Sweet Treats for Halloween

I have a confession to make. I’ve not always been the greatest fan of Halloween. While I totally get the part about collecting and hoarding the most candy you possible can, I’m just not as enamored with the whole dressing up in scary outfits thing. I hate going to stores around Halloween where the employees dress up in costume. And it freaks me out a little to be driving down the road at night and see the driver of a passing car all decked out in his or her scariest costume.

So besides the piles and piles of candy, what else do I like about Halloween? Well there’s the annual pumpkin carving I do with my nieces, the decorating, and well of course, the baking. I just love those little bite-sized sugar cookies topped with a single delectable candy corn. And those crispy chocolate-marshmallow treats dipped in chocolate and topped with orange sprinkle…that’s certainly not a scary treat.

Finally, pictured at the bottom of the post is one of my favorite Halloween crafts from Martha Stewart, a treat bag disguised as a witch’s broom. These were so much fun to make and fill.

I hope you enjoy your Halloween festivities, just don’t bring your hauntingly scary selves around to our place.

blt salad with buttermilk dressing- everyday food challenge

My Everyday Food Challenge returns today after a short break. I’m up to issue #19 and to one of my most favorite simple salads that’s been featured in the magazine, the BLT Salad with Buttermilk Dressing. The ingredient list is quite short, so please don’t skip the steps for making your own homemade croutons and dressing. The croutons are a cinch to make. My friends love them and frequently leave dinners at our home with a bag of them to go. The tangy buttermilk dressing is great too. The cider vinegar really adds a bit of a zing. If you’re looking for a simple salad with a great punch flavor, you can’t go wrong with this one. It’s like the classic sandwich just a bit deconstructed.

wordless wednesday – fall foliage edition

mexican hot chocolate cookies – blog blast from the past

Looking for a sweet cookie with just a hint of spice? Well then this is definitely your cookie. I originally posted this Everyday Food Magazine recipe for Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies back in March before my Everyday Food Challenge was born. Click here for the original post, grab the recipe and get baking.

feta salsa – blog blast from the past

So yeah, I was going to take a little break from blogging this week. Then it occurred to me that many of you have only been visiting the blog for a few months. So for the next couple of days I’ll be presenting some of my most favorite recipes from blog’s past. I’ll kick this series off with my favorite choice for an appetizer, Smitten Kitchen’s Feta Salsa. Click here for the original post, then find some time to make this delicious treat this weekend. I think it would be the perfect thing to serve to class up an afternoon on the couch watching some football.

break time

I’m taking a short break from blogging this week. Please check back next week for all-new posts. And coming up in two weeks, 5 days! 5 desserts! It’s worth the wait.

five senses friday #16

Sorry that I didn’t share a five senses friday last week. I guess I just didn’t have it in me. So here’s to a new week, let’s try this again. As always, it would make me beyond happy if you shared a sense or five in the comments section about your past week.

• seeing – the orange flesh of pumpkins around every corner.
• tasting - fall flavored coffee creamers. hello pumpkin spice, you make my mornings warmer and cuddlier.
• hearing - Do You Love Me from Guster, one of may all-time favorite bands.
• smelling – the Gregger’s waffles.
• feeling - from grumpy to happy to meh.

sweet & spicy almonds – everyday food challenge bonus recipe

One of the things that I look forward to at the end of each week is a simple twitter message from Everyday Food Magazine called “Cocktail O’Clock.” It features a link to a special libation-of-the-week. And one of these weeks I may actually make one instead of just salivating at the photo. Last week’s feature, and one that I very much intend to make, is the Boozy Arnie. Tea, lemon juice, bourbon and simple syrup. Yes please. I’m pretty sure that these Sweet & Spicy Almonds would make a perfect partner to a special after-work cocktail o’clock. In fact, I made need to host one of these types of get-togethers in the very near future. Who wants an invite?

wordless wednesday

italian pot roast – everyday food challenge

My little Everyday Food Challenges marches on as I cook my way through every issue of Everyday Food Magazine. This week we land in issue #18, the 2004 Holiday Issue filled with lots of winter delights. I decided to revisit the Italian Pot Roast.  I made it back when the issue first arrived in mailbox. Do you remember what you were up to in 2004?

The recipe is a good one, though I think I learned an important lesson this time around. Get your beef roast at the butcher counter, not from the case. I don’t think I got a great roast this time. When the dish was done cooking in the slow cooker I still had a lot of fat and gristle to remove. Seemed like quite a waste. Well, actually it made our dog Tucker pretty happy for the evening. But as slow cooker recipes go, this one’s pretty straight forward. Brown the meat in a skillet, throw everything in the slow cooker and come back about 6 hours later. It also tastes even better the next day as left overs.

Be sure to check back on Thursday for a quick bonus recipe from this issue, Sweet & Spicy Almonds. A treat with a kick…