In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m all about easy recipes (for a listing of all my recipes, click here). I admire people who prepare complicated dishes, but that’s just not me. Not only do I dislike hunting down obscure ingredients (i.e. stuff I can’t find in my pantry) and too much prep or clean-up, but I honestly just like food better when it’s simple. For instance, the lunch that I’ve been making most recently is: brown rice, lentils, green salad with avocado dressing and avocado topped with a few goji berries and dried cranberries for flavor.
I made a batch of rice, lentils and dressing a few days ago so putting this salad together takes only a few minutes. It is hearty, chewy, fresh with just the right amount of tang. The avocado is a creamy and filling addition and the dried berries give a little sweetness.
Another incredibly simple yet delicious dish is my Easiest Slow-Cooker Applesauce. I made it last year about this time (you can read that post by clicking here), but I’ve simplified it even more. How’s this for an ingredient list: apples and cinnamon. The key point is that you have to use good apples. I also suggest using organic because according to the Environmental Working Group, 98% of conventional apples have pesticide residue. No thanks!
I like to make a big batch when I make this recipe, so I use between 12-15 apples. I have only tried it using red apples. All you do is chop them up (big chunks are fine, make it easy on yourself) and throw them in a big crockpot. If you have a small crockpot, try using only 8-10 apples:
Sprinkle some cinnamon (1 tablespoon or so) on top, stir and set on high for 4-5 hours. This is what you get:
It may not taste sweet enough when it is hot, but stick it in the fridge and eat the next day when it’s cold and I guarantee you it will taste sweet enough. If you think you want it to be ever sweeter, you can add some raisins to be sure. It is one of my favorite recipes to make and I think kids would dig it, too. My husband loves it and he’s kind of a big kid. 
Easiest Slow-Cooker Applesauce – Serves 8-10
Ingredients:
8-15 red organic apples, chopped into large chunks
1-2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 – 1/3 cup raisins (optional)
Directions:
Place ingredients in a slow-cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours (or on low for up to 12 hours), stirring once during cooking. For optimal sweetness, refrigerate applesauce and eat cold.
Thanks for everyone’s comments on yesterday’s post where I talked about my sugar addiction and experience with binge eating. I don’t know that I’ve ever put that out there in the public before. I think even some people who know me well didn’t know this about me. My husband asked me more about it today when we were walking to the gym. The bottom line is that experience gave me a much greater appreciation and understanding about what it’s like to have an addiction. It is a magnet that overtakes rational thinking and it’s force is incredible. For anyone out there suffering from an addiction, I feel for you, it is not imaginary and you deserve help.
We are having a bit of a heatwave here in California! I went for a walk at the beach this past weekend and it was lovely:
Life is about enjoying the simple things, don’t you think? What’s your favorite recipe made with only a few ingredients?
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I went apple picking this past weekend and so this is perfect right now!! Thanks!!
I make a fish recipe using fish, a simple sauce with only 3 ingredients(mayo, parm cheese and hot sauce) and Panko breadcrumbs and not too long ago I made pumpkin muffin cakes which just used cake mix and a can of pumpkin!! Super easy.
I have made this apple recipe before, with less apples, and it was awesome. I still have some I froze.
I’ve made apple butter in the crockpot before but never applesauce. I especially like that you leave the skins on because peeling apples is a PITA.
Thanks for the recipe!
The applesauce looks awesome—and I bet it smells amazing!
I love applesauce! It is indeed so easy to make and the result is so delicious. We do add some sugar when we make it, how much is depending on the sweetness of the apples we use
Why not forget the crockpot, preserve heat-sensitive nutrients, and make raw applesauce instead? Core the apples, cut ‘em into chunks, and throw ‘em into the food processor. Add some fresh lemon juice to zing up the taste, and process to applesauce-consistency. Sprinkle w/cinnamon.
Great idea Susan, thx!
I love the simplicity of the applesauce. We”re going upstate this weekend and I hope to get lots of apples!
Sounds like a blast, I loooove freshly-picked apples!
This is great because I have a huge, 7 quart or whatever the biggest size is, crock pot and I never use it because it is just too big (it’s just me and my husband and our 3 yo). And peeling apples takes forever (though I technically don’t mind it, I do when it takes 30 minutes!).
Can you share any other useful recipes that you make in your big crock pot??
I really just want to get a 5 quart pot…
Anyway, have a great day!
Hi Dawn, I will start working on some slow-cooker dishes, I love how easy they are to prepare!
I totally need to make some easy applesauce! My crock pot could use more work. I’m thinking a vanilla-spice version would be tasty.
Oh yes, vanilla would be great! You can also add raisins if you want to make it sweeter.
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