Easy Spiced Apple Butter

This weekend we had fall temperatures for a day in Tennessee. The wind was blowing briskly and the sky was that perfect blue you only see in the fall. The only thing that was missing was the fiery trees and crunching leaves. Then summer returned Sunday.

But that is the beauty of the weather in these parts; if you don't like it, just wait... it will change!

Even though the days are still warming up to shorts weather, the nights are cooling off nicely and we've been able to open our windows wide to let the sweet end-of-summer air in. That combined with the twlight that comes earlier and earlier every evening is a sure sign that autumn is nearing.

For the kids, this means it's time to compile their lists of required autumn activities. Camping. Huber Farm. Fall Break Brain Drain. For me, it means it's time to get in the kitchen.

The apples have come early this year thanks to a kind friend who has a prolific apple tree. It is a very good year for apples in Tennessee; every tree I've seen are loaded with those sweet, tart globes of goodness. These apples are good cooking apples - extra tart, although we have been eating them straight too. I love a tart, crisp apple. The kids have been submerging their slices in caramel. (I love caramel too!)

With the first bushel, I made a batch of apple butter and an apple pie. I thought I had shared My Momma's Apple Pie recipe here before, but after a quick look I realize that I probably only thought of it - that happens all the time - I think of doing something, then don't, but I'd swear I did. Ugh! You can try this delicious apple crisp recipe though until I get around to posting the pie recipe.

Right now I want to share the apple butter recipe. It's super easy. But don't tell anyone! Pretend to slave away over a hot stove while you are really camped out in the kitchen reading (like the old Rice Krispy Treats commercial) because all you have to do is throw the ingredients in the crock pot. It does all the work. (Well, occasionally, you stir the apples - if you call that "work".)

This recipe is from an old handwritten card that has been around the kitchen awhile. Parts were no longer legible. I had to make a few educated guesses, but the result was very good so I wanted to record it. Less guessing in the future. Plus the recipes I was finding online didn't have the spiciness I was looking for in an apple butter.

Guess number 1 - The original recipe calls for 2 gallons of apples. What IS 2 gallons of apples exactly? Google to the rescue. It's a peck, a 1/4 of a bushel, 8 quarts dry measure, about 10-12 lbs., or 32 medium apples. Got that? Me neither. So I just peeled and cut apples until my 6 quart crock pot was nearly full. There's no way a full peck would fit in the crock pot and I have a large one. I would say I used about half a peck of apples, 1/8 of a bushel, one gallon, 6 lbs., or 16 apples.

Guess number 2 - the amount of white sugar was completely illegible. Comparing recipes online was little help. The sugar content is all over the place. I decided to go right in the middle and use 1 & 1/2 cups of the white stuff. As I mentioned, these apples are tart. If your apples are sweeter, you could probably go with less, down to 1/2 cup. I even came across a recipe or two with no sugar at all.

So here it is the final product:

I filled this quart jar plus and 8 ounce jar, plus what the kids and I ate straight from the crock - maybe another 4 ounces. It's delicious on biscuits, toast, muffins, pancakes, oatmeal, and spoons.

Easy Spiced Apple Butter

15 apples, peeled and cut into chunks
                 (approximately - just fill your 6 quart crock pot leaving a little room at the top to work)
1 & 1/2 cups of white sugar
                 (less if you are using sweet apples, more if you are a sugar fiend)
2 heaping teaspoons of cinnamon
1 heaping teaspoon of nutmeg
1 teaspoon of salt
1/8 heaping teaspoon of allspice
1/8 heaping teaspoon of cloves

Mix the sugar and spices. Place the apples in the crock pot. Pour the sugar and spice mix over the apples and stir it around to distribute.

Cover the crock pot and cook on high an hour or two, stirring every hour. If you can continue stirring every hour, cook on high until the apples have cooked to mush and are a dark brown, about 4 hours.

If you need to leave (or sleep) turn to low and cook for 8 or 9 hours (overnight). You can use an immersion blender, regular blender (cool the apple butter first!), or food processor to pulse the apples if you want a smoother consistency. It doesn't take much and really doesn't need it - it's completely up to your palate.

Enjoy!

Sausage Tortellini Soup

Soup is a staple in our house. I'd make and eat it all year long, but the colder months just beg for it. When that time of year rolls around this soup is first on Ben's request list and around here we call it "Ben's Soup".

