Pumpkin Pie Caramel Apples

I have been trying to decide on what treat to make for the farmer's market/bake sale at the elementary's Fall Festival.  I decided I'd give caramel apples a try - but ONLY if they turned out fancy looking.  Well, here's my test run, and in my humble opinion, I think I've succeeded!

May I present...

Here's the how-to:

4-5 gala apples
1 package caramel candies
about 1/2 sleeve graham crackers
1/2 package pumpkin spice kisses
some white chocolate
Sticks

1. Wash apples well and dry.  Stick the sticks in 'em.
2. Crush up the crackers and place in a bowl.
3. Melt caramels.  I used a double boiler method so I didn't have to babysit it.
4. Prepare a pan with greased up waxed paper then dip, spin, scoop the caramel onto the apples. You may want to scrape the caramel thin on the bottom so it doesn't pool up.
5. Quickly roll the caramel apples into the cracker crumbs and set on the greasy wax paper.
6. Refrigerate to set and get started melting your chocolates.
7. Drizzle the chocolate, then refrigerate some more until set.
8.  Cut it up and eat it!  YUM!

Copy Cat Posting.. Again!

I think if it weren't for my awesome, blogging St. George friend, I probably would never blog!  So, JA - I'm sure that my one or two readers thank you for the occassional entertainment you encourage me to provide for them! 

Here's some responses from the 'Friend Making Monday'- on a Friday - that my friend JA participates in (much more regularly than I though!).

1. What did you eat for dinner last night? Southwestern Chicken Barley Soup.  It was so-so.  I remember it as being really great the last time I made it, but it just wasn’t the same this time.  However, it may be that I didn’t measure anything!  I did get a very kind compliment on the meal from by 5 – almost 6 – year old though.  He even asked if I learned my great cooking skills in cooking school!  (He had a hard time believing that I learned all these skillz on my own.  But now I have no one to blame but myself if dinner turns out the be no good.)

2. If you could make one food calorie-free for the next year, What would you choose? One thing…  Just one…  Butter.  If butter were calorie free, it’d also be fat-free, and I could enjoy the best of both worlds (treats + comfort foods) without the added fat and calories!

3. How often do you go to the grocery store? 1-2 times a week, but I don’t have a set schedule for it or anything.  When we run out of fruit, I go shopping. 

4. Do you make a list before buying groceries? I make an ongoing list using Grocery IQ app on my iPhone.  When we run out of something, I just add it to the list on the fly.  However, (and often, unfortunately), I am not limited by The List while in the store…

5. List three things that can always be found in your kitchen. Fruit, Eggs, Chicken.

6. How often do you clean out your fridge? I don’t make a big production of it and just do little bits here and there as it needs it. 

7. Do you ever use a slow cooker? If so, will you share a recipe? Yes, probably at least once a week.  My favorite recipe is very willy nilly.. I just toss stuff together. 

Mama C's Chili

1-lb cooked Ground Beef

1 can chicken broth

1 can tomato sauce (16 oz?)

4-5 cans of beans (some kidney, navy beans, whatever)

1 chopped bell pepper

1 jar of salsa

Chili Powder

Garlic Powder

Cumin

Crock on low for 8 hrs or so.  Top with some shredded cheese and a dollop of plain greek yogurt.

8. How often do you try new recipes? Lately, not very often.  I just use whatever we’ve got in the house.  I just haven’t had the motivation, nor energy or desire, to hunt down new recipes and then track down the ingredients at the store.  Having completely fallen off the Paleo diet (even though we felt our best while on it!), I haven’t quite been able to re-calibrate my brain to think along the lines of non-Paleo without feeling guilty.  If corn or rice just accidentally ends up on our table and somehow ends up in my mouth, so be it!  It’s that ‘accidental’ part that makes the difference.  J

9. What is the most delicious meal(s) you make? Remember that southwestern acorn squash recipe I posted about a while ago?  THAT is the BEST meal EVER!  If you haven’t tried it yet – DO IT!  You can find the recipe HERE.  Even the kids gobble this stuff up.    

10. Share at least one thing that is currently in your kitchen even though you don’t like it. Have you seen those black and white shortbread cookies from Costco?  Yeah… those.  But don’t worry, they’re almost gone!

Getting to know yooooou! Err, Me!

