Fintastic Birthday Party at Goldfish Swim School

Robbie turned 6 years old! We wanted to celebrate with his friends at an indoor spot this year. We couldn’t have found a better venue for his party. It was a blast!

Goldfish Swim Schools are the perfect spot to experience a tropical environment. Their locations are colorful, spacious, and welcoming. Their swimming pool area is heated to 90° and their shiver-free pool is the perfect spot to swim with friends.

We had his party at Goldfish Swim School in Evanston, IL. We chose the smallest party package since it was perfect for us. You get to have 1 to 24 little ones as guests. Adults don’t count against the attendee number, which is amazing! You don’t have to worry about how many parents will join. Grandma and grandpa can enjoy the fun, too!

Robbie was so excited to know we’d do an ocean theme for his party. He really wanted to focus on manatees, but it’s really hard to find anything manatee. We had so much fun gathering the few things we needed to bring for decor. Robbie was so excited to work on choosing the names for all the snacks we had for our guests.

What’s included?

When you book a birthday party at Goldfish Swim School you get:

– Two hours of private access
– Certified lifeguards & party coordinator
– Invitations and envelopes
– Table coverings, plates, cups, napkins, and forks
– Balloons, tropical decorations, and centerpieces
– Cupcakes & beverages for children
– Goodie bags
– T-shirt for the guest of honor

We booked the venue 6 weeks before the party. It was so easy! If you’re a Goldfish member you can do it through the Goldfish app, or the member portal on their website. Goldfish Evanston offers two different party times, either from 2-4pm or 4:30-6:30 on Saturdays. Check with your local Goldfish on what times they offer their birthday parties as times and days vary by location.

The allotted time for the party was perfect! Once you’re signed in with the front desk, you and your little ones will have a brief water safety demonstration, and you proceed to spend the first hour in the pool. There’s comfy changing rooms and showers for your guests. Shampoo is available, as well as hair dryers. When everyone moves to dry land, everyone gathers and shares food. We opted for an additional coffee package for a small fee. It was a hit with the adults!

One of our guests is getting a certified life vest after having received safety procedure from certified lifeguard

I loved having all the help from Goldfish staff. It’s definitely a plus to arrive at a birthday venue where everything is already beautiful! The staff work on setting up the tables, plates, and décor! The staff served our guests pizza, and the cupcakes. Also, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up! As a parent this is definitely a win! Not having to worry about setting up and cleaning up is awesome!

One of our guests, Ben, receives a cupcake from Goldfish Staff

This is the first birthday party I host that I’m actually the most relaxed! All the help we received from the staff was awesome! 

I definitely recommend hosting birthday parties at Goldfish Swim School. You get a lot of value, there’s parking for your guests, and all your guests will get a free family swim pass in the goodie bags! Some of our guests booked free trials after the party was over! Having a birthday party at Goldfish Swim School is not just about fun, but it’s also about learning water safety with friends!

If you’re not ready to book a party yet, start with a FREE trial at any Goldfish Swim School. Click here for Chicago locations!

Thank you Goldfish Swim School for sponsoring this post!

♡ Michelle | con limón, please

Pasta with Roasted Chile Verde Peppers Cream

Chile verde has such a special taste for my palate. This green pepper is also known as Anaheim or California pepper. It has such an exquisite flavour and it’s not spicy. Chile verde adds a ton of flavour to food, specially when it’s roasted! They’re green, a lighter shade than jalapeños, and they can be twice as long. In my Sonoran land we refer to it as chile verde. In order to prepare this pasta, I roasted some chile verdes, and I prepared a cream. You can use any type of pasta you prefer or have at hand, or you can even use this cream to add to some chicken or meat.

Here’s what you’ll need:

– 5-6 chile verde peppers
– 1/2 medium white or yellow onion
– 2 garlic cloves
– cooking oil
– 8oz softened cream cheese (1 bar)
– 1/3c Greek yogurt
– 2tsp bouillon
– 6c cooked pasta (about 12oz of uncooked pasta)
– Cilantro to garnish

Start by roasting the peppers either on your stove top, or by broiling them in your oven. Place them in a sealed container or bag, and set them aside to cool down. Then, remove the skin and seeds of the ppeppers.

Finely chop the onion and garlic. Heat up some cooking oil in a pot, and fry the onion and garlic. When they change color, and they look a bit transparent, add the peppers. Fry for several minutes, remove from heat, and let them cool down.

