Apple Cake with quick caramel frosting

This is an amazingly yummy fall recipe and so quick to throw together.  It's one my mom gave me years ago and I have not a clue where she got it- my Memommy maybe?  If you are one of those sadly deluded people who think that things can be "too sweet" then you might not be a fan (or you just might scrape off most of the icing like my husband did) but if you are a true sweets lover than indulge!

Apple Cake

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

3 cups chopped apples

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 pckg butterscotch chips (optional- use if you are NOT frosting with caramel icing)

Mix oil, sugar and eggs.  Sift dry ingredients and add to sugar mixture.  Add vanilla.  Stir in apples and nuts.  If using, sprinkle with butterscotch chips.  Bake 1 hr at 350 in 9x13 pan.  Leave out chips if you plan to make caramel frosting.

Caramel Frosting- quick and easy

(this is a great substitute for the old fashioned caramel icing that can be pretty difficult)

Melt 1 stick butter (1/2 cup).  Add 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar and 1/4 cup milk.  Bring to a boil and stir for 2 minutes.   Remove from stove and add 2 cups powdered sugar.  Beat until creamy and frost cooled cake.  

Tip:  I poke holes in the top of the cake before frosting it because how could it not be good for the frosting to seep down into the cake?!  

Make your own salads

This has become a favorite in our house especially on busy days.  The girls love the "make your own" aspect of it and I love it because it's (mostly) healthy and quick and easy.  No recipe really.  Just pick your toppings- we usually do tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, chives, hard boiled eggs, cheese, bacon (if I have it), craisins or raisins, sometimes olives and/or avocado and usually some type of nuts.

I found this  fabulous marinade for chicken and beef.  It's not only south beach diet friendly, it's also super easy and versatile.  Sometimes when I bring chicken home from the store, I go ahead and cut it up and put it in the marinade and then put it in the freezer in ziplocs and it's ready to go.  Other times if I haven't really planned ahead, I'll marinate the chicken just for an hour or so before cooking it and it's still just as yummy.  It's also a great marinade to use over night before grilling, but sadly we don't have a grill...

Mostly I love that we've found a fun, creative and healthy way for our girls to love salad!  

For dressing, I almost always use homemade ranch or our favorite balsamic vinegar dressing that I use for everything.  Here's that recipe...

Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

3 TBSP honey

2 TBSP dijon mustard

1-2 garlic cloves minced

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup olive oil

Combine all ingredients expect olive oil.  Gradually stir in olive oil until well blended.  Store at room temperature and shake to combine before using.

Hearty Italian Soup

(apparently I can't rotate pictures anymore-sorry!)

But turn your head sideways and marvel at how yummy this soup looks!  In my opinion, just looking at anything with spinach in it makes you healthier and this soup is so full of flavor that you really can't go wrong.  I changed the original recipe because I can't get Italian sausage here.  I used chicken instead (frozen in a 2 cup portion from several whole chickens I cooked the other night- thank you very much freezer cooking for changing my cooking life!).   I also already had the white beans ready in the freezer along with the broth so I threw this together in minutes.  So yummy!

Hearty Italian Soup

2 cups cooked chicken

2 tsp olive oil

1 large onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

48 oz chicken broth

 2 cans white beans (I used 4 cups cooked from dry)

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 tsp Italian seasoning (I used a haphazard combo of oregano, thyme and basil)

5 oz baby spinach

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (I used dry- maybe a TBSP)

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Brown onions and garlic in oil until tender.  Stir in chicken broth, chicken, beans, tomatoes,and Italian seasoning.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes.   Stir in spinach and remaining ingredients.  Cook, stirring occasionally, 5-6 minutes or until spinach is wilted.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

This was amazingly easy and SOOO good!  Here's the link...

http://crockingirls.com/recipes/crockin-pumpkin-spice-latte/