Fall Baking: Chunky Apple Pumpkin Muffins #Recipe {Gluten Free & Top 8 Allergen Free}

Once those temperatures drop and the leaves start to change, there's a new feeling in the air... a crisp, fresh start to each day.
I can't think of anything else other than baking. And not just any baking... it has to involve apples, pumpkin, and warm spices. 
Thankfully, my little sous chef agrees.  We usually set aside time on the weekends to head into the kitchen and start mixing and creating. This recipe was from one of those weekend adventures. 
Gluten free and free from the Top 8 most common allergens, these allergy friendly delights are sure to warm your belly and your home with their delicious smells and taste!

Lunch Made Easy: An Apple A Day...

Little Miss loves making SunButter & Honey Apple Sandwiches. So, I thought I'd make her an fun apple themed bento box to go with one of her favorite sammies for Monday's lunch.
School is on Spring Break, but she'll be enjoying this "apple a day" EasyLunchboxes lunch with her sitter. 
An apple shaped cookie cutter and SurfSweets Top 10 Allergen Free Gummy Worm is a simple way to add some allergy friendly fun to an otherwise plain looking sandwich:

Breakfast Bake: {Allergy Friendly} Caramel Apple Strata

For three years running, my mom and I have attended the Taste of Home Cooking School each September. Each event features vendor tables before the class where we get to shop or try delicious goods from local companies. We also get a great gift bag filled with Taste of Home Magazines, coupons, cooking gadgets, etc. This year, we also sat VIP and received signed Taste of Home Cookbooks from the Chef.
I also walk away from each class having laughed and learned so much. The Chef gives a 2-hour class filled with recipe demos and tips. At the end of the show, they giveaway the recipes made to a few lucky winners. Last year I won cinnamon rolls in a beautiful baking dish that was mine to keep! 
One of the recipes demonstrated this year was a Caramel Apple Strata. My mom and I were drooling over the recipe and photos before the demo even began, and once I saw how easy it was to make from Chef Dana Elliot, I knew I wanted to try it at home with gluten free & allergy friendly ingredients. 

There's nothing better this time of year, in the fall, than baking with apples. And with the upcoming holidays approaching, this recipe will be a great one to keep in your back pocket! Prepare it the night before and refrigerate overnight for a yummy dish that's ready to bake in the morning. The result? A delicious success.

Fall Goodness: Crockpot Apple Pumpkin Butter #Recipe

I have been trying to control myself. Trying not to jump into the apple and pumpkin everything bandwagon too soon. 
When September finally came, I sprung into action.  I diced up my apples, gathered my ingredients, plugged in my Crockpot Slow Cooker, and got to work. 
My house smelled heavenly. All thanks to this Apple Pumpkin Butter recipe. 

Lunch Made Easy: Keep it Simple

Some days I get home and I am so mentally exhausted I'd rather crawl into bed for the night... So keeping the lunchbox simple is a nice change. :)

Some days, simple is best!

Lunch Made Easy: Five, Six, Pick Up Sticks!

Thursday's lunch is a little "sticky"! ;)
Hardy har har...

Lunch Made Easy: MOMables Monday - Freezer Stash

Happy July everyone! Can you believe this year is already half over? Yikes!

When I last made the GF Italian Mini Quiches for MOMables Monday, my batch yielded 24 of the quiches, so I had put half the batch into the freezer for use later.
I pulled them out yesterday and put them into the refrigerator so Little Miss could enjoy them again for lunch Monday.
Another great reason why I love have foods done and ready to go in the freezer, lunch = done!

Lunch Made Easy: MOMables Monday

Welcome to another MOMables Monday! :)

Little Miss asked I pack her lunch in her new Goodbyn Bynto box, so I obliged.

Lunch Made Easy: Tuesday Treats

Little Miss was so cute this evening helping me pick out the goodies she wanted in her lunch for Tuesday ~ I love when I have time to pack them before she goes to bed and can be involved in what's inside her EasyLunchBoxes container.
Besides a sometimes quick Q&A session, lol.

Lundh Made Easy: Let's Go Racin'

So first let me start of by saying, this did not turn out at all how I wanted it too... lol, again an idea in my head but just could not execute the way I wanted. Ugh! I'm glad it's FRIDAY tomorrow...

For those of you that don't know, we're BIG Nascar fans (*insert redneck joke here: _________*)
It's true - I love it. Maybe it's from growing up in Indiana and going to the the Brickyard... watching Indy cars. We'd watch them practice and eat picnics in the infield. :) Great memories.

Little Miss happens to love watching Nascar too. I think when she was little it was something about watching the bright cars go whizzing by and the sounds. Now, she watches and knows the drivers, their numbers, and even most of the sponsors. lol

Whenever the fella and I go to a track, we always have to bring her home a souvenir. Between he and I both, we've been to Sprint cup races at MIS multiple times, Daytona, Bristol, Chicagoland, & Charlotte.

For those of you that don't know (or don't care but I'm educating you anyways, hehe) this weekend is the Daytona 500! *Oh memories!* So to mark the start of the Nascar season, I decided to make Little Miss a racing themed lunch (well I tried anyways, lol)...