I'm on a big crockpot kick lately. I am loving the convenience of it and the way that it fills my kitchen with yummy dinner smells! The other day I actually had the bread machine and the crockpot going at the same time- I think I might win some sort of domestic award for that, right?

When I was searching online for dinner ideas last week, I found a couple of people had posted crockpot enchiladas on Pinterest (which I'm addicted to, by the way!). One of the recipes used salsa as the sauce and, though I was skeptical about that idea, I decided that I'd give it a try. Enchilada sauce is nice, but I have been wanting to make something with the green tomatillo salsa made by my favorite salsa guy at the farmers' market (The Crazy Gringo) so green enchiladas it was!

I used a combo of sweeter ingredients in the filling that paired perfectly with the sweet but savory tomatillo salsa. My husband and I loved this combo!

Simple Crockpot Enchiladas
Serves about 4

The colors of fall are appearing all over the place where I live. I absolutely love running at sunrise this time of year! The light is golden and it shines through the leaves of red, gold, orange, and brown that line the streets of my neighborhood.


Simple beauty first thing in the morning is a great way to start the day!







I love the green heart in the middle of this leaf!


To help us get into the fall spirit, the kids and I took a trip to Apple Hill a couple of weeks ago.


We had some treats (apple turnover and apple strudel):


Visited some farm animals...


...including a "plaid" chicken (in the words of my five year old)...


...walked a hay maze...


...and came home with a box of apples, pears, squash, cider, and mulling spices:


I bought three kinds of apples: Gala (for eating), Fuji (for applesauce), and Granny Smith (for pie or crisp).


I used the Fuji apples for this applesauce and they were perfect. I don't usually eat a lot of applesauce but my kids do (one of their favorite breakfasts is oatmeal with applesauce and raisins). This sauce is so good, though, that I added some to my morning oats too.

It tastes just like apple pie- yum!


Easy Crockpot Applesauce
Makes about 32oz.

About 10 sweet apples (Gala or Fuji work well), cored chopped (you don't need to peel them)
~1/4 to 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice (or more water)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

As of November 2nd, Get Natured is officially two years old!

Yay!

Since my first post in 2009, Get Natured has grown so much! To keep all of this content organized and to help you, dear readers, find recipes more easily, I have just added a new recipe index page.

Now there are three ways to find recipes and other content on Get Natured:

1. By using the category tags on the right side of the page

2. By using the search box on the right

3. By using the new recipe index page!

I hope that this will help you to locate your favorite recipes and find some new ones to try!

All you really need to start running is a pair of good shoes, of course. But, as I've gained more experience, I've found a few things that make running just a little bit better for me. These are all things that I regularly use and I thought I'd share them here*.

Garmin 305

For a long time I used an app on my phone to track my distance, pace, etc. This Garmin works so much better for me! It is really affordable (especially on Amazon) and very easy to use. It takes the guesswork out of knowing how far to run before I turn around on long training runs. Also, knowing my speed helps me to pace myself on long runs and tells me how my body is handling the training. I tend to run slower than usual when my body needs a few days off.

Lululemon Wunder Under tights

I had tried on countless pairs of running tights and had never found a pair that I would be willing to leave the house wearing...until I found these! They are comfortable and warm and not too revealing as some tights can. Love them!

SpiBelt

This little belt is great for holding my cell phone, keys, Clif Shots, tissues, whatever I need with me on a run. The best part is that it doesn't bounce when I run- perfect!

Audible.com

I run with an iPod and usually listen to music on shorter runs. I have playlists with different kinds of music and this gets me through most runs. Some days, though, I need something to sink my brain into. A distraction or maybe just the company of a story. I love audiobooks and Audible.com has a great selection. Since Audible is a subsidiary of Amazon.com, you can purchase audiobooks through Amazon.com or Audible.com. Love.

Layers

I have a Nike Dri Fit top and a few lower price versions from Target (Champion brand) like this one. They keep me just warm enough (but not too hot) when I wear them over a wicking tank top or t-shirt on cooler mornings. For really cold days, I add a layer of fleece on top and wear a hat and gloves.

Sweaty bands

When I'm not wearing a hat, I pull my hair back into a ponytail and use a Sweaty Band to hold back the sneaky shorter pieces that like to reach around and tickle my nose. These bands are the only ones that I've found (and I've tried quite a few!) that don't slip out of my hair while I'm running. I've seen them at running stores and online (including Amazon).

Bodyglide

Ok, this is not a sexy product. Or, rather, the reason that I use it is not sexy. But it is necessary and helpful nonetheless! I have issues with chafing in a few areas so I apply this to those spots before heading out on long runs. Problem solved. You can find this at running or sports stores.

Do you have any favorite running or other fitness or outdoor gear?

*Disclaimer: These are all things that I have discovered in my own journey with running. I am not being paid to recommend any of these items.