Apple Pie Muffins - FIVE YEAR Blog Birthday!

Hey! My blog's birthday has come and gone. Once again I was too busy to post. But I feel sad seeing that it was the FIVE YEAR anniversary of when I started this blog.

 

Every year for my blog birthday post I write a recap of what's different in my life. Usually nothing much has changed and it's the same thing year in and year out. But guess what! Times, they have changed!

 

1. I'm still singing a fair amount and booking more gigs than usual.

2. I quit my office job back in May and starting temping around a couple of months ago. It's been fun if not a little unstable.

3. I'm back to running when I'm not super busy or feeling injured.

4. I have a boyfriend! Yes! It's been awhile, but I have one! It's new, so keep following my blog to see how the relationship grows (and maybe even catch a few pictures of us!)

 

Some of my favorite recipes from the last year are:

Pomegranate and Orange Sangria - This recipe is SO GOOD. Must bring to all holiday parties.

Caramel Rolls - I was so happy to ace my mom's recipe!

Dark Chocolate Ganache Crepe Cake and the version I created for July 4th: Crepe Cake with Almond Whip Cream and Cherries

Matcha Tea Cakes - It was the first time I used matcha. Expensive but fun!

 

As for this post, well, I went apple picking again and therefore needed to use up apples!

I found a nice muffin recipe and quickly put some of my prized apples in the batter. These muffins hit the spot on a dreary fall morning. If you have extra apples around, consider using this Apple Pie Muffin recipe. 

Apple Pie Muffin

recipe found here: Sally's Baking Addiction

Bake well and prosper!

Potpourri: Baked Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments

I haven't done a potpourri (a non dessert post) in awhile! But this art project was just begging to be shared. And it DID involve baking.

 

My room mate and I decided that this past weekend was the weekend to get our Christmas tree. We had decided to get a bigger tree than last year which meant we needed more ornaments. I saw a post on these cinnamon and applesauce ornaments and knew where we would be getting those ornaments from!

My room mate was in charge of rolling out the dough and cutting the shapes. He did a very good job.

He even made a mess! Such a good start to the ornaments! (Remember: If it's a mess, it's a success!)

 

Annalise from and now for something completely delicious (I just love blogs with long names!) didn't decorate her ornaments, but I saw an opportunity to use my glue gun, ribbons, and gems! (And the opportunity for wine.)

I mean, it WAS a tree decorating party. Wine was a no brainer. ;)

How cute is this snowman with his scarf?!

The Christmas lights nicely reflect off these decorative gems on the candy cane.

 

There are two special ornaments that we made because I had cookie cutters in their shapes.

Yes. I own a PacMan cookie cutter set. Not the usual suspects, eh?

Our Christmas tree looked so lovely once we were done decorating it. The red ribbon that we used for some of the cinnamon ornaments really turned out pretty and ended up looking like bows on the tree from far away.

This was such an easy and fun craft project that I plan on making it a yearly tradition. You should try it too!

Baked Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments (from and now for...delicious)

Ingredients

1 cup applesauce

1-1 1/4 cup (130 grams) ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground cloves (optional)

 

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the applesauce, cinnamon, and cloves (if using). It may take a few minutes for the mixture to come together. You want the dough to be able to form a ball without being too sticky. Add additional applesauce or cinnamon if needed.  (Erika's Extras: I found that the extra 1/4 cup of cinnamon was much needed.) You can mix the dough by hand, it may just take longer.

2. Sprinkle a clean surface with cinnamon (like you would with flour while rolling out pie dough). Place the dough on the surface and sprinkle with more cinnamon. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to 1/4 inch thick, sprinkling with more cinnamon to keep from sticking.

3. Cut out into desired shapes and place on the prepared sheet pan so that they aren't touching. Use a skewer to poke a hole into each ornament (to attach string). (Erika's Extras: I used the small end of a chopstick to make the holes.) Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until rock hard. (Erika's Extras: I found that the thin ones needed at least 1.5 hours and the rest were over 2 hours.)

4. Loop a decorative string through the ornament and hang on your tree. (Erika's Extras: This is the time to decorate the ornaments if you want to.)

Notes: Ornaments may also be dried at room temperature over several days.

Ornaments are not extremely fragile, but they can break. Handle with care.

Do not eat.

Bake well and prosper!