Apple Crumble recipe

This is the recipe that I used to make some apple crumble last night, thought I would share it. The crumble topping came out nice and crisp (it was still crisp the next morning), I took the attached image the next morning.

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Apple Crumble

Categories: Crumble/Crisp
Yields: 8
Preparation Time: 00:30

1.5 cups White Sugar
1 cup White Flower
7.25 tbs butter
0.5 tsp cinnamon
0.25 tsp nutmeg
7 apples

Preparing the Apples:
1. Peel and core the apples. Dice them into chunks.
2. Add the apples, 1 cup of sugar, the cinnamon, and nutmeg into a pot and stew over low/medium heat, stir with a wooden spoon often, till the apples start to soften. Do not let the apples get mushy.
3. Put the apples into the serving dish and allow to start cooling.

Making the Crumble:
1. Mix the flour, remaining sugar, and butter with your fingers till it becomes a breadcrumb consistency.
2. Preheat the oven to 300F (150C).
3. Cover the apples with the crumble topping, making sure not to press down.
4. Bake the crumble in the oven for about 30 minutes.
5. If the crumble is not golden brown after the 30 minutes, set the oven to broil till golden brown.

Simple Strawberry Lemonade Directions

Today I made strawberry lemonade, it was nice and refreshing. I thought I would describe how I did this, trust me, it was easy.

You will need:

• 1 glass
• enough lemonade to fill the glass
• 1 medium strawberry per 8oz of lemonade
• 1 knife – sharp
• 1 fork or spoon
• ice cubes (optional)

Directions:

• Cut the strawberries, over the glass, into small slices
• Use the fork, or spoon, to mash the strawberries into a slightly chunky mush
• Pressing the strawberries into the side of the glass is a great technique
• Add ice cubes, this will keep the strawberry pulp from floating to the top
• Add in the lemonade
• Enjoy

Cash and food

Well, I'm unemployed (have been for the last month). Which means I have no cash coming in. This means that my previous eating habits are not something I can indulge in.

Previous eating habits:
Okay, here is a quick breakdown of my previous eating habits, this is when I had a job and cash coming in. Often times when Jana and I wanted something to eat we would run out and grab it, either from a restaurant, or a fast food joint; it was just plain easier. I have noticed a few things since I haven't been able to do that. When eating out, you get larger portions, and you paid for the food so you are damn well going to eat it - after all there are children starving in Antarctica; plus it is costly. None of that is good, it's not healthy (for your body or your pocket book).

Current eating habits:
Now that I'm not having any cash coming in, Jana and I have to watch our eating habits carefully, that means no running out for fast food. No running out for fast food means that we have to cook at home (I'm fairly sure that is what we got the oven for). Cooking at home has many advantages over eating out, you're eating food that is better for you (no high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient), you eat smaller portions (smaller plate, but that is more of a personal thing), and don't forget that it's cheaper. Eating at home dose have it's share of difficulties (extra time, dishes), but I'm finding that those difficulties are not as bad as they would seem, and become less of an issue the more you cook at home.

This change in eating habits has some great results. I'm feeling better, less stressed (though that could be due to meditating everyday and not working), my bowel has settled down, plus the knowledge that I can eat at home and be happy about it.

Food

I'm currently unemployed - it has been rather relaxing actually. Since I'm not working, and I don't have the money coming in that I had before, Jana and I have been very careful about what we eat; I have also been watching my portions much more closely. In the time that I have not been working, I have started to eat smaller portions; with the exception of the first week, I haven't had a problem with feeling hungry all the time. Now I can eat a piece of chicken, and some rice, and feel satisfied for hours. Tonight, after the rain storm, Jana and I went to Target to get some groceries, on the way we stopped at Burger King for a quick bite to eat. I had a larger meal at BK that I have been having for the last couple of weeks - and for some odd reason, I feel like I'm starving. I'm not sure if it is due to me eating a larger meal, or if it is because of where I ate. I hope this feeling doesn't persist, I don't want to go through another week of feeling hungry.

Disappointed in myself

For the past week, I have been proud of myself - I have stuck to eating well. I have had more veggies a day, I have not eaten the bad foods (considered bad no matter what diet you are on). I have felt better, slept better, gotten up before the alarm clock and felt great through out the day (though I have been wanting a nap about half way through the day)
Last night I did something stupid. After eating healthy all day, and feeling good - I broke down and had some of those bad foods, that I mentioned earlier, as a midnight snack. This morning I woke up later then my alarm clock would have been set for, I feel like I'm dragging, I have no motivatirn9877777777777777777778 (sorry cat came by) motivation to get anything done today, I only want to sleep. All in all, I feel like I cheated on myself, now I'm depressed. Oh, and I gained weight.
The only thing to do is to suck it up and continue on. As I told my coworker (who is quitting smoking), there are bumps just don't let them turn into mountains. I need to get back on that horse. I need to figure out why I did what I did, and fix it so that it doesn't happen again.