use what you have – Apple butter in a slow cooker

Hello everyone

there were several containers of applesauce in our pantry, most were freebies from Kroger and they were all getting close to their used by date my daughter recently made pear butter. And I've watched several YouTube videos recently of people, canning jelly and jam. So I decided to try turning that plain applesauce into apple butter. I looked up a few recipes. I didn't follow any of them exactly but I will put my recipe that I used below and it turned out Delicious! We like a lot of cinnamon, so mine does have a good bit of that. And it is not canned to American food safety standards. I put the hot apple butter straight from the slow cooker into recycled jars and put the lids on them. Then, when they cooled, they went in the fridge. I'm sure it could be water baths and official canning jars and kept in the pantry, but I'm not giving advice on how to do that because I don't know. for this batch of apple butter, I used About 8 cups of unsweetened applesauce 3/4 cup of sugar 3/4 cup of brown sugar Heaping tablespoon of cinnamon Half a teaspoon of allspice And a few pinches of salt I let it cook in a slow cooker for about five hours. I started every hour or so and stopped when it was thicker Then it went right into jars with lids And into the fridge when it cooled. ❤Rhonda

Hello again

Hello Last week I went to my dentist's office for a cleaning. the hygienist discovered a tiny filling was missing so I went back the next day to get it replaced. Then this week I went to the eye doctor for a check up The next day I went to the eyeglass store to order new glasses And then the day after that, I went to the Walmart pharmacy and got four immunizations. I think that's plenty of medical stuff for now, but I'm thankful to have it done Yesterday I got a Kroger order delivered.

I am a big fan of Kroger delivery. I pretty much buy only things that are on sale or have good digital coupons for. I also think Kroger produce is usually a lot nicer quality than what I can get from Walmart. all of these groceries totaled about $70. The frozen potato rounds were free. They are not something I normally buy. The green grapes and the plums were huge! We haven't eaten any of the plums yet, but the grapes are delicious! Grocery shopping is completely dependent on where you live. I don't think many places have Kroger delivery.

these ice cream treats were on sale and I knew they were small, but my husband and I both got a very big laugh out out of just how tiny they actually are. I don't think they are a good deal, but we needed a good laugh. And I know when two grandsons are here this afternoon, they will think these many drumsticks are really silly. Supper last night was easy. I put some diced potatoes, bell peppers, and onions in this cooker with a tablespoon of olive oil. I was hoping they would kind of fry. They didn't really brown, but they did taste delicious About halfway through, I added some jalapeño and cheese sausage from our local university. I made us both a side salad and it was a delicious and easy supper

hope you all have a great Friday ❤ Rhonda

Let’s get going again

I've had a very unproductive summer so I really didn't have much to blog about. Then when I tried to blog, the app I've used for years to write posts said I was not authorized. So when I tried the old original way, its letting me. I have no idea why. But my posts may look differnt because the app was easier for editing. My husband has had several back treatments and they help but none have lasted as long as doctors predicted they could. I'm still trying to work around my low energy levels. My doctor ran lots of tests but nothing conclusive and nothing has helped. So I don't exactly live up to Do Stuff motto right now. but thats enough complaining. Today, I cooked my husband and I some breakfast. We both had sausage, a fried egg and half a slice of homemade bread toasted. The other other half of toast is under my egg.

Then we went to our local hospital so my husband could get another back treatment

There was a big pile of discards from our home and our daughters home in our dining room all summer. I had given away a few of the things as people requested them on our local Facebook Buy Nothing. Yesterday, one grandson helped me take all the clothes to a thrift store. Then today I listed the rest of it on Buy Nothing. as people requested things, I put their names on it and put them in front of our house.

