Fall Food and Drinks

I am one of those people that jump head first in to the different seasons. Right now the leaves are changing, the air has a crisp bite to it, and its a great time for family and eating! This is the season of the "F's" -- food, friends, football, and Fall! Below are a couple different recipes you can use to bring to a tailgate, to a gathering with your friends, or just make by yourself while cuddling up on the couch. Hope you enjoy!

Spiced Cider

 

Ingredients:

• 2 qts. apple cider
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/8 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 orange (unpeeled)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp. whole cloves
• brandy

Combine cider, sugar, ginger and orange in slow cooker. Tie cinnamon and cloves in a small cheesecloth bag; add to crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW 2 to 4 hours. The entire house will smell great! Remove the bag of spices. In a mug put a shot of brandy, then fill with hot mix from cooker. 

Pumpkin Streusel Cake

Streusel:

·         1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

·         1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

·         1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

·         1 tablespoon butter or margarine,  melted

·         1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cake:

·         1 package (18.5 ounces) spice cake mix

·         1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding mix

·         1 cup canned pumpkin

·         3 eggs

·         1/2 cup vegetable oil

·         1/2 cup water

·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         confectioners sugar to garnish

For streusel, combine brown sugar, walnuts, flour, melted butter, and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For cake, combine cake mix, pudding mix, pumpkin, eggs, oil, water, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat at a low speed of an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour half of batter into a greased 10-inch springform pan with fluted tube insert or a 10-inch fluted tube pan; sprinkle streusel mixture over batter. Pour remaining batter into pan. Bake 35-42 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove sides of pan and invert onto a serving plate, and cool completely. Sift confectioners sugar over cake to garnish.

Book List-- Halloween / October

As most of the people who are reading this know, I love to read. Being an English major I am introduced to so many different pieces of literature. I have decided to create a list of books / stories that I will update every so often, just in case anyone wants to become better read or is just bored and decides to read something. Since Halloween is soon I am going to start my list with works that are spooky! I hope you guys read one, two, or all of these-- and get in the haunting spirit!

1. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
2. Dracula by Bram Stoker
3. The Fall of the House of Usher, The Premature Burial, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe (many of Poe's short stories deal with macabre and spooky themes so there is plenty to choose from)
4. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
5. A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner

All of these with an exception to Dracula are short stories and are pretty quick reads. The Yellow Wallpaper and A Rose for Emily are my favorites, but I also love Edgar Allen Poe. I really hope you guys find the chance to read some of these.

Happy Halloween!

Well, Halloween is now just around the corner! We arent sure what we are doing this year to celebrate, and still havent found any costumes yet. The same doesnt go for Charlie, though! We decided to recycle her costume from last year, since we never got a good picture. We also have a sailor dress she could wear, and be a member of the United States Navy! But, we think one sailor in the family is enough. We miss everyone and wish we would be able to see all of our family and their costumes. We know for sure Abby's is going to be awesome (we wont say-- dont want to spoil it) and cant wait to see Camden's! He will be precious no matter what he dresses up as! We might just stay at home, watch Hocus Pocus, and hand out candy. Whatever we do, it will be fun! Happy Halloween everyone-- hope yall have a spooktacular weekend!