Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Oh the apple trees are loaded again this fall!

Last year I sold quite a few bushels at the Farmers Market.

But this year we are in the camper,

no market for me.

And being in the camper makes it a little tricky to do canning.

I decided not to let that stop me.

I had my trusty electric roaster and crockpot.

Along with a new recipe for crockpot apple butter.

This could be do-able!

I brought back a bushel full of red ripe apples.

I peeled the apples, then cut them into chunks.

Into the electric roaster they went with a little water added to the bottom.

I got so involved with this step I forgot to take pics!

They cooked down for an hour or so.

Next was a trip through the food mill.

Out came a nice chunky sauce.

The sauce went into the crockpot along with 1 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup apple cider, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and a 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg.

I set the temperature on low and let it cook overnight.

When the pipeliner left for work the next morning it was still a little runny.

I took the lid off and turned the temperature on high for a couple of more hours.

It looked like this a few hours later.

A nice dark brown. 

I couldn't do a hot water bath with my big canner, so I made do with what I had.

It took me a little while to do the whole batch.

But it was worth it on my cinnamon raisin bread the next morning!

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

6 pounds apples peeled, cored, and sliced

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup apple cider

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoons nutmeg

I cooked my apple first in the electric roaster.

But this recipe tells you to add all of this to a slow cooker.

Cook on low for 10 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown.

Use an immersion blender to puree the apple butter until smooth.

Spoon the mixture into hot, sterile jars.  

You can do a water bath for 15 minutes or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

What a great fall treat!

Liz

October Unprocessed Food Challenge

One of my friends shared a great post this morning.

It came from eatingrules.com

It is a challenge for the month of October to eat unprocessed food.

October Unprocessed 2013

I sat and read the article on the website while eating a microwave dinner I had just picked up at the grocery store.

Very seldom do I eat these things but I was just to lazy to cook something myself.

I have tried to cut down on anything that comes out of a can or box, but lately I feel like I have fallen off the wagon.

Camper living tends to make us eat out more as well.

My pants have become tighter from picking up a few little extra treats from each visit to the store.

I am ready for a change!

I am ready for a challenge!

I am ready to start putting healthy things back into my body!

I will be posting in October how my challenge is going.

Would you like to join the challenge to?

Join the October Unprocessed 2013 Challenge

A Chilly Morning

It sure was a chilly morning in the camper!

I hated to crawl out of our nice warm bed.

The first thing to do on a cold morning is get a fire going, warm things up in here.

Didn't know campers has fireplaces in them did you?

Ok I flipped the on switch.

But it does have a electric heater that warms up the camper really fast!

The next thing was to turn on my Scentsy warmer.

Make things smell cozy inside.

These warmers are perfect for the camper. 

No open flame like a candle to worry about.

There are so many scents to choose from.

This was my pick for the morning.

Onto the best thing that warms me up.

A hot pot of coffee!

This brand and flavor has become a new favorite!

The brand is a local one. I have had a hard time finding it after we moved to the farm.

The flavor is rich and robust.  It reminds me of the coffee I fell in love with after a trip to Jamaica.

With a great cup of coffee in my hand, I settled in my chair close to the roaring fire.

It wasn't long before the cold camper turned into a cozy little retreat.

I think I can handle many more fall morning like this!

Liz

Crock pot Bread Pudding

We have enjoyed a lot of bruschetta around here lately.

But I left the bread unwrapped over the weekend.

When we got back to the camper it was a little stale.

What would be a great way to use it up?

Of course, some bread pudding.

I had found a great recipe for making a batch in the crockpot.

I made sure it would be timed just right.

A great after dinner treat.

I poured it in the crockpot and turned it on.

I went about my afternoon waiting for the smell of cinnamon to start filling the camper.

Soon the smell that was drifting in the air sure didn't smell like cinnamon.

I couldn't quite figure it out.

I grabbed a spoon for a quick taste.

Big mistake!

It was awful!

What the heck did I do?

I went back to check everything I had added.

Can you tell the difference between these two ingredients? 

Yep I grabbed the wrong one!

And it makes a big difference when making bread pudding!

This is what went in

Instead of 

I was so mad!

The whole batch went in the garbage!

Next time I will read the front of the label!

Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a try.

Crock-pot Bread Pudding

2 cups whole milk

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups bread, torn into small pieces

In a medium saucepan, over medium eat, heat milk just until a film forms over the top.

