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.