Homemade Applesauce Perfect for Fall!!

Ahhhhh Fall. I can see you in the distance, but the weather here in Southern Ohio has been anything but fall like. Still, this time of year makes me so excited for the coming season. Fall is hands down my favorite. I love to find and create new recipes from all the harvest fruits and veggies!! This year I've received an abundance of apples from my grandparents. They visit a local apple orchard quite often and they know how much my boys, (and I) love apples. This past week they brought us a 1/2 peck of Gala apples. I thought it would be a great idea to make some applesauce. I haven't made any for several years and I knew my boys would love it. So, that's just what I did!! In fact, they loved it so much it was gone within a few days and I've already been requested to make some more!! I love it when that happens!! This recipe is super quick and easy, but at the same time oh-so-delicious!! I won't say how I know this, but it's especially good warm on a hot biscuit with melted butter!! ;) So, here's how you make it!!

First thing you need is a lot of apples. Or, just a few. It all depends on how much applesauce you want to make. In my case I'm using 9 apples. The last time I used six and that just wasn't nearly enough.

Next, peel, core, slice apples fairly thin, and add them to your pot.

Add about a cup of water to your pan. You can also use Apple Cider or Apple Juice!!

Next up is the Brown Sugar. I love using brown sugar over white sugar. It just gives the applesauce extra warmth and I love the color as well!! I used 1/2 cup, but you can use more or less.

Awww look!! A brown sugar cupcake!! ;)

Next is the spice. I love, love, LOVE Cinnamon so that's what I use. Honestly, I didn't even measure. I'd say a good tablespoon....... or two. Whatever spice you like feel free to add it. After all, you are the boss of your applesauce. :) 

Let it cook on low for about 20 minutes, or until the apples are soft and tender.

Next thing you'll want to do, which I totally didn't take a picture of, is dump all of this into a food processor. I let mine sit for a few minutes to cool down before I processed it though. Then blend to whatever consistency you like. 

That's it!! Quick, easy, and perfect for Fall!! Oh and by the way, I'm pretty sure this will be served in Heaven over a hot, buttery, biscuit!! ha ha ha


Hope you give this recipe a try. If you do let me know how you liked it!! Have a great day!!

God Bless,
Emily



Check out my video!!

Product Review: Chobani Greek Yogurt.

Hey y'all,

The last few weeks I have become OBSESSED with Chobani Greek Yogurt. Compared to other greek yogurts on the market this is, in my opinion, the best!! Please watch my video for the full review. Also, if you like what you see subscribe for more videos!! I have a little of everything on my channel. From product reviews to cooking with my kids!! Would love to have you all as part of my little YouTube Family!!

xx,
Emily

Strawberry Cupcakes

These cupcakes are perfect to take on a picnic or for a special treat at home. My boys love them!! 

Strawberry Cupcakes

Ingredients
5-6 Large Strawberries chopped very finely.
1 2/3 cup + 1 Tbsp All Purpose Flour
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Butter Melted
1 Large Egg
1/4 Cup Strawberry Yogurt 
3/4 Cup Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 muffin cups with cupcakes liners. Set aside

Chop strawberries very finely. In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl mix melted butter and sugar until combined. Stir in egg, yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract until combined.

Slowly  mix dry ingredients until you have a thick, smooth batter. Fold in strawberries.

Divide batter into you cupcake pan. Note: I was able to get 22 cupcakes from this recipe. You may get more or less depending on how big or small you would like your cupcakes.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until top of cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed.

Whipped Cream Frosting

Ingredients
1 1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Tbsp Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/3 Cup Strawberry Jam

Directions
Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla together on high speed until you get stiff peaks. Add the strawberry jam and beat for a few more seconds until combined.

Cupcakes should be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. But, if you're anything like us you'll be lucky if they last one day. :) Please Watch my videos below!!

Enjoy!
xx Emily oo

Chicken, Asparagus, and Bacon Skillet.

Very yummy recipe. Perfect for asparagus season!!

Chicken, Asparagus, and Bacon Skillet

Ingredients 

1 pound asparagus spears

4 slices bacon, coarsely chopped

4 bonless, skinless chicken breast halves or about 12 chicken breast tenders

Salt

Ground black pepper

2 medium summer squash cut in half length wise and sliced.

1 14.5 ounce can chicken broth

2 Tbsp all purpose flour

1 tsp Lemon Juice 

1 Tbsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning

1 Tbsp Dehydrated Onion Flakes (or to taste)

Directions

In a large saucepan cook asparagus in boiling water until preferred doneness. ( I like mine cooked until it falls apart!!) Drain and set aside. ( I added a bit of butter for extra yummyness!!)

