Here are some fall recipes to help bring the scent and taste of Fall into your home.  Remember, if you have a favorite recipe, share it in the comments, or drop it to me on email at studiomike@life1019.com.  Enjoy! Read more »

Posted: October 16th, 2009 under Helpful Info, Show Notes.
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Some identify with Fall by the colder weather outside.  Another may look for the changing colors of the leaves as a sign that Fall is finally here.  It may betray the type of person I am, but I identify Fall by the scents that come from the kitchen.  This week, it’s been one of the sweeter smells of Fall: pumpkin.  My wife is a particular fan of the pumpkin flavor and so far we’ve had pumpkin pie, and last night we made Pumpkin Spice Bars; Fall is here.  Thankfully, there are a lot more great Fall foods to look forward to and I’d love to know what your favorite fall recipes are.  Click here to email me your favorite fall recipe and I’ll post it here so others can enjoy some of the best scents and tastes of fall.

Posted: October 14th, 2009 under Helpful Info, Show Notes.
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Growing up, one of the great fall traditions was when my Grandma would come over and she and my mom would spend the day making applesauce.  The house would fill the scent of cooked apples.  Not only was it a great sign of the fall, but it meant we had amazing home-made applesauce to eat the whole year.  So I was excited last year, my wife and I went to an orchard near us to get some apples that we could use to make applesauce.

Since it’s fall, I thought I’d try to help you out if you want to head to an orchard near you and get some apples for applesauce or other fresh fruit.  I’ve put together a map (via Google Maps) that shows quite a few Eastern Iowa Orchards.  Zoom in and out and grab the map to move around and find an orchard near you.

If you have one you enjoy going to that’s not on my map, post it in the comments and I’ll try to add it!  Otherwise, enjoy some family fun and large supply of tasty home-made applesauce! And, if you have any good applesauce recipes you want to share, post them in the comments below! I’ve included two apple recipes from my wife (which I highly suggest)!

Swedish Apple Pie

Fill an 8×8 pan ¾ full of peeled/sliced apples

Sprinkle apples with 3 T sugar and 1 t cinnamon

In a separate bowl mix:

1 c flour

1 c sugar

¾ c melted butter

1 egg

Spoon the mixture over the apples.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Serve warm
Applesauce

Wash and quarter apples (softer, sweeter varieties work best)
Boil apples until super soft
Run apples through a food mill, grinder, food processor, etc.
Taste – add sugar or cinnamon if you like

View Eastern Iowa Orchards in a larger map

Posted: October 8th, 2009 under Helpful Info, Show Notes.
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Over the weekend, someone posted the usernames and passwords of a few thousand Hotmail accounts online. They were listed alphabetically and went from a-b.  This could be a potential sign that more accounts have been hacked and will be listed soon.  If you use Hotmail, you’ll want to protect your account soon.  The best way to do that right now is to simply change your password.  In fact, changing your password regularly is one of the best ways to keep your account secure.

Posted: October 6th, 2009 under Crazy Stuff, Helpful Info, Show Notes.
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So October, among other things, is National Dental Hygiene Month. I’ve decided to lead the way, as I went in to the dentist this morning.  Ok, I’ll admit that my wife scheduled the appointment and it was totally a coincidence.  Now Dental Hygiene Month doesn’t mean you have to go to the dentist this month, but it is a good reminder to take good care of your teeth: brush at least twice a day, floss once a day, and have your teeth cleaned once every six months are some good basic guidelines.  Not only will you decrease the possibility of getting a cavity or painful root canal, but people won’t mind your breath so much they need to stand 6 feet away when talking to you.  And that is a good thing.

Posted: October 1st, 2009 under Helpful Info, Show Notes.
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