It's a meal in a bowl. Hearty. Add some crusty bread so soak up the delicious broth.

You will need:

•1 lb. Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot)
•1 large onion, chopped
•1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
•3 (14.5 oz) cans beef broth
•2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
•1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
•1 cup dry red wine (one good enough that you can sip the rest of the bottle away with your meal)
•2 carrots, thinly sliced
•1 tablespoon sugar
•2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
•2 small zucchini, sliced
•1 (9 oz) package of refrigerated cheese filled tortellini
•Parmesan cheese

Discard sausage casings (or I have noticed recently you can find ground Italian sausage just like ground beef so there's no need to mess with the casings). Cook sausage, onion, and garlic in a Dutch oven over medium/high heat, stirring until sausage crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain fat. Return to pan. Stir in broth and next 6 ingredients; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Skim off fat. Stir in zucchini and tortellini. Simmer 10 minutes. Sprinkle individual servings with cheese and serve.

My recipe book shows that I first made this soup in 1999. It's one of the few recipes that I don't tweak at all because it's perfect just the way it is. It receives compliments from anyone I serve it to - most importantly Ben.

What's Cooking? Tacos!

I have made my own beef taco filling for years. Mostly because tacos are a simple go-to kinda dinner that I can make when there's nothing else planned. We always have shells (hard and soft), cheese, salsa, and sour cream - my minimum required ingredients for tacos. But since taco night usually isn't "planned" I didn't plan to buy a taco seasoning packet.

That's ok. My spice cabinet it stocked and I use my nose (and my trusty chili recipe as a guide) to mix and match seasonings to create my own filling...

But it's nothing to write home about.

And that disappoints me. I am not very inventive. But I can follow a recipe like nobody's business. I am willing to try any recipe once. And I am resourceful. Plus I love making food that you want to tell people about.

So one day I sat down at my computer determined to find a new taco filling recipe. The one that follows is all over the web known as America's Test Kitchen Beef Tacos, but I have tweaked it a bit for our tastes.

First, you'll need:

1 onion, minced
1 T vegetable oil
3 gloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground beef

Cook your onion in a pan with the heated oil. After a few minutes, when your onions are getting soft - add the garlic. Be careful not to burn your garlic - that's not a good taste (or smell). I try to keep my garlic on top of the onions until I add the beef (now that's a good smell). The garlic just needs a minute in the pan before you add the beef. Break up the meat really well with a wooden spoon.

A note about the beef: I am cheap. I buy whatever is on sale... sometimes that's 90% lean, sometimes ground turkey, sometimes I go for the fatty 70/30. The original recipe calls for the extra lean and there is no step to drain your meat. I guess that wouldn't be an issue, but when I made this step-by-step as originally written and I had added all my goodies to my 70/30, I realized the meat needed to be drained. Bye-bye delicious flavor.

Now the flavor:

1 small can diced green chiles (no need to drain); jarred jalapenos, diced; or fresh jalapeno (or other hot pepper), diced - according to your taste
2 T chili powder
2 t paprika
1 t cumin (or more)
1 t coriander
1/2 t oregano
1/4 t cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (or more)
salt

While your meat is draining, put your choice of peppers in the pan you cooked the meat it. Leave a little bit of the oil from the meat in the pan so your seasonings don't stick. Then add the rest of the seasonings. All of the seasonings are to your taste - use more or less as you see fit. I often toss in some celery salt and dried ground mustard too - about an 1/8 teaspoon each - an ode to my chili.

Next, return the drained meat to the pan and mix it all up then add:

1 small can of tomato sauce
2 t apple cider vinegar (or more)
1 t brown sugar - yes!
splash of Worcestershire sauce

Again, I diverted from the original recipe. I have never added the 1/2 cup of tomato sauce and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. I buy 8 oz cans of tomato sauce and I just can't see saving half of it for another use. It would end up the the garbage and that's just a waste! So I add the whole can and skip the broth. You could substitute salsa, Rotel, or even diced canned tomatoes with equally good results.

Let the meat mixture simmer on very low heat for about 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally.

Finally add some chopped cilantro - about half a bunch from the store. It makes the mixture so fresh tasting and pretty.

The vinegar and brown sugar just send this taco filling over the top. I don't know about "authentic" but this is Chloe's kitchen and I am not trying to impress anyone other than my family. It's the best we've have ever had and you can write momma about it.

