Apple Nachos!

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picture from Manifest Vegan

Apple nachos?  HUH!?!  I guess I’ve been living in a cave because supposedly the blogging world have been talking about these for a while now.  I decided to give it a shot!  But… I had no peanut butter or chocolate chips.  We decided just to use some chocolate syrup instead and they were wonderful!! I wanted to make a caramel sauce, there are so many great recipes out there, but I didn’t have any cream either.  I’m going to make sure I get some stuff to make the caramel sauce with too!  I think it would be so yummy with PB, caramel and chocolate syrup! 
The way the lady above made them looks so good too but alas.. I never have that stuff around! (and if I buy it either I or Mad would eat the chocolate chips and nuts before using them in a recipe)

So. here’s an ugly picture of what ours look like, but they were so good and Maddie just loved them!  This is def. a recipe redo!!

my picture

Apple Nachos

recipe and top picture from Manifest Vegan

• 3 crispy and slightly tart apples (we ♥ honeycrisp! yum…)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp creamy natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
• 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

For these, I sliced up some apples thin enough so it would be easy to eat the slice in one or two bites. I also lightly spritzed the apples with lemon juice to keep them from browning too fast.

Then I melted some peanut butter–until it was super runny–and drizzled it all over the apples. Next, I topped the apples and peanut butter with unsweetened flaked coconut, sliced almonds, a few pecans and, of course, chocolate chips. And finally, I drizzled a little more peanut butter onto the plate. Ya know, for good measure.

Couldn’t get much easier! Be sure to eat these with your hands, just like real nachos. :)

 

Maddie enjoying her apple nachos!

Caramel Sauce Recipe

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Image from Savory Sweet Life

A while back I posted about some Apple Nachos and said I was going to try and make some Caramel Sauce.  I finally made some the other day.  It turned out alright but not as pretty as the picture above.  I used her recipe, but I used fat free half and half because I couldn’t find any low-fat or fat free whipping cream.  It still tastes pretty good and is a very light caramel color.  Maddie really likes it and has had 2 apples with some drizzled on top! 

Here is the recipe from Savory Sweet Life, my changes in parentheses. 

 

Simple Caramel Sauce Recipe

Makes 2 cups

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups sugar

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup heavy cream, heated to luke warm in microwave (30 seconds)  (I used fat-free half & half)

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup heavy cream, heated to luke warm in microwave (30 seconds)  (I used fat-free half & half)

*optional 2 Tablespoons Rum  
*optional 1/4 corn syrup – for those of you who are concerned your caramel sauce will turn to candy)   (I didn’t use these)

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium sauce pan, add sugar and water (and optional corn syrup).  Cook the ingredients on medium-high heat.  Carefully watch the sugar syrup change colors around the outer edge to an amber-brownish color, or if using a candy thermometer – 350 degrees. Remove from heat immediately and using a wooden spoon or whisk, quickly stir everything to keep the sugar water from burning.  Your simple syrup should be a golden ale brown.  As you continue to stir, pour in 1/2 cup of warm heavy cream and pats of butter.  When the cream makes contact with the sugar water it will start bubbling violently.  Continue to stir until the sugar crystallization dissolves.  Finally, add 1/4 cup of additional warm heavy cream (and rum) until caramel sauce is nice and smooth.  Transfer to a heat proof jar and allow the sauce to cool on the counter slightly covered with plastic wrap for an hour.  Use immediately or seal the jar and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Note: *As caramel sauce cools, it will thicken.  Before serving, re-heat in the microwave for 30 seconds for 1 cup.

 

Here are some pictures of it boiling up and then after it was done.  Still warm so nice and runny. 

She couldn’t wait and had to have some before it got thicker.  She still loved it!!

Rambling Thursday

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you can click the button for more ‘Rambling Thursdays’

This week has been a pretty great week!  Nice, calm and peaceful week that I am loving! The only drama from this week has been the fact that the trash men came early and I didn’t get the trash out.   It’s not too full though and I threw Mad in the trash can to stomp it down and make room for this weeks trash.   She loved it!  She remembers doing this one other time last year! 

Last Friday I made up some more Apple Nachos for Maddie and she took a bite and yelled, ‘Ow!’ and then started crying.  I told her to stop yelling and asked what happened.. well, she has a loose tooth already!!  (It’s her bottom left one) And the new one is coming in behind it already too!  Wow!  She just turned 5 in January, can’t believe she is already losing her teeth!
Yesterday I was looking at it, it’s getting pretty loose, and I decided to check the one right next to it.   That one is starting to get loose too!  She’ll have that one out pretty soon too!  How cute!  Her little bottom teeth look like kitty teeth! 


She is so excited for the tooth fairy to show up.  She told me a while back ‘that if the tooth fairy doesn’t have money then she just leaves a present for her instead, like something I’ve really been wanting’  Hmm… think she is asking for something special!  I told her yeah, but it takes money for those ‘gifts’ too!  Oh… well, I don’t care, as long as I get something!!  Smart girl!


Best pic I could get of her tooth without her moving around.




Saturday we had a good day too!  Cooked out with some friends, and got to shoot some too.  When we came home it was just Maddie and I so she got to get a facial.  Here’s some pictures of her! 

This week at school they are celebrating Dr. Suess’ Birthday so

Monday was Crazy Sock Day and she had to wear 2 different shoes too!

Tuesday was Wear Red Day

Wednesday was Silly Hat Day

Her hat is Happy Bunny and says.. I admit it.  I have a glitter abuse problem!
Yes she does!!

Today is picture day so they aren’t dressing up.  Forgot to get a picture of her before school but will add it when she gets home. (well still forgot to take a pic so here's one with the same dress)

Tomorrow will be Pajama Day!  And she gets to take a stuffed animal to school too.  She is so excited!  Oh, and The Cat in the Hat is supposed to come visit them at school too!!  She can’t wait!!

wearing some mismatched PJ's

Praying you are all having a blessed week and enjoy the up coming weekend!!

Can’t believe in 2 weeks it will be DST again!  Man I hate losing that hour of sleep but loving more sunlight!!