Warm Apple Crisp

Since today is the first day of Apple Week (in honor of Johnny Appleseed), I decided to bake an apple crisp for my little first graders. Apple Crisp is definitely one of my favorite desserts. Apple anything really...

Here is the quick and easy recipe that I used. I sure hope the kiddos approve! I usually serve this dessert right out of the oven with a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream.

Apple Crisp
-2 pks jiffy yellow cake mix
-6 granny smith apples
-1/2 c sugar
-2 Tbs cinnamon
-1 stick softened butter

1. Peel and chop apples in small cubes.
2. Arrange into a 13x9 pan.
3. Combine sugar & cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples.
4. Crumble butter and cake mix in a separate bowl with your hand. The crumblier the better!

5. Add crumble to apple mixture. Mix around in pan.

6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

Happy Apple Week!

Enjoy!

Easy Peasy Lemon Bars

This past weekend, my future m-i-l and s-i-l and I took a trip to Tampa for my bridal shower thrown by my mom and sister. It was a wonderful day and I can't wait to share all the details with you tomorrow!

In the meantime, I made these bars last week & thought you would enjoy some good bye summer easy peasy lemon bars from my BHG Cookbook!

 Are you ready for the best part??? Only 114 calories per bar.

Easy Peasy Lemon Bars:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbs cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup buter
       ..........
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 Tbs all purpose flour
2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel
3/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9 pan.
2. In a large bowl combine 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Press mixture into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden.
4.  Meanwhile, for filling, in a medium bowl stir together eggs, granulated sugar, the 3 Tbs flour, the lemon peel, lemon juice, and milk.
5. Pour filling over hot crust. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes more or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
6. Cut into bars. Right before serving, sift powdered sugar over tops.

 .............

Freezer Tip: To freeze, use a large tupperware and parchment paper. I layer the bars one after another with the parchment paper dividing them. I then wrap the top of the tupperware with saran wrap, aluminum foil and then closed it with the lid.

I was so surprised with how fresh they tasted a few days later! I actually liked them better than the first day because of how cold they got!

Birthday Banana Bread

I love weekends filled with simple pleasures: baking, coffee drinking, shopping and blogging...and this is the exact kind of weekend I had. On Saturday morning, I wanted to make and early present for my fiance, since his birthday was right around the corner (Today) hard to forget that date, I know.

What better than to make his favorite thing in the world, fresh banana bread! I first made this for him when we started dating and he couldn't get enough of it. Now here is the funny part, he doesn't really like sweets, and he HATES bananas. Go figure, but he sure LOVES his banana bread.

Banana Bread

2 1/3 c. bisquick
1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. vegetable oil
3 eggs
3 very ripe bananas (I literally wait until they've turned black)

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2.. Mix all ingredients together in large boil with an electric mixer.
3. Pour into a greased 9x5in loaf pan.
4. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes.
5. Let cool & serve.

Hope you enjoy this simple and satisfying treat!

Warning: After you bake, your house will be filled with a delicious fresh bread scent for the entire day! :)

Happy Birthday Bubba! I love you.

Low Calorie Chili Recipe

Thanks to the hurricane, I am off today! This extra day is just what I needed to keep working on our wedding invitations! We are DIYing them and can't wait to finish!

So while I am home today, attempting to stay dry, I thought you'd enjoy a perfect rainy day recipe! I made it this weekend for the men (aka my fiance and his dad) during some of our house renovations, and it was a total hit!


 5 Step Low Calorie Chili 

- 1 lb ground turkey or beef 
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 1 can dark kidney beans (drained)
- 1 can light kidney beans (drained)
- 1 6oz/8oz can of tomato sauce
- 1/2 onion chopped
- salt/ pepper to taste 
.......
- sour cream (optional)
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
- red pepper flakes (optional)

How To:

1. Brown ground meat, onion and olive oil in large sauce pan. 
2. Once meat is brown, add tomato sauce and beans. 
3. Mix through. 
4. Let simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add salt/pepper to taste.
I also add red pepper flakes for a little kick, but that is only optional. 

Optional: Top with sour cream & shredded cheese.  

Can be served over rice, with corn chips, or even over a small bed of chopped lettuce.

Enjoy!

Is It Just Me?

Or do you crave a mid morning snack as much as I do?

I would take my mid morning snack over breakfast any day.

During the warmer months though, you will always catch me with some refreshing fruit.

I am the only one?

Do you look forward to a mid morning snack too?