Place the peppers with garlic and onion in a blender. Add a bar of softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and the bouillon. I used chicken bouillon. Heat up some more cooking oil in the pot you used before. Add the cream and cook for a few minutes in medium heat. When it’s about to boil, add the cooked pasta, mix well, and it’s ready!

Puedes usar chiles poblanos o pimiento morón si no encuentras los chiles verdes en tu localidad

NOTE:
You can use low fat cream cheese and yogurt
You can substitute the Greek yogurt for cream
You can use any type of pasta. You could also make this cream to go over some chicken or meat
If you like spicy food, you can add a roasted jalapeño or Serrano pepper to the mix!
Enjoy this delicious pasta as a side dish. Enjoy it with anything! I hope you prepare it!

¡Buen provecho!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

.

.

.

My blogger friends also shared their favourite pasta recipe!

Easy Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles by Nicole

A Valentine’s Pasta Dish by Traci

Quick & Easy Vodka Cream Pasta Sauce by Stephanie

Pasta con crema de chile verde tatemado

El chile verde es súper especial para mi paladar. Este chile tiene un sabor exquisito, no es picante, y da muy buen sabor a la comida especialmente cuando está tatemado. A este chile también se le conoce como chile Anaheim o California. Allá en mi tierra sonorense se le conoce como chile verde. Para preparar esta crema para mi pasta, tatemé unos chiles, y preparé una crema. Puedes usar el tipo de pasta que desees, e incluso puedes usar la crema y cubrir pollo o carne.

Esto es lo que necesitas:

– 5-6 piezas de chile verde
– 1/2 cebolla amarilla o blanca mediana
– 2 dientes de ajo
– aceite de cocina
– 8oz queso crema (1 barra)
– 1/3t yogurt griego
– 2cdta consomé
– 6c pasta cocida (about 350g)
– Cilantro para servir

Tatema los chiles verdes en la estufa, o usa el horno de tu estufa en la opción para asar (broil). Ponlos en una bolsa o contenedor y déjalos enfriar. Quita la piel de los chiles y las semillas también. Prepara la pasta, y saca el queso crema del refrgerador para suavizarlo.

Pica la cebolla y el ajo finamente. Los dientes de ajo los puedes triturar. Calienta aceite de cocina de tu preferencia y fríe la cebolla y el ajo hasta que se tornen algo transparente. Agrega los chiles. Fríe por un par de minutos y reserva para dejar enfriar.

Licúa los chiles con cebolla y ajo, agregando una barra de queso crema, el yogurt griego, y el consomé. Yo usé consomé de pollo. Fríe esta crema en la misma olla que habías utilizado con un poco más de aceite. Cuando esté a punto de hervir, agrega la pasta cocida, revuelve bien, y listo.

Este día quería hacer spaghetti pero sólo tenía penne. Puedes usar realmente la que tengas a la mano.

NOTA:
Puedes usar chiles poblanos o pimiento morón si no encuentras los chiles verdes en tu localidad
El queso crema puede ser descremado
Puedes sustituir el yogurt griego por crema
Puedes usar cualquier tipo de pasta, e incluso puedes hacer esta crema para cubrir pollo o algún otro tipo de carne
Si te gusta lo picante, tatema un jalapeño o un chile serrano y agrega a la mezcla

Disfruta de esta deliciosa pasta en crema de chile verde para acompañar cualquier platillo. ¡Espero que la prepares!

¡Buen provecho!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

.

.

.

Más recetas que te puedan gustar:

Sopita de fideos mexicana estilo Sonora

Esta sopita me trae tantos recuerdos. Es como estar de regreso en Sonora en un día caluroso de verano visitando a mi nana Toñita. Los mexicanxs hacen sopas y caldos incluso en los días más calientes. No estoy bromeando cuando digo que las abuelitas te hacen comer una linda sopa caliente aunque estés sudando. ¡Hermosos momentos!

Los fideos son una pasta noodle delgada y redonda hechos de trigo. Ya sea para un día caluroso de verano, o para un día acogedor de invierno, aquí te dejo mi versión de esta sopa tradicional estilo Sonora, aquí está mi sopita de fideos.

No necesitas muchos ingredientes para preparar esta sopa. Lo que le quieras agregar después de lista es completamente opcional. Una buena tortilla de maíz con sal en forma de burrito es suficiente, y por supuesto, con limón, please.

