Crock Pot Apple Crisp

One year ago today I posted the driveway apple crisp story and recipe, today it's this one for making crisp in the crockpot. I made this last week and in the rush forgot to take a picture! I've done it this way many times and it's delish :)

• 6 apples
• 2 T. lemon  juice
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 1 T. cornstarch
• 1/2 t. ginger
• 1/2 t. cinnamon

for the topping

• 1 c. flour
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. white sugar
• 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. nutmeg
• 1/2 c. butter
• pinch of salt

Peel and chop the apples; add the remaining ingredients (lemon juice, sugar, cornstarch, ginger, cinnamon) and stir to combine with the apples. Place in a crockpot sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix together the dry ingredients for the topping, cut in the butter until it is about the size of peas (you can use two forks, a pastry blender, or your fingers - although your fingers will warm the butter and make it a little harder to incorporate, it still works though). Cover the apples with the topping. 

Cook on LOW heat for 4 hours; prop the lid open with a wooden spoon and cook another hour - letting air in for the final hour helps the topping get crispy. 

PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TESHA!!! 

11.30.22: driveway apple crisp

11.30.21: tip-sy tuesday: cutting board for rolling cookies

11.30.20: penne alla vodka 

11.30.19: margarita cupcakes

11.30.18: pinecone gnome

11.30.17: golf glove counter

11.30.16: pumpkin bread

11.30.15: pill box travel organizer

Mediterranean Turkey Meatloaf

You might be sick of turkey at this point but this ground turkey meatloaf is completely different than last week's roasted turkey!

I know this is a terrible picture! It looks way better in person. 

I saw this recipe in a Costco Connection magazine from this month - we usually like their recipes but this one I'm not positive about. The flavor is good, it was easy to put together, but the texture is very soft almost to the point of not being able to slice it and I'm not sure why. I doubled the recipe because it calls for 1.67 lbs of ground turkey and my store only sells it in 1pound packages - I found a family sized package that was 3 lbs so I figured I'd just double it. I didn't adjust any of the seasonings or other ingredients so maybe adding 4 eggs was too many, or maybe it needed more panko - I don't know. It did firm up a bit more after refrigerating it overnight, so there's that. I'll try this again and not double it next time, and bake it the day before serving it (or baking it in the morning and letting it cool to firm up).

• 2/3 cup onion, finely diced
• 1 T. oil
• 8 oz. canned tomato sauce, divided
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 T. fresh basil, finely chopped
• 2 t. garlic, minced
• 2 1/2 t. Italian seasoning
• 1 1/2 t. fine sea salt
• 1/4 t. black pepper
• 1/4 t. crushed red pepper
• 2/3 cup panko
• 1 package (1.67 lbs.) Butterball ground turkey
• 1 T. balsamic glaze
• 1 t. sugar
• 1/3 cup shredded Italian blend cheese 

Preheat oven to 350'. In a small pan, cook onion in oil until soft. Cool slightly and drain.

In a large bowl, add 4 oz. tomato sauce, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, basil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, red pepper and panko. Mix thoroughly. Gently mix in ground turkey,

Spray a 9x5" loaf pan with cooking spray,. Transfer the meat mixture to the loaf pan, rounding the top of the mixture. Bake 45 minutes. Meanwhile, mix remaining tomato sauce, balsamic glaze and sugar with a whisk. 

Remove pan from oven. Spread tomato glaze evenly on top. Add cheese. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165'. Cool 10 minutes before slicing. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

11.29.22: mustard and pepper pork tenderloin

11.29.21: stuffed burgers

11.29.20: 🔥 week 48

11.29.19: all the green things salad

11.29.18: pinecone elves

11.29.17: smoothie bowl

11.29.16: make a pocket towel for the guest room

11.29.15: mini pineapple-upside-down cakes

Tip-sy Tuesday: Glue Gun Station

I saw this idea to make a glue gun station using dollar store napkin holders and a silicone sink basket - I found the napkin holders no problem but have checked a few different dollar stores and have not had luck finding the silicone basket thing. I did find silicone pot holders though and figured I could craft my glue gun station a little differently and so far it works great! 

I zip-tied 2 napkin holders together, put a pot holder/hot pad in each side and zip-tied them in place thru the one hole (I probably could poke holes thru the silicone to add more zip-ties if they move around too much). 

Here's the inspiration photo - I'll continue looking for a sink basket like this one but in the meantime the pot holder idea is working just fine. 

11.28.22: monday fun-day 

11.28.21: 🔥 week 48

11.28.20: cast iron blackened salmon

11.28.19: Thanksgiving '19

11.28.18: Cathy's rolled oats cake

11.28.16: felt feather barrettes

11.28.15: pompom purse charm

Advent Gifts

I did this last year for the first time and it was a hit so I'm doing it again - it doesn't cost much (other than some time!), was fun for me to do and fun for my people!