Well, I'm copy-catting another fun blogger friend again today!  Feel free to copy cat me too so I can read about who is reading about me! 

But first, I must say that I am SO over all this Utah snow we've been getting!!  It's all nice and pretty when you're safely sitting in doors and have no need to venture out in it!  I'm already a fearful snow-driver, but this morning topped the cake.  I slid backwards down a hill and got massively lodged into the cruel grip of a snow bank on the side of the road.  It took three men, a shovel, two ropes (the first one frayed), and a big truck to pull me out.  Can we PLEASE have some Spring yet?!


 

Getting To Know Each Other

 

1. What is your favorite color? It depends on my mood, but honestly, I don't think I have a single most favorite color ever.  However, I do like red, yellow, teal, purple. 

2. Share one or more of your talents.  I suppose I'm a pretty good organizer and task-checker-off'er. 

3. If you were spending the day getting to know someone new, where would you want to go?  I'd go to Cafe Zupas.  What a great way to start a conversation discussing the delicious food there (that I've only had once about 8 months ago but have still been craving more ever since!).  I suppose any food place would work. 

4. What is your favorite meal?  Stuffed cabbage rolls.  This is a new favorite.  Don't ask me for a recipe though because I've never made them myself!  Another favorite meal is the Turkey Enchiladas from The Greenery in Ogden.

5. Do you prefer to text or talk?  Text is good, but it's nice to get a phone call once in a while too (says the girl whose phone hardly ever rings unless it's a doctor's office calling with an appointment reminder!).  It seems that texting is so much more convenient, especially when you (or the person you're communicating with) may be hauling a couple of kids and 700 pounds of groceries into the house!  You just never know what that ring-a-ling-ling may be interrupting!  

6. Share something about yourself that might surprise someone that you’re getting to know.  I was on TV before.  Twice!  One in 6th grade when the local news did Weather School.  I got to show my project about the seasons.  And next time was about two years ago when I was in a scrapbooking contest on the local news.  There were three of us and we were given the same materials and pictures and a limited amount of time to make a 2-page layout.  I didn't win, but it was still fun! 

 

7. Do you color your hair? Yes, and you can thank me for doing so!  I like to keep it light because I feel like a big, frumpy, meany when it's dark.  I am much more sunny with a head of blonde hair!   

8. Do you wear glasses or contacts?  No, I wear only sunglasses.  

9. What is your favorite breakfast food?  Cheesecake.  Yeah, dream on!  Second choice would be eggs over hard with some salt and pepper and a side of fresh fruit.  I'd also like a giant cup of coffee with sweet and delicious creamer.  But that last part ain't happening either!

10. Would your friends say that you’re sarcastic?  No, we never have discussions about sarcasm. 

11. Do you prefer salty or sweet?  Both.  Have you ever made mini pretzels with a hershey kiss on the top.  Melt them in the oven on 200 for about 3 minutes.  Top with an M&M and stick in the fridge for 15 minutes.  Oh man, GOOD!  I'll be making oodles of these for a Valentine's treat for the staff at the Elementary school soon. 

12. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?  Seriously?  Well, I rarely pay attention to anything physical since I can feast my eyes on my handsome husband daily.  I do notice attitude though.  If they are a big-tough-guy and being overly bossy with their kids, or if they are playing on their phone and not paying attention to their kids.   

 

 

13. What is the last movie you watched?  Safety Not Guaranteed.  This is an indie my husband picked out from the 99 cent movies on iTunes last night.  It turned out to be a pretty good one! 

14. Are you religious?  I'm not sure I like the way this answer is stated.  It makes it sound like it wants to know if I'm a strict, uptight, hymnal-stuck-in-my-rear kind of person.  Well, no.  I'm not like that.  However, God plays a huge role in my heart and I'm learning to allow Him to play an even bigger role in my life. 

15. Are you a neat freak, a slob, or somewhere in between? I'm a level right below neat freak.  I think it's impossible for a person with children to be a neat freak and NOT be confined to an insane asylum. 

16. Share something from your bucket list that you hope to do someday.  I hope you're not expecting some thrilling, risk-taking, adventure here..  I've gotten enough adrenaline-pumping (not in a good way) 'adventures' this week just driving to work!  One thing I have hoped to do one day was to take my family camping on the Oregon coast in the very same campground I went to as a kid and loved.  Lucky me, I'm also a good tast-checker-off'er (see #1) and we're planning this trip this summer! CHECK!

