Alayna's Adventures

One day, John was sitting in the car watching the kids while I ran into Aldi, which I totally love, love, love by the way .  On this particular Aldi grocery run, they had a whole shelf of refrigerated chickens with bright "$2 off" stickers on them, because they were nearing their expiration date.  I always love a deal, so I had to look.  After the discount, each of the whole chickens was between $1.25 and $2.25!  So I grabbed a few, well, seven to be exact, and headed home.  I'm sure I was only going in for a few items, so when I excitedly told John about my seven chickens, he was very likely not as impressed or ecstatic as I was.  I froze most of them immediately because they were set to expire!  In fact, I had so little freezer space that I was worried that a frozen chicken may sever my toe if I wasn't careful.  Fast forward two or three months, when I received an email from a blog I follow about a challenge to empty my freezer and pantry....

So this nesting thing is super hardcore.  I just have to say in the last 24 hours I have now made a coconut cream pie with homemade crust, an apple crumble pie with homemade crust, two loaves of pumpkin banana bread (had four bananas to use up), applesauce (cut up too many apples for the apple pie), and a pizza from scratch (Isaiah wanted pizza).  Oh my.  I must be a glutton for punishment, or maybe just a glutton.  After my hours of baking yesterday, which included both pies and the applesauce, I was so very tired and my feet were swollen! I wanted to showcase my little helper who helped mommy make some pumpkin banana bread.   Isaiah really just wanted to use the mixer, which as a good mother, I could not allow...  But he did stir the batter a little for me.  Oh boys will be boys!! He's such a sweet one, and he loves to help!  Now on to the recipe...  Pumpkin Banana Bread Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour (o...

Part One of Alayna's Adventures in Baking... So I think I have definitely been nesting lately, that strange part of pregnancy where you are beyond exhausted, but for some strange, unknown reason you want to clean, bake, dust, scrub the floor, wash dishes, sweep, vacuum, and wash and fold laundry. Not that you can accomplish all of it, but darn it, you will try! Many of my escapades lately have involved baking and cooking.  I have made chunky cinnamon applesauce, crumble apple pie, chicken enchiladas, baked BBQ ribs, and pumpkin banana bread.  And that's all in about a weeks time!  Whew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it!   Now on to some recipes, specifically the apple crumble pie one.  In honor of fall, I have been craving all things apple and pumpkin.  If you know me, I'm a nut for anything pumpkin - pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin straight from the can.  And apples, Gala, Mutsu, and apple cider, I'm in hea...