homemade applesauce

there is nothing scary about making your own applesauce.

it is so easy.

it's almost easier than opening a jar of store bought apple sauce.

side note: making applesauce this time made me get really excited about making baby food someday. [no i'm not pregs, yet...i don't think.]

applesauce

3lb bag of apples, peeled, cored & sliced

3/4c water

1/4c white sugar

1 cinnamon stick

add all ingredients to a large pot. bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer. cook until apples are soft. [20-30 mins.] pour contents into a blender & pulse until it reaches your desired consistency.

i know it seems like there are 438 types of apples at the store OR your local orchard. [i miss living around one of those.] i think the best for applesauce taste & texture are gala or fuji. go get cooking!

menu monday | november 12 - november 18

i try to stick to a weekly theme. it makes menu planning a little easier.

meatleass monday [for the most part, we try to stick to this.]

taco tuesday [or anything mexican/tex mex.]

wednesday & thursday...flexible.

panini friday [we need a carb day & we love paninis so much!]

every other saturday date night

sunday dinner with grandma [my mom]

this week, however, i am breaking all the rules & flip flopping all of my days.

monday | palermo's pizza. [we are feeling ultra lazy...& this frozen pizza is bomb.]

tuesday | red curry chicken; basmati rice

wednesday | kielbasa potato skillet

thursday | spinach salad; baked sweet potatoes

friday | thanksgiving potluck @ the squadron. i am bringing a turkey...that hopefully won't look like this:

saturday | burgers with avo, caramelized onions, bacon & chipotle mayo; spicy sweet potato fries

sunday | grilled pork chops; roasted butternut squash; green salad

steak & caramelized onion paninis

so, i have to say, i'm not a huge fan of going out to eat. [hence the meal plans.]

1. [not to pat myself on the back, but] i can totally make 99% of meals we eat out, in our own kitchen.

[honestly i think anyone can! as long as you can follow a recipe, you're half way to becoming a chef.]

2. i can do #1 for a fraction of the cost we would pay out.

3. it's way more comfortable at home.

thursday night, major barber & i went out to eat with a couple of good friends & a few guys from out of town.

leaving the men up to picking the location, they chose a steak house.

[disclaimer: i hope everyone appreciates my candor...i wouldn't normally discuss dollar amounts like this, but i just want to break it down now on the reals.]

our bill [including tip & a couple drinks for hubs] was $125!!

i don't know about you, but that's a week of groceries in our house.

after two loaves of bread & butter, i took 3 bites of my HUGE ny strip steak entree, & i was full.

SO...that leads me to...

[actually, last night...AND breakfast today!]

steak & caramelized onion paninis

2 slices fresh italian bread

2 slices sharp white cheddar

1/4 c caramelized onions

2 oz leftover steak, thinly sliced

2 oz butter, softened

butter outside of bread. inside, layer cheese, steak, onions, cheese. [i always do a top & bottom layer of cheese in my paninis, because it helps hold everything in.]

cook in a panini press, or in a frying pan over medium heat,  until golden brown.

after dinner, there was STILL leftover steak!! benjamin was positive it was for him, so he sat patiently waiting. [he never got it.] instead, i cut it into a small dice &, along with the leftover onions, saved it for a saturday morning breakfast scramble...& made 1 restaurant meal into 3.

brown sugar acorn squash

OH MY WORD... she's back!

and she's...MARRIED!

i am terribly embarrassed that i have neglected this baby blog, but my excuse is valid. i was planning a wedding while housing all of my in laws. [needless to say, i was a busy lady.]

that being said, i am officially signed, sealed, delivered, mrs. barber. no big deal! i am certainly not the first or last to say this, but i never want this over-the-moon-head-in-the-clouds phase to wear off...the one where you can't stop saying "my husband."

so, now that i'm home and doing my housewifery, i am also going to keep up with this blog project. i. will. be. a. blogger. [not striving to be one of the popular, cool kids; just the kind who starts a project & sticks to it.]

so, onto...

holy moly. this is a treat. being off the wedding diet wagon means carbs & fat served in a bowl of deliciousness. growing up, this was our mom' way of sneaking veg onto our plates. now i know better, but it's still supremely awesome next to it's friends, a juicy pork chop & fresh, steamed green beans.

brown sugar acorn squash

2 acorn squash, cut in half lengthwise & seeded

1/4c h2o

1 stick butter [don't judge me.]

8 T light brown sugar

preheat oven to 350°F. place squash halves [two at a time] face down, in a 8x8 glass baking dish. fill dish with 1/8c water. microwave on high for 7 minutes. take out of micro [caution: HOT!!] & flip over into 9x13 baking dish. [repeat with other halves.] fill each half with 2 T butter & 2 T sugar. bake for 20 minutes, or until sugar is melted.