This is sort of a non-post just a fun idea to share with you in case you'd like to do something like this. The dollar stores/Walmart/Meijer, etc have all kinds of inexpensive little things (chapstick, hand sanitizer, puzzles, decorative crap, candy, snacks, drinks); I also buy packages of cellophane gift bags (I think there are 20 per pack) and gift tags that I write #1 thru #24 - wrap each little gift in tissue, put in the gift bags and add tags for each day. 

Write a little note to each person that they should open a present a day, starting with #1 on December 1st. It's really fun for me when they text or send pictures of what they opened that day. 

I don't have pictures, it's a box filled with 24 little bags of shizzle :)

11.27.22: 🔥 week 48

11.27.21: corn and tomato saute

11.27.20: the moist maker sandwich (from Friends)

11.27.19: how to fold a turkey napkin

11.27.18: pinecone angels

11.27.17: styrofoam snowman

11.27.16: crock-pot green bean casserole

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 48)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

11/19: 🔥 week 47

11/20: turkey and brie grilled cheese

11/21: TT Thanksgiving foods ok to give dogs

11/22: pickled cranberries

11/23: Happy Thanksgiving 2023

11/24: black friday

11/25: words

What's Cooking ~

• turkey
• turkey
• turkey
• turkey
• turkey

Just kidding hahha, but that's what it felt like for the past few days LOL! 

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

11.26.22: turkey charcuterie 

11.26.21: black friday

11.26.20: happy thanksgiving '20

11.26.19: tip-sy tuesday: aluminum foil

1.26.18: Miss Lori's Christmas wreath

11.26.17: birds on a wire artwork

11.26.16: mulled cider

  

11/25 ~ Words

11.25.22: black friday '22

11.25.21: last minute plate stand 

11.25.20: how to roast a turkey

11.25.19: cork turkeys

11.25.18: 🔥 week 47

11.25.17: oatmeal scotchies 

11.25.16: zehnders cranberry relish

11.25.15: turkey napkin folding

Black Friday '23

I was confused when shopping with Tesha last week and all the stores were doing 'Black Friday' specials - but it wasn't the day after Thanksgiving (obviously)...so what gives? Tesha said since Covid the stores are trying to spread out the sales so everyone doesn't all go to the mall on the same day - ok, I guess that makes sense. Except the mall was packed on the 10th, we struggled to even find a parking spot - so I'm thinking the whole 'spread the sales out' concept is another ploy to get us shopping LOL. 

Anyway - if Black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving is your thing, I hope you have a good day full of amazing deals, no people because they all shopped earlier in the month, and can find a parking spot. 

11.24.22: happy Thanksgiving 

11.24.21: buffalo (and buffalo-less) chicken dip 

11.24.20: tip-sy tuesday: how to make gravy

11.24.19: 🔥 week 47

11.24.18: Cathy made over a dining room set

11.24.17: black friday funny

11.24.16: butthole bread funny 

11.24.15: gravy and a funny

Happy Thanksgiving 2023

I'm thankful and grateful for so many things - among them are my faith, my family (especially excited to have our new addition and first grand-niece Georgie in our family), good friends, my furry and feathery kids, gravy, the ability to live my life the way I want (filled with making stuff!) and you guys reading my blog of course! 

Happy Thanksgiving - I hope you enjoy your day whether it's at home, with family, or having "friendsgiving" with friends that are the family you get to choose :).

Whoever posted the above pic on romper.com wrote this underneath - stretchy pants made me laugh: 

Please call the poor holiday by its actual name. It gets upstaged by Christmas enough, anyway. And don't forget to express gratitude for the things that are most important to you this Thanksgiving, from dogs, to grandparents, to stretchy pants.

11.23.22: make-ahead mashed potatoes re-run

11.23.21: egg shells 

11.23.20: 🔥week 47

11.23.19: turkey gravy (it's foolproof - you can do it!)

11.23.18: fabric bread basket

11.23.16: make ahead mashed potatoes 

11.23.15: organize your cookie cutters

Pickled Cranberries

Pickled...come again? Cranberries? Well that's just weird haha. But ok, I'll bite.

The author says they are great as a condiment for ham or poultry, on a charcuterie board, or in sparkling cocktails. I usually buy a bag or 2 of cranberries to make cranberry sauce or for decorating the dining table (or for Mary's delicious cranberry cake - yum!), now I'm adding pickling to the list. These don't take long to make at all, once you have the ingredients they come together in minutes.  I love the combo of tart cranberries, vinegar, spices, and the syrupy texture. They are really good! 

• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
• 2 cups fresh cranberries

Combine vinegar, sugar, salt, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a small pot and bring to boil for 2 minutes.

Add cranberries to pot and continue to boil about 3 minutes, until cranberries begin to split.

Remove from heat and transfer into a one pint canning jar.

