My (second) favorite man delivered a huge brown box to my doorstep the other day. The UPS man always leaves me with the BEST treats. Inside this brown package were rows of fresh, crisp, homegrown apples straight from my Aunt and Uncle's Arizona tree.
Each apple was perfectly packaged, snuggled in the box
Seasonal baking and cooking is very fulfilling because it uses good stewardship of our incredible earth's resources while providing wholesome nutrition. I also enjoy teaching the boys about the different fruits and vegetables that are in season throughout the year. Apples offer the GREATEST variety of options with so many ways to prepare!
The boys and I went to work prepping apples for some homemade goodness!
Girls have tools too...
The boys call these "onion apples"
Lots of apples ready to finally use!
First, I made Pumpkin-Spiced Homemade Applesauce in the slow cooker. These apples cook all day with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, making our home smell SUPER fallish and cozy. Sooo...this applesauce has a second use as potpourri. ;)
Apples cook in the slow cooker all day with fall spices creating the BEST smell!To accomplish the goal of being 100% nutritious, this applesauce is completely sugar free but my kids still returned for seconds...
Pumpkin-Spiced Homemade ApplesauceOur family's favorite apple creation was:
Chunky Apple Buttermilk Muffins
Thank you Martha Stewart for this recipe, these are amazing!
Buttermilk is one of my all time favorite ingredients to use! I've shared ideas and my love for it before on this past Buttermilk Bliss post. I wrapped each muffin in white lined ruffles and tied off with twine for an adorable breakfast treat. I froze them individually for quick grab and go on busy work days! I found these ruffle cupcake liners at Michaels.
Chunky Apple Buttermilk Muffins
Fresh Homemade Goodness for breakfast!
There are so many apple choices in baking, enjoy your apple season!When I leisurely follow self gratification, pushing my family aside, I always feel so empty afterward. It's better if I remember to take the LITTLE BIT of time to share life with them.
Life moments slip through our fingers,
so we should make the most of our minutes.
so we should make the most of our minutes.
This post is linked to:Days of Thanksgiving, DIY Showoff FALL PARTY, Making the World Cuter*, Motivate Me Mondays*, Market Yourself Mondays*, It's So Very Creative*, Tasty Tuesday*, Tempt My Tummy*, Tuesdays at the Table*, Topsy Turvy Tuesday*, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On*, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday*, Show and Tell*, Whatever Goes Wednesday*, Spotlight Yourself*, Show off Your Stuff*, Strut Your Stuff*, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Inspired By, Weekend Wrap Up*
27 comments:
I think I've died and gone to apple heaven! What a wonderful gift - and so nicely packaged. You should post a link to your aunt and uncle's tree farm - they might get a bit of business from it.
Happy Foodie Friday!
:)
ButterYum
PS - what variety did they send you?
So many things about this post: First of all, I love the picture of the the three muffins stacked! Second of all, I can't believe you tricked me into eating pumpkin disguised as apple sauce. Tricky tricky Lisa. Third, of all I need to place a request for more of the muffins. Every single time I ate one I immediately wished I had another. Lastly, I loved what you said about taking time for our children. Time is very fleeting and we will never get a re-do of any moment. Your four boys are extremely lucky to have you! -1610
Lisa, Everything looks so yummy. This weekend we will make one of these! Loving the ruffle liners, where did you find them? Have a wonderful weekend!
Best wishes,
Tammy
Those cupcake/muffin liners are the cutest I've ever seen! I just love the ruffle! I love to bake with apples too. How wonderful to have fresh ones shipped to you!
I adore how you wrapped those muffins!;)
Mmmmm...I can smell that applesauce all the way here....Wait, no...that's my applesauce cooking. It sure does smell good. But I am betting yours tastes better...fresher apples from special people. (Mine came from Whole Foods). Those muffins photos are beautiful...and I am betting (especially after reading Chris's comment) that they taste wonderful!
You are making so many long-lasting memories for your boys. THAT is what is so special...
Hugs,
Jane
ps I posted a few paintings as requested...
What a perfectly lovely gift! And those muffins looks soooooo yummy!
Where did you get the ruffled cups? So cute!
Isn't the investment of time spent making the ones you love happy worth more than anything?!
This is the mantra I live by!
Even though I work full-time outside of the home, I never EVER forsake the necessity of MAKING time for my family. Last night after a grueling day at the office, I grabbed my 4-year old son's hand and pulled him into the kitchen (OK, I didn't have to do much coercing!) to help me whip up a delectable spice cake with maple buttercream frosting (from scratch!) He loved every bite, but what he loved more than anything was the TIME spent with me, laughing, stirring, learning and sharing.
There's no replacement for one's time :)
Judy@cutest-little-things
The muffins looks so good! I will definitely try these. The presentation of the muffins was also lovely. Good reminder to include the kids. Joni
Thank you for reminding me about the emptiness that I feel when I've chosen some TV time over sitting on my front porch, watching the boys play, or when I've chosen to watch TV over nestling myself in beside one of the kids while they are reading or working with legos. Made me think, Lisa. Great post.
Those muffins look delicious! The weather is horrible here today-I think I might turn on the oven and warm up the house by making a batch of these!
Best wishes,
Natasha.
Pumpkin spice applesauce in the slow cooker, gotta try that one! The muffins look wonderful and I love the cupcake holders. Hope my Michaels has them too:>) Have a great day Lisa!
lisa my mouth is watering! i just ate 2 apples, no kidding. this time of year i could eat apples all day long. i just printed the muffin recipe and a coupon so i can go to michael's and get those precious muffin wrappers :) thanks girl ~ love ya
A wonderful blog..thanks for sharing...the recipe of apple muffins looks delicious, and those cupcake ruffled covers just sooo cute...captivating a precious moment with your children ..a blessing...we should make most of every minute ...so true!
Yum! Isn't the apple peeler a fantastic invention! I love the twine around the muffin bottoms. So rustic and cute! Thanks for sharing.
Shannon
it all looks so good!
Kimra
http://crafty-cove.blogspot.com
Just visited the apple orchard myself so these will come in handy! Looks yummy. visiting from it's so Cheri. liz
I previously commented on these and then made them for breakfast. I used WW flour and forgot to use baking powder (morning rush) and they still were fine! Loved them -- the kids came home and ate the leftovers after school. Thanks.
What a beautiful box of apples! Your muffins look beautiful! I love how you dressed them up:)
I love your peeled, coiled apples. So autumny and festive :) And those ruffled cupcake papers -- too cute!
these look amazing! must try :)
How did I miss this? Wonderful recipes...and where in AZ did they pick those amazing apples from?
Wow wow WOW! So many great recipes! My family would love these. And I have the same apple slicer/peeler/core-er (is that even a word?) Thanks for linking up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday's!
I cannot tell you how sad I am that I was sick on the last day of apple picking here...I was so looking forward to making some apple goodies. I have one of those fancy tools...never used it (gasp!)...I need to break it out and go find me some apples!
These look so scrumptious!
Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites last week!
These look too cute to eat! (just kidding!) I LOVE the ruffles. Oh my! Please add my linky party to your list. I host Theme Party Thursday, where you can link up seasonal treats and projects. I'd love to see you there! :)
-Jami
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