Definitely Fall

The smell of cooking apples is one of my favorites for fall.  Ken stopped at his cousin’s to pick up apples.  Yesterday with all our other things we made applesauce. 
My recipe is simple.  Buy MacIntosh apples because they are the best.  Cut them up – leave in seeds, skins and just slice them up into big chunks.  Place them in a pan – with either a bit of water (to prevent burning) or Mott’s applejuice.  This is just a couple tablespoons.  Cook until they are mush.  Put through the sieve.  Put in half pint jars.  Put in a water bath for about eight minutes. 

We did one batch this way.  The second batch we added red hots to.  Both turned out beautifully.  When the applesauce was hot, I had some over vanilla ice cream.  It was delicious!


Ken kept one of the jars from the water bath because the two pans we have hold seven jars each.  The left over applesauce got made into applesauce muffins today.  I think they will be scrumptious.    

Fall has come and with it one of my favorite activities – making applesauce.  

Colds

Wednesday night my throat started to hurt.  It was scratchy and dry.  I actually lost my voice at one point during the evening.  Ice cream went a long way in easing these symptoms.  By the end of the evening my head was stuffed up and I had that clogged feeling as well in the back of my throat.  I was feeling pretty miserable. 
Thursday I got up and used eucalyptus in my shower.  I left the fan off so the steam would just linger even while I was drying off.  I was tired all day and just wanted to go home for a nap.  I made it all the way through work though.  When I got home Vicki had made a pasta dish so it would be easy on my throat.  She also made me hot cinnamon tea.  Now I’m not a tea or coffee drinker but this tea was pretty good.  It definitely helped with the throat.  She also pushed the fluids with me, got me water and an Izzie (best drink ever).  I spent the evening working on fleece blankets.  Oh and don’t forget the ice cream which again feels really good on my throat. 
Friday I took another eucalyptus shower.  I had the fan on this time so the steam didn’t linger which was probably a mistake.  I have a shorter day at work so will hopefully get to go home and finish the fleece blanket I have started.  I’m also hoping for more cinnamon tea and lots of relaxing. 

Yesterday and today I’ve been resting a lot, pushing the fluids, and staying out of the cold.  We had a hearty soup filled with good veggies especially onions and garlic.  Still the cold has settled into my head and throat.  Hopefully my preventative stuff will keep it from getting horrible.  I really don’t have time for a cold…