Cover and cool completely.

Store refrigerated and wait 24-48 hours before serving.

I was at Costco last Saturday - it's now forever going
to be called Apocalypse Saturday 😂

11.22.22: mashed squashes re-run

11.22.21: baked brie with fig preserves

11.22.19: Thanksgiving and your dog

11.22.18: mashed butternut and acorn squash

11.22.17: turkey cheeseball (and cranberry relish, green bean casserole)

11.22.16: herb butter

11.22.15: nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies 

Tip-sy Tuesday: Thanksgiving Food Do's and Don't for the Dog

Happy 11th Birthday to the Sarge! For today's tip I'm re-posting this information about what Thanksgiving foods are ok (and not ok) to give your dog - originally posted 11/2019:

I got an email from the AKC with this info about what foods you can and cannot give your dog at Thanksgiving that I think is very helpful - we try to not give Sarge people food but I have given him a bite of these allowed foods on occasion. Funny, this list also looks like a practical list of foods we should be eating and what to avoid too! But I'm not giving up the gravy so....;) 

These food are ok as long as they have no added ingredients (dairy, spices, sugar, salt, etc. - keep them plain)

• sweet potatoes
• potatoes
• apples (don't let them have the seeds tho)
• turkey meat (unseasoned, no bones or skin)
• green beans and peas 
• pumpkin (not pie-spiced)
• no dessert other than something healthy like a little frozen yogurt.

Below are the items Dr. Richter, Dr. Ochoa, Dr. Klein, and the AVMA caution should NOT be served to dogs at this year’s Thanksgiving feast, due to unsafe or unhealthy ingredients:

• Turkey bones, skin, and gravy
• Stuffing
• Casseroles
• Mashed potatoes
• Creamed peas
• Chocolate, cookies, pies, and sweets (especially anything containing xylitol)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Raisins and grapes
• Onions, scallions, and garlic
• Ham
• Yeast dough
• Fatty foods
• Foods containing spices

11.21.22: wine cork turkey re-run

11.21.21: 🔥 week 47

11.21.20: maple dijon chicken thighs

11.21.19: MSIH: butternut mac and cheese

11.21.18: lightbulb pear

11.21.17: yarn-wrapped bottle

11.21.16: how to make turkey gravy

11.21.15: Sarge's birthday pupcakes

 

Turkey and Brie Grilled Cheese

Thanksgiving is coming up quickly and I'm already thinking about what to do with the leftovers! This sandwich sounds great and I can't wait to make it - it might not be as over-the-top as the 'moist maker' haha but I know I'm still going to like it. 

(I'm borrowing this photo until I can update it with one of my own)

• 2 slices sourdough bread
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 2 thick slices roasted turkey breast
• 1 thin slice of brie, rind removed
• 3 tablespoons whole cranberry sauce

Spread one side of one slice of bread with half of the softened butter. Place the slice, butter side down, in a cold nonstick skillet. Add turkey and brie, spread cranberry sauce over the brie. Top with the other slice of bread and spread the remaining butter over the entire surface of the top slice.

Place the skillet over medium-low heat, cook for 3-5 minutes or until the bottom of the sandwich is lightly browned. Carefully flip it over and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. 

recipe found here

11.20.22: 🔥 week 47

11.20.21: how to roast a turkey

11.20.20: apple pie and ice cream hack by B

11.20.19: fall tutu wreath (I ended up putting this on top of a basket and it looked so cool!)

11.20.18: make a pumpkin vase
11.20.17: yarn wrapped wheat
11.20.16: Jen's spinach salad
11.20.15: leaf lantern

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 47)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

11/12: 🔥 week 46

11/13: wine cork reversible pumpkin/snowman

11/14:  non-alcoholic cocktails 

11/15: turkey vegetable tray

11/16: holiday cheeseballs

11/17: kid craft: clay pot turkey

11/18: words

What's Cooking ~

• grilled pork chops, butternut squash, beet and spinach salad
• pizza, salad
• chicken, roasted broccoli and mushrooms, herb rice mix
• baked bbq salmon, roasted asparagus, parmesan couscous
• turkey meatloaf, mashed cauliflower, steamed green beans

I'm posting this in honor of Sarge who turns 11 on the 21st. 
He gets called all kinds of things in addition to his name hahah -
shrinky dink, biggie smalls, pupu platter, grump-a-saurus, grumbledore,
lovie or pookie butt, Sargento, wabbit ...
I know, most of these don't make much sense LOL

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

11.19.22: giraffe cork pencil topper

11.19.21: cauliflower mac and cheese

11.19.20: loaded brownies

11.19.19: TT: roasting squash

11.19.18: wrapped pumpkin decor (hint - it's toilet paper!)

