Warming up

Fall has definitely set in and you can feel the chilled air even in the house. I have been trying to stay away from the thermostat. Colin and I wearing extra layers of clothes but sometimes it is just not enough. On days like this I bake. The house has to be warm enough for the dough to rise, not once but twice. And then the oven has to pre heat and bake the delicious doughy goods. Before I know it the house is toasty warm and filled with the delicious aroma of baked bread....or cinnamon rolls as it turned out.  And I am guilt free of turning up the heat. The guilt of consuming all of the delicious calories is another story :)

Happy Friday and stay warm.

Mittens

I finished the second mitten on November 2, I just realized I have not shared my success. Remember my first mitten? The second turned out much more like it was supposed to. It is amazing how much my knitting improved from one glove to the next. I am going to have to knit another set. That way they match and am going to add a little length to them. They don't seem to be long enough for Colin's fingers. He likes them anyway :)

Progress

I am almost done and ready to share the project with the stars on it.

I have a lot on my to do lists right now so I am going to try and cut back on my internet time :) Sarah is joining me. In fact she suggested it. Our original plan was once a day but now we are already thinking maybe just a certain number of minutes a day. I am going to try for once a day and see how it goes. Either way I am hoping to get a lot more items crossed off my list. The internet has a scary way of sucking me in and detouring me from being productive :)

Homemade Applesauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

Recipe~ Makes 5 quarts of applesauce

30 Apples- a variety of different apples is best

4 Cups of R. W. Knudsen (Apple) Cider & Spice

1 Lemon

Instructions:

Core and cut the apples into chunks place in a large stock pot. Squeeze the lemon juice over the apples. Pour 4 cups of cider over the apples. cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cook  apples until tender, 10-15 minutes. Push apples thru a sieve. Taste your applesauce, if it is too tart return to the pan and add sugar and cook until dissolved. 

*If using a food processor to mash your applesauce it would be easiest to peel your apples before cooking them.

Add the apple sauce to hot sterile jars for canning. Make sure to leave 1/2" of head room in the jars and the lids are on nice and tight. Place in water bath, cover. Bring to a boil and boil for 20 minutes. Carefully remove jars onto the counter and let them cool for 24 hours, makes sure all the jars are sealed.

Enjoy applesauce all year long.

 

This applesauce is perfect for cooking with or just eating :) My little helper couldn't get enough of it. And it is just right for him since there is no added sugar, not even in the apple cider I used.

Practice Makes...

Stars

I am taking full advantage of nap time today. I hope to show you more very soon :)