Daily Affirmation - August 3, 2011

Respect your feet. They've mastered the art of staying grounded while moving forward.

My foot on a hot, hot day - red and swollen from walking on the blazing concrete in crummy seven year old Payless flip flops - with a sweet little butterfly tickling the top.

@ Beech Bend Amusement Park - July 2011

Picture Play

Downloaded some Photoshop actions and played around with an already sweet photo of Emeline...




Did some of the boys too...



This could become quite addicting.

Quotable Owen

Owen is one cute and funny kid. He never fails to amuse me with his facial expressions, silly dances, and hilarious conversations.

One of his favorite playtime activities is dressing-up. Usually considered a "girly" thing, Owen does it, but in all boy fashion. His ability to create costumes out of found objects around the house is really amazing. For a 3-year old, he is remarkably creative. Some of the costumes he's made: Puss in Boots, Peter Pan, Captian Hook/Pirate, Cowboy, Football Guy, Yoda... list list goes on. He's a new character every week!

Kids say the darndest things? Owen does!

Recently he was asked, "Are you scared of the dark?"

"No", Owen replied, "not when the lights are on."

On a particularly demanding afternoon, I complained to Owen that he was making me sad because he was being mean to me. He had to explain it to me. In a rather condescending tone he said, "Mom, I am not being mean. I just want you to get me the things that I want when I want them." Oh, silly Mom...

He is so much fun! Every day is full of cute, sweet, silly, tender, crazy moments. Sometimes he wears me out with his constant "I'm hungries" and "Can I have my Star Wars toys?" then "Can I have my cars box?" (the one toy at a time rule combined with his short attention span keeps me hopping). But his unique personality that brings so much joy to our lives makes it all worth it.

Toothless Wonder

Emeline has lost her first top front tooth! It's been slightly loose for a long, long time - since she was three...

...that was when she, while monkeying around, bumped her mouth on the edge of the kitchen table and cracked her tooth pretty hard. She bruised her tooth and it has been a little wiggly since that day, but otherwise healthy.

Fast forward to December 2009: Emeline's upper six-year molars come in. Since she was already clued into the process from her previous lost teeth, she knew that she was due for a loose tooth on the top. Immediately, the search for the best candidate began.

I don't know if it was destined to be that damaged tooth or if it's because it was already a bit loose, but that's the tooth that Emeline focused her attention on. Pushing and pulling on it with her tongue and finger until the point of madness. Finally, she decided it had to come out.

Problem. It was so not ready to come out. That didn't matter to her. She enlisted Daddy in her attempts to loosen and pull that tiny little pearl out. I'll spare you the gory details.

As you can tell from the photo, she was no worse for wear and she was really pleased with the results.

The BEST Apple Crisp

OK so this is a little late...

We made our annual trip to Huber Farm back in October during the kids' fall break. It was a little colder than we would have liked, but we were determined to get our yearly haul of apples, pumpkins, and wine! So we bundled up and braved the wind, rain, and outright cold.

We picked Winesap, Golden Delicious, and Fuji apples. The Fuji were perfect eatin' apples... sweet and tart, crisp and juicy. The Golden Delicious were like a dessert. If Jolly Ranger could mimic that flavor... now that would be a good apple candy. And finally, Winesap... we'd picked them before and while their tart flavor lends them to baking they aren't very juicy and make rather dry pies, crisp, etc. But we had to have some cooking apples because that's the sweetest part of fall... the bevy of baking.

I've never met a baked apple concoction that I didn't like. Mom's apple pie... delicious! Baked apples on pancakes... a delight! Apple cake... apple cookies... apple sauce.... apple butter... it's all food for my soul. Mom made apple dumplins this year for the first time and I was in heaven! How could I have gone 33 years and not had apple dumplins? (Mom and I had a talk about that!)

But there's one apple dessert that I felt could be improved upon. Apple crisp. It never made me swoon the way other apple treats had. Don't get me wrong... I would never turn down apple crisp... come to think of it, no one in their right mind should ever turn down ANY dessert, but it lacked a little something. With a basketful of apples, a serious craving for something sweet, and a weenie roast to attend... it was the perfect time to find just the right recipe.

And that I did! Here it is:

12 cups of peeled, cored, sliced apples (tart cooking apples taste best)
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup water (depending on type of apples you use - a dry apple will need the full amount, a juicy apple will need less)

Place the apples in a deep 9x13 baking dish. Combine the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle evenly over the apples. Pour the water evenly over the apples. Set aside while you prepare the topping.

