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Apple season is nearly here, and it's time to start thinking in advance: how many ways can you use apples? We'd say plenty.

What is Apple Butter?
Apple butter is essentially apples (diced, peeled, or pureed) that are slowly cooked with apple cider for a little over an hour. All this slow-cooking caramelizes the apples, leading to a jam-like consistency and its traditional sweet flavor. You should know that apple butter doesn't have any butter in it. Why is it called apple butter, then? Because of its smooth texture.
Is Apple Butter the same as Applesauce?
They are not the same, but they are very similar. You could also say that applesauce is more concentrated. Apple butter is cooked longer than applesauce, which causes more caramelization. This makes apple butter darker and gives it a sugary, nutty taste. The texture of apple butter is firmer, so it goes so great on toast: it's very easy to spread, unlike applesauce, which is more watery.

How Can You Use Apple Butter?
Apple butter is incredibly versatile and goes along with lots of things!

• Sandwich Spread: Use it as a spread! Experiment a little; rather than peanut butter and jelly, try apple butter and jelly. Be it hot or cold toast, apple butter is divine.

 

• Oatmeal: Want to give your oatmeal a nice apple-y, sugary flavor? Stir in some apple butter with some yogurt. Put raisins, seasonal fruits, some drizzled honey, and you're good to go!

 

• As A Pizza Sauce: For a sweeter pizza, use this as a base sauce and put in pecans, apples, blue cheese, and enjoy a renewed dessert.

 

• Pancakes and Waffles: Maple syrup is great, but replace it with apple butter if you're looking for a change. Want more? Put apple butter in the pancake mixture and enjoy Apple Butter Pancakes!

 

• Pumpkin Pie: Reinvent your pumpkin pie recipe. Swap pumpkin puree with apple butter and enjoy a non-traditional pumpkin pie.

 

• Cheese Board: If you fancy cheese boards, you can set out apple butter in a small jar along with soft cheeses (brie) and harder ones (aged gouda). Use it as a palate cleanser or a cheese dip, up to you!

 

• Burgers & Roasts: It's better than it sounds! Instead of ketchup, use apple butter for burgers. You can also apply this to roast chicken or pork during the last stages of cooking as a glaze.

 

• Roasted Vegetables: Not any veggies, of course. Winter veggies like sweet potatoes, squash, brussels sprouts, or pumpkins; roast veggies with some butter and smother them with apple butter glaze.

 

• Pound Cake: What are winters without pound cakes? Put in apple chunks in your cake batter; once baked, put on some apple butter on top as a glaze and decorate it with walnuts.

 
If you're wondering where to buy organic, homemade apple butter from, we've got you covered. At The Eclectic Chic Boutique, we have fresh, organic apple butter to make your winters warmer and bellies fuller. We're a leading Gift & Specialty Shops Essex  providing sauces, gourmet food, DIY Craft Kits for Adults, DIY craft kits online, women's clothing, specialty foods, and so much more.
Contact us today!
 
 
 

Birthdays were always supposed to be a small intimate affair where closely-knit family members and friends would show up for a birthday celebration. Sure, some balloons and a Happy Birthday banner could be seen, but that was pretty much it.
Today, birthdays are grand, with a customized cake and a venue that looks like a production stage; it has become a feat for Instagram posts. Enormous balloons, fancy themes, centerpieces — all of this has become a normal birthday party thing.
Now, if you're planning to stray from the new norm of grand birthdays to a more traditional, low-key affair, these are the things you should keep in mind to make sure you don't burn a hole through your pocket.
1 - Downsize the Guest List
This goes without saying: more people equals more money. You don't have to invite the coworker you don't really care about or that estranged cousin you haven't seen for years. Keep it short and limit your guest list to people you genuinely care about and have a connection with.
2 - DIY Invitations  
Take advantage of the digital era; don't spend hundreds of dollars on fancy, printed invitations. Make your own invites and send them out via Whatsapp or email for zero dollars!