17. Are you a risk taker, or do you prefer to play it safe?  I am FAR from being a risk taker!  I'm a complete square and not afraid to admit it.  I don't break rules (on purpose) and very much like to play it safe!

18. Have you ever worn braces?  Nope!  I'm asked often by dentists if I've had them, but nope!

19. Would you rather spend an evening at a theater or at a club?  A theater.  I'm not a 'club' girl and never have been.  Besides, the only place I get crazy and dance, is safely at home with my kids where we can all look like goofballs and we have fun!  No Judgy McJudgersons there!

20. If you could have three wishes, what would one of them be?  I would wish that my children would be able to grow up in a world of love.  A world where there is no teasing, no fighting, and no BULLIES.  Just acceptance of people of all shapes, sizes, looks, and walks of life.  After all, we're all just trying to get by and we all have our own unique trials.  So just quit judging and show a little kindness! 

Quick & Easy Breakfast

So, thanks to the holidays, we've fallen off the bandwagon - big time!  However, we still include MUCH more veggies than pre-paleo eating, but our diet now includes cookies...  We'll just hurry up and eat this last batch of chocolate chip cookies I made and then we'll do better! 

If you like quiche - this is the recipe for you.  These cheese-less, milk-less, crust-less Egg Cupcakes from Everyday Paleo are delicious!!!  You can click on the link above for the original recipe, but here's how I made it.  I froze half the batch to enjoy later too (I hope this idea works out!).  

Egg Cupcakes

12 eggs, whisked well

3 green onions

1 zucchini

1 summer squash

1 bunch of Kale

1 small crown of broccoli

9 slices of COOKED bacon

sea salt and black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 and grease with olive oil two muffin pans. Whisk all your eggs in a big bowl. In a food processor throw in the veggies until finely chopped but NOT smooth. Add this mixture to your eggs. Mix the egg mixture well and using a 1/4 measuring cup, fill the muffin pans (you’ll be able to make 18-20 cupcakes). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the eggs are set in the middle.

Copy Cat Post - Friend Makin' Monday

Alright, so you're in for a treat!  I'm copy-catting my friend, Julie, who does such a great job posting these on her blog every Monday.  Every Monday she'll answer some questions about herself on her blog.  It's not too personal, but it's fun to read!

Simple Questions

1. Outside my window I see…A deceivingly sunshiney day that holds nothing but bitter cold! 

2. My kitchen counters are…Absolutely necessary.  Where else would I put my junk?!  Actually, they are a beautiful greenish/blackish granite and they are no longer covered in stuck-on goo from the boys since we recently initiated a new rule in our house - EVERYONE eats at the table!  No more huffin' on up to the counter like it's Woolworth's lunch counter or something!  (Okay, a phrase my mom used to say when I was little, haha!)

3. Yesterday I drank…OJ (yes, I'm slacking on the whole paleo thing, but the truth is - I had to!), water, tea. 

4. My cell phone is…a necessary evil.  Can't live with it, can't live without it!  For a while, I deleted a bunch of apps and it increased my free time and my reading time..  But now, I'm falling for this dang phone again and I'm reading on it instead of in books.  And it's not even good things I'm reading!  It's all stupid, time-wasting stuff!  I think this is the longest time I've gone without reading a REAL book!  But, on the bright side, by not having a book I'm reading, it's motivated me to do a little 10-15 minute Bible study each day.  A chain of events, huh?

5. My computer is…a tool no a jewel!  I think my laptop is pretty cool, but that's only because it's mine.  Hubby doesn't agree, but that's only because he's a Mac-man.  Well, Mac don't pay the bills around here!  Microsoft does!

6. My favorite reality show is…the real-life one - my own.  I don't like reality tv shows.  I'd rather lose myself in fictional shows.

7. My workouts are…often times torturous!  But I like them too.  It's made me enjoy running more.  Especially when it means a break between painful and difficult planking.  I like crunches now too, especially when they are a break between vein-bursting push-ups.  I even like mountain climbers, especially when they are between weight lifting.  Bucking broncos though?  I just don't think I can ever like these. 

