apple cinnamon muffins

With the abundance of apples overflowing in boxes on our counters, we've resorted to making some tasty apple filled treats. Which is a good thing, because I've found all sorts of yummy recipes to try out. Some have to be adapted to be gluten free, but in the case of these muffins, they were made that way from the start. Sweet and filling with an undertone of cinnamon, the muffins are delectable, especially with the bits of apple sprinkled throughout the batter.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Pamela's Baking Flour
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 Eggs
1 cup chopped apples
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
This recipe is really very simple. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the dry ingredients and stir together, then in a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients together. Pour the wet ingredients in with the dry and mix. Peel, core, and cut the apples into small chunks, then gently fold them into the batter. Fill the muffin tins three fourths of the way and put in the oven to bake for 18-20 minutes. Serve with a glass of milk or some tea, and enjoy!

Like I said, a simple and really lovely recipe that's a perfect start to any morning. Especially with fall weather coming, these muffins are hearty, yet light enough, to add a bit of warmth to your day. The only problem at our house is how to make them last longer than a few minutes. As soon as I pulled them out of the oven, I was surrounded by a swarm of hungry kiddos holding up plates. Whatever the case in your home, make sure to share the fall muffins with family and friends!

Edited to add:I'm not sure how to make this recipe non-gluten free. Sorry friends!

apple picking sundays

Fall doesn't only bring changing leaves and cooling winds, but also harvest time. Fresh vegetables, berries, and fruits, ripe off the bush, vine, plant, or tree. And that includes apples. My grandparent's have twenty one apple trees and every other year, our fall is filled with a flurry of picking apples for cider, sauce, pies, and just to eat.



Yesterday was apple picking day. Two trees were ready and heavy laden with apples; bursting with fresh fruit. While my grandpa and uncle worked on building my grandpa's shed, and my aunt and grandma were in the garden going through the many rows of veggies, we headed off to tackle the task of apple picking.



There's hardly anything so sweet as chomping an apple plucked seconds before by your own hand. With the boys gathering the apples we picked from the higher branches in small lacrosse nets and dumping them in cardboard boxes, we made short work and finished both trees in a couple of hours. Afterwards, we sliced some apples and made apple sauce which was quickly devoured at dinner.




Driving home, the car was heavy with the scent of apples, full with the smell of fall. We've now got a rather large box of apples sitting on our counter, plus some peppers, as well as a box of tomatoes. (we also brought home a big container of raspberries but ate most of them already. fresh berries are hard to resist)



Apple picking Sundays are some of my favorite days. I'm looking forward to when more of the trees are ready; to when we'll spend whole days picking, slicing, and cooking apples for sauce and cider. Yesterday was a small taste of Autumn. And a delicious one at that.

my boppy's vineyard

a continuation of [ reflections ] my gramma and boppy's house.

My grandparent's are movers: they like to do things; plant things; create things. My family talks about the many roadtrips my grandparents have taken, and every year, we head up to Woodland. We're seeped in traditions and our whole family is filled with a passion for creating. One of my grandpa's newest projects (by new, I mean in the last couple of years) is his vinyard.

He has four rows of grape vines and several different varieties. I've tasted a few, and while the grapes aren't ready yet (sour in your mouth), they're sweet and have a good flavor. He has several varieties, but my favorites are the small purple ones (for lack of the technical name).

The grapes were only long rows linked by string holding small little sticks when he planted them. I remember clearly when I first saw them -- we walked out to the back and ambled around some apple trees while angling towards his vineyard. The grape plants were little and I remember wondering if they'd ever be large enough to eat from. I asked him, "so they'll really be grapes?" and he said, "oh, yes." We talked about grapes and plants and he told me about growing things. For some reason, hearing about the earth and why things grew and how best to grow them thrilled me. Perhaps it was because my boppy loves that sort of thing and it's hard to not love it with him around.


I can't explain what it is about my grandpa that makes you excited about life. I've spent many days picking peas or cutting apples from his orchard while listening to him tell stories from when he was young. He's full of facts and info and advice on nearly everything -- gardening, growing, building, and making a mean plate of sausage for breakfast. I love him and my grandma so much.

I'm excited for when the grapes are fully grown and ripe for picking. The vineyard is now tall and leafy and another project that has been completed. And now, I can't wait to hear what the next one will be.

a fan of naan

One of my favorite places to grab a little lunch is Noodles and Company. The streamlined modern design, delicious meals, and the peaceful atmosphere lends to a welcoming place to sit and sip izzes with friends. My favorite meal is pasta fresca with parmesan crusted chicken, topped with feta cheese and paired with the cucumber and tomato salad. However, I always look forward to their flatbread at the end of the meal.

