!

If you love Pampered Chef as much as I do- check out my personal website for lot's more recipes: www.pamperedchef.biz/cookwithbarb  Thinking about getting FREE product - let me know we have some AMAZING specials this fall to gear up for the holidays - less than 90 days away!  Start your shopping now, book a show and earn FREE things for yourself or to give as gifts.  We have kitchen product items as well entertaining decor, and a fabulous Pantry line of gourmet products.

APPLE RECIPES DAY 1

Sour Cream Apple Bars

I don't know how quite to explain these except: I love them, I love them, I love them....

This recipe comes from LeighAnne over at Homebased Mom, originally from Land O'Lakes recipe collection.  She posted about them a few weeks ago, and I knew I just had to try them to start the fall off right.

Crust:
1 C butter, softened
1 C firmly packed brown sugar
2 C uncooked quick cooking oats
1 C flour
1 C chopped pecans
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
Filling:
1 C sour cream
3/4 C sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1 egg
2 medium (about 2 cups) apples, unpeeled, shredded

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine butter and brown sugar in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed until creamy.  Add  remaining crust ingredients and beat until well mixed.

Press HALF of crust mixture onto bottom of ungreased 13 x 9 pan.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until light golden brown.

While crust is baking combine the filling ingredients; mix well.  Gently pour the filling over the hot, partially baked crust.  Crumble the remaining crust mixture over the top of the fill and press down lightly.
Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.  Cool.  Cut into bars.  Store refrigerated.

They were absolutely delish...so creamyin the middle, just enough cinnamon to scream FALL!!

Go ahead and try them!

Welcome Fall!

i just love fall...my favorite time of year. i love when the time changes and gets dark a bit earlier, it is a little crisper in the air, people tend to be a little friendlier (that doesn't make sense, but that is an observation), i love all the great fall recipes, cooking, and crafting that gets going over my place, and most of all-the time of year where we really tend to invest the most time entertaining for small and large events with our dear friends and family.  i am all set with a "to do" list for crafts and recipes to try this season.  i sat out in my special chair this weekend, and scoured a few of my favorite fall cookbooks, and went to a few dog-eared pages to see if hubs was in on some of my menu planning for the upcoming weeks-he is so picky for new stuff.  i also have all my fall-related stamps, scraps, and other craft projects out so they don't get lost in the shuffle-preparing for homemade gift-giving, one of my favorite things to do to bless others. finally, i had hubs make the annual trip to the storage unit to retrieve the bins of fall decorating.  i hope to be in full swing before the week ending.   Enjoy some inspiration I have gathered from previous years.  this week I will be highlighting some fabulous APPLE RECIPES.  So check back often to get the recipe of the day.  please also comment and tell me all about your favorite apple recipe.  next week: PUMPKIN RECIPES! 

Menu Plan Monday

linked up at orgjunkie.com

Happy Fall Ya'll!!

Here we are again it's Monday, and do you have your menu ready for the next week?  The calendar says Fall, but here it screams summer still.  As of yet, I hear the news in the background saying VERY HEAVY RAIN all week long, from a depression near Cuba which is heading our way....that doesn't sound like apple picking, pumpkin patches, soup on the stove to me....(boo hoo hooo....) I just love Fall and all the yummy menu plans that come with it, but I guess we need to segway a little from summer since-there are no leaves falling from the trees and windy afternoons.  I am doing my best though to sprinkle some of that Fall in my menu plans before it officially breaks from summer in So. Florida.

Here is what we will be having this week at our house:


Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic Shrimp, Fruit Salad


Grilled Filet Mignon, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans


Grilled Steakburgers with Bacon & Blue Cheese, Deviled Eggs, Fresh Fruit


Chicken Cutlets with Marsala Sauce, Field Green Salad


Fish n Chips (Mahi-Mahi), Field Green Salad, Fresh Fruit

Penne & Meatballs with Homemade Marinara

What are you having for dinner this week, plan a little-save time and money! Share in the comments your favorite fall meal and I will be choosing someone for some BLOG CANDY a.k.a. (FREEBIES)

Until we eat again....

Menu Plan Monday

Those of you who have followed me over from my other blog...Eyes Wide Open know that I try to keep up with what is on my menu for the week.  This is only a guideline, but keeps me accountable for having a plan...