In a large skillet cook bacon on medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Add chicken to skillet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink inside. 

Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. Add squash and cook on medium heat until done. In a small bowl whisk together chicken broth, flour, lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, and onion flakes. Pour over cooked squash and simmer on medium heat until thick.

Add chicken, asparagus, and bacon to the skillet and cook until warmed through. About 6 minutes.

Serve with your favorite rice.

Giveaway Haul!!

Hey Everyone,

I posted a video today of all the prizes you can win for entering my giveaway!! Go check it out and be sure to enter ASAP!! I'm closing the contest tonight and picking the winner!! 

Emily

I'm Hosting a Giveaway!!

Due to an overwhelming amount of YouTube Subscribers the last few days I've decided to host a giveaway. Please see the following video and look in the downbar for all the rules!! Good luck!!

Emily

What I ate Wednesday

I'm not really much of a breakfast person, but this morning I woke up feeling pretty hungry. Actually, I woke up about 2 hours earlier than normal so maybe that's why I was hungry a few hours after I woke up. Either way I decided to have a bowl of Oatmeal. I seriously cannot get enough of this stuff. The flavor is Apples and Cranberries. It's new from Quaker. I'll link my review for this stuff down below so please be sure to check it out!!

For lunch I made Hash Brown Casserole with Sausage. I always make a big meal at lunch time because my husband works nights. That way he can have a bigger meal before he goes to work. Then we usually just have something small for supper. I'll have a video in a few days on how to make this yummy casserole!!

For a snack this afternoon I had a few pretzels. I'm not sure exactly what they are called, but I do know they are very buttery. The flavor is delicious!! 

I wasn't too hungry when supper time rolled around so I just had a cup of Black Cherry Yogurt. I didn't take a photo of that. It was really yummy though!!

xxoo,
Emily

Roast Chicken

There is nothing more comforting to eat than Roast Chicken. Since I was a little girl it has always been one of my favorite meals. Anything that you can smell all throughout your house while it's baking away in the oven is what I consider comfort food. It's not too complicated to make and all though it does take some time to bake, it's well worth it in the end.

Today for Dinner I decided to make Roast Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, and Green Beans. It hit the spot and I'm so thankful for leftovers which I'm sure I'll devour tomorrow!!

Please enjoy my video and if you're not subscribed to my channel I'd love to have you!!

xxoo,
Emily

Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hello Everyone,

  I've been really into cookies lately. Not really sure why, but I feel like I can't get enough!! The other night I had a bit of a sweet tooth. I knew I had oatmeal and chocolate chips and I thought about making good old oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. But, I kinda wanted to twist it up a bit. I came across a recipe for Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip Cookies. I grabbed my camera and got to baking!! I hope you all enjoy the recipe. If you try it please let me know what you think!! Recipe below video!!

xxoo,
Emily

Recipe

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 Cup Butter, softened
1/2 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract 
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1 Cup Chocolate Chips

In a small bowl whisk together the Flour, Baking Soda, and Salt. Set aside. In a mixing bowl cream together Butter, Peanut Butter, Sugar, Brown Sugar, and Vanilla. Beat in Egg. Gradually add Flour mixture until completely mixed in. Fold in Oats and Chocolate Chips. Scoop dough onto parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Note: If you like a more flat, round cookie you may need to press the dough down with your fingers. My first batch did not spread out like typical cookies do.

Product Review. The Best Cream for Dry Cracked Hands

As I mentioned in my previous product review I have a very hard time with dry skin in the winter time. I think by far my hands suffer the most. Being someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen cooking as well as baking cakes for people who order them from me, I can't afford to have grossy josie looking hands. I have suffered for years with horribly dry, cracked hands. I wash my hands several times a day as well as wash several sink loads of dishes. My hands honestly take a beating. All though I wear gloves when I bake and decorate cakes for people, I still never felt comfortable doing things when my hands were such a mess. I would go to bed at night and my hands would literally ache and burn because my skin was so bad. 

Over the years I've tried probably every type of lotion and cream on the market. Nothing really helped. This year I said enough is enough. I was desperate to find something that was really going to help. One weekend I was at my grandparent's house and Mimi ( that's my grandma) told me she bought this amazing stuff for her hands called O'Keeffe's Working Hands. (She also has problems with dry, cracked hands). She said her hands weren't cracked at all and it was really good stuff. 

Over the next few weeks I searched high and low for it. I went to several different places and it was always out of stock. Finally we searched online and found a local store that sells it. My husband bought me a jar and the first time I used it I could feel and see a difference. By the next day my hands looked perfect. There was no dryness, no ugly cracked knuckles. It was like a miracle happened over night!!

