Easy Peasy Apple Sauce

I love eating apple sauce with pork chops!!  I think this is probably one of the best combinations there is.  What is even better is that pork chops and apple sauce is very much a paleo meal!!!  YAY!!!  So I made this for dinner and I wanted to share the recipe for the apple sauce because it is so easy and so yummy.  I have not been able to eat apple sauce out of a jar since I started making this.  It does take some time to peel and cut all of the apples but the freshness is so worth it!

I started with a bag of apples.  I used red delicious because they were the best deal. 

I cut the apples into sections.  I think this is the easiest way to cut out the core and cut off the skin.  I use a little pairing knife.  If I had an apple peeler, slicer, corer thingy then I would use that but I don't so I use a knife.  This part takes the longest.

I then chop the apples into little pieces and put them in a pan.  The smaller you chop the pieces the faster your apples will become apple sauce.  My apples are not very small but I like my sauce chunky.  I then add about 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon.  You can add more or less depending on your taste.  I do not add any sugar.  I think apples have plenty of natural sugars in them to make them very sweet but if you want extra sweetness then this is the step where you would add a little sugar :)

I cook the apples on medium heat. Make sure to keep stirring them.  The apples are full of sugars and can burn easily.  If you feel like they are getting too hot then go ahead and turn the heat down.  After about 15 minutes they look like this:

I cooked my apples for about 30 minutes.  Again, I like them a little more chunky especially since I will be putting them on top of pork chops.  You can keep cooking them until they get to the consistency that you like.  Also, you can use a potato smasher to help the process along.  Here is my finished apple sauce.  Not only does it taste amazing, it also smells amazing!!!

Recipe:

7 medium size apples
1 T cinnamon

Peel and core apple.  Chop into small pieces.  Put into a pan with cinnamon.  Cook on medium heat and stir frequently until apple sauce reaches desired consistency.

Apple Chips

Last night I was craving something sweet.  Chocolate, cookies, honey buns...all out.  So I turned to natures candy, FRUIT!!  I decided to make apple chips.  They're sweet and crunchy and I was really praying that they would cure the sweet tooth I was having.  Surprisingly, they were AWESOME!!!!
I decided to make some more today and also try pears. These are so easy to make and worth the 2 1/2 hour wait.  Yes, it takes that long but again they are worth it!

I used a mandolin to slice my fruit.  They are a little tricky to use at first but once you get the hang of it they make cutting much faster.  The mandolin also cuts the perfect width for thee chips.  I bought mine from pampered chef. 

Make sure to take the seeds out of the apples and pears after they are cut.  They will only be in a few so it won't take you to long.

Next lay them out on a greased pan and sprinkle with seasoning of your choice.  Last night I used cinnamon.  Today I'm using pumpkin spice.  Then you bake for 1 hour at 250.

 

These are half way done.  See how they're starting to shrivel up?!  I flip them over with my fingers.  Be careful because the pan is hot.  I do not season the other side.  You can if you want but I'm just worried it would be to overpowering.  Now, put them back in the oven and cook another hour.

 

 

Yay!!! They're done!!!  Take them off the pan and let them sit for a few minutes.  This will help them crisp up and become oh so yummy!!!

 

The only problem with these chips is that I cannot make them fast enough.  My children and I have already devoured them!

 

Recipe:

 

4 apples



cinnamon or seasoning of your choice

 

Preheat oven to 250.  Slice the apples thin.  Use a mandolin if you have one.  Lay the apples on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with seasoning.  Bake for 1 hour.  Flip the apples over.  Bake for a additional hour.  Take out and let cool.  Enjoy!!!

Paleo on Trial

So it's January which means resolution time.  Our family decided to make a life style change instead of going on a diet.  We are going to try Paleo.  If you want to learn more about Paleo eating you can just Google it and find loads of web pages about what to do.  In a nut shell we are eating lean meat, veggies (excluding potatoes and corn), fruits and nuts.  Everything else is out.  I am letting the kids have peanut butter, sandwiches, frozen waffles, tortillas and cheese.  I couldn't put them through to much of a shock!  I'm really excited about this life style change.  I hope to feel healthier, stronger and have more energy.  I also wouldn't mind losing a few pounds while I'm at it :)  I'll keep you updated on recipes and weight loss (if it happens).  Even though I am totally embarrassed I'm going to share some of my before pictures.  Last year I did a weight loss challenge at the gym.  I had to take pictures in just my bra and underwear.  Totally embarrassing! I almost didn't want to win the challenge because the person who did got there pictures posted for the whole world to see.  So here are a few of my before pictures with my clothes on (not near as embarrassing):