Combine butter and milk, stirring until butter is melted.

Cool until to lukewarm.

Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 1 minute.

Slowly add milk mixture.

Place your bread in the lightly greased crockpot bowl.

Sprinkle with raisins if desired.

Pour batter on top of bread.

Cook on high 3 to 4 hours.

Maybe I will give this a try again in a week or 2. It would taste good on a chilly fall night!

Happy Friday!

Liz

His first trip to the fair!

We took the grandson for his first visit to the county fair over the weekend.

He wasn't quite sure of the roosters and chickens.

A lot of noise going on in the poultry tent.

He loved the ducks!

He laughed at all of the quacking.

Maybe the bunnies were the favorites for the little guy.

Gramps kept making them say hello.

But they were mostly hopping around and twitching their noses!

The first train ride was also a lot of fun!

For both grandma and little man!

But all of that excitement takes a toll on a little guy like that!

I know this is what he was thinking on the buggy ride out of the fair grounds!

Liz

Chocolate & Vanilla Waffle Cookies

I have been having a terrible craving for cake. Or more specifically cupcakes.

Maybe its from walking past all of the bakeries when we were in the city. A lot of them had beautiful displays of cupcakes in their windows. And the smells that wafted out of their entries, oh my!

But I just couldn't bring myself to pay 6 bucks for one little sweet treat!

So we just walked on by!

And now we are back to the camper.

I still am hungry for cupcakes!

Have you ever tried to bake with a camper stove?

Never quite sure how the end product will turn out.

Then I remembered a great recipe I had pinned a few weeks ago.

Chocolate & Vanilla Waffle cookies.

The recipe said they had  more of a cake like texture than a regular cookie.

And I always bring my waffle iron along in the camper.

Besides using it for Sunday morning waffles, it works great for cooking our hashbrowns.  I never use anything else but my waffle iron to cook them anymore.

I read over the recipe and made sure I had all of the ingredients.

(for once I did!)

I mixed up the batter.

Funny story about my mix master.

I received this as a shower present when I got married the first time.

Almost 27 years ago!

I used it ALL of the time!

When the marriage was over I took the mixer and the bowls, but forgot about the beaters. 

( I never did get them back)

While cleaning out the closet for our move this year I came across my mixer. 

( I have been using the mixing bowls)

I went online to find the beaters to match.

Guess what they call the mixer now?

Vintage!

A vintage Mixmaster!

But I was lucky enough to find the beaters, so into the camper it went!

Moving on...

I mixed the batter into the different flavors, chocolate and vanilla.

Then plopped the batter onto my waffle iron.

It took a little experimenting to get the right size.

They came out with a great cake-like texture.

I thought they tasted great with my morning cup of coffee!

But best of all they cured my cupcake craving!

I am going to get the pipeliner some icecream to go with his tonight!

These are something I would for sure make again!

Chocolate and Vanilla Waffle Cookies

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup butter, softened

2 eggs room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla, divided

1 1/2 cup flour, plus 3 tablespoons

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup milk

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

In a large mixing bowl combine sugar and butter. Beat until creamy.

Add the eggs and 1 tsp vanilla and beat well.  Combine flour and salt. Add 1/3 flour mixture to sugar/egg mixture. Continue adding the flour mixture and milk in this manner ending with the flour mixture.

Divide dough, placing half in small mixing bowl.

Add cocoa powder to one of the bowls, mixing until blended into the dough.

Add 1 tsp. vanilla and 3 tbsp flour to the half of the dough, mixing until blended.

Heat waffle iron according to the manufactures directions.

Drop your dough a teaspoon at a time onto the waffle grid.

Close lid and cook until the waffle iron indicates the cookies are done.

I think mine took about 3 or 4 minutes. But watch close so they don't overcook!

Gently remove the cookies with a fork and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

They can be dusted with powdered sugar, or frosted with your favorite frosting recipe.

Happy Thursday!

Liz

A Weekend from my View

We had a very contrasting view for our Labor Day weekend.

It started out with an adventure in the city.

Daytime or night time, I am always amazed to be up in the cities 

skyline.

But I always feel at home when these views surround me!

There is nothing better than being surrounded by corn fields and bean fields.

Of course this is one view that is the best!

A happy, little man enjoying his ride through the countryside.

I think he enjoys his view too!