My recent grocery order from Aldi netted me something unexpected. As is my wont I checked the seasonal offerings and saw they had Apple Crisp Cookies on offer. Since I enjoy both apple crisp and cookies this was a quick add to my order.

They were worth every penny!

Now, I don’t know about you but I tend to get stuck in the same old rut when it comes to baking. I’d never even thought of such a cookie, let alone made any. Sitting down this evening I decided to see if I could find a recipe to try and, needless to say, I found a few. This one by Broma Bakery sounds like what I got from Aldi without the glaze. Click HERE to check it out.

For whatever reason I seem to be getting more and more in the mood to heat up the oven and do some baking. I think it might be a wish for the weather to change so heating up the kitchen / house will feel more like Fall. At least that is what I’m telling myself. LOL!

Pan Options and Baking Time

Last week I made up a box mix for a quick bread. As it was hot outside, I wasn’t inclined to heat up the kitchen for the full hour that the mix required to bake so I decided to play a bit with the pan size. Instead of the loaf pan option on the box, I pulled out my 8×8 square pan and used it. I set the timer for 30 minutes and checked it at 25 – which was a good thing as it was done; any more time and it would have been dry. I ended up with more serving than in the loaf version, too.

This worked because the batter was spread out in a shorter layer rather than the taller layer that would have been in the loaf pan. This allowed for a shorter baking time. Be sure to pay attention to baking times – check to see if alternatives are listed in either the recipe or the box.

I suspect I will be doing more baking as we head into September and October. How about you?

See Mindy Mom recently posted that she has had to rethink her food plans not only because of budget but the ages of her kids – all now in their teen years. That got me to thinking. Have you found yourself dealing with shrinking budget and a list of meals that just aren’t hitting the mark anymore?

For those with kids, it can be deceptively easy to forget that what was once sufficient because they didn’t eat as much or their tastes were a bit limited but now that they have grown a bit things have changed. Growing kids need a lot more good healthy foods to help them keep growing and keep them healthy. Adults, too, need good healthy foods but their tastes have changed a bit, too.

Recently I was meandering through the weekly ad from one of my local markets and found myself seeing things I hadn’t bought in a Very Long Time. Why? Because I was tired of eating them. We have also had shortage issues with a few things and by the time the shortages were resolved, I’d forgotten all about what used to be a regular item in my pantry.

As we head into the Summer season when school is out and kids are home more, many will be challenged to find items that the kids can snack on and meal items that won’t break the bank. Farmer’s Markets will, I hope, become a fast favorite to find those locally grown foods that will check many of your meal plan boxes.

If possible, plan to put some of that produce aside in the freezer for later. My mom used to take peaches, peel and slice them and then put them into freezer containers and tuck them away. The sweet summer flavor would be a welcome surprise when they made their way out of the freezer in Autumn.

Waste not, want not!

Now might also be a good time to sit down and make a list of what you, and your family, actually wants to eat. Once you’ve found uses for the left overs in the fridge, freezer and pantry (the stuff that kept being pushed aside…) it is a good time to refresh with items that you will actually look forward to using.

I don’t know about you but in my house the meal plans change with the season. Winter’s stews, roasts and such give way to lighter fare once the weather warms up a bit. And, really, who wants to have the oven on when it is hot outside?

That being said, habit tends to get in the way when putting a shopping list together. Sometimes I have to literally sit myself down and remind myself that it might not be the right time for that particular dish…

So, the Summer Menu Reset is on! Let’s see what we can find to make us look forward to meals rather than just eat.

Enjoy!