Gluten Free Apple Carrot Muffins

Sometimes, recipes just surprise you. I had no idea I was going to love these so much.  I had no idea that I would end up completely redoing these muffins over five different batches.  I had no clue that I would grow kind of addicted to the texture of almond flour.  I…

Yogurt Salads

I am not a fan of eating plain yogurt, well, plain.  Have you ever had it?  It is really sour.  Not rich and creamy and delightful like sour cream is, but actually sour.  If you are one of those people who like it untouched or unsweetened I salute you, but I am…

Baked Oatmeal

I know that this recipe works.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is consistent, easy, streamlined, and adaptable to many different palettes.  How do I know this?  Because I have made this a CRAZY number of times in the last three months!  There has been oatmeal coming out…

Weeknight Apple Pie

This is going to be a quick post: short and sweet!  I have a meatloaf in the oven and potatoes simmering away on the stove, nearly ready to be smashed.  The carrots have been steamed and are just waiting for a glaze just before dinner.  So far, dinner smells have not invaded the…

Caramel Apple Dip

OK.  So I know I just posted about dip, but this one is different. And everyone likes a good dip, right?  Heh heh. Several years ago, my mom and sisters came to visit and it happened to be just after an apple picking excursion to a local orchard.  In addition to using them like…

Hot Apple Cider

Hot drinks are a necessity when you grown up in the north.  Something to warm your bones and thaw out the inside of your nose when the weather dips to less than 30 degrees below zero.  Some steaming hot chocolate is usually at the top of my list of chosen drinks.  But…

Chocolate Chip Cherry Snack Cake

You may have noticed that the ingredients I have been using lately are all widely available at your local farmers market- i.e. in season.  There is a reason for that.  First of all, availability.  As with today’s recipe, you can’t get fresh cherries year round, so if you are going to bake with them,…

Freezer Coffee Cake

And I’m not talking toaster waffles, my friend!  I am talking coffee cake.  That dessert-for-breakfast-but-we-all-pretend-like-its-ok type of deal.  My Mom made coffee cake all the time when I was a kid and I am happy to pass down the unhealthy tradition to my kids.  There was that time my brother thought he would…

Piggy Pudding & A Word About My Kitchen

It recently occurred to me that I am making a few assumptions about you, my readers.  The more I read and research different kinds of blogs, I noticed that mine is pretty basic.  And I like that.   I don’t feel the need to crowd the page with irrelevant distractions or pictures of…

Overnight Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Tonight is a great night to pull this recipe out.  Sunday mornings can be a bit of a rush, trying to get us all ready on time and out the door for church.  This is the perfect solution!  A warm, hearty, healthy breakfast, just waiting for us when we wake up.  I am…

Apple Cider Syrup

If they serve french toast in heaven, it is covered in this syrup. If you only try one recipe from this blog, make it this one.  This is sooo easy, lasts long in the fridge, is impressive to guests, and packs all the goodness of the season into one, tiny pitcher of…

Apple Crisp

Its that time of year when you just want to grab a sweatshirt and head outside!  I love fall and I am fortunate to live in a state where it lasts until Christmas!  We don’t have any autumn colors starting yet, but after a week of nearly 90 degree weather here (central…

Margaritas, June Bugs, and Tea

Mmmmm.  There is nothing like reaching for an ice cold beverage when its a million degrees outside.  And trust me.  Right now, in central Illinois, its about that hot.  Personally, I like a nice strong, sweet tea.  In fact, sweet tea is one of my favorite all time drinks.  I suppose I…