Waffles with cinnamon apple topping

Apple season in Upstate NY has been AMAZING this year.  After last spring's late frost killed off most of the apple blossoms we weren't able to go apple picking last fall- and the apples that have been in the stores for the last year have been terrible.  But not any more!  This year was a bumper crop and the apples are the biggest I've ever seen.  

I lucked out a few weeks ago at the Public Market and scored a 1/2 bushel for $5 of Gala apples.  Not my favorite eating apple- but a great apple sauce apple.  $5 for literally 15 jars worth of apple sauce are now in my freezer.

We also went apple picking a the Victor Apple Farm (not quite so economical- $30 for that same 1/2 bushel's worth).  

So what do we do with all the apples?  Once you're sick of making apple sauce you give them to your husband to make breakfast!  Here's what he came up with on his own last weekend:

INGREDIENTS

2 apples, cored, peeled & sliced

1/2 cup walnuts (or pecans)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

There is probably a recipe with more panache than this.  But we aren't those kind of cooks.  Throw everything in a frying pan over medium heat and cook until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes.  Serve over pancakes or waffles.

VERDICT

Breakfast on the table and I didn't have to lift a finger?  Who am I to complain?

This is so quick and easy to whip up, it's the perfect fall breakfast.

School Snack- Fruite & Cheese Kabobs

I've got to be honest.  Being responsible for snack at preschool once a month is so stressful to me.

It's not as easy as going to the store and buying a box of animal crackers and a carton of milk.  If only.

The stress comes from the restrictive diet that all of the little preschoolers are on.  Snacks are supposed to be nutritious (read: no cookies) and not contain the following ingredients:

eggs

peanuts

peanut butter

tree nuts

red dye number 4... or is it 12?

Mangoes

So that leaves me with what, carrot sticks?

This is the snack we went for today.  I was kind of proud of the mini skewers, even though I resorted to toothpicks when I realized late last night that we didn't have any kabob skewers after all.

So here you have it:

Cheese
Strawberries
Grapes

You could also use blueberries, cantaloupe, pineapple... or whatever else will not fall apart when you stick it with a tooth pick.

If I were a kid in preschool I'd be happier with frosted animal crackers, but that's just me :)

Frozen Banana Popsicles

I am always hungry.  Always.  I could eat all day long.  These (somewhat) healthy banana pops are a great snack to have in the freezer.

INGREDIENTS

2 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels, melted
1 tsp oil (helps to thin the chocolate
sprinkles

DIRECTIONS

Cut each banana into 4 pieces (once lenght-wise, once in half).  Skewer with popsicle stick or wooden grilling skewer.

Roll in melted chocolate.  Put onto baking sheet lined with wax paper and put into freezer.

Done.

VERDICT

That's it.  A frozen banana covered in chocolate.  It's not the most unique recipe, but it does the trick.