Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Homemade Applesauce

Tonight we spent a very cozy evening with the kids. Made a nice big meal that Jordan even ate seconds of. After dinner, we kicked back and watched a movie downstairs. We decided on The Ultimate Gift because Doris had not seen it yet. The movie moves me. Makes me think about the in depth questions that arise during the movie. One of my favorite quotes: "You have never lived until you have lost everything."  It is speaking of material possessions. I completely agree with that statement. Just when you think you have everything you want in life, a snag comes and gets the better of you. It drags you off course. I have been down a few of those roads, but i am happy to say I have learned from them. I am sure I will have more snags too, but I am determined to learn from them and not make the same mistake twice. I have found who my true friends are. They are a perfect constant in our lives and it is a wonderful thing to be loved and liked just for being who we are, not for what we have.

Another quote from the movie I love: "Do you have any true friends?" Ones that if you were completely broke and had no possessions, would still be there for you? Or is everyone in your life just for what you bring to the table? I have been burned so many times by friends, but I am not letting that define me any more. Love a lot, Trust few.  I just strive to be a true person. What you see is what you get. I don't do the social game. I am who I am, and I only want people in my life that are the same.

The person I am today is completely different than the person I was even 5 years ago. For some reason in our culture we are taught that we are defined by how much money we have, or how expensive our home, car, clothes, purse etc... is. 5 years ago I was working working working for the American dream. I achieved it. Only to find it was a nightmare. We had the 6,000 square foot home on 5 acres. Picture perfect. Sad to say it was the most miserable time in my life. I had little time to spend with the kids. Both Randy and I were working like crazy and once the weekend came, we had so much yard work and housework to do, that we just didn't have time to stop and settle down. Our home was so big that all of us could be there and not see each other. So the dream home was not such a dream. I wish I could say I had an "aha" moment that changed everything. It was gradual and is still happening, but at some point I said "ENOUGH!"

Everyone in our lives thought we were crazy to walk away from our lifestyle. I guess until you have lived it, you don't understand. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard "you had everything!" Everything comes at a price that I am not willing to ever go through again. And if that is everything, then I choose nothing. Since then we have slowly taken steps to downsize. We are slowly getting rid of "things" we have collected through the years. I am not interested in "the American dream". Because I have my dream. A laid back lifestyle. There is no more working thousands of hours to obtain possessions that in the end, mean nothing.

This is where my kitchen comes into play. Countless hours of cooking have turned in to pure bliss. It is the center of our home. The kids sit at the counter and talk to me for hours while I work away making something we are all looking forward to eating later. I learn about their hopes and dreams, and I share with them the life lessons I have learned. Knowing they are going to have to learn their own lessons. We still work hard, but we also play hard. I still see so many miserable people out there, working like crazy to try to maintain what society tells them they need. If I can pass anything on to those out there. Stop and smell the flowers. Do you work at a job you hate every day just to get that dream home or dream car? Stop and watch the news. All we can hear now is how this country is in financial ruin. People are committing suicide, divorcing, going insane, all because of the crash of the American dollar. Minimize. What do you need? What makes you happy? Yes we all need to work, and work is not always fun or always something you love. But if it ends up you are more miserable than you are happy... it is time for a change. Take the time to do things with your friends and family. Find something that brings you all together that does not involve money. It is there that I find my true happiness. I hope you all can find yours and live your life to your fullest! We only get to live once... don't waste it!

Now that I am done with my rant, I am making something that is yummy and warm and just screams this time of year. I adapted this recipe from keepitsweetlcl

Homemade Applesauce
7 medium apples, peeled, cored and sliced.
3 tablespoons agave nectar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
the juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup water

1.Combine all ingredients in a large pot

2.Cover pot and let cook over low heat for 10 minutes
3.Remove cover and stir

4.Allow mixture to simmer over low heat for additional 10-15 minutes stirring on occasion
5.Remove from heat and use an emersion blender to make it the desired consistency.


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3 comments:

  1. I don't think I've made apple sauce since I was a kid! Thanks for bringing back great memories with this lovely recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A great beginning for a spicy applesauce cake.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Spicy Applesauce cake... yum! Can't wait to see that post!

    ReplyDelete

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