Fix-It and Forget-It

We sure have a lot of people to buy gifts for this Christmas: Mom, Dad, kids, in-laws, nieces and nephews, friends, teachers…

But we don’t want to spend too much time at the mall at this time of year and we certainly don’t want to drain our savings either. So this year, we’re staying home and making something with a special, homemade touch.

We’re baking Date and Nut Loaf in the slow cooker.

We love the nutty flavor of the bread and the crunchy texture of the nuts in each bite. The bread is heavy and dense and just perfect with a warm drink like Autumn Tea.

To make one loaf of Date and Nut Loaf, we cut the recipe in half. We found it fit better in the bread pan that we like to use as our baking insert. Also, we used sugar plus sugar substitute in the loaf. We thought the bread was perfectly sweet, not too much and not too little.

Now all we need to do is make a few more loaves, wrap them up in saran wrap, and add decorative bows.
Continue Reading...

Thanksgiving is nearly here and that means it’s officially time to pull out the recipe for this Spicy Party Mix.

Why?

1. Our friends and family just can’t seem to get enough of the stuff. They keep sneaking back for more and, by the end of the evening, that bowl of mix is usually empty.

2. It’s easy to transport to a party. We just put the mix in an airtight container and take it along with us as we travel. We don’t have to worry about keeping it warm and there’s no sticky spill to clean up if the container tips over.

3. Spicy Party Mix is a great gift for teachers or the host of a holiday party. All you need to do is put the mix in an airtight decorative container or glass jar and add a bow. The kids may enjoy decorating these festive gifts after school or on the weekend.

Make sure to take the lid off your slow cooker and keep it off while this Spicy Party Mix cooks. That way, the moisture escapes as the mix cooks and the crackers and pretzels stay crisp instead of getting soft. And remember to stir the mix gently so the crackers don’t break.

Spicy Party Mix. We love making it, serving it, and giving it as gifts. But we love eating it most of all.
Continue Reading...

Think oatmeal is kind of boring? Maybe it’s one of those breakfast options you feel obligated to eat because it’s good for you? That’s what we thought until we discovered this recipe for Apple Oatmeal. Chock full of real honey, cinnamon, apples, and walnuts (not just apple-flavoring included in some of those instant oatmeal packs), this oatmeal makes our everyday breakfast seem almost special.

Yes, you can make oatmeal in the slow cooker! And now is a great time of year to try it. Here’s why:

1. The trees are bursting with apples, and apples add a sweet crunch to the hearty oatmeal.
2. Oatmeal warms us up from the inside out on a cool morning.
3. The oatmeal and the protein-rich nuts really fill us up and keep us from looking for a mid-morning snack.
4. It provides a welcome alternative to our cold cereal-with-skim-milk morning routine. (Or whatever your breakfast routine may be.)
5. This healthy breakfast just might help us start shedding a few pounds before those holiday reunions with family and friends.

Make it now and reheat individual portions later (we stir in a little milk or water, if the oatmeal seems too stiff) or let it cook overnight. It’s one more great way to simplify our busy mornings. Now if only someone would set the table and start the coffee.
Continue Reading...