Crockpot pumpkin apple butter

This is a very easy and healthy apple butter with added pumpkin because I LOVE pumpkin anything! You can adjust the amount of spices to your liking as I don't really measure for the most part!

Ingredient list:

5lb bag apples (I used Gala)
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 C brown sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 15oz can pumpkin

-I used an apple corer to quickly cut the apples into 8 pieces (leave the skin on)
-Put all the apple slices into your crockpot and squeeze the lemon juice over it. Next,  spread on the pumpkin puree and add your spices. Close the lid and cook on low for 6 hrs. Half way through give everything a good stir to incorporate.  Once done cooking, use an immersion blender or standard one (which I used) to puree the mixture to desired consistency.  ENJOY! What I made fit into the jars pictured below. My family loves this version and I might need to hide a jar for myself! :)

Homemade wedding gift!

 My wonderful sister who has her own business creating works of wood burned design, made this for my fiance and I as a gift! She is quite talented and I definitely recommend her hand crafted pieces for yourself or as gifts to those you love! Check out her Facebook page or her blog for details!



 https://www.facebook.com/IronwoodTreasures



http://ironwoodtreasures.blogspot.com/2014/09/welcome.html?spref=fb

Melon-Berry Popsicles!

 Yummy recipe I found on Spend with Pennies for Melon-Berry Popsicles :)

 I have tried a couple of my own creations with my Popsicle molds but  I love lime and must try this!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups diced seedless watermelon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 4 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze overnight!
3. Serve on a hot sunny day for a refreshing treat!

 

Homemade bar soap

~Here is a batch of homemade bar soap I started making last November when I realized how easy it was to create something that smelled great, was good for my sensitive skin and looked beautiful! All you need is a package of any type soap base you want (I use the goats milk base) you follow the directions on the package and pour into your molds of choice. These can be found in the same soap making area of the craft store. For this recipe I used vanilla essential oil and instant maple and brown sugar oatmeal. It smelled sooo good! :) AND the BEST part? It's good for you! You know exactly what's in it.  In no time you will have bar soap that you can pamper yourself with or give as gifts as I have and they will love it!

Mason Jar soap dispenser Tutorial

This is one of the mason jars I turned into a soap dispenser! I eventually removed the burlap just because my kids are still young and messy (not everyone's a neat freak lol) I used Rustoleum oil rubbed bronze spray paint and a pump I saved from an old bottle. Also make sure it's going to be long enough for the jar fyi. I punched a hole in the lid to fit the pump and hot glued underneath it very well to secure it.  I scoured Michael's scrapbook section for the tape and embellishments then sprayed clear coat over it to seal(minus the burlap) VOILA! I have made many so far and have given as gifts and I love it! Plus I make my own hand soap so this is great and saves money!

Oil Pulling

Here is something I am going to try this week! OIL PULLING! This may frighten some as it did me at first but after reading some articles on the benefits I definitely want to try this! Check out the site below for details.

http://mixwellness.com/tips/oil-pulling-101-what-it-is-why-you-should-start-doing-it/

Crock pot apple crisp yummmm!

-What to do when you have random apples and a couple packets of instant oatmeal? You make crock pot apple crisp! All you need are 8 or so small apples (any will do but use green if you don't want it too sweet) 2 maple & brown sugar oatmeal packets, brown sugar, 1 stick of melted butter, squeeze of lemon juice, cinnamon and I added a little bit of pumpkin pie spice. Cook on high for an hr then low for 2. ENJOY!

Uses for Coconut Oil

I never knew about the uses of coconut oil until more recently as discovered on pinterest and fellow oil users.  I gave it a try and I must say, I absolutely love the stuff!  You can get it almost anywhere from CVS to Meijer to Target and health food stores.  If you find the unrefined oil it will smell like coconut and it's potency is slightly higher since it's not processed first.  This is the variety that's best for taking internally i.e. in food etc... I usually get the refined because I shop at Target a lot for their specialty products and I pay about $7 for a jar.  The jar is basically a mason jar without the logo and I reuse them (since I'm earth conscious) for my homemade gifts and such :)  It is also good for thyroid trouble so I'm cooking with it quite a bit now and I love it!

All About Basil

-Basil is one of my favorite herbs! I can't wait to try the essential oil.

DIY Herb Garden

-This was my first herb window planter and it was a success! I had a small apartment at the time and this was perfect!  I love fresh herbs in my dishes and it's much more economical than buying the expensive jars of herbs at the store.  I got these herbs and planter as a set which was good for a first timer like me.  It included the seeds, soil and planter. Once the herbs got so big I had to carefully transplant to a bigger herb planter outside!  I have a dehydrator which I used do dry my fresh herbs that I picked when ready and I use cute little mason jars to store them!  I love it and it saves me money which is even better :)