8. The last book I read is…something really terrible.  It was called Don't Die, Dragonfly.  I tried for months to get it at the library with no success and I finally just bought it.  Luckily, I only paid a penny for it with $3.99 shipping..  It was incredibly ... flat.  I just could not get into it.  In fact, I suffered through almost the whole book before finally just deciding it wasn't worth my time and stopped about 20 pages to the end. 

9. My week will be…. Not too bad!  I have the elementary school spelling bee barrelling down on my (why did I ever agree to be the chairperson!), but I expect to have everything ready to fire in a day or two.  Thankfully, I have until next week though just in case something backfires!  We've got flu-vaccines lined up (aww shucks, the ped was out of the shots, but wanted to know if the mist would be okay?  Heck yeah!!!  One trip to the toy store has been diverted!)  Maybe some cookie-baking for a bake sale..  Clearly, I don't have any trouble filling up a wide-open week with a bunch of to-do's! 

10. So far 2013 has been…so slow!  Can't summertime just get here already?!?!  I'm ready to thaw out!!

A new twist on Lasagna..

And amazingly delicious dinner #2 is brought to you by PaleOMG.com.  I modified a little to suit my family's tastes better.  This sounds like it would be a little gross, but oh my heavens, it is delicious!!  There were absolutely NO complaints from my picky 5 year old and the 2 year old had seconds!!!  I made this in a 9x14 dish and I doubled - maybe tripled - the sauce.

Garlic Chicken Butternut Squash Lasagna

 

Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash
• 1 head garlic clove, roasted  (I used only about 4-5 cloves)
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1/2 lb chicken, diced
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup canned coconut milk  (I used almond milk since that's all I had)
• 1/8 cup tomato sauce  (I used a bit more)
• 1 teaspoon basil (fresh or dried)
• 1 teaspoon parsley (fresh or dried)
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut the end off the bulb of garlic to reveal the cloves inside. Wrap in aluminum foil and throw in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
3. While the garlic is roasting, you’ll need to cut your butternut squashinto long "lasagna type strips”.
4. Set aside and begin to make your chicken and sauce.
5. Add olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add your diced onion to begin to cook. After about 3 minutes of coating your onions and bringing out their flavor, add your diced chicken along with a bit of salt. Let the chicken cook under low heat while you make your sauce.
6. Your head of garlic should be roasted by now, so pull it out of the oven and remove the roasted cloves and put directly into your food processor.
7. Add olive oil to your food processor along with the roasted garlic and turn your food processor on. Once the garlic cloves have become a paste, add your coconut milk and tomato sauce along with basil and parsley. Pulse until saucy. Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking.
8. When the chicken is ALMOST done cooking (yes, it can still have a little pink to it), remove from heat.
9. Now for the lasagna stacking. Pull out a 8×8 or 9×9 glass baking dish (or 9x14), coat the bottom of the dish with a bit of sauce, then add a layer of butternut squash strips, a layer of chicken, and a layer of sauce. Repeat until you are all out of chicken and butternut squash. The last layer should be butternut squash and topped off with sauce.
10. Bake, uncovered, for around 40-45 minutes. The squash should be tender BUT do not cut into it until it has set for a while. (I turned off the oven and let it sit in there for about an hour).

Some delicious dinners.. Stuffed Acorn Squash

The last two nights of dinners at our house have been AMAZING so I thought I'd share the recipes.

South of the Border Stuffed Acorn Squash from SparkRecipes

2 acorn squash
1 Tbl. Coconut oil  (I used Olive Oil)
1 onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red pepper, chopped
1 pound ground turkey  (I used ground beef)
2 Tbl. chili powder  (I used MUCH less, maybe 1/2 tsp)
3 teas. cumin
1/2 c. tomatoes, chopped  (I used about 1 cup)

Cut squash lengthwise and clean out pulp and seeds, then bake at 400F in a making dish with 1/4 inch water, cut squash side down, for 30-45 min or until tender.

Heat oil in large skillet then add onion and garlic. Cook until onions are tender and translucent. Add peppers and cook 3 to 4 min. longer.

Add turkey/beef and spices and brown until turkey is good through. Stir in tomatoes and heat through. Take squash out of pan, and fill each half with meat mixture. Serve with salsa.  (Add cheese and sour cream for the kids if you want!)

Serving Size: makes 4 servings 1/2 squash each

Number of Servings: 4