Simple Apple Bread

This is a recipe I've had for years. Its very inexpensive and easy to make and uses very simple indgredients. Plus 1 recipe makes 2 loaves of bread!

~Apple Bread~

Ingredients:

3 eggs slightly beaten
2 cups of sugar ***
1 cup canola or vegetable oil ***
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 large peeled and chopped apples (I like granny smith)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (add more if you like real nutty bread)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2 loave pans.
Stir together eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla in med. bowl.
Combine flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Stir into liquid ingredients.
Stir in apples and walnuts. Pour into pans evenly.
Bake for 325 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

***Note***
If you want to lower the fat content of the bread use half a cup of naturally sweetened apple sauce and 1/2 a cup of oil. When I prepare it this way I cut out 1/2 a cup of sugar the recipe calls for because the apple sauce is sweet.

The One-Minute Organizer Plain and Simple - Book Review

Yesterday I read through The One Minute Organizer Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin. Donna Smallin is also the author of Organizing Plain and Simple a book I have also read through. I applaud Smallin's philosophy of one minute at a time to an organized home. She breaks up our homes into little bites rather than "stuffing the whole cupcake into our mouth."

She has lots of ideas for paperwork, drawers, closets, toys, refrigerators and all quick little tasks that can be accomplished in a very small amount of time, yet be very gratifying. I think my favorite parts in the book are her orange pages...each has an inspirational message on it to help us regain focus and not to be too hard on ourselves from past experiences. As a matter of fact I have been posting these quotes on my Facebook page.

http://www.amazon.com/One-Minute-Organizer-Plain-Simple-Getting/dp/1580175848

All in all, I think this book is a great starting point for the person who doesn't know where to begin and truly believes they don't have enough time. If you are someone who is looking for more advanced levels of ideas to help you become more organized, this book probably isn't it, as it really addresses those that really are at the beginning of this process. Although lots of great ideas are offered in this book, I found myself reading those ideas 2 or 3 times as she repeats herself in some sections.

I found even though I don't have huge issues with organizing through out my home, there was some inspirational items to found in the book. I think one of my favorite quotes from her book is

Aim to surround yourself with BEAUTIFUL and useful things. Give yourself permission to let go of the rest. It's just taking up space and weighing you down.

I think this can be true for anyone. Never let the possessions you have, quilt you into keeping them, but only keep things that truly make you happy.

Spring Cleaning - Day 3

Well today I was able to attack both bathrooms. And may I say they are both very shiny now.

My completed task list:
Scrub down showers
Wash shower curtains
Clean mirrors
Clean counters, sinks and faucets
Wash bath mats
Clean the floors
Wash baseboards
Wash around toilets
Clean windows and blinds

Meal Planning April 28th - May 4th

Day 1
BBQ Pork Sandwiches
-put a pork roast in a crock pot season with salt and pepper, pour your favorite BBQ sauce over the top simmer all day. Serve on hamburger buns.
With Cucumber Dill Salad. Whisk together about 1/4 cup of plain nonfat yogurt,
2 tsps of cider vinegar, 1 tsp of dried dill weed, salt and pepper to taste.
Day 2
Chicken and Dumplings
recipe soon to follow
Day 3
Chicken Fajitas
Spanish Rice and Refried Beans
Day 4
Roast Vegetable Soup with whole wheat dinner rolls
Recipe has been posted previously
Day 5
Brined and Roasted Chicken Legs
Soak chicken in a mixture of 2 qrts of water, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup salt.
Then season and roast.
Serve with steamed broccoli and Roasted potatoes
Day 6
Pork Roast with vegetables
Day 7
Slow Roasted Seasoned Ribs
Mashed Potatoes
Corn

Spring Cleaning - Day 2

Yep, its day 2 of my Spring Cleaning spree and today was the girls' bedroom. And yes, this room too took longer than I had planned. Mostly because I spent most of the time trying to rearrange the furniture more efficiently. Space is definitely an issue with two girls sharing a bedroom. They did have a bunk bed, but it was too close to the ceiling fan no matter where it was placed in the room so my husband and I took it apart and now we have two beds in there taking up space. The positive of having the two beds is the storage space under each one because they are up pretty high off the ground so they fit large tubs under them. They both are pleased with how their room turned out, but I'm not so sure I made any more space for them. It does look better though.
What I did:
-cleaned out under the beds
-moved furniture around
-re-organized tubs
-washed bedding
-cleaned the blinds
-organized the closet
-culled some toys out
-threw out garbage
-straightened the book shelves
-vaccumed

Tomorrow I plan to take on a much simpler room; the baby's room. No furniture needs to be moved and her room is fairly simple as of right now. I know as she gets older that will change, but for now I will enjoy its simplicity. I actually want to get out of the house tomorrow, perhaps to the library, so I only want to spend about an hour on the room. Wish me luck!

Spring Cleaning

I'm normally not a Spring Cleaning kind of gal, but this year I have been so busy and my house has been so neglected I've decided a spring cleaning is in order. Rather than try and get through the whole house in 1 or 2 days and completely exhaust myself I'm breaking the house up into rooms to complete. I will post daily my completed tasks and what room I have gotten a deep cleaning on.

Today was catch up on laundry day. I wanted to get all the clothes washed and put away, plus wash bedding. And what better day than to do the the laundry room beings I was in and out of there all day today. I completed my todo's in there, and it actually is pretty presentable, which says a lot about the laundry room! All I used was a spray bottle mixed with water and bleach and a washcloth.

Things I did:
Sprayed both the washer and dryer down and cleaned them.
Straightened all the shelves and threw out trash
Washed down the walls
Washed the baseboards
Washed the floor
Took out things that did not belong in the room

Successful day. I think I spent more time than I wanted to, but that's because laundry is a time consuming job. I'm hoping the rest of the house will only take me an hour or two each day. The girls are on spring break and I don't want to spend our whole break cleaning!