Aquí está lo que necesitas:

– 100g de pasta de fideo

– 1/2cda aceite de cocina

– 1 tomate grande

– 1/3 cebolla mediana blanca o amarilla

– 2 dientes de ajo

– 1 chile guajillo

– 5t caldo de pollo o verduras

– Sal y pimienta al gusto

Opcional: aguacate, queso, tortillas en tiras, limón, chile triturado, salsa picante, etc.

Primero hierve un poco de agua. Enjuaga el chile guajillo. Ponlo en un contenedor y cubre con agua hirviendo por unos minutos. Su color va a cambiar cuando esté suave, no se verá tan oscuro.

Corta la cebolla y el tomate en trozos y agrega a la licuadora. Pela y pica finamente o tritura el ajo, y también agrégalo a la licuadora. Agrega el chile y una poca del agua que usaste para suavizarlo. Media taza de esa agua está bien. Licúa bien por un par de minutos.

Pon una olla en la estufa y calienta aceite de cocina. Yo usé aceite de aguacate. Después, agrega los fideos y fríelos por unos minutos hasta que veas que algunos se empiezan a dorar. Usa un colador y agrega la salsa que licuaste a la sopa. Ayúdate con una espátula para sacarle todo el caldo. Fríe por unos minutos y agrega las 5 tazas del caldo que elijas. Yo usé caldo de pollo para mi sopa. Deja que hierva, cubre la olla, y deja cocinando a fuego bajo por 20min.

Si deseas agregarle algo a tu sopa, puedes hacerlo. Si tienes tortillas de maíz, calienta algunas, enrólalas como burritos y acompaña tu sopa. A mi tazón yo le puse rebanadas de chile guajillo frito, rebanadas de aguacate, y jugo de limón. ¡Riquísimo!

Esta sopa le habla a mi alma. Me hace sentirme más cerca a mis raíces mexicanas, y el aroma y sabor me hacen recordar muchas memorias. Definitivamente sigo la tradición haciendo esta sopita de vez en cuando para los míos.

NOTA: puedes hacer esta sopa con otro tipo de pasta, como de letras o dinosaurios.

Espero que te pongas calientito y te sientas cómodo uno de estos días con esta sopita de fideos.

¡Buen provecho!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

Para otras sopitas que he hecho haz click aquí debajo:

@conlimonplease

Tienes que agregar @FlavorMaster a tu cocina. ¡Es el sazonador perfecto que no sabías que necesitabas! Puedes usarlo con cualquier proteína o verduras. ¡Da a los sabores en mis platillos un sentido innegable de profundidad y definición! Incluí FlavorMaster® de pimienta y ajo en mi receta de sopa de “taco” cremosa. ¡Gracias por haberte unido a mi cocina, Flavor Master! 🧡 Sopa de “Taco” Cremosa Ingredientes 1/2kg carne molida de res 28oz tomates en lata 1 pimiento rojo 1 1/2t frijoles cocidos 1c chícharos congelados 4t caldo de pollo 1cdta cebolla en polvo 1cdta comino molido 1/2cdta chile en polvo Pizca de paprika 1cda FlavorMaster® pimienta y ajo 2 chile verde 8oz queso crema Toppings (opcional) Tortillas de maíz en tiras Cilantro Cebolla blanca Aguacate Queso fresco Limón ¡Buen provecho! . . You have to add some @myflavormaster to your kitchen! It’s the perfect seasoning sauce you didn’t know you needed! You can use it with any protein and veggies. It gives my dishes an undeniable sense of depth and definition to existing flavours! I included FlavorMaster® Peppercorn Garlic in my Creamy Taco Soup. Thanks for having joined my kitchen, Flavor Master! 🧡 Creamy Taco Soup Ingredients 1lb ground beef 28oz canned crushed tomatoes 1 red pepper 1 1/2c cooked beans 1c frozen peas 4c chicken broth 1tsp onion powder 1tsp ground cumin 1/2tsp chili powder Pinch paprika 1tbsp FlavorMaster® Peppercorn Garlic 2 Anaheim peppers 8oz cream cheese Toppings (optional) Tortilla strips Cilantro White onion Avocado Queso fresco Lime . . . . #creamytacosoup #taco #tacosoup #taco #soup #sopa #soupseason #winterfood #kosher #allinonesauce #versatile #protein #veggie #flavormaster #likeagenieinabottle #soupciety #nosoupforyou #chicagomom #latinamom #mexicana @ApexDrop | UGC Agency

♬ La Más Deseada – Valentín Elizalde

Mexican Noodle Soup Sonoran Style

This sopita (little soup) brings back so many memories. It’s like being back in Sonora on a hot summer day visiting mi nana Toñita. Mexican people make broths and soups even in the hottest days. I’m not joking when I say that abuelitas make you eat a lovely hot soup even if you’re sweating. Lovely times for sure.