Supper was taco meat from the freezer. I had a layered bowl and husband had soft tacos.

now that the dining room is clear of donations, I put new placemats on the table. I only went to one yard sale all summer and I got these placemats as part of a $5 bag full purchase. I really like how they look in this room. I tried a new cookie recipe today https://www.theenglishkitchen.co/2025/04/six-classic-oatmeal-cookies.html It's simple recipe that makes 6 big oatmeal cookies. I added pecans and more cinnamon to mine. They are a keeper recipe. Thank you everyone who commented on my test posts. I was not expecting anyone to even see them so hopefully I can get back to visiting with you all I hope this post looks OK, on my Ipad, I can't see the photos until post publishes. ❤ Rhonda

one more test

Im having blogger issues I put in a photo, lets see if it publishes ❤RHONDA

test

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July 14

Hello again 

our week doesn’t look much different than last week so I will just last week’s to do list again and use a colored marker to check off my progress. 

The dollhouse has new exterior paint, shingles on the roof, wallpaper and floor coverings inside.  

The granddaughter has been here and has had lots of fun arranging things inside.  

She had Grandpa cut a scrap of wood into the bed mattress.  


She also had Grandpa cut 2 old wood thread spools in half to make the legs.  She covered the mattress with a scrap of flannel

I sewed the quilt from an inherited small unfinished patchwork piece.  

There are many ideas online for dollhouse things.  If you’re willing to use your effort and time,  many things can be made with scraps and trash items.  

We’ve been eating but I haven’t taken photos.  

I cooked this Saturday- ground beef from Oklahoma State University seasoned with homemade taco seasoning,  

rice and salsa made with tomatoes and peppers from our backyard.  

It’s one of our favorites and it’s just as good reheated as it was the first time.  

We’ve been cleaning out our attic.  It’s not really that bad but I’m just trying to make decisions and not leave a lot to deal with later.  

  


there seem to be ‘several empty storage tubs and not that much to deal with.  

Grandchildren are happy to go up there and bring stuff down so this summer is the time to do this job.  
  





They brought down my Barbies.  I played with them lots and then my children with them some

they are looking lots worse with wear.  

But our youngest granddaughter has requested them so…….

I read a tutorial on how to hopefully fix their hair.  So the girls all have their heads soaking in Downy and hot water.  

Ken has hard plastic hair so he will just need a wiping off.  

I put all the clothes in a lingerie bag and have them washing on delicate. 

Then I plan to spread them on a towel and let them air dry.  

I’ll let you know how it goes.  

It’s hot here!  but that’s very normal for July in Oklahoma.  

Hope you are all fine 

❤️ Rhonda u

July 10- -

Hello again,  

it’s been a busier week with errands and appointments, athletic practices- most involving grandchildren.  

One night this week was an evening football practice one town south of us 

we were given a bag of old crayons,  so of course we looked on Pinterest 

These projects look pretty cool, don’t they?  

I’m not impressed with how ours turned out.  We glued down peeled crayons onto canvas boards and melted them with a blow dryer.  

we also tried sitting the canvases on easels in the very hot Oklahoma sun with a magnifying glass.  

Neither really melted the crayons in an attractive way.  

So Marine Grandpa got out some real fire 

He certainly melted the crayons but I don’t like his results either.  

But the kids do like their art and they really  liked the fire.  

Can any of you tell what this is?  

a 12 year old so happy to shoot a rubber band with his hand.  

He had so much fun with a rubber band.  And yes,  he knows not to shoot people,  just a target or knocking over a small empty box.  

we’ve been enjoying really good summer fruit- nothing dance- just watermelon, cherries and strawberries all from Walmart.  

Hope you’re all having a good week

❤️

Rhonda 

Monday July 7 doings

Hello again everyone 

I made a to do list for this week last night 

I want to do more sewing and I got started on that mid morning.  

I watched/listened to a few CVS mega coupon shoppers.  They really buy lots and do it way more complicated than I do.  

I had a couple of appointments this afternoon so I stopped at just CVS.  

My total before digital coupons and last weeks Extra Care Bucks was about $40

I paid $10.39 and have $12 Extra Care Bucks for next week.  

I don’t wear lots of makeup and I don’t wear makeup everyday but I had used up my only eyeshadow and my mascara seemed empty 

so I am very happy to have new ones,  

I’ve had a few questions about the Kiss press on nails I wear.  

