{Homemade is Better} - Dried Apples and Apple Chips

Apple Fest continues!  And why shouldn't it.  Apples and fall go together like peanut butter and jelly {or something like that}.

Growing up, my mom had a dehydrator and she made all kinds of great things but I think our family favorite was probably the dried apples {but the fruit leather was right behind it}.  I wish I had a dehydrator but turns out you don't really need one in order to make yummy dried apples and apple chips.  All you need is apples and an oven.  How easy and healthy is that?

Peel, or don't peel - I did both - your apples.  Slice them to your desired thickness.  I used a mandoline.  For apple chips I made 1/8" slices and the dried apples 3/16" slices.  Put the apples on a cooling rack set on a cookie sheet and place in 250 degree (F) oven and forget about them.  Okay, so don't really forget about them.  I didn't pay close attention to the time but it was between 1-2 hours.  It really depends on your oven, the thickness of the slices, and what you want - is it crispy chips or chewy apple slices.  It's really up to you.  And when they are done you have some healthy snacks.

{Why is homemade better?}  Compare to the ingredients in Target brand Dried Apples

 

Seneca Original Crispy Apple Chips

Of course, you can jazz up your apple slices as well.  Which is what I did thanks to some ideas I found on the internet.

1. Cinnamon Apple Chips
2. Strawberry Apple Chips
3. Caramel Apple Chips
4. Maple Walnut Apple Chips

These dried apples and apple chips would not have been possible without the inspiration from these great recipes:

Oven Dried Cinnamon Apples from Lauren's Latest

Oven-Dried Apple Chips {Two Ways!} from Our Best Bites

How to Make Your Own Apple Chips from Henry Happened

Maple Walnut Apple Chips from Kitchen Simplicity

Cinnamon Apple Chips from Baked By Rachel

Caramelized Apple Chips from Tracey's Culinary Adventures

Be sure to check them all out!

I am sharing at these parties.

{I Scream, You Scream} - Caramel Apple Ice Cream

So, I spent the entire month of September working on one project.  I finally finished the first part of it the first week of October.  It's a quilt so the next step was to send it off to be quilted.  

Instead of getting started on another project, I went to visit my parents in Iowa last weekend.  My mom and I headed east on Saturday to do some leaf peeping along the Mississippi River and then to Gays Mills, Wisconsin for some apples.  {Gays Mills calls itself the apple capital of Wisconsin.  I think there are seven orchards there and we stopped at three.}  The day was a little gray but there were still some very pretty fall scenes.  

Sunday was a picture perfect day.  I enjoyed a morning walk with my parents dog, Sasha.  We ended up detouring through the woods and along the Turkey River.  We didn't mean to go that way but I was drawn into the woods by the peacefullness of the leaves fluttering to the forest floor.  It was such a relaxing and beautiful scene.

This weekend I again have not made it into the craft room {Shame on me!  My project list is not getting any shorter at this rate.}  Instead, I am having apple fest in my kitchen thanks to the apples I picked up last weekend in Gays Mills.  

I was most excited to try out my new ice cream maker that my mom picked up on clearance for me at Wal-Mart.  {It's nothing fancy but what do you expect for $10.  If I have fun doing this, maybe someday I'll invest in something a little more upscale.}  I did some internet searching and decided on this Caramel Apple Ice Cream from Boulder Locavore.  {I love caramel apples.  I even bought two on our trip to Gays Mills.}

The ice cream didn't turn out perfect but it still tasted pretty good.  

It's a shame that I'm going to have to keep practicing my ice cream making skills - not!  I love ice cream and can't wait to make some more.

Wednesday Pick-Me-Up #8

{Confidential} - October Project Board

Yikes - I only crossed off two things from September!  {Full disclosure - I didn't even make those two things.  I decided they weren't going to get done so I tabled them until next year.}  The good news is that I've already crossed off two of these this month!

{P.S.  I know the photo is not great.  I'll try to do better next month}

{Not So Confidential} - September in Review

Please come in and have a seat.  This looks like a good spot.

{What I made} Craft Projects

         

         I need September to be a couple of days longer.  I've been working on one big project         

         all month and it still isn't finished.  {Insert sad face here.}

{What I made} Yummy Eats

• Corn Chowder from The Dinnervine - I started the month with this delicious chowder.  I couldn't believe how light it tasted.  This went straight to the top of my lists of favorites.
• Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes from Tracey's Culinary Adventures - I made these, ate one, and froze the rest.  I just have to pop them in the toaster for a quick breakfast.  They are nice and fluffy and yummy.
• Peach Cobbler Scones from Annie's Eats - More breakfast goodies for the freezer.
• Corn and Chicken Chowder from Buns in My Oven - Yep, I made corn chowder twice this month.
• Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells with a Lemon Sage Brown Butter Sauce from Proud Italian Cook - I've never had butternut squash before so I didn't really know what to except.  This was really good.
• Apple Toffee Blondies with Brown Sugar Frosting from Cookies & Cups - This frosting rocks.  Oh, and the blondies are pretty good as well.
• Skillet Pork Chops with Rice from Tracey's Culinary Adventures
• Baked Chocolate Doughnuts from Lara Ferroni - If you love doughnuts {or donuts}, you must make these.  They are awesome!

{What I'm watching} The new television season has started.  Yipee!  I love How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Castle, Parenthood, Glee, The Good Wife, and Revenge.  What are your favorites?

{Homemade is Better} - Crockpot Applesauce

Last Saturday was the first day of fall.  To celebrate the occassion I made applesauce.  In the crockpot.  It was so easy that I'm still wondering why I've never done it before.  I am no stranger to homemade applesauce, however.  My mom has always made applesauce and it is one of my all-time favorites.  So, inspired by the change in seasons and this recipe from Skinnytaste, I made this very simple and delicious applesauce.

I peeled, cored, and sliced ten apples {I used Honeycrisp along with a couple of mystery apples from my refrigerator}.  I put the apples in the crockpot with a couple of squirts of lemon juice and two cinnamon sticks.  I set the crock pot on low and let it do it's thing for about six hours.  {The aroma is heavenly.}

Then I gave it a stir and removed the cinnamon sticks.  Since it was a little chunkier than I like, I used my stick blender to make it nice and smooth.

I divided the applesauce into several small containers and put them in the freezer, except for one which I enjoyed with my dinner.  The applesauce was so yummy and so easy to make.  I plan to make another batch soon with some other apple varieties.

{Why is homemade better?} Compare to the ingredients in Mott's Applesauce:

I am sharing this easy recipe here.

Wednesday Pick-Me-Up #7