Baked Apple Bowl

Most of the time I crave a substantial breakfast to get me through the morning. But every once in awhile I want something a little lighter. This delicious Baked Apple Bowl is perfect for those days. While I enjoyed it as a healthy breakfast topped with Greek yogurt, you could easily top it with whipped cream or ice cream and have a delicious and decadent dessert. It has all the flavor of a delicious baked apple straight out of the oven but the convenience of taking only minutes to make in the microwave. With raisins for added sweetness, walnuts for some crunch, and the warmth of cinnamon, this is a perfect dish for fall--or any time of year!

October Weekly Slow Cooker Challenge

When I made my Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Pork and Potatoes recipe a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded of how easy and convenient slow cookers are. And yet I can go months without using mine. Since the cooler weather makes this a perfect time of year to do more slow cooking, I decided to set myself a little challenge and see if I can get in the habit of using my slow cooker more.

So for the month of October, I've challenged myself to make at least one slow cooker meal each week. Now that's only four meals for the whole month, so I think hope this challenge will be an easy one to meet. Here are some of the recipes I'm thinking about making this month (you can find these and more slow cooker recipes on my "Slow Cooking" board on Pinterest):

Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Pork and Potatoes

I can't imagine any dinner being much easier to make than this Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Pork and Potatoes. Whenever I break out my slow cooker, I'm reminded of how awesome it is to throw ingredients into it in the morning and come home in the evening to a warm, delicious, home-cooked meal! This particular recipe is perfect for this time of year, when the air starts to get crisper and you crave something warm and filling to eat. The pork gets so tender it practically shreds itself. The potatoes add hearty texture. And the sauerkraut provides tons of flavor and keeps everything juicy and moist.

Banana Walnut Raisin Chocolate Chip Bars

I'm so excited to share this recipe with you today! These bars are one of my all-time favorite snacks to make and to eat. I always have them on hand, either fresh on the counter or stashed in the freezer. They're naturally sweetened (except for the chocolate chips, if you use them) with mashed banana, unsweetened applesauce, and raisins; rich with healthy fats from the walnuts; and packed with the comforting flavors of vanilla and cinnamon. 

Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal for One

Banana bread for breakfast? Yes, please!!

Classic Egg Salad

I know there are lots of ways to dress up egg salad (eg, Deviled Egg Salad, Curried Egg Salad, Cheddar Bacon Egg Salad, Avocado Egg Salad, Egg Salad with Pickled Celery and Dijon) and I can't wait to try them all. But there's something so comforting and homey about the classic version.

White-Cheddar Potato & Corn Chowder

I recently decided to cut waaay back on my meat consumption. I haven't gone completely vegetarian, but I'm probably only eating meat at most 2-3 times per week instead of 2-3 times per day. That means I've been looking for lots of hearty meatless recipes that I can make for dinner that will please both myself and my husband, who's been a good sport about the sudden change.