Hot Wassail

Nothing says fall like a glass of hot wassail. So delicious. 

Ingredients 

2 cups orange juice

2 cups pineapple juice

2 quarts apple cider

1 tsp whole cloves

1 cups sugar

1 cinnamon stick, broken

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in a stock pot and simmer for 20 min

2. Remove cloves and cinnamon stick before serving

**Also great in a crock pot or beverage warmer 

Halloween Party Drinks (non alcoholic)

 These 2 punches will be a surefire hit at your Halloween party

Witches Brew Punch

Ingredients

1 jug Green Berry Rush Hawaiian punch (or any green colored drink) 

1 lt lemon lime soda

1 container lime sherbert

Dry ice (for misty affect) ** Don't touch dry ice with bare hands, use tongs.  Don't put dry ice directly in the drink, only in a separate bowl underneath the actually punch bowl.  Pour water over dry ice to activate the misty effect. 

**If adding alcohol I would suggest green apple vodka

Blood Punch 

Ingredients

1 bottle grape juice

1 bottle cran-apple juice

1 bottle V8 Strawberry Banana juice

1 Lt lemon lime soda

1 container raspberry sherbert 

**If adding alcohol I would suggest raspberry vodka

Fall Chex Mix

 This is a favorite Fall tradition with my kids and each year it's slightly different depending on what we find at the store 

Basic Chex Mix Recipe 

• Melt 1 stick of butter in the microwave and add 2/3 cup Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder (if you like a stronger flavor your can add 2 tsp of onion and garlic powder), stir to combine. 
• In a very large bowl add 1 box of the corn chex, 1 box of rice chex, 1 box of golden grahams, 1 bag soup crackers, 1 bag mini pretzels, 1 container pumpkin seeds.  Stir to mix up
• Pour the sauce over the crackers and stir to evenly coat (I usually have to do this in 2 bowls because I don't have 1 bowl that is big enough to hold it all) 
• Pour out on 2 baking sheets and bake in a 325 degree oven for 25 (stirring every 8 min to prevent burning
• Turn out on a paper sack and let cool
• Add the fall fixings and stir to mix. 
• Store in zip lock bags or air tight containers

Fall Mix in Ideas

• Caramel corn
• Dried apples
• Candy Corns
• Reese's Pieces 
• Honey Roasted peanuts
• Caramel bits

It makes a ton so it's perfect to share with neighbors and friends. 

Now That's A Party! - Halloween Party

 Here are some awesome recipes for a kid friendly Halloween party. 

Store bought treats

Boo Sticks - Draw a ghost face on some white cheese sticks

Jack-o-Lantern Cuties - Draw a jack-o-lantern face on mini oranges

Homemade Treats

Witch Fingers - 1. Cut Celery sticks into finger shapes. 2. Spread backside with peanut butter. 3. Use a bit of PB on a dried cranberry for the nail. 

Mini Mummy Dogs - 1. cut hotdog in half. 2. Cut croissant dough into strips. 3. Wrap the dogs with the croissant strips. 4. Bake a 375 for 12-15 min. 

Pumpkin Cheese Ball

1. In a mixing bowl combine: 1 package softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup minced orange pepper, 1 sliced green onion, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp garlic salt (optional) 1/2 cup chopped chipped beef 

2. Form into a ball and cover outside with more cheddar cheese. Wrap in plastic wrap.  Use string to wrap around forming the pumpkin shape.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour. 

3. To serve, remove string and plastic wrap and top with the orange bell pepper top 

Witches Brew Punch - Combine lime sherbet, sprite and green koolaid.  

To have the misty effect, place some dry ice in a container below the punch and when you pour some water on it, it will mist and bubble. **Don't touch dry ice with bear skin, it will burn. Use tongs. 

Add Halloween cookies and or cupcakes and you have yourself a spooky party! 

Spooktacular Halloween Feast

 Jack-o-lantern Pasties 

Ingredients

2 refrigerated package of 2 pie crusts (or 2 recipe homemade pie crust)

1 package cube steak

1 large carrot

1/2 onion

1/2 can of whole potatoes 

2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: 

1. In a food processor pulse carrots and onions. Then add beef and pulse again. Add potatoes and pulse

2. Add Worcestershire and salt and pepper and pulse until well mixed

3. Unroll pie crust and cut 8 tops crusts and 8 bottoms bottom crusts

4. Place about 1/3 cup meat mixture on the bottom crust, brush a little water on the pie crust edge to help with sealing.  Place the top crust on and seal edges

5. Brush top with egg wash for color

6. Bake at 400 for 35-40 min until crust is fully cooked. 

Jello Brains with Eyeballs

Ingredients

Brain Jello mold

2 large packages of jello (flavors that will create a light pinky peachy color)