2 cups of regular oats
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter (yes, two sticks!)

Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and soda. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumby. If desired, you can add 1-1/2 cups of chopped pecans to the topping. Crumble over the apples.

Bake at 350 about 45 minutes, until the topping is browned and crispy.

The topping is truly crisp; almost hard. But that was part of the problem with other apple crisps... the topping just faded away and had lousy texture. The apples are sweet, but not too sweet and there's good balance. I eat it without ice cream, but some wouldn't have it any other way. Fresh whipped cream would be good too.

Here's some more pictures of the fun we had, in spite of the cold...

I Love This: Green Earl Grey

I am on a never-ending quest to add healthy things to my life. And I love when I can do something healthy, but doesn't feel like I am moving mountains.

•30-minutes of walking (and talking with Ben).

•Skipping Starbucks.

•A dropper-full of berry flavored B-Complex under my tongue.

•And my personal favorite... therapeutic massage.

I read a lot of health focused magazines for ideas; the easy ones that is. And I read "green tea" over and over again. Problem is I don't really care for green tea. It's a little, well, green tasting. So I was excited to find Twinings Green Earl Grey Tea at of all places... Big Lots. Traditional Earl Grey tea is my tea of choice so I thought the flavors would mask the greeniness of Green Tea.

It does!

I love this tea!

Be warned: Green Tea does contain caffeine and a day of "being healthy" could leave you with heart palpitations and a late, late night. You can "decaffeinate" your tea yourself by steeping the tea for 30 seconds, pouring off the water, and re-steeping the tea. However, you may loose the healthy you were after in the first place. I just take any "extra" energy I get from caffeine as another bonus to tea drinking.

The Tooth and Nothing But The Tooth!

Emeline has lost her first tooth and she is so excited!

It all started about a month ago when she complained about having a blister in her mouth. Upon investigating, we discovered that it wasn't a blister, but rather her six-year molars coming in on the bottom. She was thrilled about this amazing coincidence... six-years old, six-year molars! Later we found out that the emergence of these teeth was the prerequisite to losing baby teeth.

And right on cue... that first baby tooth came loose. An ever-so-slight shift that she first noticed last Saturday came a long way in just one week. By this Saturday it was downright wiggly! Breathing in made it wobble around. While showing off just how loose her loose tooth was it plopped right out into her palm.

So much for all her planning to tie string to it and yank it out with a slamming door. Or her plan to hang on to it... even if just by a thread... for school on Monday so she could get a tooth necklace from the school nurse.

She's placed it in her treasures box and it is her newest most prized possession. Funny how a lost tooth gets so much more attention and admiration than when they are doing their job in your mouth. In fact, Emeline is so impressed with this first lost tooth that she's already on the hunt for another one!

Back to School

I tried to post the summer in pictures. We did way more than got posted. Summer was really great this year!

My only complaint... and I do have one (as usual): Summer's not long enough!

Emeline and Holden went back to classes on Friday for a half day. Monday is teacher in service and Tuesday it's back to reality. Both of the kids had their reservations with back to school. Holden starts middle school (6th-8th grades). Emeline is in first grade this year; "real" school. And big brother's not there. Plus there's the bus. Holden's comes at 6:35 am... ouch! Emeline will be riding on her own this year.

But they both took day one like troopers.



Holden's bus almost passed up our stop. The bus came flying over the hill and past our driveway... only to stop short to get him. He walked on without looking back. And couldn't help but cry as he got on that big yellow box filled with teens and preteens. All on his own. I think I was just as scared as he was that day. When he got home his smile showed me how much he enjoyed it. Even though he doesn't really have any of his elementary school pals in any of his classes he seems to be eager to do back and experience this new part of growing up.


Emeline skipped the bus on the first day and I took her to class. I like to meet the person I am leaving her with rather than just ship her off to the unknown. It is total chaos at that school because I am not the only one who feels that way. In fact, more people bring their children that day than not. But we managed the parking lot... even though Emeline did suggest just going home since there was no where to park. I would have liked that myself... I am a fan of living in denial... even if I don't get to practice it often. Emeline decided by the end of the day that she really loves her new teacher, Mrs. Ferrell. She thinks her Kindergarten teacher has communicated with her new teacher so that she knows exactly what kind of girl Emeline is... hence, the PINK Playdoh on her desk. She can't wait to go back on Tuesday. Wonder if she remembered that she has to take the bus then. Probably not... she's a fan of denial too.

