Slow Cooker Apple Cake

Good Tuesday morning!

And it is good, too, isn't it? I'm registering Josh as a Sophomore this morning, and I heard the air conditioning was on at the high school. Yea! We're heading to the pool later. Josh has a birthday party to attend. Roxie has Girls' Night Out tonight. They are happy with "summer" happenings all around. I am hanging in there until all my chicks are under one roof again. It is a good Tuesday.

NOTE - Click onto Nitty Gritty under my Blog List and read Jody's post for today. It makes you think. It makes you cherish the little things. It helps put things in perspective. It is a "must read" for today. Don't waste a moment!

NOTE TO LEANNA - I couldn't resist. I am watching Jon & Kate one more time today. (I wasn't able to catch it last night.) It wasn't a new show. It was bits and pieces of the last five years... and I wanted to see the babies. That's all! Just the babies! And if you know me (just a little bit) you know that is the truth. I imagine it will be a sweet show, but I'm pretty sure it will be extremely sad knowing what has happened to their family since the beginning. I'll let you know if I'm right tomorrow.

I posted pictures of my twinkly lights and Tiki torches today. Mike's probably "shaking in his boots" right about now. Don't worry. There are still people in my life so I'll have some people pics soon... Or at least the dogs.

Where in the world are Mikie and Austin?

Well, yesterday they went to the Smithsonians yet again. It is amazing to me that I actually gave birth to a "plaque reader." It must be a dominant gene on Mike's side of the family. They had the Capitol Tour scheduled for 1:20, and they enjoyed that, but they had been told it wouldn't be as good as some of the other things on their itinerary. They finished the evening by going to yet another Smithsonian (Space and Rocket) and had dinner at the Ebbitt Grill. Very, very full day. But Mike said the weather was very good... not humid and not too hot, so they are not miserable walking to and fro.

Oh, and they saw a motorcade, and guess who was in one of the cars? That's right. Technically, they saw the President of the United States of America. (Austin asked a nearby policeman, and I think he confirmed it was the President.) Not only did Austin take a picture of the line of cars... he videoed it, too. My heart is swelling with pride!

Mike said Austin was taking pictures by the hundreds. I don't even care if he's exaggerating and he's only taking them by the dozens. I am thrilled. I guess you know what will be in next week's Gallery. Hundreds and hundreds (or dozens and dozens) of Washington pictures. Oh, and don't forget the 4th of July pics. I may just have a picture blog next week.

Little Known Fact - When Mike and I went to Washington on our honeymoon some 21 years ago, I had the energy of a dead gnat. I don't remember my wedding being very stressful, but for some reason or another it completely, totally zapped me. Mike and Austin have seen more in two days than we saw in eight on our honeymoon. I absolutely couldn't wake up! And about two hours into anything we were seeing (a Smithsonian, Ford Theater, White House Tour, etc.), I was looking for a chair, ottoman or the Lincoln Bedroom to rest my weary bones.

Mike even took a picture of me at the Natural History Museum on a bench at the bottom of some escalators. He had gone to the bathroom, and when he returned I had my head thrown back, mouth wide open, one shoe off and was ASLEEP IN PUBLIC. He took a picture or I would never have believed him. I was mortified. But, as he pointed out, I was never going to see those people again. (That fact made it easier for me to fall asleep on our way back to our hotel in Alexandria, Virginia on the Metro each day... and on our way into Washington, D.C. the next morning... and outside the FBI building... and waiting for our lunch at the Ebbitt Grill. You get the picture. I was very, very tired.

Slow Cooker Apple Cake

You will need the following:

1 cup self-rising flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 medium-sized cooking apples, chopped
1/3 cup eggbeaters
2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Combine flour, sugar and cinnamon.

2. Add apples, stirring lightly to coat.

3. Combine eggbeaters and vanilla. Add to apple mixture. Stir until just moistened. Spoon into light greased slow cooker.

4. Cover. Bake on high 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

5. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Not bad, huh? And it will make the whole house smell wonderful, too. Now, as promised, the SECOND "recipe" for today.

Giant Bagel Bite Pizzas

You will need:

1 bag plain bagels
1 jar pizza sauce
1 package pepperoni
1 cup shredded cheese (your favorite)
Parmesan cheese

1. Cut bagel in half and spread pizza sauce over each half.

2. Add pepperoni and cover with shredded cheese.

3. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.

4. Sprinkle a few more drops of pizza sauce on top of the Parmesan.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

Fun to eat AND fun to make (for any age).

Have a wonderful Tuesday. Do something fun and summery today... even if it's a picnic in the backyard under some shade trees (with lots of bug spray) or catching lightning bugs tonight. Simple pleasures are the best (and cheapest)! I'll have a Seasonal Tradition for tomorrow's post. Hopefully, it will not be late (like today's post was). Sorry about that.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.