2 cups boiling water

2 cups ice water

9-10 rambutans (fruit)

18-20 blueberries

Strawberry Syrup (optional) 

Directions

1. Fully Dissolve jello in boiling water (stirring), add ice water and mix

2. Pour into jello mold and allow to set in the refrigerator (a couple of hours) 

3. Peel rambutans, cut in half long ways and remove seed (some seed shell may remain that ok)

4. Place a blueberry in each seed cavity 

5. When jello is set remove onto a platter (setting the mold in hot water for a couple seconds can help release the jello from the mold)

6. Arrange "eyes" around the brains and drizzle strawberry syrup if desired for extra spooky. 

Smashing Pumpkin Recipes 2

Pumpkin Cream Custard Recipe

1. In a saucepan over medium heat cook: 1 cup brown Sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup corn (or other) starch, 1/8 tsp salt, 2 cups heavy whipping cream and 2 cup milk

2. Whisk until smooth and cook until a thermometer reads 175 degrees. Then remove from heat. 

3. In a separate bowl beat 4 eggs add 1 can pumpkin and 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice. 

4. Temper the eggs by adding small amounts of the hot mixture while constantly whisking. Once you have done this with half of the hot mixture, pour the rest of the now egg mixture back into the pan and whisk until combine.  

5. Place back on the stove and cook until the mixture reaches 160 degrees or coats the back of a metal spoon. (optional add the seeds of a vanilla bean)

Frozen Pumpkin Custard

Place 1/2 of the mixture in an ice cream maker and freeze. 

Pumpkin Creme Brûlée

1. Divide the mixture into ramekins (if serving later cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge)

2. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp sugar over each ramekin and use a blow torch to melt the sugar into a crust. 

Smashing Pumpkin Recipes

Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Sugar Frosting

1. In a mixing bowl place 1 cup pumpkin, 1 cup shortening, 1 cup sugar and mix
2. Add one egg and 1 tsp vanilla and mix again
3. Sift in 2 cup flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, and 1/4 tsp ginger and mix a final time
4. Spoon cookies onto a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 min.
5. For the frosting, melt 3 Tbsp butter in a sauce pan, add 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup milk, stir until sugar is dissolved.
6. Place in your mixing bowl and add 1 tsp vanilla and about 3 cups of powdered sugar, mix until smooth.
Frost cookies and enjoy!
Makes about 2 dozen cookies. 

Pumpkin Apple Bread with Streusel Topping

1. In a mixing bowl place 1 can of pumpkin, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, and 4 eggs and mix
2.  Add 3 cup flour, 2 Tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon and mix again
3. Peel, core and dice 2 tart apples and fold into the batter
4. spray loaf pans and evenly divide the batter between them.
5. To make streusel topping in a bowl combine 2 Tbsp flour, 1/2 cup white sugar, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, and 2 tbsp softened butter. Mix with a fork until crumbly. Spread over each loaf.
6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 min (until a toothpick comes out clean) up to 1 hour for large loaves 
Makes 8 mini loaves for 2 large loaves.

Pumpkin Popcorn

1. Pop 1/2 cup popcorn kernels or use a bag of microwave popcorn.
2. While it is still hot pour into a paper bag with 1/2 cup pumpkin chips and shake, shake, shake. (if the pumpkin chips aren't melting, you can microwave the paper bag for a 20 or so sec until they melt)
3. rip open the bag and allow the pumpkin to cool and harden a bit and serve.

Pumpkin Juice

1. In a blender pour 3 cup apple cider, 1 - 6 oz can pineapple juice, 1 cup pumpkin, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice and 1 cup orange juice (you can sweeten with some agave nectar or honey)
2. Blend for 30 sec.
3. Store in a pitcher in the fridge. The pumpkin will settle to the bottom so stir before serving.

Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Frosting. 

(This was a Martha Stewart recipe that I adapted and changed a little.  Here is a link to the original recipe http://www.marthastewart.com/344826/pumpkin-whoopie-pies-with-cream-cheese-f )

1. In a mixer place 1 1/2 cup pumpkin, 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and mix
2. Then add 1 egg and 1/2 tsp vanilla and mix again
3. Sift in 1 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice and mix a final time
4. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and put batter into a prepare piping bag
5. Pipe out an even number of cookies (for sandwiches) and bake at 350 for 10 min. Allow to cool completely.
6. For frosting place in a mixing bowl 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 oz softened cream cheese, 3 tbsp softened butter and 1/2 tsp vanilla. mix until smooth
7. place frosting in anther prepared piping bag and place a dollop of frosting on 1/2 of the cookies. Top with other cookie to make the whoopie pies. Make about 3 dozen mini pies.
Store in the fridge in an air tight container with parchment paper as a liner for layers.