Recipe: Loaded Baked Apples

Today I want to share with you a recipe that evolved into something really great. It all started by me wanting to make Cinnamon Oat Baked Apples. This recipe has been a family favorite that I shared here on the blog back in 2013, but as I was making it this week I changed it up a bit. As I followed the recipe I added more apples, less sugar and more cinnamon to the filling, and than wanted lots of toppings. 

I shared a recipe for Apple Nachos on IG that I found on Earthy Andy and the peanut butter Carmel sauce would be amazing on top of our baked apples! It's essentially a vegan Carmel and tastes delicious. In the end, these turned out better then I could have imagined! 

INGREDIENTS:

-10 apples (I used mix variety from a local farm) 

-1 cup oats

-2/3 cups pecans

-3 Tbsp brown sugar

-2 Tbsp yogurt (or plant-based yogurt)

-1 Tbsp butter (or vegan butter), melted

-1 tsp cinnamon

-Apple cider or apple juice 

Peanut butter Carmel sauce 

-1 cup peanut butter 

-1/2 cup maple syrup

-1/2 cup almond milk

-1 tsp vanilla extract

Toppings

-whip cream/yogurt/ice cream 

-Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine oats with pecans and sprinkle with cinnamon. Spread out on a baking sheet in a thin layer for 4-6 minutes until golden and toasted. Remove and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. 

Wash and core the apples but make sure you don’t cut through the bottom of the apple. I used a spoon and a paring knife. In a bowl, combine oat and pecan mixture with Brown sugar, yogurt, and melted butter. spoon mixture into the center of each apple. Place apples in a glass baking dish of choice. Add apple cider to the bottom of the dish. 

Bake at 325° for 30 - 40 minutes until tender (not mushy). Top with yogurt or whip cream or ice cream and one more dash of cinnamon. Enjoy! 

*Check out my Instagram Reel for this recipe. 

Are you a fan of baked apples? Will you try this recipe? If so, stop back and let me know what you thought! xoxo

Sweater Weather: Lily Pullover Sweater

 

Today I am highlighting the Lily Pullover from Able. You can find my Reel on Instagram and video on Tic Tok, plus there is even a 25% off coupon code to go with it! Stop by and get your code then head over to Able for some sustainable shopping. xo

Sweater Weather: Jana Turtleneck Sweater

Today I'm highlighting the Jana turtleneck sweater from Able. There is so much to love about this sweater! The oversized fit, the herringbone pattern with contrast neck and hem, the high-low detail...it's just all perfection. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one and style it. 

Similarly to yesterday's styling, I paired the Jana turtleneck over one of my favorite dresses and added combat boots. For accessories, I decided to add a belt bag and some sunglasses. I have had this belt bag for five years now and it is still one of my go-to's. I've always been a sucker for a great belt! 

You guys, this sweater is so incredibly soft and so cozy. It's made of 100% organic eco cotton and is bust and tummy friendly. I love all three sweaters I am highlighting this week, but the Jana turtleneck is my favorite. There I said it. ;) 

Sweater: c/o Able (2022) // Dress: c/o Everlane (2022) // Boots: c/o Amazon (2021) // Belt Bag: J.Jill (2018) // Sunglasses: Raen (2018)

Shop the look:

Do you layer sweaters over your spring and summer dresses? What do you think of the Jana turtleneck?

Sweater Weather: Marlene Cropped Cardigan

This week I am highlighting three sweaters from Able. Today I bring you the Marlene cropped cardigan and you guys, I am in love! This beautiful cropped sweater comes in three colors but this one just screams Fall vibes so I had to have it. I paired it with one of my favorite maxi dresses and added a belt and combat boots. 

Whenever I'm adding a new clothing item to my wardrobe, I aways think of at least five ways I can style it. With this top, I felt like it would go with anything and everything! That's how I know I will hold on to it and wear it for years to come which makes it a welcome addition. 

On this morning, we stopped at the farmers market and picked up some flowers and produce. I was able to cut my own flowers which is something I've done now two years in a row. I'll be saving, drying out, and harvesting the seeds again on most of these. So pretty and so fun to regrow some local blooms in your backyard. 

Dress & Sweater: c/o Able (2021 & 2022)  // Boots: Amazon (2021)  // Belt: Cabi Clothing (2018) // Sunglasses: Raen (2018)

Shop the look:

*Use code BL15 and receive 15% off your Able order!

How would you style your Marlene cropped cardigan? What color would you get it in? 

I hope you make it a great day! 

Retold Recycling

 

When it comes to what happens to our clothing when we are done with it, we have a lot of options. Charities, reselling, swapping them with our friends, hand-me-downs, and then the garbage. Did you know that 32,000,000,000 pounds of clothing is sent to the landfill every year?! Retold recycling guarantees that nothing you send them will end up in a landfill! How wonderful is that?

There IS a subscription service option where you can have these bags sent to you throughout the year, or you can buy them in three packs or even in a single pack... I tend to buy them in three packs which end up costing me $12.84 per bag. I think what they do is SO worth that money! So here’s how it works, you can send them any textiles and they sort through it and give it to charities, thrift stores, up-cyclers, if it can’t be worn again, it’s turned into a rag, and if it's already a rag or fabric scrap and can’t be used again it’s ground into a pulp and used for many things. One of those things is insulation! How cool is that? Ok, so let me back up… you can send them any textile in any condition. So a lot of the items you usually can NOT donate and would end up in the garbage can be send to Retold. You can send underpants, bras with wires, old socks and torn masks… You can also give them fabric scraps and rags and old T-shirts with holes, and you can send them nicer items that are just looking for a new home! I tend to give a mixture of all three. I love the idea of an item of mine ending up in a thrift store somewhere! That’s definitely something that I can get behind! If I learned anything the last couple years it’s that if you want the world to change you need to put your money into places where those changes are being made. Seeking out brands who align with the changes you wanna see in this world and supporting those brands is key. For me, Retold Recycling is definitely something we will be using for years to come! I mentioned this was not sponsored but when you sign up you do get 15% off your first order link to share with your friends. So I’m gonna put my link below and if you feel like signing up and getting 15% off, use this. And then when you get your own 15% off link, invite all of your friends! https://www.talkable.com/x/1NoMmU

xoxo