Apple Crisp Cookie Bars

Apple Crisp Bars: A Perfect Fall Treat

When autumn arrives, there's nothing quite as comforting as the flavors of warm apples, cinnamon, and a buttery crumble topping. These apple crisp bars take all the best parts of classic apple crisp and transform them into a portable, sliceable dessert that's perfect for any occasion. Whether you're packing them for lunch, serving them at a gathering, or enjoying one with a cup of coffee, these bars are sure to be a seasonal favorite.

Why Apple Crisp Bars?

Apple crisp is a beloved fall dessert, but sometimes you need a version that’s easier to serve and transport. That’s where apple crisp bars come in. With a sturdy yet tender crust, a layer of spiced apples, and a golden streusel topping, these bars offer the same delicious flavors in a convenient handheld form.

The Perfect Combination of Texture and Flavor

The secret to great apple crisp bars lies in the balance of textures. The buttery crust provides a firm base, the apples become tender and flavorful as they bake, and the crumbly topping adds the perfect touch of crunch. With just the right amount of sweetness and spice, each bite is packed with cozy fall flavor.

Ideal for Any Occasion

Apple crisp bars are versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert, or enjoy them at room temperature as an afternoon snack. They also make great treats for bake sales, potlucks, and holiday gatherings.

If you're looking for a way to enjoy the comforting taste of apple crisp in an easy-to-make, easy-to-serve format, these apple crisp bars are the perfect solution. Bake up a batch and savor the delicious flavors of fall!

 Apple Crisp Bars

Serves 16

Crust:

½ c salted soft butter, room temperature

¼ c brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 ¼c flour

Filling:

2 large apples, peeled and sliced thin (about 3 cups)

2 tbsp flour

¼ sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

Crisp Topping:

½ c brown sugar

¼ c granulated sugar

⅓ c flour

1 tsp cinnamon 

 ½ c old fashioned oats

1 stick of butter, room temperature

Directions:

Prepare an 8x8 pan by lining it with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.

Preheat oven to 350.

Crust:

Beat butter and brown sugar together for 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and flour and mix well.

Press the crust into the prepared pan.

Filling:

Slice and peel apples.

Add flour, ¼ of granulated sugar and cinnamon and toss until the apple slices are coated.

Spread this evenly over the prepared crust.

Crisp topping:

Mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and butter together until crumbly. 

Press over the top of the apple layer.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the center is bubbly.

Allow to cool.

Cut into 16 squares.

Find more great recipes here:

Instant pot peanut butter chicken and noodles

Instant pot loaded potato soup

Peanut butter chocolate cake mix cookies

Creating a Healthy, Pest-Free Home for Your Family

 Every family wants to have a home that feels safe, comfortable, and welcoming. But pests can easily sneak in and start to disrupt this. Ants in the kitchen, spiders in the corners, and mice in the attic can all make you feel like your home isn’t all yours. 

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The good news is that you can create a pest-free home. With some good habits and the right help, you can easily protect your family's health and make sure your home stays comfortable. Let’s have a look at this below: 

How Pests Affect More Than Just Your Pantry

Most people think of pests as an annoyance, but they can actually have a high impact on your household. More than you might realize. 

Cockroaches, for example, don’t just raid your food. They can trigger allergies and worsen things like asthma, especially in children. Rodents are another concern; not only can they damage wires and insulation, but they can also carry bacteria that spread nasty diseases. Even harmless pests can contaminate your food and the surfaces of your home. 

Other than that, you don’t really want to be lying there at nighttime and hear scratches in the walls or find a line of ants in your kitchen in the morning. When your home doesn’t feel as though it is under control, it can be difficult to relax in your home. 

The Role of Cleanliness, But Also What It Can’t Fix

It goes without saying that cleaning goes a long way when it comes ot protecting your home from pests. Wiping down your sides, vacuuming regularly, sealing trash bags, and storing food properly are all things you should be doing in your home. Decluttering is something else that can also help. 

Cleanliness by itself doesn’t protect your home, though. You can still get ants in a spotless kitchen if you have cracks for them to sneak through. Any termites don’t care if you have mopped or not; they just want the wood, not crumbs. 

This is why prevention is much more important than just cleaning. Sealing entry points and looking after your garden are good starting points. 

Local Pest Control Options for Long-Term Peace of Mind

Sometimes, even your best efforts aren’t enough to protect your home properly. That’s when professional help makes a massive difference. Local pest control services understand the type of pests you may face in your local area. Whether it’s from a change of season or from rodents trying to get into the warmth in the winter. 