3 - Buy Affordable Decorations Or Get DIY Craft Kits
Good decorations don't have to cost you hundreds of dollars. Buy them from a well-reputed and affordable place that sells ornaments and decorations for all events. You can also order yourself some cool, easy-to-make craft kits to make your own crafts.
4 - Choose A Budget-Friendly Venue
If you want to keep it in a budget, you should not be looking at rent spaces. Instead, host your party in your own backyard! This keeps your costs low and allows you to spend money on more important birthday party aspects. If your home is not an option, you can also check out your area's local park. These usually offer shelters for less or no fee at all.
5 - Affordable Party Entertainment  
 Don't go out of your way for this one. Since you want to keep your spending on the low, opt for party planners like The Eclectic Chic Boutique. We provide affordable birthday party packages that won't leave you broke. You can decide between our classic party package or custom party package, including crafts and additional fun things!
6 - No Meals 
Don't serve lunch or dinner. Keep your party at a time where you can have snacks to go along with the cake. This way, you don't have to spend a lot on a meal, things don't get extremely messy, and no one goes home hungry!
7 - Bake Your Cake 
You don't have to be a Martha Stewart to bake a cake. Baking a cake is a simple task, and there are tons of box mixes you can choose from that don't require you to start from scratch. Even the icing for your cake is easily available at the grocery store.
Remember, a birthday party doesn't have to break your budget. Keep it simple and enjoy!
If you're searching for a budget-friendly party planner or want to get a gift for someone special, check out The Eclectic Boutique. We're a leading Gift & Specialty Shops Essex  providing greeting cards, craft classes, DIY craft kits online, women's clothing, specialty foods, and so much more. Contact us today!
 
 
 
 

Hot sauce changes your food game forever. Learn how you can use hot sauce to transform your everyday foods for that spicy kick.

Our reliance on instant messages has taken a huge chunk of emotion out of all our interactions. Sure, our ability to respond to events has increased, and we can reply back instantly, but something is missing.

Perhaps it is how a handwritten note in a greeting card makes us feel, or perhaps it is the way we consider all the external elements of the recipient's life before writing a note inside the card. 
What makes greeting cards so special is that they symbolize care, that someone has taken out time, money, and put in effort for you.
Why should you be sending greeting cards, you ask? We say, why not?

1 - Thoughtfulness
Greeting cards are an excellent way of letting someone know that they're being missed or thought about. This doesn't always have to be someone you've been friends with forever; it can also be a person who helped you a long time ago. Being far away from people and reaching out with a greeting card is a surefire way to make them feel special: it tells them that they matter. This is especially important in today's time when loneliness is at its peak, and people often feel unloved or forgotten.
2 - For Admiration  
Nothing screams "I appreciate you" louder than a greeting card (certainly not an instant message). If you want to let someone know that you admire them, get them a greeting card. This doesn't always have to be romantic, either. You can send admiration cards to anyone you admire, perhaps a colleague or a classmate!
3 - To Congratulate 
Celebrate achievements. Use greeting cards to congratulate someone and let them feel like their accomplishments are seen and recognized. Someone close to you had a baby? Someone got the job they've been trying so hard to get? Someone has finally managed to overcome an addiction? Send in a card! All little and big things need to be encouraged.

4 - For Condolences
If someone is going through a tough time, it's comforting to know that they're being thought of. Send a condolence card for a friend who has lost a pet or someone special. It can be tough to deal with loss, but a simple gesture like sending in a card can make a huge difference in someone's life.
5 - For No Reason At All!
Do you always need a reason to send in a greeting card? Not really. You can send in cards to people you love just because you can! This random gesture would surely lift their mood and make them feel cared for and loved! You can also get customized cards from The Eclectic Chic Boutique that are non-traditional and super cute. Let your loved ones know that you're thinking of them even when there's no special occasion.
If you're searching for a personalized greeting card or a gift to show someone appreciation, check out The Eclectic Boutique. We're a leading Gift & Specialty Shops Essex providing greeting cards, craft classes, DIY craft kits online, women's clothing, specialty foods, and so much more. Contact us today!