Fideos are thin round noodles made of wheat. In Mexico we call this soup sopa de fideos (noodle soup). For a hot summer day, or a cozy winter one, here’s my version of this traditional Sonoran style noodle soup. Mi sopita de fideos.

You don’t need a ton of ingredients to make this soup. The toppings are completely optional as well. A good warm tortilla burrito with salt can suffice, and of course, some lime.

Here’s what you’ll need:

– 100g fideo pasta

– 1/2tbsp cooking oil

– 1 big tomato

– 1/3 yellow or white medium sized onion

– 2 garlic cloves

– 1 guajillo pepper

– 5c chicken or vegetable broth

– Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: soup toppings such as avocado, cheese, tortilla strips, lime, pepper flakes, hot sauce, etc.

First, start by boiling some water. Rinse the guajillo pepper and place in a container covering it with boiling water for a few minutes. Its color will change when it’s soft, it won’t look as dark.

Cut the onion in smaller chunks and place in a blender. Do the same with the tomato. Peel and finely chop the garlic or press it and place in blender. Add the pepper to the blender and some of the water you used to soften it. About half a cup is fine. Blend well for a couple minutes.

Place a pot on the stovetop and heat up some cooking oil. I used avocado oil. Then, add the fideos and fry them for a few minutes until you notice some of them start to brown. Use a strainer and add the mix you just blent. With the help of a spatula make sure you press the sauce to get all the broth. Fry for a few minutes and add the 5 cups of broth of your choice. I used chicken broth for my soup. Bring it to a boil, cover and let it simmer for 20min.

Garnish your soup with toppings of your choice. If you have corn tortillas, warm a few up and roll them burrito style to accompany your soup. To my bowl of soup I added some slices of fried guajillo pepper, avocado and lime juice. So yummy!

This soup speaks to my soul. It makes me feel close to my Mexican roots, and the smell and flavour bring back so many memories. I’m definitely keeping the tradition going making this sopita every now and then for my loved ones.

NOTE: you can make this soup using other type of pasta, such as alphabet or dinosaurs pasta

I hope you warm up and get cozy one of these days with this sopita de fideos.

¡Buen provecho!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

For more soup love:

.

.

.

Check out these awesome soup recipes some of my blogger friends are sharing:

Eggplant parmigiana soup by Nicole Rose

Instapot chicken soup by Stephanie

15 Bean & Ham Instant Pot Soup by Danielle

Cheesy “Mato” Tomato Soup by Alex

Beetroot leaves and vegetable soup by Roslin

5 ideas to start the New Year off right!

The New Year is here again! I have these ideas ready for you to start the New Year off right. Sometimes thinking about writing down resolutions gets boring and stressing even, right? Well, these 5 ideas are different, and I’m excited to get to them!

1. 52 week envelope challenge
My husband and I did this challenge last year. We saved over $1600 and we finished the challenge at the beginning of November. You need 52 envelopes, 1 for each week of the year, and you need to label them starting with $1, and all the way to $52. Each week you’ll grab the envelope that you feel comfortable adding that amount of money in it. You can start with the $1 envelope, or whichever you can afford to save that week. Once the year is over you would have saved $1378!


If you’d like to save twice as much, grab two envelopes each week. Reuse them after you’re done with the 52 envelopes and you’d have saved $2756.
Adapt this challenge to your currency of use. You could also skip the envelopes and download a free printable to the 52 week savings challenge.

printable of a 52 week challenge
Download this free printable for keeping track of it on a piece of paper.

2. Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game
Living a minimalist life is honestly hard. Doing this 30-day minimalism game helps you achieve a ton! The Minimalists came up with this challenge. We’ve done it twice at home. Joshua and Ryan, the minimalists, laid out this idea which helps you get rid of 465 items! On the first day you get rid of one thing, on the second day two things, and so on. As The Minimalists say: anything goes!
You can donate, trash or sell the items. The first couple days are easy, but as the month goes, it gets harder. Stay in track! I try to do this game at least twice a year.

How to play the 30-day minimalism challenge by The Minimalists

3. Set reasonable goals
Shor term goals are much more manageable. If you’re thinking about a long term goal you’d like to achieve, break it down into smaller goals that would ultimately help you achieve that bigger goal of yours. Setting goals that we know that we’re most likely to achieve them gives us a different mindset. For instance, I’d like to stay more organized this year, so I’ll start with our house, and aspects of my life that I can actually control. Definitely going for a health check up soon.

4. Create routines
It doesn’t matter if it’s something small that you do for yourself, or for someone else. Setting up a routine helps us achieve goals, as well. For daily routines they can be as simple as trying to achieve a movement goal, a certain amount of steps (if you have a tracker), clean your kitchen every night, and so on. These routines can be divided into health, mind, family, friendship, personal development, and anything else you can come up with. Focus first on routines you actually need, and then routines you want. Definitely easier said than done.

5. Drink more water
Self care is so important. Here I am telling you about it and ignoring a lot of the times my needs. Well, drinking water is the most basic form of self care. Water delivers oxygen throughout our bodies, and it boosts skin health. Our digestive system depends on it, and water helps our bodies flush waste! Here you’ll find a great article where you can read 15 benefits of staying well hydrated.
I have an app on my phone that sends me reminders to drink water every hour, and you can also track how much water you’ve drunk during a day. Click HERE to check out the app I use. It’s really easy to set up, and you can even access it on your smart watch.

Starting a new year sometimes can be overwhelming. Seeing everyone else with their list of goals and resolutions laid out can be intimidating. Following one or all of my ideas this year can give you a great start to new beginnings. Most importantly, keep in mind that you don’t need to start on January 1st! Take as many days as you need so that you start off right.

What else would you add to these 5 ideas? Share in comments!

Happy New Year!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

.

.

Check out what my blogger friends will be doing to start the new year off right!

New Year’s Resolution 2023 by Roslin

Positive Mindset in the New Year by Alex

The Busy Mom New Year Resolution by Mama Llama Llama

Last Year New Year Resolutions by Stephanie

Halloween | Totopos horneados espeluznantes

Me encantan las tortillas en cualquiera de sus formas, y por supuesto que me encantan los totopos. Así les llamamos en México a la tortilla en trozos que es frita u horneada. ¡Lo mejor de los totopos en que pueden estar hechos de maíz o de trigo! Para estos totopos espeluznantes usé tortillas de trigo para los fantasmas, y tortillas de maíz para las lunas. Necesitas sólo 3 ingredientes, y los puedes comer con tu salsa favorita o guacamole. ¡Yum!

Vas a necesitar:
– tortillas (de maíz o trigo)
– aceite de cocina
– sal
– cortadores de galletas de Halloween
– bandeja para hornear

Precalienta el horno a 380° F (190° C). Comienza poniendo las tortillas en una tabla para cortar. Usa el cortador de galleta que elijas, y corta las tortillas una a la vez. Usé ambos tipos de tortillas. Puedes únicamente usar tortillas de maíz si quieres que tus totopos espeluznantes no tengan gluten.

Pon las tortillas en una bandeja para hornear. Le puse papel pergamino para el horno en la mía. Ligeramente agrega aceite en spray, o usa un cepillo de cocina y agrega aceite a cada forma. Yo usé aceite de oliva en spray. Si prefieres un aceite con sabor más neutro, puedes usar aceite de aguacate. Agrega un poco de sal a las tortillas.

Pon la bandeja en el horno precalentado. Los totopos de harina de trigo estarán listos en 10 minutos. Los totopos de harina de maíz estarán listos y doraditos en 20 minutos.

10 minutos para los totopos de trigo| 20 minutos para los totopos de maíz

Mientras los totopos se estaban horneando, preparé un rico guacamole. Puedes comer estos ricos totopos con cualquier salsa que elijas, ¡o haz un guacamole como el mío!

En nuestra casa los totopos siempre son populares. ¡Tuve que apurarme a tomar estas fotos porque estaban desapareciendo! Mi hijo Robbie ama el guacamole con totopos. ¡Estos totopos espeluznantes definitivamente fueron aún más deseasos!

