Search Results for: blog crockpot sweet apple butter

Crockpot Sweet Apple Butter

What do you do with an abundance of organic apples? Turn them into sweet apple butter. It is finally the season for the wonderful smell of cooking apples and spices in the crockpot. This recipe will make your whole house smell so incredible and bring the good things of the fall season rushing into your home. The recipe will make a good amount of apple butter. I was able to fill four large canning jars plus another large glass dish of it. Because of the amount made, you can store it for use throughout the fall and winter or be … Continue reading →

Apples, Apples and More Apples for your Crock Pot

Apple picking season is just around the corner. If you’ve never gone with your family I highly recommend it. It’s a great family activity and we’ve always gone at an age where the kids are really excited to pick up apples and put them in their sacks. But of course, if I take my family apple picking, that makes seven bags full of apples and of course I have to find something to do with seven bags full of apples. So I thought I’d share some favorite family recipes. Since we don’t have freezer room or lots of storage, I … Continue reading →

Canned Chicken Casserole

This very economical recipe was created as one of my desperation dinners. In fact, I prepared this dish last night and wrote up the recipe as I went along. It was way past dinner time, and I need to get something good on the table. The wonderful thing about casseroles is that they can be both creative and simple. You can use a few easy ingredients or throw in whatever you have on hand to create a full meal. We found ourselves needing dinner after a long day out at church and the township’s pumpkin festival. There is no fresh … Continue reading →

The Temptation of the Farmer’s Market

At first, I was just there for the vegetables. But that is how they get you. The next thing you know, you are bringing along the kids and your husband. Now the whole family is involved. What was once a simple basket of fresh green beans for $2 has turned into a $25 shopping spree of artisan bread, granola and fancy $5 scones. What ever happened to the vegetables? The farmer’s market was such as a good idea at first. My favorite farmer grows his produce organically and has wonderful prices. I’ve gotten fresh peaches that melt in your mouth … Continue reading →

Save Money on Ice Cream

Did you know that people in the colder parts of the country or even the world tend to eat the most ice cream? I learned that quickly when I lived in New England. The middle of a snowstorm was one of the busiest times for the local homemade ice cream shop, assuming that you had a vehicle that could get there. Nowadays, I don’t get out much to ice cream shops. It seems that there are all chain stores that get their ice cream shipped from warehouses. At the same time, ice cream shop ice cream can be amazingly expensive. … Continue reading →

Canning for the First Time 2

Have you ever tried canning? I did for the very first time. Now I am looking forward to putting all sorts of things in jars to preserve for future months. Nice, fresh, local organic food to be had any time of the year! Yesterday I started talking about my first canning experience. If you missed it, you can see the post here. Today I will finish up, offering some tips about the canning process. After this step, I was ready to fill the jars, Because the apple butter was piping hot (as it should be to makes sure there is … Continue reading →

Canning for the First Time

This week I canned my own food for the first time. You know what? it was easier than I thought it would be. I know happily have 11 canned jars sitting in my food pantry. Have you ever tried canning your own food? Here is what I learned. First of all I needed something to can. For my experience, I didn’t specifically set out to can, but I realized that it was the best option for my apple butter. (You can check out the recipe here.) The first batch I made went directly into the refrigerator and to friends, so … Continue reading →

Easy Post-Holiday Recipes

How did you spend your Easter? Did you slave away cooking a holiday feast for an army of family and friends? If so, then you likely have no desire to spend a ton of time in the kitchen today. If you single handily put together a multi-course Easter extravaganza, then you shouldn’t have to break a sweat today. Instead, consider making the following super-easy recipes. They will allow you to put a homemade meal on the table without having to strap yourself back to the stove: CROCK POT BRATWURSTS Ingredients: 12 fresh bratwursts 2 tablespoons butter 1 red bell pepper, … Continue reading →

Three Recipe Ideas for Overripe Fruit

You may have heard me say this before. Americans routinely toss out 25 percent of their food! Can you believe it? A good portion of that waste can be attributed to produce that goes bad before it can be used. Here are three recipe ideas that you can use to use up overripe fruit instead of tossing it out. There are other ways we waster food. We just tossed a huge bag of chocolate chips (my kids will eat whole wheat and flax as long as it has chocolate chips in it) because of our recent mouse problems. Boy did … Continue reading →

Still More Freezer Cooking Breakfast Recipes

Thought I’d share three last freezer cooking breakfast recipes. Let me know what your family thinks. My family of seven absolutely loves these! Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Soufflé 1 large loaf Cinnamon Raisin Bread (chopped — enough to fill 13 x 9 in. pan) 12 oz. Cream Cheese, softened 6 oz. Butter, softened 3/4 cup Maple Syrup (divided) 10 eggs 3 cups Half & Half Cinnamon Sugar Buttered Maple Syrup (50/50 mix of butter and maple syrup) Place chopped cinnamon raisin bread in a well buttered 13 x 9 in. glass pan. Mix cream cheese, butter and 1/4 cup maple … Continue reading →