Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Dump Cake

Ok, Ok, OK, I know, I have totally fallen off the face of the earth. Not really. Just my blog..I am still baking and cooking all the time. I just have not written at all... Last year I started with a bang and just keep blasting through, well, at least towards the end of the year. Total peter out...

I really think I need to make writing my blog a New years resolution..

There are still tons of new recipes for me to try out. And at Christmas time, I added new cookie recipes to my repertoire. Sorry, one day, I will post them..In the new year, we have not started our hard core diet yet. There is no new junk food in the house. We are eating more clean and not buying Fried chicken from the local grocery store as convenience. (IT does taste great) I made my first turkey over the weekend. My Husband was quite surprised that I had never made a full fledged turkey. I had to call my Mom and sister for some pointers. One of our vendors gave me a 20 lb bird for Christmas. Shoved it in the freezer and waited until January. This baby took about a day and a half of thawing out. Hung out in the kitchen sink. On Sunday, I removed the insides, basted with butter and spiced it up. 4 and 1/2 hours later, we had turkey. I let it sit for about one hour. Covered it with foil. Then I started carving. That bird was still hot... Carving is not something I am very good at.. Those skills need LOADS of work.

Probably should have covered it with foil sooner.

So while the turkey was cooking, I decided to whip up a tasty dessert using my crock pot. I am trying to use my appliances. I like the crock pot, but I rarely use it.. I did make a ham in it last week.. Tasted fantastic.

Back to my dessert..  Apples have on hand. Still drinking my cranberry smoothies, fresh cranberries on hand, and who does not have a yellow cake mix on hand....This lovely dessert was quick to whip up, the house smell simply amazing.. Between a turkey and baking apples, who would not want to be a my house on a Sunday afternoon.

This was delicious, BUT it could have used some Vanilla Ice Cream

Slow Cooker Apple Cranberry Dump Cake
modified from Cooking.com
Ingredients
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup fresh Cranberries (fresh or frozen)
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1/2 of a Yellow Cake mix. (use the other half another day)
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
4 tablespoons Butter, melted
1/2 chopped Pecans

Directions
Lightly spray or grease the slow cooker insert. Add all 4 apples and the 1 cup of cranberries to the insert. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the fruit. Evenly pour your cake mix over the apples and cranberries. Gently sprinkle the brown sugar over the cake mix. Slowly pour the melted butter over the brown sugar. Drop in your chopped pecans all over the mixture. Add a dash of cinnamon all over the top.

Put lid on crock. set on high setting for 2 1/2 hours. When completed, gently remove lid. Wipe off lid.

Remember to peel your apples before you start chopping.

It is loads more work this way to peel

I made this for my Husband and I with some left overs.
You can always double the recipe for a larger group

Photo skills are not doing this dessert justice.
I liked eating it the next day cold.
Warm or Cold, It was Husband Approved

Green Peachy Cleanse

I am still drinking my green drinks, but I am starting to modify them. Granny Smith apple are a bit out of season and getting very expensive. SO.... move on to summer fruit. I can remember last winter (who could forget a Polar vortex), coming across recipes with summer fruits and melons. They are all my favorites, so let us commence with the summer recipes.

This recipe still has a green apple in it, but today was the last of the apples. It also contains a peach. I made this recipe twice, once with spinach and once without. (Believe it or not, the grocery shopper sometimes forgets her spinach.) Without the spinach, the color was slightly orange. With the spinach, all GREEN.

The peach gave the drink a bit of thickness. Full flavor. All the things I love

I am also working on drinking more Plain Water

Green Peachy Cleanse
adapted by ME
Ingredients

1 cup water
1 piece fresh ginger
1 peach, pitted and sliced
1 handful fresh spinach
1 green apple, cored and sliced
1 squirt Agave Nectar (Optional)

Directions
Place all ingredients in your Vitamix or high powered blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth.

My normal handful of fruits and veggies

My almost full blender. I just love this machine

This was such a good drink. 

