Apple Crisp

Fall is upon on and my father's apple trees are dropping apples left and right. My weekend has been one filled with picking apples, falling out of apple trees, and multiple apple desserts. Somehow this "dessert" became our breakfast and oh what a yummy breakfast it was!

Chicken Mole Enchiladas

Have you ever ordered an enchilada at a Mexican restaurant and end up with a taco shell stuffed with dry, flavorless meat then topped with a ton of flavorless red sauce that turns the meal into a gooey, unappetizing mess? I have yet to find a Mexican restaurant that can make an enchilada that I will actually enjoy eating.

Now in my own kitchen, it's a different story. Enchiladas easily become one of my favorite Mexican dishes. They are so simple to prepare and delicious to eat.  Top with mole sauce instead of the traditional red sauce, these enchiladas are over-the-top delicious.

Mexican Mole Poblano Sauce

Most people have seen the jars of mole sauce in the Mexican section at your local grocery store. If you've ever tried it, you know that it is a delicious treat. But do you know what is actually in mole sauce? 

It is quite interesting and borders on the unappetizing when you start throwing everything together into the pot. Chocolate? Peanut butter? Peppers? Tomatoes? Together!?!? I often wonder who decided to throw all these things together to make a sauce, I mean how does one decide to combine all these unique ingredients together? It almost seems as if a child just started throwing their favorite foods together into a pot. 

Wikipedia says that the most common legend surrounding the creation of this sauce comes from nuns who were too poor to afford a proper meal for the archbishop, prayed and brought together the few ingredients that they did have to create this sauce. However it was developed, Mole Poblano Sauce is delicious. 

Perfect Creamy Hot Chocolate

After making marshmallows last week, I have been dying for an opportunity to make some hot chocolate. Tonight is one of those perfect evenings that just screams for a over sized blanket, the porch swing, a good book, and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. 

This is the perfect way to unwind after a crazy day at work. Some days I love my job as a preschool teacher. Other days, much like today, I come home wondering how did he manage to stick that there? 

Any great hot chocolate needs to start with a delicious chocolate syrup. I prefer to make my own. I made up a small batch, just enough for two cups of hot chocolate. It's simple and takes less than 5 minutes. There is no reason not to make your own. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

I walked into work on September 4th and over half my coworkers were carrying around Starbucks coffee cups, sipping on a pumpkin spice latte. I, however, refuse to indulge in a "fall treat" when it is 79 degrees outside and not a single leaf has fallen from the trees. Maybe if I still lived in Ohio where it was in the 50's a few weeks ago I'd have indulged in this wonderful treat, wait...no I wouldn't. I am just not a fan of Starbucks. I have never acquired a taste for their coffee in general. Also, I am poor, I cannot afford $5 drinks. I am much happier making my own coffee drinks. Plus I know exactly what goes into it. 

Fluffy, Homemade Marshmallows

It's Friday night, I have no life so what's a girl to do except make some marshmallows? 

These little cloud-like pieces of heaven are a little tricky to make the first time because of one's desire to scrape the bowl thoroughly and to smooth out the top of the marshmallows once you pour them into the pan. If you can avoid these two very messy and futile impulses, marshmallows are really quite simple to make. 

They also roast up deliciously in my toaster oven to make yummy s'mores. 

Slow Cooker Italian Roast

Today has been a lazy Sunday. The weather can't make up it's mind yet rather it is still summer or if it is turning into fall. Yesterday was a gorgeous, fall-like day. Today it's summer. High temperatures and high humidity. A perfect day to be curled up on the couch with a book, inside my nice air conditioned living room.

My extreme laziness even extended into the kitchen where dinner was assembled and put into my slow cooker around noon and eaten at 6. There is nothing nicer to accompany a lazy Sunday than a good, old-fashioned Sunday Roast Beef dinner.