Crockpot Applesauce

It gets the color from the cinnamon that you put in it.

Here is a great recipe that you can make with all of the apples that you may have sitting around!
This recipe will make 6 cups of applesauce or 3 quarts total.

10-15 apples- these could be any kind you like but a baking apple would be preferable. ( I used granny smith apples- I love the tartness of them!) These need to be peeled, cored and chopped up small.
1 cup of sugar (depending on the kind of apple you use- you may want to use less sugar.)
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine these ingredients in the crockpot and cook on low for about 11 hours.

When you are done you can freeze the applesauce (although I would wait to put your HOT applesauce in the freezer until it cools down. Or you can can it- you need to place your canned applesauce in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes- the water bath needs to completely cover your jars. After pull them out and place them in a spot with no draft to cool and listen for the lids to seal- you'll hear a little pop as they seal.

Enjoy! Applesauce can be used in many recipes as a subsitution for shortening or butter. Remember that using all applesauce in a recipe can make things chewy- subbing part of it will make them less chewy but save you the calories!

As a side- we figured out that a cup of this applesauce is about 8 points in weight watchers on their plus points program.

Mexican Potato Casserole

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pound of ground turkey
2 green bell peppers seeded and chopped
8 scallions sliced
2 tomatoes chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon of ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large baking potatoes, scrubbed and thinly sliced
3/4 cup nonfat cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat the over to 350 degrees and spray a 13X9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the ground turkey, bell peppers, and scallions; cook, stirring as needed until the turkey is browned and veggies are softened, 6-8 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper and salt; cook stirring as needed, until the flavors are blended, about 5 minutes.

Arrage alternate layers of the potatoes and the ground turkey mixture in the dish. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes; uncover and sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Bake until the potatoes are cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes longer.

Southwest Salsa aka "Cowboy Caviar"

This is a dip you need to try!

1 can whole corn drained
1 can black beans rinsed and drained
5 roma tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped (I leave this out because I don't like cilantro)
1 bottle zesty italian dressing
1 fresh lime
1 avocado, chopped

Instructions:
Combine corn, beans,onion,and cilantro, the juice of a lime and dressing.

Just before serving add avocado. Serve cold with tortilla chips.

Delicious!

Rosie's Rolls

These are named for a neighbor I had growing up in Boise, Idaho. I can remember going to her house for breakfast a few times and she fixed these for our family and hers. We loved them!!!!! Thank you Rosie!!!! These are addictive I will warn you! It must be the vanilla ice cream in it...imagine ice cream for breakfast! :)


Preheat your over to 400 degrees.

2 tubes of biscuit dough
1/2 margerine melted
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. vanilla ice cream melty.... or I guess softened would be a good way to put it.

Cinnamon and sugar mixture (make this to roll your biscuits in.)

Directions:

Mix the sugars, margerine and vanilla ice cream together and set aside.


Lightly grease a 9 X 13 cake pan and then roll your biscuits in cinnamon and sugar and lay them in the pan. After all the biscuits are in the pan pour the sugar,ice cream margerine mixture over the top of the biscuits.

Bake for 20 minutes and then enjoy!

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

I made this for dinner tonight and it was excellent!!!!

4 chicken breasts (these can be put in the crockpot frozen)
1 can corn (I used frozen corn and it worked great! I think it was about 2-3 cups)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans rinsed
1 can green chiles
1 package taco seasoning

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot and then pour all the other ingredients in on top. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Shred the chicken breasts and mix in. Spoon this into tortillas and garnish with shredded cheese and any other toppings.

Healthy and so tasty! Enjoy!

Cookie Pops

These are so easy and fast!

1 pkg of Oreos or the cheap sandwich cookies you can buy at walmart
1 8 oz pkg of Cream Cheese softened
1 pkg of chocolate bark (candy melt)

In a food processor grind up your package of cookies. If you don't have a food processor you can mash them up by hand in a ziplock bag- just make sure you get it as fine as possible. Mix in the softened cream cheese and make sure you get it throughout all the cookies ( I just threw the cream cheese in with the cookie crumbs in my food processor- you do have to stop and stir it a little when doing it this way). Make small balls using your hands or a small ice cream or cookie scoop. Put them on a cookie sheet and pop them in the freezer to harden for 30 minutes.

Melt your chocolate bark either on the stove in a double boiler or in the microwave. Roll the balls in chocolate (you could use two forks to do this)- dip them about three times and lay them on waxed paper and sprinkle with sprinkles immediately. Let them sit until firm- you could also stick skewers in them to make them cookie pops if desired.

Delicious! Enjoy!

Banana Nut Muffins or Bread

A recipe using brown sugar, and vanilla in Banana Bread- try it it is delicious!


1/2 c shortening
1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 c flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla
1 c mashed ripe bananas (about 2-3 average size bananas)
1/2 c chopped walnuts or pecans (leave out if you want to...I did :)

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees if making muffins, if making a loaf of bread preheat to 350 degrees

Mix shortening and sugar in the bowl and mix then add eggs, vanilla and mix. Next add dry ingredients and half of flour and the mashed banana and mix that together then add the rest of the flour and mix together. Add in nuts if desired and mix.

If you are making muffins:
Pour in to muffin tin (greased or lined with muffin cup papers) makes about 24 muffins. Bake at 425 degrees for 19 minutes.

If you are making bread:
Pour batter in to two greased and floured medium loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes