November .......already???

I can hardly beleieve it is November 1st already...seems like forever since my last post - sorry about that.  Just so you know what kept me from bloggin.......I decided to make not one, not two but three complete Rennissance costumes for the local fest.  What the heck was I thinkin????  Maddness I say, just plain maddness.  lol   The costumes did turn out very well if I may say so myself - see for yourself.

It was a beautiful day, we looked good and had a wonderful time - so in the end it was well worth it!

My garden - well it has been closed for the winter - looks kinda sad.  I did however have about 100-150 green tomatoes which are ripening as I type in my basement.  Oh and my gourds - they too are drying in the basement.  Overall I was very pleased with my garden and look forward to starting all over again in the spring.

Hallooween came & went in my household pretty fast this year.  Next year we hope to have the energy to do it up big!! Maddie & I did dress up, although I looks like my head was popping outta a ducks's butt  lol......Maddie looked  pretty spooky & we had a great time.

More to come.......things on my mind as of late

1. Friendships
2.Weight loss & exercise
3. Thanksgiving Buffet at my house - Oh no!
4. Xmas in Vegas!

Monday! Monday! Monday!

I guess I'm not like most folks - I happen to like Mondays!  I think of it as a fresh start, a new week.  I can put all the crazy mistakes from the previous week behind me and move forward.  I think of all the wasted inner conversations I have had with myselfy over the years - Monday will be the first day of my "new" diet...lol  how many of us has said that on Sunday as we are stuffing that second hunk of cake in our mouths??? lol  It makes me laugh - what the hell was I thinking???  lol  At this point in my life it is far more important for me to be healthy than skinny.  Of course I would take being skinny too...lol  But I have accepted the fact that my boobies will never again be perky, nor will my belly be flat (unless I amy laying down lol) but I am coming to term with who I am & I am thinking I am ok - most of the time...lol

My garden.......well  soon I will be doing the prep for next spring.  I still have tons of tomaties on the vine, and a few eggplants and peppers ready to be picked.  And of course my gourds.  In the next week or so I will get out all my fall decor to transform my house into Autumn!  Yep!  I am one of those crazy people who decorated their home for almost every holiday and or season..lol  You know the kind - its the house on the street that has a new wreath on  the door, those holiday flags flying in the breeze, you just know the inside is decorated as well - the house you  say those people must not have enough to do, she must be a stay at home mom..............you secretly wish you had the time to decorate your home.  lol    Well I am one of those people..lol  but a little worse..........I also change my dishes for each season and sometimes my curtains.....I know I know it's a sickness!!!   lol

Whats cooking in the kitchen???????

...if an apple a day keeps the doctor away...

.....what does a a few dozen apples do for ya? lol If you walked into my kitchen yesterday you smelled the aroma of Mcintosh apple w/ cinnomon & cloves simmering in the crockpot - soon to be apple butter! YUM! On the stove I had Gala apples simmering in SF apple juice - chuncky apple sauce on the agenda.....and to top it all off Banana Choc chip muffins (whole wheat of course) in the oven.


How can you tell if you have had a busy day in the kitchen??? If your apron (you do wear an apron?!) is a mess - you had a successful day! Thanks to my cuz I have a few funky aprons - yesterday I was sporting my pink flamingo apron - let me tell you it is a hit with the UPS man.....lol .....espically when I wear my bright yellow w/ red lady bug garden shoes - yes I also wear an apron in the garden - lol What a sight!!!!!


...back to the apples.........I use applesauce whenever I bake. I replace the oil with either applesauce or prunes, somethings both. Works great, less fat, very moist - try it. I buy no sugar added apple sauce. I have tried many bands, but am most happy with the store brand - why pay more $$ for the same thing?! I got this wild urge to try to makemy own apple sauce - who knew it was so easy & we all know I am lazy & like it easy. Try it!


AppleSauce
12 apples ( I used Gala - the sign said great for applesauce - lol)
-peel, core, chunck apples
Apple Juice ot Apple Cider ( I used SF apple juice - which worked fine- I used almost a gallon)
Boil till mushy ( like you are making mashed potatoes)
Smoosh with a fork - I used my electric mixer - quicker
At this point you could freeze it, I put mine in a plastic container & stuck it in the frig
YUMMY! Add some cinnomon & serve it!

Homemade Apple Sauce

Gala Apples

Simmering in apple juice

YUM!   Try it!   I will share the Apple Butter recipe in my next post - it is still a work is progress.
 
Lets talk.......................bananas..................................