¡Ahora ya sabes cómo hacer totopos! Puedes hacerlo de cualquier forma, y tal vez hagas unos de corazones para el Día de San Valentín. Recuerda que puedes usar tortillas de trigo o de maíz, pero pon atención a los diferentes tiempos de cocción.

NOTA:
No te preocupes por el desperdicio porque en realidad no hay. Corta los trozos que sobraron en tiritas y ¡también hornéalas! Sigue el mismo proceso, agrega aceite y sal, y al horno. Úsalas como ingrediente final en tu sopa favorita.

¡Espero que los prepares!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

.

¿Necesitas ideas para cómo comer tus totopos? ¡Aquí están algunas de mis favoritas!

.

.

.

Checa más cosas de Halloween aquí:

Dentaduras Espeluznantes de manzana

Momias de galleta

Murciélagos para envolver dulces

Halloween Munchies | Spooky Scary Baked Tortilla Chips

I’m a tortilla lover in all its forms, and of course tortilla chips. In Mexico we call them totopos. The best thing about tortilla chips is that they can be either wheat or corn! For these spooky scary baked tortilla chips I used both. Ghosts are made of wheat tortillas and moons are made of corn tortillas. You only need 3 ingredients, and you can pair them with whatever your favorite salsa, or with guacamole. Yum!

Here’s what you’ll need:

– tortillas (wheat or corn)

– cooking oil

– salt

– Halloween cookie cutters

Preheat oven to 380° F. Start by placing a tortilla on a cutting board. Use the cookie cutter of your choice and start cutting the tortillas, one at a time. I used both wheat and corn tortillas. Go with corn tortillas if you want your spooky chips to be gluten free!

Place the tortillas on a baking tray. I lined mine with parchment paper. Lightly spray or brush the tortillas with oil. If you don’t have oil in spray, lightly brush the tortillas with oil of your choice. I used olive oil in spray. If you prefer a more neutral tasting oil, you can use avocado oil. Sprinkle the tortillas with salt.

Place the tray in the oven. Wheat tortilla chips will be done and crispy in 10 minutes. Corn tortilla chips will be ready and crispy in 20 minutes.

10 minutes for wheat tortillas | 20 minutes for corn tortillas

While the chips were in the oven, I prepared a guacamole. You can pair these chips with any salsa of your choice, or you can make guacamole just like I did!

At our home, chips are always a hit. I had to be super fast to take these photos, because they were flying! My son Robbie loves guacamole with tortilla chips. Spooky tortilla chips were definitely even more wanted!

Now you know how to make tortilla chips! You can make them any shape, and maybe go with heart shaped tortilla chips for Valentine’s Day! Remember, you can use either wheat or corn tortillas, but pay attention to the cooking times.

NOTE:

Do not worry about waste, because there really isn’t. You can cut the leftovers in strips and bake them as well! Use the same process, add oil & salt, and into the oven. Use them to top your favorite soup or just to munch!

I hope you prepare them!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

.

Do you need ideas to pair your chips? Here are some of my favorite ones!

.

.

.

Go check out more Halloween things here:

Halloween Fun in Denver by my blogger friend Kimberly | missionmami.com

Preschool Halloween Printables by the awesome Alexis | alexisamom.com

Spooky Apple Dentures

Mummy Cookies

Bat Candy Wrappers

My top 5 favorite easy apple recipes that say autumn!

Wether you have Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith apples, or whatever else you found at the store, I’m sure you can put together one of these recipes. When it’s cold outside, specially in Chicago, my baking side wakes up and I just want to bake and bake. I’m not sure if this year we’ll go apple picking, but it’s a given that I will go pick up some apples at my local supermarket! Today I’m sharing with you my favorite apple recipes.

Nowadays you can get so many kinds of apples. I believe it’s the fruit with the most variations. Last time I checked there were 65 varieties of apples! It doesn’t matter which one you choose, as long as it’s a variety you like. I love using Granny Smith apples, Gala, & Fiji apples when baking or just for snacking!

Here’s my top 5 easy recipes that are a must during autumn in our home:

Apple “donuts”

These “donuts” only need three ingredients!

Apple chocolate chip “cookies”

The perfect after school snack! I love the crunch and taste of the pecans on this recipe.

