Healthy BUT SO GOOD Apple Wontons

I've been trying out the air fryer option in my new oven and one of the first things I made were these healthy, but oh so good, Apple Won Tons.

These vegan won ton wraps were talked about on the Weight Watchers chat board so I thought I'd give them a try.

I peeled and chopped up about 5 apples (I could have done just three as this made a lot extra but I used extra to put on yogurt for breakfast so all good!)  I put the apples into a pan with about 1/4 c of monk fruit (sweetener substitute) which has ZERO aftertaste.  It's all I use now - it tastes and bakes just like regular sugar without that nasty, bitter, aftertaste.  You can find different brands on Amazon but I prefer Lakanto and can often find that in my local grocery store. You can also purchase directly from their website.  (Note: Not ALL of the Lakanto products taste good - stick to the sweeteners and the drinking chocolate and avoid the baking mixes!)

After simmering for about 20 minutes, the apples and monk fruit make their own, sweet caramelized apple mixture.

About a tablespoon goes into the won ton wrapper.  Wet the four edges with your finger dipped in water, fold over into a triangle and place on a parchment covered baking sheet.

I air fried mine for about 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.  You could also just bake these in the oven and flip half way.

Terrible, fuzzy picture but I must have been in a hurry to eat them haha!  I would have dusted with powdered sugar but didn't have any!

Proof that a healthy dessert doesn't have to taste healthy!

 

Vintage Step Stool Makeover

 

As my kitchen remodel is nearing completion, I knew I would eventually need some sort of step stool to reach the very top of my cabinets.  Before I had a soffit that was 1 foot long so my cabinets didn't go to the ceiling but that's all changed now (thankfully!). I found this beauty at an estate sale marked 12.00.  It was the last day so it was 50% off and I asked the lady if she'd take 5.00 for it and she said yes . . . SOLD!  It was very solid but not super heavy.

The top came off easily as it had four 'tabs' that slipped into holes in the top seat.  The bottom was missing the rubber piece altogether.

I had purchased these vintage bark cloth curtains at another estate sale.  I knew the faded sections wouldn't stand up (and they didn't as you can see) but there was still a lot of fabric to be used on projects even after washing and drying, including the step stool.

I also wanted a LITTLE more padding on this so I decided to add a layer of 1/2" batting.  I used the old seat to cut the batting and the bark cloth fabric.  I added a few inches when cutting the fabric so I could wrap around the seat back.

I made sure to keep the 'prongs/tabs' on back poking through the fabric so I was able to just snap this back into place.  

Like I said, this stool was in great shape so I didn't even have to sand it before giving it a few coats of spray paint.

The rubber step was a bit more tricky.  I found a chair tread at Home Depot but it wasn't quite deep enough. There was the 'bent' edge that is supposed to go over the edge of the stair so I used my heat gun and kept pressing it as flat as I could. It still has a bit of 'bend' there but I put that at the back of the stool so you really don't notice it. I used Gorilla glue to attach it to the metal.

And here she is!  All spiffed up and ready to live a new life! I'm pleased with the way it turned out!

I love the little curved back . . . this will also make a nice little extra seat if I'm working in the kitchen or when friends or family are here and we are hanging out in the kitchen.

And when it's not in use, it folds nicely and will slip between my new little china cabinet and the wall in the dining room right outside of the kitchen.

A very satisfying, practical and economical makeover!

Spice Organization

 

Who can relate?

Through the years I've tried lots of different ways of organizing my spices.  Since we are nearing the end of our kitchen renovation, I thought it was time to give in and actually purchase some quality jars.  After lots of research and searching Pinterest, I decided on these Swommoly 66 Glass Jars Spice Set for 39.99.  

I liked that they had round lids but are actually square jars so they'll fit nicely together.  There were several things I really liked about these.

You get a list of all of the labels that are available and let me tell you . . . there are A LOT.  I thought I was familiar with just about every spice but Duqqa, Epazote and who knew there were so many options for Cardamom???

Another nice 'feature' is that there is a list that tells you what PAGE each label is on.

You get two sets of labels and all sheets are numbered.  These sheets are clear, rectangle labels for the sides of the jars.

These round labels go on the tops of the jars and are also numbered.  This is great because you can choose to store your jars on their side or standing up and still see what's in them!

The set also comes with a bunch of blank labels and a white marker for those rare times when you have a spice that ISN'T on this list (and yes . . . I had a few like Sazon, Adobo and a Lime Pepper.)

You also get a very useless funnel.  Useless because you'd have to wash it out after pretty much every spice you pour through it.  

It was just easy to use one of my measuring spoons.

Another 'plus' . . . each jar comes with a very nice lid for dispensing the spices in large or small amounts.

So after a few nights of therapeutic jar filling . . . this is now my new spice drawer.  And I'm glad these are labeled both top and sides because a friend is going to build me a pull out 'pantry' door to go next to my refrigerator. The spices will then be standing up in that, freeing up this drawer for something else!  I felt like this was a little bit of a splurge but definitely well worth the money and time.  And yes, I did alphabetize my spices haha!