The Peach really amp'd up the flavor

Green Orange Cleanse

I know, I know, I know.... I was super busy at Memorial day weekend, and last weekend I was all about no side jobs of any kind. I SO thoroughly enjoyed my weekend. A perfect weekend for hanging with friends and sun and fun. There was no baking at all.... and no writing. This week, I have been suffering from a horrible toothache. An old root canal and crown, got terribly infected. I went to the dentist, three prescriptions later and a referral to an Endodists, (expensive) and some soup and ice cream to solve my other problems, I am feeling better. The infection is draining (gross) and my gum is very sore. My teeth are becoming a huge hassle. I clean them better than anything and yet these problems continue on. Probably going to have to change dentists. SIGH>>>>>>>>

Ok, enough complaining. I do not want to read about it. So, since I am not eating salads this week, I have no lettuce in the house. SO, what to do. I tried just green apple, ginger, lime and avocado. Very good, thick and fun. But, as I stood in my refrigerator with the produce drawer open, I had a thought. ADD some carrots. I love carrots, (hard on my teeth currently) they are sweet and have a natural juice. Maybe I can save my eyes. Doubtful. Oh my goodness. Just delicious. I was wondering why I had not added them sooner. Have we heard that phrase before. Hmmmmmmmm

This drink does have one of those colors, that looks murky.

Green  -- orange -- kind of yellow. 

All I will say.... It was delicious

Green Orange Cleanse

made by ME

Ingredients

1 cup of water

1 green apple, cored

1 lime, juiced

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted remove

2 dates, pits removed

1 piece of fresh ginger

Directions

Add all ingredients in the order listed above into the blender. Blend until very smooth. If you are drinking immediately, add some ice. 

Nothing crazy on the ingredients. 

I store the ginger in a zip lock bag in the frig, 

it stays good for a very long time

Just all rough chops. 

I cut the ends off the carrots. 

For me, it has been hard to find Medjool Dates. 

They taste really good. If you cannot find them, buy regular dates. 

The sweetness amps up this drink like you would not believe

I totally dig the avocado in this drink. Added a creamy layer, 

and just the right amount of thickness. 

I really like this drink. The carrots are fun.

AND fun is what summer is all about. 

Let me know what you think.

Green Cleanse - 9

I have FOUND IT..... I know, I like my green cleanse drinks. I am this freaky creature of habit. But I did something a bit different. THIS is the flavor I have wanted. I may never post another Green Cleanse drink. RIGHT.... until next week.

As we all know, I am a recipe junkie. I hope that someday, when I die, they will pass out my recipes... wait that is what the Internet is for.. I have read lately, that people are saying that Agave Nectar is just sugar. Well, it is and it is not. I am not even going to get into this debate. Crap, I used to use Splenda. I still like some Truvia once in a great while. I cannot bail out on the Agave. We are friends and I have a large bottle to use up first. Using Dates to sweeten and thicken shake and drinks have been part of my repertory for a while. So, I decided to give it a whirl. Why not. I liked everything I was adding to the drink anyway.

A lovely green color with a nice thick foam on top

YUMMY

Green Cleanse - 9 

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup water

1/2 -1 fresh lime, juiced

1-2 cup fresh spinach

1 green apple, cored

4-5 dates

ICE - optional

Directions

Place all ingredients in the blender in the listed order, and blend until smooth 2-3 minutes.

I placed mine in the refrigerator overnight for a good chill, but you could drink immediately.

The Dates are the magical fruit that blow this drink out of the water

I always talk about "in the order listed", better for the blender

Looks fabulous on my table

I revamped my Easter centerpiece

I drank this for my late morning drink. 

Just what I needed. 

Strawberry Green Cleanse

I love green cleanse drinks. I drink them almost everyday. Definitely Monday - Friday. Weekends are always some kind of crazy for me. And this weekend will not be any different. I think the green thing is cleaning me out, and just giving me a great veggie - fruit kick. I feel full all day. My latest project is, I am making Kombucha. My Saturday morning yoga instructor gave me a starter with a Skoby. I am on my third batch. I have not quite perfected it yet. But, I am getting there. The MAJOR benefit to all of these drinks is, I am drinking more water type products. I feel fuller all day and I am helping my well being. The whole mental clarity thing is not happening, but some things just take longer..........

It is strawberry season around us. Or last week was Mother's day. Some dipped strawberries and and cool strawberry shortcake for customers. So what to do with all the left over strawberries. Let make a new drink.

This lovely tasting drink in a slightly pukey green color.