An all year round favorite: French Toast Roll-ups

The yumminess of cinnamon, apples, & french toast combined! A favorite in our home! You can sip these rolls in apple butter, maple syrup, or even condensed milk.

A perfect Halloween snack!

Spooky and yummy! Perfect for the season.

Apple cobbler

Don’t get intimidated by its name. This recipe is one of the easiest baking recipes I know! Click the photo for recipe.

Apple pie from scratch!

I know I said this was a collection of easy recipes, but you can definitely skip the from scratch part of this recipe. Also, I know I said 5, but man, it’s apple pie! Making the crust is a fun process, although it’s true it’s tiring. Nonetheless, it gives you so much satisfaction when you taste it!

Apples are one of my favorite fruits and I like to eat them all year round! I hope you try one of these recipes!

Michelle | con limón, please

.

.

.

.

Check out what my blogger friends have to share! I definitely want to give these a try! Yum!

Apple Recipes by Stephanie

Spooky “Poison” Apple Nachos by Alex

Fall Recipe | Hot Spiced Apple Cider by Cameron

DIY Decoración para Halloween fácil: guirnalda de fantasmas de borlas de estambre

Tengo bolsas y bolsas de estambre en mi closet. Si le preguntas a mi esposo, él probablemente te dirá que es demasiado. Sin embargo, cuando te gusta el estambre, ¡nunca tienes suficiente! Me encanta hacer manualidades con estambre, aunque no hago tan seguido como quisiera. He hecho guirnaldas de estambre con borlas, de calabacitas, y por supuesto, de pompones. Para nuestra decoración de Halloween este año, ¡hice esta hermosa guirnalda de borlas de estambre convertidas en pequeños fantasmas!

Esto es lo que necesitas:
– estambre del color(es) de tu preferencia
– papel negro para ojos y bocas
– pegamento
– aguja o gancho para estambre
– tijeras

Si necesitas comprar estambre, ve a la tienda del dólar Dollar Tree. Usualmente tienen estambre en madejas pequeñas, además de que es barato y tienen mucha variedad de colores. ¡Podría definitivamente compartirte del mío, para ser honesta, jaja! El “molde” de un necesitas depende de lo que tengas a la mano. Voy a usar un pequeño cuaderno ya que las borlas que voy a hacer son pequeñas. Si quisieras hacer borlas más largas puedes usar un cuaderno, libro, caja delgada, cartón, etc.

Primero, piensa en dónde quieres poner tu guirnalda, y mide el espacio. Ahora que ya sabes qué tan ancha será, divide la distancia en segmentos de 3 pulgadas, y cuenta aproximadamente cuántas borlas necesitarás. Usualmente hago unas pocas borlas y las voy enhebrando para ver cómo se ve. Esto me ayuda a saber si estoy haciendo suficientes para que se vea linda.

Envuelve el estambre alrededor del cartón o tu molde alrededor de 50 veces (si tu estambre es del delgado, envuelve algunas veces las). Desliza el cartón hacia afuera del estambre manteniendo el lazo unido. Corta una pequeña pieza de estambre y átalo en la parte de arriba del lazo para unirlos con un nudo.

Después, corta otra pieza de estambre y átala alrededor de una pulgada, o unos 3cm debajo de la parte de arriba. Esto será la cabecita del fantasma. Corta la parte de abajo donde está el estambre enlazado, y empareja las puntas si quieres que se vea más parejo. ¡Yay! ¡Ya hiciste tu primera borla de estambre!

Sigue así y haz algunas borlas más. Enhébralas en el hilo que sostiene la guirnalda usando un gancho o una aguja para estambre. Agrega ya sea ojitos de plástico movibles, o círculos de papel negro en cada fantasma. Yo usé una perforadora de papel. Usa pegamento para pegarlos en cada borla. El pegamento líquido funciona bien, pero podrías usar silicona caliente si así lo prefieres.

Ata la guirnalda en donde deseas decorar, et voilà! ¡Ya terminaste! 👻👻👻

¡Espero que hagas esta linda decoración de fantasmas! Puedes además hacer la guirnalda solamente de borlas sin convertirlas en fantasmas. ¡Las guirnaldas de borlas son una linda decoración para cualquier temporada o celebración!

 Michelle | con limón, please

Aquí puedes ver otros proyectos con estambre en los que he trabajado. Tengo una pequeña obsesión por el estambre.