Crockpot Baked Apple... Sauce?

Since I'm not one for following recipes exactly, I've learned that I often end up with something I wasn't initially expecting. For instance, I set out this morning to make some festive baked apples in my crock pot. While I'm a fairly seasoned apple baker, I've never attempted to make them in my crock pot. So, when I found this recipe on Pinterest, I was excited!

Skinny Chef's Baked Apples

Apparently, I did something wrong along the way. The apples were falling apart a full hour before they were supposed to be done. I have a few theories on what might have gone wrong. First, it is possible I scooped out too much flesh when I cored the apples. Also, the heat in my pot might have been too high, so the apples cooked much faster than they should have. Or, maybe, it just wasn't meant to be. Have any thoughts??

When I saw my apples were not the aesthetically-pleasing subjects I hoped they would be, I closed up the lid and let them continue to stew. I didn't end up with lovely baked apples today, but I come out with my very first attempt at homemade apple sauce! Meli and I ate it warm out of the pot and we were both salivating for seconds after quickly devouring our first bowls. YUMMM! What a wonderful mistake.

fully-mashed sauce

the way I ate my apples - soft and unmashed with an extra bit of margarine

I can't say that all my cooking and baking mistakes turn out this well. In fact, this is a rare treat. I'm thrilled with the results and I'm looking forward to trying the recipe again (both versions -- sauce and baked apples!).

In case you're interested, below in BLUE is the original recipe from which I took my inspiration. I modified it quite a bit. I cored the apples, stuffed them each with a few spoons of brown sugar, topped the sugar with one pat of margarine per apple, and sprinkling each apple pot with a healthy dose of cinnamon and a pinch of ground clove. I did pour cider over the apples and into the pot, as well. The apples were split open in about an hour's time and they were sauce-soft by 2.5hr. I used Macintosh apples.

coring apples, stuffed apples, happily cooking, saucy apples

Original Recipe from Skinny Chef

Ingredients

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons trans-fat free margarine
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 Gala or Macintosh apples, cored
1/2 cup apple juice or apple cider
2 tablespoons orange liquor (optional)

Directions

Preheat a large crock-pot on high heat and preset it for 3 hours. In a large bowl, mix brown sugar, walnuts, margarine, and cinnamon. Fill the apples with the filling and place them in the crock-pot. Pour in the apple juice or cider and the liquor, if using. Cover and cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours on high heat until the apples are soft and begin to collapse.

Bench Brunch

Since I started staying home, Amelia and I have created a few new Mama-and-Little-Sweetie traditions.  One of my favorites is Bench Brunch.  A few times a week, we prepare a snack and hit the road.  We take the stroller out of our subdivision and down the street a little ways to our favorite bench.  Once there, we settle in for a bite to eat and a talk about the world around us.  Sometimes we identify cloud shapes, other times we watch the resident hawks hunt.  On especially pretty days, like today, we extend our walk and explore the neighborhood a bit.  On the way home, Amelia always asks me to recline her seat ("make it a hammock, Mama!") and she watches the sky drift by. 

 

Here we are heading out this morning.  I've learned the key to a relaxing Bench Brunch is preparedness.  We each have a snack, water, and a yummy drink (milk for her, tea for me).  We clip my insulated lunchbox to the stroller with a Mommy Hook (love those things!) and then we clip Hammie's leash to the same hook.  I've learned the hard way that Hamlet's leash will slip through my hands right as my tea starts to fall and the stroller tries to jump off the road.  This simplifies the situation just a bit.  This morning was our first BB accompanied by cool autumn breezes, so we also equipped ourselves with light jackets.  What a concept!

Isn't this pathway inviting? 

Today we discovered morning glory blooms in our backyard area!  We have conservation land behind the house and the growth of the foliage in the past year has been outstanding.  I love finding new treasures like these.

I believe the very best part of this little routine we keep is that Amelia and I look forward to it equally.  When I mention is, she is overcome with excitement.   It warms my heart to have something like this to share with her.  As she grows, I hope we continue to keep this tradition.

What traditions or routines do you have?  What special activity calms your mind and lightens your soul?