I've gotten into the habit of using this every night before I lay down to sleep. It doesn't take much. There is no scent or odor at all. It is a bit greasy feeling, but it doesn't bother me much while I'm going to sleep. If my hands happen to be extra dry, when I've had them in water a lot more often than normal, or when the temperatures are really cold, I will apply some through out the day.

This is truly an amazing product and I recommend it to anyone who also suffers from dry, cracked hands!! 

xxoo, 
Emily

Product Review. Celestial Seasonings Herbal Tea Sampler

Hello Everyone,

  I'm really liking these product reviews. I just filmed a food related review on one of my favorite teas. Hope you enjoy!! Click the image below to watch my video!!

xxoo,
Emily

Product Review. My Saving Grace for Itchy, Dry Winter Skin.

Every Winter I deal with itchy, dry skin. I've bought several types of body washes and lotions from Bath and Body Works and other super yummy places thinking if I moisturized enough it would help. It never really did. I would be fine during the day but as soon as I laid down at night to go to sleep my skin would go nuts itching. This made for long, torturous nights!!

This year I said enough is enough. I went to the Drug Store and bought what I'm calling my Saving Grace, or at least my skin and sanity's saving grace. ha ha Vaseline Total Moisture with Oatmeal Extract. This is by far the best lotion I've ever used. I usually take a bath or shower at night before I go to bed. After I've dried off I slather myself with this lotion. Focusing on the main parts that seem to get the most dry and itchy. The backs of my arms, down my sides, the backs of my thighs, and my shins. 

After just one use I felt great!! I didn't have any itchyness at all. After a week my skin looked and felt great!! Even on the rare days when I shower earlier in the day I have no troubles with the torturous itchy skin at bedtime. 

I would highly recommend this lotion to all of my family, friends, and acquaintances. 

xxoo,
Emily

Product Reviews

I'm planning on doing a few product reviews in the near future. Please keep an eye out!! Let me know if there is anything you would like me to review!! Not anything super expensive though!! ha ha

Home School - Why it's the best choice for us!

I don't think I've actually taken the time to write about why we chose to home school our children. Most people assume it's for religious reasons, because we don't want our children learning about evolution. I'm not sure why people automatically assume that anyone who home schools their children is doing it because of that certain topic but then again there are a lot of things I'm very unsure of. ha ha

We are Christians. We do believe that everything inside and outside of this universe was created by the one and only God. But, that wasn't actually the reason we started to home school our oldest son. He is a very smart boy. We endured a year of public school when he was in Kindergarten and a half a year of First Grade. Just before their Christmas break I had had about all I could take of the public school system. He was being bullied by another student and he was the only one getting in trouble about it, he was getting very bored with the curriculum, especially after learning the same thing over and over again. He catches onto things very quickly. Most of the time we tell him something once and he's got it and remembers it!! His teacher was very un-organized and seemed pretty scatter brained when I would volunteer in her class. They were very unwilling to challenge his mind and keep him interested in class so he was getting in trouble. I was a big ball of nerves and stressed beyond belief. I try not to worry and get worked up over things but this had me sick constantly and I just couldn't take it any more. 

We started home schooling right after Christmas break and I knew within the first week it was the best decision we had ever made!! He was actually learning and interested in his lessons. He was excited and happy. He was honestly like a different child.

Christian is now in 4th Grade and doing great! His little brother Aiden started Kindergarten this year. I was a little nervous to home school him. He had no interest what so ever in learning. I debated between sending him to public school or keeping him home. Finally, in the end, we chose to keep him home as well. He is doing great!! He is catching on so fast and they are both making me a very proud Mommy!! 

It's not always the easiest thing for me. I look forward to weekends and days off. My days are full and I don't get much time to myself. But, this is the life I chose and the life I love. God has blessed me so much with three amazing little boys and a husband who works hard to provide such a great life for us!!

If anyone has any questions about homeschooling or if you're on the fence about whether you want to or not leave me a message. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about it!!

xxoo,
Emily

It's Been A While!!

I don't think I'll ever be good at this blogging thing. I can never seem to find time to sit down and write. I'm so busy during the day with homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, all the billions of things I have to get finished in my day. By the time bedtime rolls around I'm too tired to even think about opening my laptop and forcing my brain to write something interesting!! ha ha One day maybe I'll have the determination to blog more than just once every few months. It might help if I had some followers. If you're reading this Please Follow Me!! :D Give me some ideas of some topics you would like me to talk about. That would be great!!

xx
Emily