Ultra Easy Recipe for Homemade Applesauce

I make this recipe from October until early spring. My refrigerator is always stocked with a container of homemade applesauce. It couldn't be any simpler to prepare, so easy, in fact, that I tweeted it in less than 140 characters on Twitter! It’s one of those recipes that I frequently share with friends and family. It is also a surprisingly decent substitute for apple pie. Well....of course, nothing takes the place of a real apple pie, but this is a close second and far better at cutting the calories.

Choose any combination of apples, that you prefer. I generally use a mix of empire, gala, granny smith, and yellow delicious apples. Wash the apples. I do not peel them, but that’s a personal choice. Cut the apples in small pieces; be careful to remove the core. If you have a strawberry huller, it is a convenient tool for removing the core, after cutting each apple in half.

Place apple pieces in a microwave safe baking dish. Add enough water so that the bottom half of the apples are submerged. That's it: apples and water only.

Cover the container with waxed paper or a microwave cover. Microwave on high until apples are tender. I prepare a huge quantity and end up cooking them for approximately 25 minutes on high. Each microwave is different. Periodically, stir and mash the apples to preferred consistency - - chunky or smooth. Cook until desired tenderness.

Remove the container from the microwave. Mash and stir well. Continue to cover the container, while the apples further soften and the flavors meld.

The applesauce is particularly delicious reheated in the microwave, smothered with cinnamon. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

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If You Use Earbuds, Read This Advisory

Static electricity can increase in dry areas precipitating an electrical shock to earbud users. While not limited to Apple earbuds alone, read this alert from Apple detailing the potential for an electrical shock when wearing earbuds while listening to your iPod or iPhone. Who knew?
Forward this posting to your friends and family. It's good to be aware.




Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through
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you can find additional postings from Mom Knows Best at:
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where you will also find a link enabling you to subscribe directly to the blog.
Thanks,
Mom

Protecting your iPod With a Little Ingenuity

Recently my daughter (Sarah) became the recipient of an iPod and requested that I knit her an iPod sock for some added protection. Considering its small size, this seemed like a fairly simple undertaking - - something I could create with some leftover yarn.

Since Sarah attends college in another state, the greater challenge was determining the appropriate measurements. So began my search. I was able to find a picture of an iPod Sock (sold by Apple) online, helping me to understand her specific request. From there I was amazed by the number of sites offering instructions for creating a handmade iPod sock. Well, sort of amazed. The truth is, nearly everything seems to be on the internet. Often it is more a matter of reminding ourselves to search.

Now the fun part. Here are a few of the terrific sites I located. There are plenty more, so you may want to perform your own online search.

Perhaps one of the most obvious sites to check would have been a yarn company. Lion Brand Yarn, of course, offers a pattern for knitting an iPod Sock. Check their site for the Free Knitting Pattern for an iPod Sock, for beginners. You may need to register.

Instructables.com offers many different sets of directions for making iPod cases. Check out this one, Yet Another iPod Case, and also consider some additional options in the right hand column. There are even instructions for the creation of a case for other electronics, such as your PDA and camera.

Lastly, blogger Suw Charman requested that her "mum" knit her an iPod sock. The knitting instructions are provided on her blog, Chocolate and Vodka::DIY iPod socks. Kudos to Suw for suggesting that her "mum" add a pocket for storing the earphones. How simple and clever!

In the end, I decided not to knit the sock. This winter I lost one of my favorite gloves. Sarah has always eyed that particular pair of gloves. Taking my inspiration from these other sites, instead I chose to make use of the one lonely glove and remove the fingers to remake the glove into an iPod Sock. I remodeled the remaining yarn from the fingers into the earphone case. I have to say, it's really pretty cute. It may need a little tweaking once Sarah is home for spring break with her iPod in tow, but that should be an easy fix.


Please Note: If you are reading a posting from this blog through sources
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Thanks.
Mom