A-MAZING Homemade Applesauce

I am all for homemade culinary experiments and luckily, this one was a good one!  Homemade applesauce is incredibly delicious and very simple to make.  I chose to make mine in a slow cooker which took about 3.5 hours but you can make it on the stove in a fraction of the time.  I just prefer slow cooking.  Scroll down to grab the recipe...

Give it a try:

(6) Medium apples - peeled, cored and chopped

(1) cup and (2) tablespoons of water

(1/4) cup and (2) tablespoons of white sugar

(1) teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a slow cooker, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon.  Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or until apples are soft.  Allow to cool, then mash with a potato masher or fork.

A Lot to Love About Olives

Photo by woodsy

While often mistaken as vegetables, olives are fruits with a bevy of health benefits, including the following:

Olives are rich in Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that prevents free radicals from damaging healthy cells.

Olives are a good source of iron, which helps in the production of healthy red blood cells.

Olives are, of course, the source of olive oil, one of the healthiest fats that can be consumed. Despite its being fatty oil, it is not the unhealthy type of fat and is, in fact, very helpful in preventing heart disease.

Olives are a good source of dietary fiber, aiding in good digestion and digestive tract cleansing.

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Sunshine in a glass

Found these great ideas for flavored water at the Nancy Creative blog and I absolutely LOVE the use of citrus and fruit to water! Talk about refreshing... It's like sunshine in a glass!  These a great, healthy and smart alternatives to the sugary sweet carbonated sodas and fruit juices. 

Add a slice of your favorite citrus to a tall glass of ice water.  Try lemon, lime, or orange slices. Or combine slices of lemon and lime…orange and lime…or try all three together!

Fresh mint is always a great addition to a glass of ice water.  Combine lemon slices with fresh herbs in your water.  Try lemon with mint, rosemary, thyme, or sliced ginger root.

Cucumbers are great in water, too! Slice up a large cucumber and add it to a pitcher of water…it’s really refreshing. You can also try cucumber with some fresh thyme added in. Or cucumber slices with lemon or orange slices.

If you want a more intense flavor to your glass of water, squeeze the citrus and/or twist the herbs you are using before you add them to your glass.

Besides lemons, oranges, and limes, you can try adding other kinds of fruit to your glass or pitcher of water…a small handful of your favorite berries (or mixed berries) is a nice addition to a glass of ice water. Other fruits you can try alone or in combination are: watermelon, cantaloupe, mango, pineapple, grapefruit, grapes, and kiwi.

Thirsty yet? 

{Superbowl Sunday} Guinness Stout Brownie Pretzel Bars

Time for some game-day-appropriate-deliciousness!  Found this on Hostess Blog and had to share.  It's a beer & pretzel inspired brownie recipe with homemade butterscotch ganache.  Salty and sweet is always a crowd favorite.  See below for the recipe...

Jot this down...

FOR THE BROWNIES:

Ingredients:
– 4 oz Bittersweet Chocolate
– 8 oz Butter
– 1 Egg
– 3/4 cup Sugar
– 
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
– 
1/4 cup Cocoa
– 1 1/4 cup Flour
– 1/2 tsp Salt
– 
2 tsp Vanilla
– 1 standard can of Guinness (14.9 0z)
– 
8 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate

Instructions:
1.    melt 4 oz bittersweet chocolate & butter (in microwave or double boiler)
2.    beat egg, sugar and brown sugar for 3 minutes
3.    while eggs & sugar are mixing, mix dry ingredients: cocoa, flour, salt
4.    add melted chocolate to egg mixture
5.    mix in dry ingredients
6.    add vanilla and beer until incorporated
7.    add semi-sweet chocolate
8.    bake at 350 for 35 minutes until knife comes out clean

FOR THE BUTTERSCOTCH GANACHE:

Ingredients:
– 7 oz Condensed Milk
– 3.5 oz Butterscotch
– 
2.5 oz White Chocolate Chips
– 1.4 oz Heavy Cream

Instructions:
1.    combine butterscotch, white chocolate and heavy cream in a small bowl
2.    microwave in 30 second increments, stir until melted and smooth

FOR THE TOPPING:

Ingredients:
– 1/3 cup Crushed Pretzels
– Flakey Sea Salt  (maldon salt works well)

Instructions:
1.    top baked stout brownies with ganache
2.    refrigerate until firm, cut and serve
3.    top each piece with crushed pretzels and flakey sea salt

Eat up!

Source:  Hostess Blog.

La-Dee-Dahs Whimsical Candy

Need a little pick-me-up?  I saw these handmade gems on Pinterest and couldn't resist sharing.  They are made of swirls of sea salt caramel, nougat, and fair trade dark chocolate and are equal parts fun and delicious. One box (choose from red, white, or brown) contains 3 yummy candies. Handmade in small batches by Whimsical Candy in Chicago, Illinois.  Grab a box here for only $6.50.

+ single box with 3 handmade candies

+ box is 6" wide x 2" tall