When I saw this recipe for naan, I knew I had to try it. I substituted gluten free bread flour for regular flour and despite a slightly denser texture, it was delicious. If you go the gluten free route, I would recommend flouring your hands before kneading it, because it was a little sticky. It also didn't rise as much as normal, but that was due in part to some really old yeast.


Naan
adapted from this recipe
ingredients
1/2 cup warm water
2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2 1/2 cups Pamela's Gluten Free Flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 large egg
Olive Oil (for drizzling)

Directions
Stir the water, sugar, and yeast together and let sit until foamy. After five minutes, stir in the flour, salt, oil, egg, and yogurt. Knead until the dough is soft and malleable, then cover with a towel and let rise for an hour (all while waiting impatiently as the clock slowly ticks). Roll the dough out (make sure to flour the rolling pin and the surface) and cut into circles (as large or small as you'd like). In a hot skillet drizzled with olive oil (on a little lower than medium heat), cook each naan until they're nice and golden and are fairly blistered (though not burnt). Serve with honey, jam, curry sauce, butter, syrup, or whatever you'd like. Enjoy!

Everyone loved the naan. In fact, by the time I had finished tidying up the kitchen, there was just a half piece left. I cut it into a small circle and attempted to grab a photo, but due to a hungry boy who wanted his share, the photo-taking was short lived. Luckily, I made another batch the next day and topped it with a smear of butter and a drizzle of honey.

Baking and cooking have been exciting me lately and I would love to hear and try out your favorite recipes!

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The past week has been a cross between a flurry of preparations and a final goodbye to sweet summer days. School doesn't officially start till after labor day, but there's so much to do before then that it already feels like summer has slipped on by. Truthfully, I'm ready for fall. I'm an Autumn girl, through and through. Red leaves drifting lazily, the crisp feel in the air, hot apple cider in mugs, warm fall jackets paired with skinny jeans and boots, and the feeling of being fully alive -- I love it all. What are you most looking forward to come September? And like every week, which photo is your favorite?

the infamous vegetable

I'm not a huge zucchini lover. I find the flavor to be somewhat flat and not nearly as fresh as other vegetables, such as cucumbers. But while making dinner the other night, I found our fridge depleted of nearly all vegetables, save a lone pepper and a couple of zucchinis. I did what any not-a-fan-of-zucchini-but-needing-to-get-dinner-on-the-table-girl would do. I made a side dish.

And I actually liked it. In fact...I'm planning on making it again. (say what?!)

Zucchini and Tomato Sauté

Ingredients

One Green Zucchini

One Yellow Zucchini

Can of Tomatoes

One Green Onion

Olive Oil

One Clove of Garlic

Fresh Basil

Oregano

Salt & Pepper

Directions

Heat up some olive oil in a small pot. Finely chop the onions and toss in the olive oil. Peel the zucchinis and chop into slices; sprinkle with salt and put with onions. Let cook until the zucchini is tender, then pour half a can of tomatoes into the pot. Crush one clove of garlic and mince it into fine pieces. Put a dash of salt, black pepper, and dried oregano in the pot and stir in the garlic. After it's reduced for a few minutes, put the basil leaves into the pot and stir. Top with some fresh basil and serve as a side or eat as a snack.

If there's not enough tomatoes to appease any tomato-lovers, simply add the rest of the can. The flavor is reminiscent of spaghetti and the basil adds a wonderful depth to the dish. Season to taste, but go easy on the oregano. Next time I make it, I have ideas for making it into a pasta sauce instead. Wish me luck!

I love...

...Fresh yellow peppers

...peaches

...the fact that this list has only been about food so far

...little boys watching rain

...schweppes tonic water

...planning for fall

...dreams of leaves, pumpkins, scarves, and cinnamon

...trains tracks all over the floor
...a clean room
...sunlight streaming in through windows

...homemade cookies made by our neighbor

...cookies in general

...the fact that fall is coming and that means lots of baking

...which means lots more cookies

...which also means pretending to have more willpower than I actually do

...and consequently, losing to this so-called willpower

...grace and belle coloring outside under the umbrella

...lazy summer days

...the fact that the library is only about five minutes away

...zucchini with tomatoes (recipe coming soon)
...making dinner up on the spot
...dinner on the spot turning out delicious
...reading books to the boys before bed

...newspaper toenails

...realizing I just put a picture of my ballet-mangled toes on my blog

...friends who paint my toes

...driving all around looking for a beach with friends

...not finding a beach so instead making icecream sundaes

...laughing

...laughing mostly at myself

...tomatoes from the garden, almost ready to eat
...the light at 8:15 at night
...homemade gluten-free naan (another recipe I'm excited to share with you!)

...and the list continues...

what are you loving on this lovely summer day?

linking up with friday favorites