Here is my plan for the week-

Since the weather has had some reprieve with nice breezy evenings.  We may even dine al fresco while grilling out a few times this week.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad-Fresh Fruit

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Mahi Fingers-Green Beans-Spiced Apples

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Grilled Sausage & Chicken with Pancetta

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Grilled Steakburgers (Omaha-Delish!)-Corn-Fresh Fruit

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Taco Salad (missed from last week)

Linked up at orgjunkie.com

My ALL-TIME Favorite Spot for Junkin'

okay the big revelation is about to happen, i love to share about where i go, but i guess that may take away from all my deals if more folks take up there.  i junk there about once or twice a month.  their sales are various each day.  all sales are final. they only take cash.  they benefit the AM-VETS.  they are located north of downtown lake worth on dixie highway-south of forest hill blvd. drum roll please......

WORLD THRIFT

this place is HUGE.  i am thinking it was an old supermarket in the day.  you can click on the link to see a little more, but this is one of my favorites, and i am usually finding bargains.

here are a few from my AUGUST stop.

it was a shoe frenzy.  i picked up two pairs of fit flops (i live in these) @ $5.95 each (normally $50 min.).  one is an original, and looks like never worn.  the other is an orthopedic brand sold at the walking store, this also never worn.  the copper color pair i am giving to a friend ( i actually have this pair already at home), the next two pairs- one a JCrew a ribbon thong-$2.95, and the other a high end leather sandal with soft deer leather, and a crystal gem in the center-espadrille bottom, $2.95.  what a day - a great day - all girls love shoes.  i am happy to report i did donate several pairs this past month, so i didn't feel bad bringing a few new finds in the house.  if your a local palm beacher, check out my hot spot.

Some items to keep a watch for there: coach leather products-purses shoes, etc..., all things Brighton, Ralph Lauren (mens, ladies, kids), all brand name shoes-Cole Haan, etc...all first edition books, solid wood furniture, vintage home accessories, antique everything, frames....

some other favorites in the area are: 

Red Balloon - Men's, Ladies, Children, Decorator Home Accents - Two locations, both on Forest Hill Blvd.  Goodwill-West Palm Beach-Dixie Hwy. location as well as Palm Beach Island location, both are boutique Goodwill's. Kids-N-More-this place is every and more kids, I have picked up some amazing finds here, antiques, vintage, even some retro Pampered Chef :)-Congress Ave. just south of Lantana Rd.

I will continue to post others as they come up....this should get you started if you make a vintage day out!

linked up to: Southern Hospitality

Tin Canister - Repurposed

this was a fun-easy project i made for golden boys misc pencils, markers, etc...

this was a 6 inch tall double tin bucket in country red from JoAnns.  it was on super clearance (70%) off for about $2.  originally like $14+, personally i think they make these sales because if you paid $14 for that, hmmmm~

it had a little canning label on it.  i cut boyish scrap paper to cover it up on both sides adhered with my favorite-mod podge, then i made a button toggle by stringing several buttons in various sizes and knotted at the bottom, then hung with jute.  it turned out cute, golden boy liked it.  i could see it adorable for a little girl with a lot of tied-knotted ribbons across the top.

Here I am....My New Blog dedicated to cooking, recipes, crafting, repurposing, and everything vintage...

Well after many attempts to get this separated from my family blog, I found I was wanting to post and upload to other blogs I follow about crafting, shopping, DIY-ing, and food.... so I decided to dedicate this blog to those.  I guess here and there you may find a sprinkle of my adorable kiddos, and my hunky hubs, but I hope this spot will be for all those above mentions and much more....  WELCOME!

I am a gal who LOVES LOVES crafting in all sort of ways...I love repurposing old things to make something new, and DIY-ing.  I love vintage shops a.k.a. "thrifting" at the abundance we have here in the Palm Beaches.  One wouldn't think that such a ritzy area of our US would have such good loot, but let's face it, those folks on the other side of the bridge get new stuff all the time and are getting rid of all their other stuff,  To me: they are finds, and other bargains. One of my first posts will be on my favorite spots in town, maybe include a few photos.  So stay awake and have a glass of tea this afternoon!