cooking ala mel

healthy recipes and the occasional craft

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Things I’m Loving: October 2015 Edition

I’ve been meaning to make a new Things I’m Loving feature so I can share things other than food every once in a while – fashion, books, workouts, etc. – but it’s taken me a little longer than I intended to get it going!  I’ve been whipping through books as I used up every last bit of free time I had while not working (officially start my first pharmacist job tomorrow!), and I’ve gotten a few things lately that I’m totally obsessed with, so it’s finally time for a Things I’m Loving post!

Things I'm Loving October 2015 | cookingalamel.com

I also got to use my shutter remote for my camera, which I got last spring and never really used up till now.  Just ignore it in my hand in a few of the photos – I still haven’t figured out how to get it to read the signal without it showing! 😉  Just so everyone knows with full disclaimer, this post contains affiliate links, so if you click through my link and make a purchase, I will either make a little money or get points from the company (depending on the product).  As always, though, these are products I love, and all opinions are my own.  Now, to my favorite things currently!
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Easy French Apple Cake

I still have yet to go apple picking this year (in a couple of days, hopefully!), but I have been buying up the local apples like crazy from farm stands.  One of my favorite ways to showcase the gorgeous fall apples is in apple cake – this French apple cake could not be any easier!  It comes together within minutes, but the final cake is so delicious that your guests will think you’ve been baking all day.

Easy French Apple Cake | cookingalamel.com

Every year, I always convince myself that I like Golden Delicious apples, and I don’t know why I always forget that I hate the texture of them – a little too soft and mealy for my taste!  I think I just like the pretty golden color of them, but I’m really a Crispin or Jonagold girl when it comes to eating them fresh!  I ended up using this year’s batch of Golden Delicious apples for this cake, and it actually transformed the apples completely so they’re totally melt in your mouth.  Much better than how they are when they’re fresh!  I kept the peels on since the apples are so soft, which I think really helped them hold together a little better.  If you’re using a stronger apple with a heavier peel, you may want to peel them! [Read more…]

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

We’ve had some beautiful fall days here this week – sunny with a cool breeze, the perfect days to have the windows open.  Crisp fall days like these always make me yearn for soup, something to just warm me up enough to continue with keeping the windows open into the night so the kitties can enjoy it. 😉  This slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is ideal for days like this, especially when you’re too busy to be watching a pot continuously over the stove!

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup | cookingalamel.com

This soup is a lot like one of my very favorites, taco soup, but with chicken and a thinner broth.  While taco soup is super easy, since you just brown the ground beef and then pour a bunch of cans into a pot, this chicken tortilla soup is even easier, since you don’t even have to brown any meat!  Just throw it all into the slow cooker (except for the beans and corn so they don’t overcook) and let it cook until the chicken is nice and tender.  Add the beans and corn towards the end, and there you go.  One awesome bowl of soup.  Don’t forget the cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream, if you’re not lactose-intolerant like us! [Read more…]