Okay, how can Thanksgiving possibly be next week? It’s crazy. The fact that the weather the past few days has been in the 60s and 70s probably doesn’t help me having a hard time wrapping my brain around it. Not complaining though. I’ll take any days I can of being able to sit out in the backyard holding the baby while watching my very active daughter burn off some energy.

I made a from scratch version of one of my family’s favorite desserts growing up, Mississippi Mud Pie. It was oh so good but I need to tweak the pudding a touch before I post the recipe. Let’s just say it didn’t set up quite enough to hold its shape.

Breakfasts:

• Oatmeal
• Smoothies
• Pancakes

Lunches:

• Pizza
• Apple Pancakes (recipe coming Friday)
• Sweet Potatoes
• Salad

Suppers:

• Taco night at a friends’ house
• Chicken Gravy over potatoes (was going for chicken ala king type of dish using biscuits, but then potatoes were on sale and easier to bake than biscuits so I decided to do it that way) Scratch that. Friends invited us over.
• Pizza
• Salads

Snacks:

• Bananas, apples, grapes
• Muffins

Goals:

• Reading. Finish Sally Clarkson’s 10 Gifts of Wisdom and Crystal Paine’s new book, Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life, that’s being released in January. Made good progress on both of these last week. (Amazon affiliate links)
• Running. Would like to get 2 times in. (More would be great, but I’m not going to push it.)
• Spend time in the Bible each morning (My previous study just ended so I don’t have a structured one until the Advent study starts.)
• Flesh out December’s posting schedule
• Cook and puree a pumpkin

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday

Photo by KaraBee Photography

Quote from The Wall Around Your Heart: How Jesus Heals You When Others Hurt You (aff link)

Is it the weekend yet? I’m ready for a nap and it’s only Monday. Thankfully next weekend shouldn’t be as crazy. We had a fundraising banquet for the crisis pregnancy center Thursday and friends over for a movie Friday. Veteran’s Day parade, my husband working all afternoon, dinner with friends, and a concert featuring a comedic pianist (hysterical) filled up Saturday. We paid the price Sunday with our daughter being up (very) late 3 nights in a row. We might have had a few meltdowns. Thankfully she crashed early.

Sunday afternoon I hosted a Warm Up Your Walls House Party. Coupons, giveaways, foods, and friends makes for a pretty perfect afternoon. They provided goody bags, props, and supplies for demonstrating how to display Christmas cards. The baby missed his morning nap because of church and took a 3 1/2 hour nap during the party while Daddy and daughter went on a trip to the library.

The purpose of the party was to spotlight HP retail photo services at Wal-Mart. They provided coupons for us to get a canvas and a couple of mounted photos printed. We have a few more hangings we need to add, but our bare wall is looking a little better!

Now, on to business. Our menu.

Breakfasts:

• Yogurt and granola
• Pancakes
• Smoothies

Lunches:

• Leftovers
• Party food (tortilla roll-ups, chili cheese dip, puppy chow and salted caramel pretzel toffee)
• Salad

Suppers:

• Dinner with friends (they are providing pizza)
• Oven Fried Chicken (x2)
• Salad x 3
• Ladies’ Bible Study

Snacks:

• Fruit
• Eh, I’m feeling uninspired here this week. Fruit might be all there is. I guess carrots might always be an option as well.

Goals:

• Running. Being busy and the time change has hindered my running. I’m thinking I might have to start going to bed early and forcing myself to get up and get her done in the morning. My goal is 2-3 times this week.
• Reading. Once again I didn’t do so great. I did start Sally Clarkson’s new e-book 10 Gifts of Wisdom (Amazon affiliate link). Hopefully this week can finish reading about the last 6 gifts of wisdom and at least a few chapters of something else.
• Keep up with the Thanksgiving Tree. It is on our table and we’ve added a leaf most every night. I’ll be talking more about it this week.
• Budget Meeting. Yep, that didn’t happen last week either. . . So it has to this week.
• Open a savings account for the little guy. Yeah, this one has been on the unwritten list for a while now. Grandma will be happy if it gets done, there might just be a check from her that has been waiting to be deposited for almost 6 months now.

What does your week look like? Do you have any yummy meals or snacks planned for the week?

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday

 

 

Photo by Kara Bee Photography

I love apple season. Biting into a crisp flavorful apple, baking yummy desserts, freezing them for later. It’s also a great time to go to the orchard and pick vast quantities or order several 20 pound boxes for a great price.

Then you have to decide what to do with them.

I recently bought 60 pounds of apples. A decent amount for the 3 people in our family who eat. Crock Pot Applesauce is the perfect thing to do with the apple that don’t look so great. Maybe those at the bottom of the box that are all bruised and getting soft or the ones with lots of worm holes.

Make a ton of it and freeze or can it. I don’t have a canner (or know how to can) so I use the freezer method.

Get out your Crock Pot. I used my 6 quart one. Peel, quarter, and core enough apples to fill the Crock Pot to the brim. (My lid barely fit.) This is the time consuming part. Maybe put a movie in while you work (or if you have kids old enough, have them help). Rinse in a colander and then cook on low 4-5 hours, stirring 3-4 time. When the apple are extremely soft and fall apart when you are cooking them, it’s done! Grab a potato masher and smash away.

To freeze, let the applesauce cool. I found it easiest to freeze in individual sized servings. Pull out your muffin tin, fill and place in the freezer. When frozen remove from the freezer several minutes and carefully remove the frozen applesauce by sliding a knife between the tin and sauce (if it doesn’t come right out, let sit a few minutes longer). If you have silicone muffin cups or pans this would be a perfect way to use them. The frozen applesauce would pop out no problem! (Affiliate link) Place in a gallon size freezer bag and return to the freezer.

That’s it. Talk about easy. Perfect for eating or baking!

Linking up to Living Proverbs 31, Teach Me Tuesday, Titus 2 Tuesday, Tending the Home Tuesdays, Simple Lives, The Weekend reTreat, Link Party Palooza, Strut Your Stuff, Recipe Sharing Monday, Natural Living Monday, Babies and Beyond, WFMW, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Homemaking Link-Up, Welcome Home Wednesday, Pin It Thursday, Thriving Thursday, House to Home, Thrifty Thursday, Let’s Get Real, TGIM, Mindful Mommy Monday, Pin It Monday, Good Taste Tuesday, Create it or Bake it,