Strawberry Green Cleanse

designed by ME

Ingredients

1 cup water

1 cup cut strawberries

2 cups frisse, chou, kale mix (or Spinach)

1 green apple, cored and chopped

1 piece of fresh ginger

1 or 2 squirts of agave nectar

Directions

Place all ingredients in a high power blender in the order listed, blend until smooth. 2 minutes. Add ice if you want and refrigerate for the morning ride.

Just a couple of great ingredients
I like the Frisse, chou, kale mix. I cannot straight kale,
but this will work for me.

A couple of quick cuts and you are ready

Your piece of ginger can vary according to taste.
I LOVE Ginger

Lovely drink of nutritious goodness

No strawberry for decoration

Green Almond Cleanse

Green Almond Cleanse... I went off the tried and true and outside my box. This recipe was just delicious. If I would have had raw almonds, it would have tasted better. You were suppose to soak your almonds overnight in water, used the water and pulverized the almonds. WELL, I was making this last night for today, and I am not at all that organized to make this into a two day drink. I can barely plan my days let along a two day drink. So, I punted and used Almond Milk. It is in the frig and need to be used.

This is a quick recipe, and without a doubt, it can be modified. GO for it people. Live a little

Look at that pretty green color. 

Rich, dark and intense

Green Almond Cleanse

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup Almond Milk

1 green apple, cored and chopped

1-2 cups spinach

4-5 dates, pitted

Directions

Add all ingredients into high powered blender, mix until totally smooth. Drink up

Simple ingredients that you would have on hand

Because of the dates, there is NO added sugar

Trying to work on my photo skills. 

I really just need to commit more time. 

Green Cleanse - 8

I am starting to get bored drinking the same green drink everyday. They are always delicious, and clean out of the garbage in my system, but I need to vary....

So today I pulled out a cucumber...(giggle giggle). Back to the drink...
I still have mint and ginger in the frig and they have not been used in awhile. Maybe tomorrow, I can go a little Cuban and live outside of the box. Right.

Why I like green cleanse, besides all of the nutrients and lack of calories, they taste fresh. Some days, with all that is thrown at you and the crappy weather we are still having, it is nice to taste fresh. This drink is quick, one less thing that feels like a task.

LOOK at that INtense Green color. 

Those are Vitamins baby..

Good for you fruits and vegetables

Green Cleanse - 8

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup water

1 green apple, cored and chopped

1-2 cups spinach

1 juiced lime, pulp also

1/2 sliced cucumber

1-2 squirts Agave Nectar

1-2 cups Ice

Directions

Place all ingredients in a high powered blender and mix away. MY apple took an extra minute. Use your tamper if needed. Mix until totally blended. 

I do not always picture the Agave Nectar. 

That is the sweetener that I like to add. If you prefer Honey,

be my guest. Some people like to add nothing, that is good also

Like most of my recipes, quick and easy.

Open the refrigerator, take out 

Just some rough cuts to make everything blend better

Water versus a Green cleanse. I will drink the Green cleanse all day

Ready to roll. Got my drink and I am out the door. 

Have a great day

Spring Green Cleanse

Holy cow thunder and lightening. From 1:00 am on last night, we have been up. Windy and Rainy like you cannot believe. If you ever wondered about Chicagoland weather, just live here for awhile. HIGHLY unpredictable and forever changing. As I made this delicious beverage, I watch it just pour outside. There is no running for me today. I would be hanging out in the basement with Shaun T doing some type of Insanity workout. Over the winter, I have not lost any weight, (depressing) but I have lost inches. My jeans still fit. I can actually do several big girl push-ups, (NO Knees) and jumps. My feet will leave the ground. I am grateful to have ran 4 days this week. That is the most since last November. WOW. Yoga is still a large part of my fitness routine. I have spread myself out to three different Yoga studios. Different teachers, techniques, and philosophy's. I keeps me from getting bored and betters my mind.

So why am I selling this drink as a Spring Green Cleanse. Well, it is green and it SO reminds me of Spring. Winter has lasted somewhere close to forever here this year. Usually with a green cleanse, I only use water, but today, I went with Almond Milk. I also used plain non fat Greek Yogurt in this recipe. I am going outside the Box with this recipe. So unsure, but it TASTE Delicious. A bit of Orange Sherbet, but way healthier. This recipe is a keeper, and this is why I am sharing it with you.