I still wish they were going to be home with me. August is proving to be the hottest month of the summer. Perfect for swimming at Gramma's! Guess Owen and I will get to work on our tans while they are stuck inside... learning. But I am happy they are happy with what life has handed them this 2009-2010 school year.

Let's get it started!

@ District Convention/Evansville, Indiana

Thursday night we start the weekend off right at our favorite place to dine while in Evansville... The Tin Fish. It's actually in Newburg, Indiana - an adorable little town just outside of Evansville - right on the river. The restaurant ships fresh fish and seafood in daily. The have everything... even Walleye... a rarity in these parts. Ben got oysters on the half shell and Holden was eager to try one. It wasn't his first oyster; that was in Alabama when he was about four years old. That one didn't go down as easily as this one. I guess his tastes have matured.


The kids... happy to have Granny. They'd all be on that lap at once if it was possible!


Cousin Pierce and Emeline. Best buds.


Emeline with Granny. I love her smile!


The whole gang... this doesn't happen that often. And when it does, we usually aren't all looking and smiling. But this one is pretty good... even if we aren't all looking, we all look happy. Guess 'cause we are.

Cool Site!

As a Mac user I am sometimes presented with files that I cannot open. Yes, there's Office for Mac and I have tried installing it, however, with the volume of fonts I use for graphic design it just isn't possible. Plus it only happens at the most once a month and I don't like installing programs, I rarely use... and forget I have.

So when this happened today I Googled converting a Word Perfect file to something a Mac could read. Often text documents will open on my computer, but this kept saving as a QuickTime movie. Don't ask...

Anyhow, I found Media Convert. It's free and converts just about anything to anything. I was concerned that the converted file might be some horrible disgusting image or virus, but felt pretty confident in my ability to quickly "red ball" the file (as the kids say) and my Mac's security. So I took the risk and the converted pdf worked great!

Ah... it's the simple victories in life that make life sweet.

@ Center Hill Lake

The boss had us out to Center Hill Lake for a day on their houseboat.



Heading down the slide...



And SPLASH!



Owen wanted to go, but didn't have the nerve. I didn't have the nerve for him to go either!



Owen got to ride a Waverunner for the first time. Me too! That's my boss, Bill at the wheel. It was so thrilling Owen was falling asleep!



Nice water for swimming... for Tennessee.

@ Kentucky Kingdom Part 2

While Dad & Holden were off riding the roller coasters over and over... we hung out in the kiddie area and had some high-flying fun!




There was a giant Batman to be won at the rope ladder... the only giant Batman in the park and Owen wanted it. Big brother and sister tried hard to win it for him...






But it wasn't happening...




Watching them fall (repeatedly) was worth the $10 though!


Celebrity sightings... Foghorn Leghorn (AKA the chicken) Owen became obsessed with him.



Suffering Succotash it's Sylvester!



Contrary to popular belief... I am not a bad photographer! I was unable to move back any further to get little Owen in and he would NOT take my direction.

@ Kentucky Kingdom Part 1

We visited Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom at the beginning of June. It was a beautiful day and not too crowded. Good for us... not good for their Chapter 11.

Our first ride in the park. Owen's first "big" ride ever.



The old fashioned carousel. A classic that you gotta love. Of course, Owen chose the dragon and was playing "dragon slayer", but I managed to catch a sweet innocent moment.



The GIANT Wheel. Whatever you do, don't look down!



The kiddie swings. Emeline had to work her way up to the Flying Dutchman. After this (lame) ride, she was ready for the real deal.



That empty seat next to Emeline is where Owen should have been. He lost courage at the last minute (or he was tired). She had fun though!

@ The End of the School Year

Yes... I know school ended a month and a half ago, but things have been BUSY! I am going to try to do "summer in pictures". That would be easiest, right? We'll see...

Here's something Emeline knew all about before kindergarten, but she no doubt perfected her skill during recess. This was taken at the kindergarten picnic.




Owen came with me and had fun too!



Emeline is not afraid of the very top of that jungle gym. Gives me the willies just looking at the picture!



Holden's Promotion Ceremony. This was the only picture of the three times went across the stage that came out. He was moving fast!



Our end of the year party! Ice cream cake, bakery cake, and presents! Yea!!!