Apple Dumplings

MMMMmmmm......these were sooo delicious and not fattening at all! This is another recipe from Pioneer Woman and if I have learned anything, it's that she does not skimp on butter in any recipe! This is incredible easy to make and incredibly addicting.

Apple Dumplings

• 2 Granny Smith apples
• 2 cans (8 oz.) Crescent Rolls
• 2 Sticks Butter
• 1 1/2 cups Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• Cinnamon to taste
• 1 can (12 oz.) Mountain Dew Soda

1. Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9x13 buttered dish.

2. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

3. Serve with ice cream and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Italian Meatball Soup

Italian Meatball Soup (from Pioneer Woman)

Meatballs:

• ¾ pounds Ground Beef
• ½ cups Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 3 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Minced
• 1 whole Egg
• 2 cloves Garlic
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• ½ teaspoons Black Pepper
• ¼ teaspoons Ground Oregano
• 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice

Soup:

• 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 7 cups Low Sodium Beef Stock
• 2 cups Water
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
• ¾ cups Onion, Chopped
• ¾ cups Carrots, Chopped
• ¾ cups Celery, Chopped
• 1 cup Russet Potato, Chopped (do Not Peel)
• ½ pounds Cabbage Chopped
• Grated Parmesan Cheese To Serve

Tied in a Cheesecloth Bundle:

• 4 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley, Minced
• 2 whole Bay Leaves
• 1 teaspoon Peppercorns

1. To make meatballs combine all meatball ingredients and mix well. Shape into small balls and chill for 30 minutes.

2. Gather 4 tablespoons parsley, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a cheesecloth bundle. Tie to secure.

3. After meatballs have chilled, heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a heavy pot. Briefly brown meatballs, then remove to a plate. Add beef stock, water, tomato paste, and herb bag to pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.

4. Add onion, carrots, celery, and potatoes. Simmer 15 more minutes. Remove herb bag.

5. Add cabbage and meatballs. Bring to a boil, then simmer 8 to 10 minutes.

6. Optional** Serve with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

This recipe was okay. It wasn't awesome for the amount of time it took me to cook it (pre-warning...it took me 3 hours total! Although I'm pretty slow at cutting veggies.), but I'll probably cook it again during the cold months. I also omitted the cabbage and celery. I know it's good for you, but I just can't stand celery and as we all know, vegetables that Chad eats are few and far between. Oh, and fyi, the soup tasted better the second day.

Grandparents, Knitting, & Baseball

Whew, I haven't posted in a while! It seems like it's been a really busy past few weeks. First of all I am happy to say that I have increased my caseload by two and so I now have 5 children I see on a weekly basis, yaay! My two children I picked up are both only 4 months old, so sweet!

A couple weeks ago Chad and I went and visited my grandparents in Sebastian, FL. We had a really nice visit with them and Gram taught me once again (for about the hundredth time!) how to knit. It's just one of those things that I start and then stop and when I want to start again I don't remember how. Here's me and my grandparents. Awwwww.....

And here is how my knitting is coming along! Actually I must admit, I did all of this the afternoon I visited them and haven't picked it up since. BUT, I will not give up on it like I have so many times before! I just need to catch up on a few other important things beforehand. I know, I know, that's what I always say. But I'm determined this time.

We also went to a spring training baseball game with Chad's parents while they were in town. We saw the Tigers vs. Braves. It was a fun afternoon and one of the first days of nice weather. I liked playing around with the camera's different color settings.

We took the youth group kids ice skating this weekend, which was really fun. I hadn't been ice skating in a very long time. I used to go all the time with my dad, but sadly I'm not as good as I used to be (not that I used to be great). I forgot our camera, but Chad took a couple with his phone so maybe I can post some later.

Oh, I almost forgot! We also went to the strawberry festival! But that will be another post for another day.

The next few weeks will continue to be busy, so I don't know how much cooking we'll be getting in. I'm already two meals behind where I should be :(

Hope everyone's first day of Spring was fantastic, although I think about half the states got several inches of snow!! I miss snow...not ice mind you, but snow. Snow is so clean and fresh looking, not to mention a blast to play in!

Happy Spring!