The right professionals will address the issue and help you to put things into place to protect your home for the future. Calling in the experts doesn’t mean that you have failed it just means you are serious about protecting your home. 

Have you ever had to deal with pests in your home? What did you have to do to get it under control? Or what are your plans to get them gone? Let us know in the comments below.  

3 Tips To Prevent A Lawsuit Impacting Your Productive Time

 

Photo by Sora Shimazaki: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-asian-judge-working-on-laptop-in-office-5668772/

It’s not easy to be in the midst of a lawsuit, especially if there’s a fair amount riding on the outcome. No matter what it’s in, be that a personal injury claim against a prior employer, a divorce settlement you’re trying to come to, or a road accident claim you’re trying to handle, you can’t make your entire life about a singular disagreement. You have to live between the court dates and meetings with your attorney.

That’s not easy to do, however. It’s hard to be proactive when something like this is weighing you down or occupying much of your mental energy on a daily basis. Perhaps you’re not the kind of person who can easily brush off issues like this, and perhaps that is a strength, that you still care and want to do your best.

Well, don’t worry because (as is the theme of this blog), there’s always balance to be found, even in formalized disputes. With that in mind, let’s consider three tips to prevent a lawsuit from impacting your productive time:

Set Up Appropriate Meeting Points With Your Attorney

You'll find it helpful to ensure continual check-ins with your lawyer so you're not constantly wondering what's happening with your case or feeling like you need to call them every few days, and it works well to batch your questions and concerns between meetings so you can cover everything at once. This approach keeps you informed but you get to avoid turning every day into a legal strategy session.

Law firms like McCoy & Hiestand, PLC often work with clients to find a communication balance that keeps everyone on the same page but while keeping you updated when it’s most important to, this gives you time to focus better on other things when you know there's a specific time set aside to deal with lawsuit business.

Be Mindful Of Your Schedule

It helps if you can protect certain parts of your day or week from your lawsuit if that’s possible. Maybe mornings are when you handle work projects and legal planning gets pushed to afternoons, or perhaps you decide on one day a week for legal meetings and document review while keeping the other days clear for normal life activities. This will depend on the suit, but it can help.

You may also want to avoid scheduling important personal or work commitments right after legal meetings, since those conversations can leave you feeling drained or preoccupied. Give yourself some transition time to shift gears, so to speak.

Focus On The Joy In Your Life

It’s true that making time for activities that genuinely make you happy becomes more important when you're dealing with legal stress. Of course, spending time with family, hobbies, exercising, or just watching movies that make you laugh can help you realize life doesn’t stop because of a legal dispute.

You'll also find that staying connected to the parts of your life that bring satisfaction helps you maintain perspective about the lawsuit, which is very much necessary, but harder to achieve once you’re in it.

With this advice, we believe you’ll be better able to prevent a lawsuit impacting your productivity.

How to Deal Better with Bad Health Habits

 

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Whether it is not getting any exercise, eating too much unhealthy food or smoking, there are all sorts of habits out there which can be detrimental to your physical and mental wellbeing. Breaking a bad habit is not easy, but it can be done - you just need to know the best way to go about it. The cause of bad habits can generally be boiled down to a couple of main triggers. The first is stress. For example, you may well use drinking a couple of glasses of wine after a long day as a coping mechanism. Another one is boredom. You may well be looking for an escape from your regular life. Of course, these are only the surface problems, and there may well be some issues which go deeper that you need to address. Here are a few steps to help you deal better and even break your bad habits.

Choose a Substitute

Going cold turkey is rarely something that works, and most people need to choose some sort of substitute to replace their bad habit. If it is unhealthy snacking, you could look to snack at the same time but with healthier options. You need to have a clear plan of action for what you are going to do when the cravings start kicking in.

Cut Out the Common Triggers

The last thing that you want to do is put yourself in the way of temptation. For example, if you have an issue with drinking too much alcohol, you could avoid going to social events where you know it will be served or suggest an alternative activity. If you eat cookies or chocolate the moment you step through the front door, you should make sure that none of these substances are readily available. If your environment makes it easier to continue with bad habits, it is time to change that environment.

Join Forces with a Friend

The old saying: there’s strength in numbers is certainly the case when you are trying to beat a bad habit. When you are trying to do things all by yourself, you don’t have anyone else to hold you accountable. Ideally, you will know someone who is trying to deal with the same bad habit as yourself. This way, you can pick each other up when you are struggling and encourage the other one not to give up. Alternatively, you could always look to get the help and support of an interventionist. Having the expectations of someone else on your back can be a strong motivating factor. 