Green creamy goodness

Spring Green Cleanse

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1/2 cup of Almond Milk

6 ounces of Greek Yogurt, plain

1 cup of Spinach

1 Green Apple, cored and chopped

1 Tangelo or Mineola, peeled and quartered

1 piece Fresh Ginger, size of fingernail

1/2 Avocado, peeled

Juice of 1 lemon

1-2 cup of Ice (optional)

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Drink up or place in the refrigerator and drink tomorrow. 

Very basic ingredients. 

The Almond Milk was not present for the picture

Rough chop and peels. 

This was a very simple healthy drink to throw together

The Vitamix was pretty full. 

I always mix everything first and then throw in the ice.

 This drink had a nice creamy texture. 

I think I will try to skip the Almond Milk next time and just use water

With both an Avocado and Yogurt, and all of the fruit, this drink is just delicious

I like my Lime Mint Drink, but this may be my new favorite.

Purple Cleanse

OMG .... I found a new color. NO way. Can it really be. I am such a dork. And I love it. Besides always eating spinach, I ventured out of the box. I purchased a package of Kale, Chou, Frisse. This working me into a kale world. I may or may not ever get completely there, but I am trying. During the week for lunch, I eat a salad almost every day. I mixed the Kale, Chou, Frisse mixture with the Spinach, very good. It has added more flavor naturally to my salad. People, add some spunk to your food. This is a simple no calorie way to add flavor without adding fat or sodium.

This drink has Acai in it. Acai is considered a super food. Loaded with fiber. I read today that Acai is NOT considered a weightloss. Disapponting, because I want everything to help me lose weight. Chocolate, cookies, potato chips.....That is the purple color. There is NO way this drink could stay green.

There is a slight hue of green, but it was purple.

I was at Sur la Table and purchased this cute tea towel. I am sure it will be in more photos.

The funny thing is, no dishes or hands will be dried with this towel.

Purple Cleanse

adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup of water

1 packet frozen Acai concentrate

1 green apple, chopped

1 fresh ginger, thumb nail piece

1 cup spinach

1 cup kale, Chou, Frisse

1 cup ICE

1 squirt Agave Nectar (optional)

Directions

Please all ingredients in the blender in the order listed. Blend for 1-2 minutes. The greens will take a bit longer than usual. Add the Agave Nectar if you would like it a bit sweeter.

If you are not on board with the Kale Blend, just use all spinach

The Acai came out of the freezer section at my Grocery store. 

There are 4 packets in this package. This was reasonably priced.

Each package is only 80 calories.

You can add it to water or a smoothie, to make any sort of drink

The Kale, Chou, Frisse blend is delicious. And not difficult to eat. 

This made two large drinks. 

I really enjoyed the flavor

Green Cleanse - 6

Last week, we were in Florida to see my Mom. It was a great trip. We celebrated my birthday for many more days. I was lucky to see my sister and her family. She has the best looking boys. 

We tried very hard to eat some what healthy. I made green cleanse drinks for most days. I could tell when I did not drink one. My Mom made us fresh orange juice everyday. That was also delicious. Pulp and all, I did not care. There are no cool drink pictures, I was on vacation. We stopped at a Whole Foods one day. I purchased Goji Berries. Those are a work in process. There is a different taste there, but they are a super food. We ate in a few days, the eating out was a killer. Grouper is the fish for that area, and it was fantastic. Grilled, fried, in tacos, on a bun, anyway it was good. BUT.... the cold slaw, potatoes (french fries) and desserts were KILLERS.

Pina Colada Ice box cake. Homemade and DELICIOUS

A beautiful sunset that day

Just a gorgeous sunset

My Mom and I celebrating my Birthday with cocktails

Birds. 

My Florida sister. I love hanging out with HER

Green Cleanse - 6

Adapted by ME

Ingredients

1 cup of water

1 juiced lime

1 green apple, chopped

1 orange, peeled and chopped

1 piece fresh ginger

1 1/2 cups fresh spinach

1 cup ICE

Directions

Place all ingredients in a blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth.

Just a few items for a fantastic clean healthy drink

Everything is cut up and ready to go

A perfect combination of Healthy flavors

Back on track again. A Coconut Jack's glass, shell and limes, make it all good

From toes in the Sand to....

THIS is what we came home to. I HOPE we are done for the season.