mmmmm: homemade cinnamon applesauce

my mom used to make this recipe when i was a little girl. it still brings back memories and fills me with nostalgia. it makes me think of fall and winter and is just sweet enough to be a dessert on the coldest of days. 

cinnamon applesauce

4 medium apples, cored, peeled and sliced

1 cup of water 

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg


heat apples and water in a pot until water is boiling. boil down apples and water for 10 minutes until apples are tender. 

add brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. simmer on low heat for another 20 minutes until water is reduced and   mixture has thickened. serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold. if you like a pureed consistency, put the finished mixture in a food processor and pulse a few beats until smooth.

mmmmm, mondays: homemade granola bars

i have a great friend who is a master at all things homemade. she makes her own bread, does everything from scratch and makes the best meals for her family. she is a rock star. i had her granola bars and had to have the recipe for myself. it is a huge hit in this household.

homemade granola bars

4 1/2 cups oats

1/2 cup coconut oil or melted butter

3/4 cup honey

1 cup whole wheat flour

Optional add ins:

chia seeds

chopped pecans

wheat germ

chocolate chips


mix the oats, oil/butter, honey and whole wheat flour until all the ingredients are mixed well and completely coated. add whichever add ins you would like. my family loves the pecans and chocolate chips. mix well.

press into a 9 x 13 pan. bake at 320 degrees for 18-20 minutes. cool and cut into bars. enjoy!

mmmmm, mondays: homemade pizza dough

i'm obsessed with homemade pizza lately. i can't seem to get enough of it and the more recipes i try, the more i'm hooked. if you are going to make your own pizza and don't feel like buying the refrigerated pizza dough fantastically made by pillsbury, here are two dough recipes to try. come back for the next couple of weeks for my favorite pizza treats...

if you have a bread maker, here's my favorite bread machine recipe:

bread machine pizza dough

4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 3/8 cups water

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

add all the ingredients into the bread machine. set to the "dough" setting. once dough is finished, pat the dough into a 12 x 15 inch jelly roll pan. if you like thin crust pizza, this can be divided into two smaller, thinner pizzas. if you want a thin crust pizza, precook your pizza dough for 5 minutes at 400 degrees before adding toppings and baking. if using the dough for one large pizza, top with your favorite toppings and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

if you don't have a bread machine, this recipe is just as good.

easy homemade pizza dough

1 package active dry yeast

5 oz. warm water

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups all purpose flour

add yeast to the water. add spices and stir until the yeast is dissolved. add 1 cup of flour. mix. work the rest of the flour into the mixture. spread over a pizza pan or a jelly roll pan. add toppings. let set in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

enjoy!