Thursday, September 27, 2012

Appel Happel: Apple Picking and Apple Festival in Mainz

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My friend from the DIY Frau told me about a wonderful Apple Farm in Mainz. I was supposed to tag-a-long, but I got the dates all mixed up thinking we were going on Saturday instead of Friday. Not sure how I did that! I felt terrible because I hadn't seen her in a while and my daughter was looking forward to it. Well instead that weekend we went to the Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg, because she told me about a great Apple Festival happening the following weekend so I decided to wait. After another grueling week filled with juggling school-work and being a mom, I look forward to Saturdays more than ever!
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The Apple Festival took place in Mainz, Germany on 22 September and 23 September. There were pony rides, bouncy castles, hay playgrounds, live music, and a lot of family fun. The  homemade apple juice is the best I've ever tasted. And of course Mama needed some libations. It was apple champagne with mint and lime. I guess it was more of a Appletini made famous by the ever lovable JD from the show Scrubs! 
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Outside there were demonstrations on how their apple juice is made, produce markets, and a cake stand.
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 I also had the best sausage there!
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Of course there were orchards filled with different apples. The children enjoyed picking apples and throwing the ones already on the ground....my children.
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 A lot of and laughs and fun had!
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Although the Apple Festival was just that weekend, the Apple Farm is opened to the public until late October including night time picking!  I hope you enjoy this and big thanks to the DIY Frau for the information.




Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Easy Autumn Breakfasts! French Toasts, Pancakes and Waffles

I told you all last week that I'd post a great Pumpkin French Toast recipe, sorry I couldn't do it. Soooo instead of just one, I have 3 recipes for you!!! I love y'all.

First up: Pumpkin French Toast. I found a pin on the ever so great Pinterest for Pumpkin French toast. How easy is that? Made some for my son's breakfast and he DEVOURED it!



Ingredients
About 4-6 slices if bread- your preference-whole-wheat or white
1/2 cup milk (almond, dairy, soy- i used vanilla soy milk)
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
3 tablespoon of sweetener of choice- (I used maple syrup)
1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spices (or a 1/2 tsp worth of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves)
a pat of butter or coconut oil (for that brown flavorful crust!)
A pinch of salt

Directions:
Allow bread to dry out on a plate overnight.
The next morning, or whenever you make this, mix all ingredients except for the butter/coconut oil and the bread. Pre-heat skillet or griddle to medium heat. One piece of bread at a time, soak the bread in the pumpkin mixture per side until the bread feels slightly spongy. Cook in skillet for about 3 minutes per side. If you're making a lot, preheat oven to about 100C-200F and add the  cooked french toast to a sheet pan or any oven-proof dish. Repeat until you're done! Top with whatever you please! We topped with maple syrup. I also love fruits, or confectioner's sugar!


Next, these are pumpkin pancakes I made using annie eats recipe. I added pecans, and just used 3/4 cup of whole wheat white flour from King Arthur's Flour. HEAVENLY and it freezes quite well!!!



Last but not least, my favorite recipe from this weekend- Sweet Potato Waffles with Homemade Blueberry Glaze!!! YUMMM! Found this recipe from the Mayo Clinic. I Made a few changes to my taste. Enjoyed by all!


Ingredients

For the syrup
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
6 tablespoon honey
Pinch of ground cinnamon

1/3 cup peeled and diced sweet potato, or 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup 1% milk (or any milk of you choice)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 egg
Directions

To make the syrup, in a saucepan, combine the blueberries, lemon juice and zest, honey, , and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the berries burst and the juices are slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Frozen berries may take slightly longer to thicken. Set aside and keep warm.

If using sweet potato, bring a small saucepan half full of water to a boil. Add the sweet potato, return to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until very tender, about 10 minutes.  (I roasted a large sweet potato for 45 minutes)  Drain and puree in a food processor or mash with a potato masher until smooth. Set aside. If using pumpkin puree, reserve.

In a small bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ginger. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, sweet potato puree, coconut oil, egg brown sugar. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined.

Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 225 F. Preheat a waffle iron. Spoon or ladle about 1/2 cup batter into the waffle iron, depending on the size of the iron. Spread evenly and cook according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the batter thickens, thin with a little soy milk. Transfer the waffle to the baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter to make 6 waffles. Serve topped with the syrup.

ENJOY!!!!!





Thursday, September 20, 2012

Simple Simple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

My boys love pumpkin!!! I woke up early Monday morning to make them  breakfast mostly featuring pumpkin. Here's one and I'll post the other tomorrow!

My husband love this pumpkin pie smoothie


Simple Simple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Serves 1
1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree (or any squash you have handy)
1/2 cup coconut milk (any milk you want)
1/2 of a banana (frozen for a thicker cool smoothie)
1/4 cup frozen raspberries or any berry (i used this to make it sweeter omit if you want use the sweetener of your choosing)
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin  pie spices
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon flax seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon wheat germ (optional)
I didn't put any sweeteners in this. But you can put a tablespoon (or your taste) of any sweetener you choose. Maple syrup or brown sugar would be awesome in this!

Directions:
Add each ingredient to blenders in the order listed. Blend to your pleasing. Add more or less liquids if desired!

Hope you all enjoy!!!!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Pumpkin Festival at Ludwigsburg Castle





Going to school has really put a damper on family time during the week with the family. I wake up, cook breakfast for my boys, study, cook breakfast for my younger two, and study/do classwork/homework for my classes, prep dinner, then it's off to school, come home, get kids in bed, more school work, prep breakfast depending on the day. I really treasure the weekend with my family. We usually do family stuff on Saturdays and Sundays is laundry day, laying in bed, preparing for the week. Rarely time for fun true family quality time, so I really treasure weekends more than ever these days.

This Saturday we went to the beautiful town of Ludwigsburg. I was impressed with every bit of it. It reminded my husband and a bit of Brussels, Belgium with the huge green beautiful park right next to palace grounds. It's beautiful, eclectic, and so quaint. We went there for the 13th annual pumpkin fest featuring all things Swiss.


Alps

Gourd House with Heidi

Swiss Flag



 There were all kinds of gourds, great food featuring different pumpkin/squash, fun for kids, libations for adults, pumpkin carving, different decor to buy for the home. It is definitely worth exploring if you live or are in Southern Germany from 31 August to 4 November. This is our last Autumn here and I plan on making the most of it!

Delicious pumpkin soup

Fun the Hay

chillin at the palace


They were determined to find a princess! There was a wedding at the palace so we sort of did meet a princess for the day!!! No photo with her because they were too shy lol.


Also worth a visit if the playground in the huge beautiful green park called Baerenwiese. It reminds me a large tree house. My children wanted to spend the rest of the evening there but we had to pick  up my eldest from his grandparents' home.






Next weekend we're going to pick apples in Mainz. Both of these trips were recommended by my friend from DIY Frau. Check out her DIY, cooking, and travel adventures!

Thanks for visiting!!!

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