Apples and Smores

Oh, how I love Fall!  All throughout the summer, I find myself at random moments day dreaming about the day when my cardigan and I will be reunited while sitting outside in the cool, crisp air sipping my morning coffee and nibbling on a piece of pumpkin bread.  (okay, okay...devouring my pumpkin bread)
To say that Fall weather makes me happy is a gross understatement.

So, what I have I done this week to celebrate the beginning of this joyful season?

Smores baby!  That's right, we got a fire going in our fire pit and indulged in some good ole' marshmallow roasting and smores. Or mushroom roasting.....if you're my 3 yr old son.

And this was just the icing on the cake because before we roasted "mushrooms", we enjoyed a bowl of chili and some homemade cornbread too!

Why stop there when you can also make Apple Cinnamon muffins for breakfast too?  I love when I get to bake in my kitchen and then actually enjoy a taste of what I made without breaking a sweat!

Nothing screams Fall any louder to me than a pot of chili, cornbread, smores and baked apple goodness. So, I'll share the wealth! ;)

My Chili Recipe:

Ground Turkey
Vegetable Juice (one bottle)
1 large can of diced tomatoes
2 cans of black beans
1 can of pinto beans
1 can of kidney beans
minced garlic
chopped green onions
salt/pepper
parsley
chili powder
1 packet of chili seasoning

-Brown your meat; season with salt, pepper, garlic, parsley and chili powder.
-Add your vegetable juice, diced tomatoes, onions, beans and chili seasoning to a large pot; adding meat when it is cooked.
-bring to a boil and then cover and let simmer on low until ready to eat.
-Enjoy a bowl, topped with a dollop of sour cream and some shredded cheese.

*I have been known to throw in things like shredded carrots and other veggies into my chili too, but this is the basic recipe.

Sweet Corn Bread

1 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
3/4 cup all purpose flour or whole wheat flour (I use 1/2 cup wheat and 1/4 cup all purpose)
1/3 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use applesauce instead)

-Preheat oven to 425. Grease a loaf pan or an 8in square pan.
-mix dry ingredients.
-mix eggs, milk and oil (applesauce)
-add the two mixtures together and pour into pan.
-bake for 25 min or until toothpick comes out of center clean.

This is so yummy that you don't even need chili or soup to eat it!


Apple Cinnamon Muffins

1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (you can also use 1 cup all purpose and 1/2 cup wheat)
2 tablespoons oats
1-2 tablespoons wheat germ
1 egg
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 apple- peeled and chopped
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar

-Preheat oven to 375. Grease your muffin pan or line with muffin cups.
-mix together your dry ingredients.
-mix together your eggs, applesauce, vanilla, butter and chopped apples.
-add the two mixtures together and pour into muffin cups.
-sprinkle some sugar atop each one and bake for 15-20 minutes.

So delicious!
Soon, very soon, I'll share my Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffin recipe too and you will L-O-V-E me for it!
But for now....
Enjoy!