Visualise Yourself Succeeding

If you have never tried visualisation before, it can be a very powerful technique which you may well find to be beneficial. Basically, you need to envisage yourself kicking your bad habit for good and the benefits it will bring you in the future. Perhaps you want to live a less sedentary lifestyle and you eventually see yourself completing a marathon. It could be that you want to break your addiction to technology and you imagine all the things that you could do with all the time that you now have on your hands.

Remember You Don’t Need to Become a New Person

Just because you are wanting to break your bad habits, it doesn’t mean that you have to become an entirely new person. In the past, you have already been someone who doesn’t have your bad habits - you just need to return to being this person once again. Tell yourself that you have lived comfortably without this habit being in your life before and you can do it again.

Don’t Get Overcome by Negativity

When you are trying to battle bad habits, it is easy to become overly negative if you happen to slip up along the way. Being too hard on yourself is unlikely to be a technique which helps you to succeed in the long term. Pick yourself up off the ground and tell yourself that you have had a bump along the way, but that doesn’t mean that you are going to give up. You can always bounce back, and the quicker you do this, the better.

So, hopefully, the advice in this article makes you feel like you are ready to deal with bad health habits a little bit better. Ultimately, it is all about assessing the problem that you have and breaking it down into stages. Keep determined and strong along the way no matter what happens.

Pumpkin Streusel Cookies

 Pumpkin Streusel Cookies: A Cozy Fall Delight

When fall arrives, it brings with it the irresistible flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, and warm spices. If you love pumpkin treats but want something a little different, pumpkin streusel cookies are the perfect solution. These cake-like cookies have a soft, tender crumb and are topped with a buttery streusel that adds a delicious crunch—making them a must-have for the season.

The Comfort of Pumpkin Treats

Pumpkin is the star of autumn baking, providing a naturally sweet and earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Not only does pumpkin add great taste, but it also brings moisture to baked goods, ensuring a soft and tender texture in every bite.

The Magic of Streusel Topping

The addition of a streusel topping takes these cookies to the next level. A simple mix of butter, sugar, and flour creates a crumbly, slightly crisp layer that contrasts beautifully with the soft, cake-like base. The result? A delightful combination of textures that makes these cookies extra special.

Let's get to the recipe!

Ingredients

Glaze

1 c brown sugar

2-4 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

Topping:

6 tbsp melted butter

¾ c brown sugar sugar

¾ c flour

2 ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Cookies

1 ¾ c flour

1 c sugar

6 tbsp softened butter

1 egg

½ c pumpkin puree

1-2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

A pinch of salt

Make the topping by combining all of the ingredients and mixing together.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper

In a stand mixer, add the butter, sugar and pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and powder. 

Blend on low/medium  until combined. The mixture should look crumbly.

Add the egg and mix until smooth.

Before adding the pumpkin to the mix, you should pat it dry on a paper towel. Pumpkin puree holds a lot of liquid; skipping this step will lead to a runny dough. Simply place the puree on a paper towel and fold it over the top. Let it rest for a few moments, and scrape the puree off of the paper towel into the mixing bowl.

Blend the pumpkin into the batter by mixing on medium for 1 minute.

Add the flour and pinch of salt.

If you are a serious pumpkin spice fan, like I am, you might want to add a little more pumpkin pie spice to the batter at this time. 

Mix until well blended.

Place the dough in the fridge to allow it to rest for  10 minutes.

Scoop the dough with a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop if you want huge cookies.

Place the cookies on a cookie sheet 3” apart.

After placing the cookies on a baking sheet, use a spoon to make a little indentation on the top, then sprinkle the topping directly in that place.

Bake for 12-14 minutes for a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop or 18-22 for an ice cream scoop sized cookie.

Allow to cool for 30 minutes.

Mix the glaze by adding 2 tablespoons of milk, vanilla and brown sugar to a bowl and whisking it until it is smooth. If the glaze feels too thick to drizzle you can add the additional milk, a splash at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.

Perfect for Any Occasion

Pumpkin streusel cookies are great for sharing at fall gatherings, holiday parties, or simply enjoying with a cup of coffee on a chilly morning. They bring the cozy flavors of autumn to any occasion and are sure to become a favorite among family and friends.

So, if you're looking for a seasonal treat that’s as easy to make as it is delicious, these pumpkin streusel cookies are the way to go. Bake up a batch and savor the flavors of fall with every bite!

Find more favorite fall recipes here:

Rustic Recipes for Fall

Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Tasty Homemade Donuts

Hocus Pocus Snack Ideas

Foolproof Biscuits