11.19.17: Al's smoked brisket

11.19.16: glass block 'Fall' 

   

11/18 ~ Words

11.18.22: Grandma Jan's bbq (sloppy joes)

11.18.21: porcupine meatballs 

11.18.20: loaded cream cheese brownies

11.18.19: scalloped carrots

11.18.18: 🔥weekly recap
11.18.17: how to make a paper box
11.18.16: silhouette art by Brooke
11.18.15: roasted cherry tomatoes

Kid Craft: Clay Pot Turkey

I wish I would have thought to have Kade and Kayleigh make these clay pot turkeys last week when they were here - we made the fun gingerbread houses but these are super cute and quick to make, I bet they would have had fun creating their own turkeys :) Since I didn't think ahead, I decided to still make one all by myself and therefore it's just a plain old turkey without the involvement of little creative brains hahah. 

These would be cute with fall-colored or colorful bright feathers, I went with small brown feathers and would have preferred taller ones but this is what I have on hand. My 'kid-craft' ended up being sort-of adultish - well, if anything with googly eyes can be considered grown-up that is  haha!  

Glue feathers of your choice onto the back of a miniature clay pot (they come in a pack at the dollar store), add googly eyes and felt pieces for its face. Easy-peasy. 

11.17.22: italian sausage pasta

11.17.21: chocolate zucchini brownies 

11.17.20: TT: cast iron pan info

11.17.19: 🔥 week 46

11.17.18: homemade applesauce

11.17.17: planting tulip bulbs

11.17.16: pet food and holidays - do and don'ts

11.17.15: Thanksgiving tree

Holiday Cheeseballs (pumpkin, turkey, and snowman)

I haven't made any of these yet but they are too cute not to share in case you want to make one for Thanksgiving - I do love a cheeseball hahha, and then to make them into these cute shapes is perfect for the next couple months :)

I'm sharing their photos since I don't have my own pics or changes to share with you yet, click the link below for the recipes, videos, and more photos. 

found here at hgtv.com

11.16.22: double chocolate zucchini muffins

11.16.21: Cincinnati chili

11.16.20: cast iron pizza

11.16.19: corny corn bread 

11.16.18: pinecone wreath

11.16.17: doggie pupcakes

11.16.16: fall circle garland

11.16.15: DIY cookie stand

Non-Alcoholic Cocktails

I don't usually make or order mocktails because I feel like they are just either combined juices, soda water,  or pop and don't seem very interesting to me - but there are definitely times when it's better to either not drink, or not drink too much haha so I went on the search for some zero alcohol drink ideas. Take Thanksgiving dinner for example - there's generally a lot going on getting the meal together and wanting to talk to your people, and for me drinking just adds to the chaos and makes me forget what I'm doing! Here are a couple recipes that sound much more interesting than club soda with lime that I'm going to have on hand in case anyone else wants to join me in a (non-alcoholic) beverage: 

Virgin Grapefruit Mojito

• 1/4 ruby or pink grapefruit, cut into small chunks and seeds removed
• 2 tbs. agave syrup or honey
• 12 fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
• 1/2 cup pink grapefruit soda or flavored mineral water, plus more as needed
• mint sprigs, for garnish

Put the grapefruit pieces, agave and mint in a cocktail shaker. Using a muddler, smash the fruit until the juice is released. Add one cup small ice cubes to the shaker with the half cup soda; attach the lid and shake furiously until combined. Divide between two rocks glasses, add more ice if desired, and top off with additional soda. Stir, garnish with mint sprigs and serve. Makes 2 drinks

recipe found here 

note: I might cut corners and use grapefruit juice instead of grapefruit pieces!

Virgin Cucumber Gimlet

• 1.5 oz club soda
• 4-5 slices of muddled cucumber
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup

Combine all ingredients and shake with ice. Serve in a rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a rolled cucumber slice.

recipe found here

note: I probably won't garnish with a rolled cucumber slice but it sounds pretty. 

Virgin Cosmopolitan

• 3 ounces cranberry juice
• 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 ounces sparkling water
• 1 ounce orange juice
• sugar, optional for the rim

Place cranberry juice, lime juice, and sparkling water in a shaker; add ice and shake gently. Pour into a martini glass, add the orange juice and serve. 

Notes: 

*if you want a sugared rim - before pouring the drink into the glass - put some sugar on a plate, run the cut side of a piece of lime around the rim, roll the outer edge of the glass in the sugar. 

*use a low sugar cranberry juice for a healthier alternative.

*shake gently, just enough to combine. The fizz in the soda water can make the cocktail shaker lid fly off if you shake too vigorously. 

recipe found here

11.15.22: seeing eye person 

11.15.21: pinecone wreath

11.15.20: 🔥 week 46

11.15.19: green bean salad

11.15.18: pinecone birds

11.15.17: Brooke's nutella mug cake

11.15.16: deviled egg short-cut (I do this all the time!)

11.15.15: Thanksmas