Easy Apple Chips



Whether you have a surplus of apples or just genuinely enjoy those tasty bagged apple chips, I've got an easy recipe for you!

Generally speaking, the heartier apple varieties like Granny Smith, hold up a little better but you can use any variety you'd like. My favorite is Red Delicious! If you like sweeter apple chips, add a bit of sugar to the cinnamon. Any sugar will do the trick, but I LOVE the flavor of coconut sugar with them. This recipe is so flexible it can easily be multiplied based on your quantity of apples. The sky's the limit! (Or rather, the max dimensions of your sheet pan lol)

Ingredients
3 medium apples
1 tbsp cinnamon

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees

2. Thoroughly wash apples.*
*Check out last week's post here to make your own fruit cleanser.

3. Carefully, core and thinly slice apples (about 1/8 inch thick).

4. Shake apple slices and cinnamon together in a large plastic bag until apples are evenly coated.

5. Grease a sheet pan with neutral tasting oil to prevent the chips from sticking. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!

6. Lay apple slices in a single layer on cookie sheet and bake for 6 hours or until crisp.


I hope you enjoy this recipe! It takes a while to bake, but those crunchy apples are so worth it!

Lots of Love,
Anne

Vinegar: The Next Beyoncé?

There are three things I love most in this life: my boyfriend, chocolate, and vinegar. Yes, that vinegar. Despite its pickling origins, vinegar is definitely a household staple for everyone--regardless of your condiment preferences.

White vinegar has countless uses for cleaning, deodorizing, and disinfecting. It is cheap, eco-friendly, and readily available. Vinegar is so great y'all. Like the next big thing. 

On my journey to convert my friends to a vinegar based lifestyle, I have encountered the same feedback time and time again. "I don't want my house to smell like vinegar." I understand your sentiments but I have great news! Once vinegar dries, the smell disappears. Say it again for the people in the back... VINEGAR DOES NOT SMELL ONCE DRY. Try it if you don't believe me. 

Here are my favorite ways to use it!

Laundry
Add half a cup of vinegar to your washing machine along with your detergent.
  • Soften crunchy towels and jeans.
  • Remove urine smell.
  • Helps remove pet hair.
  • Eliminates trapped bacteria in items like sweaty gym clothes.
  • Helps soften hard water.
  • Boost your laundry detergent.
Vinegar will eliminate the stinky odor that hangs around in your fleece blankets and jackets!

DIY Cleaner
Make your own homemade cleaner by combining one part vinegar to one part water. The uses of this concoction are truly endless.
  • Streak free window or mirror cleaner
  • Disinfect surfaces like countertops and tables
  • Use as a spot cleaner for spills or sticky spots
If you use Swiffer products but find the wet pads dry up before you've finished mopping, spray the floor with this as you go to extend the pad's life. 

Around the House
She can sing, she can dance, she is useful all around the house.
  • Add half a cup to your bucket of mop water to help cut through grime.
  • Wash produce by mixing one part vinegar to three parts water.
  • Run your dishwasher with a couple cups of vinegar (no dishes) to clean the machine.
  • Soak your stinky shoes in a bucket of vinegar to get rid of the smell. Rinse and let dry.
  • Use as a rinse agent in your dishwasher for sparkly dishes.
  • Periodically, spray on your mattress and let air dry to remove smells and disinfect.
  • Clear and deodorize your drains by pouring baking soda in them and following with vinegar.
  • Clean your coffee maker by running equal parts vinegar and water through the machine. (This is especially good for k-cup dispensers as the puncturing needle is prone to clog.)
Spot clean carpets by spraying with vinegar and scrubbing with a cloth. Then sprinkle baking soda on top and vacuum once dry. (This also works well for pet accidents. Be sure to soak up the accident before you spray vinegar or you'll just spread the accident around.)

Cleaning vinegar has a higher acidic content, however, I use the regular food grade kind and find it works just fine.

Keep in mind that vinegar is acidic so do not use it on wood floors or granite! In general, vinegar is a great all around cleaner that works on practically every surface.

In truth, I have almost eliminated my entire arsenal of cleaning products. It is so much more budget-friendly than a cabinet full of chemical laden products that can only be used in specific areas of the house. Often, these products are extremely detrimental to our health (many advise washing your hands after use) and the environment. 

Come over to the...umm... acidic side. You won't regret it! 

Do you have a favorite use for vinegar? Let me know in the comments!

Lots of Love,
Anne