My husband loves to cook up some apples around this time of year. It makes the house smell amazing, and his recipe is delicious! It’s great as a snack on its own, as a side to pork chops, as a topping on some vanilla ice cream, or as a sweetener for your morning oatmeal.

Homemade Stewed Apples ~ Homemade Apple Sauce

1 cup of water
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cardamom (optional)
6 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

Heat up the water in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until it is simmering. Stir in cinnamon and cardamom.

Pour in the apple slices.

Turn the heat down and simmer, uncovered, for at least an hour – until the apples are tender and the water is nearly gone.

You can also do this in a crock pot – just cover the mixture and turn it on low for 4-8 hours.

If you want to make applesauce out of the stewed apples, simply blend the mixture in a food processor or blender. For lumpier applesauce simply blend using your mixer.

This is a hearty, lightly sweet muffin that is packed with flavor and goodness! Nothing beats the crispy tops and the moist insides, studded with bursts of sweet raisins. You can mix them up the night before, put the batter in the fridge, and bake them up fresh in the morning. They also freeze well. They are wonderful with a thin pad of butter and a drizzle of honey, too.

Bran Muffins
From “The Coffee Cup” cookbook of the Lachine General Hospital Women’s Auxiliary in Montreal, Canada, printed in the 1950’s or 60’s

4 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar (light or dark or some of both)
3 tablespoons molasses
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup wheat bran
1 1/2 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins or more (black or golden or some of both)
A pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, and/or ginger (optional, not in original recipe)

Cream shortening and sugar together. Add molasses and egg. Beat until smooth. Sprinkle the baking soda into the buttermilk, stirring to dissolve. Add buttermilk mixture to the creamed mixture, and add the bran. Mix until just incorporated. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices, and add to creamed mixture with the raisins. Stir only until blended. Fill prepared muffin cups about 2/3 full.

Bake in 425 degree oven for 12-15 minutes. Makes about 12-15 muffins. This recipe is easily doubled and extra muffins freeze well.

My husband loves southern veggies. He could eat a veggie plate every night for dinner and be happy. One of my favorite veggie dishes that he makes for us is his Beefy Veggie Soup. It tastes so amazing that you would never believe how easy it is to make. We always have it with some nice hot cornbread on the side. Yummmmmm….

Hubby’s Beefy Veggie Soup

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 can of corn
1 can green beans
1 can sliced potatoes
1 can sliced carrots
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can butter beans
1 can vegetable juice (recommended V8)

Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, onion, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook through, drain, and pour into a large pot or crock pot. Dump the rest of the ingredients in. Note that you should not drain the canned veggies – pour them in, juice and all. Stir ingredients together. If you’re using a pot, then simmer for 1 hour. If you’re using your crock pot, cook on low for 6-8 hours or high 2-4 hours.

I’ve seen a lot of different versions of recipes for Salsa Chicken in the crockpot floating around and decided to throw my two cents in! Here’s my version – it’s easy, healthy, and full of flavor. I hope you enjoy it!

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

4 uncooked chicken breasts, cleaned
1 jar of your favorite salsa
1 can of mexicorn, drained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon fajita seasoning
Whole wheat tortillas
Fresh chopped cilantro
Fat free sour cream
Shredded cheese

Place chicken breasts, salsa, mexicorn, beans, lime juice, cumin, and fajita seasoning in your crock pot. Mix ingredients up a little bit, making sure to cover chicken.

Cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6 hours. Serve as is OR you can shred the chicken up, stir it into the veggies, and serve it with tortillas.

Garnish with cilantro, sour cream, and shredded cheese.

So I’m in mourning this month for Cottage Living, which has been discontinued. I have loved that magazine from the very first issue. Sadly, the November/December 2008 issue was the last one. So in honor of Cottage Living, I want to share a recipe from the very first issue with you, dear readers. It has become a staple in my kitchen, and I hope you enjoy it.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Drop by rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Cool on pan 2 to 3 minutes before cooling on wire racks.

Yum. Can someone please help me stop eating these????