Roasted Chicken and Garden Vegetables + Homemade Applesauce

Had a nice Sunday.  Piano with my big boy and a quick play date at the park with his school friend.  I also quickly hit up Banana Republic since I received a $15 gift card in the mail from them (no dollar amount required to spend!) so wound up getting a hair band for $5.  It pays to open up every piece of mail -- even if it looks like junk!

My husband's grandma and his dad came over for dinner.

We joined an organic crop share so cut up a bunch of veggies from this week's delivery to roast along with boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

Cut up carrots, parsnips, shallots, squash, potato and sweet potato.  Tossed with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and fresh cracked pepper.  Spread out on 2 baking sheets and nestled chicken thighs in between (putting EVOO and same seasoning on them).

Roasted at 400 for 20 minutes then took out and tossed in white mushrooms sliced in half and chanterelle mushrooms which gave the dish a rich, earthy taste.  Served with a salad and fresh bread.

I also made something called Fall Harvest Cake for dessert -- it was healthy, but not worth making again so not going to write it down.  It was a bundt cake that included a bunch of spices - ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used apple sauce instead of oil, can of pumpkin, chopped apple.  After baked I frosted it with a fresh cream cheese frosting.  It was super moist and healthy (except the frosting), but let's face it - if it isn't chocolate it isn't really dessert!

I also did lots of other cooking today!

We have fresh produce delivered for the week on Sunday morning.

Get it Done Tip: In prep for the delivery I take a look at whatever is left from the prior week's shopping so I can either freeze it or use it so it doesn't go to waste.  We buy organic which can be pricey, so I hate to waste a thing.

Usually we're cleaned out by end of week, but for some reason this week I had 6 bananas turning brown and about 6 apples that were about to turn.  I made banana bread with 3 of the bananas and froze the rest for smoothies.  And I cleaned and cored/sliced the apples to make fresh applesauce.

Applesauce is SO easy to make -- I used to make all my own baby food and this was always an easy staple. You can usually just peel, core, slice and toss in a tiny bit of water and cinnamon and then cook them down and puree.  A friend of mine swore by this recipe though which does have some sugar added, but also includes the peel which is high in fiber and has other health benefits.

Fresh Applesauce

4 pounds tart apples, cored and sliced

1/2 cup sugar (I used less)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup water

1 Tbs lemon juice

Mix everything together in a crockpot and cook on low.  Mine were softened in about 6 hours.

Mash for chunky or puree for smooth.

Tasty health snack for the all!