They recently improved their glue and it really holds!  

I don’t buy my nails at CVS but I looked at theirs.  

They had lots. 

The new nails seem to have this improved logo I circled below.  

And if I was buying nails,  I would look for it.  

Supper wasn’t pretty but it was easy and delicious.

I stir fried an onion, 2 bell peppers and a little cabbage.  

then I added about 1 1/2 cups leftover cooked rice,  soy sauce and 1 thinly sliced leftover steak for July 4th,  

My husband has a collection of gnomes in front of our house.  

They were looking very faded from sun and weather.  

I asked him to repaint them and he did.  

For the last year or so,  sitting in a straight back chair was out the question for him.  

So we are both thankful he can do normal activities for now.  

The gnome on the left is before he repainted it.  

Don’t they look happier now in their fresh paint?  

Hope you all have had a good Monday 

❤️ Rhonda 

July 5th

Nobody can see this flower bed in our backyard.  On one side is the 6 foot fence and on the other side is our giant concrete tornado shelter.

I think we grew green beans in it a few years ago.  

This year I planted zinnia seeds,  and for good measure,  I added some Oklahoma Wildflower seeds I picked up free from our local library,  maybe 2 years ago.  

The zinnias grew and the wildflower seeds really showed out!  

I’m not sure these are actually wildflowers though,  I’ve lived in Oklahoma since 1991 and none of these are things I see growing wild.  

But whatever they,  they are pretty!

there are wild sunflowers growing along roads and in rural areas but they are much smaller. 

Google lens says this blue is Borage 


Zinnias in a different bed.  

our neighbors can’t see them but the bees and butterflies can.  

And would you believe there is a Robin sitting on the nest again?  

They usually take a few weeks to lay and hatch their eggs.  

they are little messy but we enjoy watching them.  

Hope you all are having a good weekend 

❤️ Rhonda 

July 4 The United States of America’s Independence Day

We will be celebrating at home.  I think my husband will grill some steaks to eat today and hamburgers to eat tomorrow.  

We have a pretty good view of our town’s fireworks show from our backyard.  

Our visiting dog doesn’t get crazy during fireworks but last year she was nervous so we will stay close to her too.  

Happy Birthday USA ❤️🇺🇸💙

Rhonda 

July 3 doings

Hello again 

we rarely eat 3 square meals anymore

I prefer a late breakfast and then an early supper and that’s usually plenty to keep me going all day.  

we had an unusually big breakfast today. 

There was some cream in our fridge that needed used,  it was about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups.  

So I looked at my freezer biscuit recipe and did little math figuring to make a recipe and half to use all that cream.  

Today’s breakfast was biscuits, sausage and biscuits.  

I had 1 biscuit, my husband had 2 and our visiting dog had 1.  

if you want the actual biscuit recipe,  it’s on this blog, just search for freezer biscuits in my search box 

the eggs ended up a little more cooked than I’d prefer.  I’ve started cooking in cast iron and it’s not second nature to me yet.  but we still ate them. 
Winnie was very happy with her biscuit.  

I spent the afternoon at my mother’s assisted living apartment.  

I took her some watermelon in throwaway dishes 

she liked it a lot! 

it’s amazing how many of our food products come in plastic containers.  

I don’t keep all of them but I do have a box in the bottom of our junk pantry to keep some of them.  

I use them like i did today.  The grands sometimes use them  for paint dishes or to hold a bug or whatever.  =

I also keep a small box for a few cans.  They come in handy to pour grease in or to plant some seeds or whatever, 

I don’t suggest you be a hoarder, but keeping a few things like these if you have room to spare can come in handy.  

supper was very easy.  I made soup with the chicken breast cooked in the crockpot yesterday.  

I added a diced potato, a little leftover rice, some cabbage and some frozen peas and carrots.

It was delicious with some sharp cheddar and crackers.  

Hope you’ve all had a good day 

❤️

Rhonda