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Apple Cider Recipe

Apple Cider Recipe

Get into that autumn frame of mind with a tasty apple cider recipe. 

Growing up in Western New York, I often visited apple orchards and pumpkin farms in the fall. The spiced apple cider was always fresh and delicious. Now in SoCal, more often than not my apple cider comes from a carton. It still brings back memories of hayrides and corn mazes, but I miss the homemade taste. For those of us who can’t just hop on over to a nearby apple orchard, here is a recipe to try at home. 

Step-by-Step Apple Cider Recipe

  1. Cut 10 large apples into quarters (removing the core & seeds).
    • Did you know that there are over 7,500 varieties of apples? For cider, I prefer sweet varieties of apple. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Golden Russet, Sugar Crisp, and Gala are just a handful are great choices. If you prefer a more tart and acidic cider, try Pink Lady or McIntosh apples.
  2. Add the apples to a large stockpot with enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches. 
  3. Stir in ¼ cup maple syrup (Canadian maple syrup is the best), ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ground allspice, and 1 teaspoon ground cloves.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, uncovered for one hour.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer (covered) for two more hours.
  6. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the solids. Strain again through a sieve lined with a cheesecloth. We don’t want any little pieces in our drink.
  7. Serve warm or cool. Feel free to add additional sugar or maple syrup to get the cider to the sweetness you desire. 
20251019_CiderMill_LAHauntedHayride_195408_Website

Apple Cider

Have a taste of autumn with this homemade apple cider recipe.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 16
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 10 Large Apples Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or other sweet variety work best
  • Water
  • ¼ cup Maple Syrup
  • ¼ cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Cinnamon Ground
  • 1 tbsp Allspice Ground
  • 1 tsp Cloves Ground

Equipment

  • 1 Stockpot
  • 1 Sieve
  • 1 Cheesecloth

Method
 

  1. Cut apples into quarters (removing the core & seeds).
  2. Add the apples to a large stockpot with enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches. 
  3. Stir in maple syrup, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, and ground cloves.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, uncovered, for 1 hour.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer (covered) for 2 hours.
  6. Stain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the solids. Strain again through a sieve lined with a cheesecloth.
  7. Add extra sugar if needed to sweeten to taste. Serve warm or cool.

More Halloween Treats

Apple Cider is a wonderful drink to pair with some Halloween treats. Check out some of my other recipes for inspiration:

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Coffee Halloween Cupcakes

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Food Lifestyle

Harvest Apple & Pork Stew

Harvest Apple & Pork Stew

Nothing beats a Harvest Apple & Pork Stew when I am in the mood for fall food. This meal always gets me in an autumn state of mind. 

Whether I am cooking a big meal for friends and family, or just meal prepping for the week ahead, this is my go-to for large portions. It also tastes just as good – if not better – reheated, so enjoy those leftovers.

The Ingedients

  • 2 tbsps olive oil
  • 1 lb boneless country-style pork ribs, cubed
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery ribs, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp white wine
  • 1½ tbsp salt
  • 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 4½ cups water, divided
  • 4 small red potatoes, cubed
  • 1 medium tart apple, peeled and sliced
  • 2 tbsps cornstarch
  • 6 cups cooked black or wild rice
  • chopped fresh parsley

The Steps

1. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown pork.
 
2. Add carrots, celery, and onion. Cook and stir 2-4 minutes or until crisp-tender.
 
3. Add garlic. Cook 1 minute.
 
4. Sir in bay leaves, wine, seasonings, and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, until meat is tender, 1½ hours.
 
5. Add potatoes & apple. Cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
 
6. Mix cornstarch and remaining water until smooth. Stir into stew. Bring mixture to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes.
 
7. Discard bay leaves. Serve over wild rice and, if desired, top with parsley
 

Harvest Apple & Pork Stew Recipe

Harvest Apple & Pork Stew

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 6
Calories: 485
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lbs boneless country-style pork ribs cubed
  • 2 medium carrots chopped
  • 2 celery ribs chopped
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp white wine
  • 1½ tbsp salt
  • 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 4½ cups water divided
  • 4 small red potatoes cubed
  • 1 medium tar apple peeled & sliced
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 6 cups black or wild rice cooked
  • chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Method
 

  1. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown pork.
  2. Add carrots, celery, and onion. Cook and stir 2-4 minutes or until crisp-tender.
  3. Add garlic. Cook 1 minute.
  4. Sir in bay leaves, wine, seasonings, and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered, until meat is tender, 1½ hours.
  5. Add potatoes & apple. Cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
  6. Mix cornstarch and remaining water until smooth. Stir into stew. Bring mixture to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes.
  7. Discard bay leaves. Serve over wild rice and, if desired, top with parsley

Want to try some more of my favorite recipes? Check out:

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Categories
Food Lifestyle

Hot Cocoa Bombs

Hot Cocoa Bombs

As the fall weather creeps in, I love to drink hot chocolate. Instead of store-bought mix, you can easily make your own spooky Hot Cocoa Bombs to add Halloween fun to your drink. I like to make a large batch at once and keep them frozen until needed at parties or just to brighten up a cozy autumn morning.

The Ingredients

  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (bars or melting wafers). These should be chopped into small, uniform pieces.
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

The Recipe

  1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil.
  2. Place chocolate into a heat-proof bowl and set it over the hot water. 
  3. Stir frequently with a spatula until the chocolate is mostly melted. 
  4. Remove the chocolate from the heat. The residual heat in the mixture will finish melting the final pieces.
  5. Spoon your chocolate into your bomb molds, following the mold’s specific instructions for how much to fill it. (My batches typically make about 8 full chocolate bombs, or 16 halves).
  6. Place your molds into the freezer for about 15 minutes.
  7. To create the hot cocoa mix, combine the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a bowl. Stir thoroughly. 
  8. Remove the bomb molds from the freezer.
  9. Fill half the molds with the cocoa powder. Typically, this is about 2 tablespoons of mix per bomb.
  10. Heat a plate in the microwave for about 20 seconds. It should be warm to the touch.
  11. Press one of the empty chocolate mold halves into the plate for about 5-10 seconds. The rim should begin to melt. 
  12. Press the warm half into one of the filled halves. If needed, dip your finger into any leftover heated chocolate and rub the seam for a secure connection.
  13. Freeze the cocoa bombs for at least 5 minutes to firm. 
  14. To make your hot cocoa, add your hot cocoa bomb to about 1 ½ – 2 cups hot milk and stir. The outer chocolate will melt and release the inner mix. Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, and/or marshmallows.

Hot Cocoa Bombs

Spooky Hot Cocoa Bombs with a Pumpkin Spice Twist
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 8
Course: Drinks
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Cut into small, uniform pieces.
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
  • ½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 tbsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • ½ tsp Kosher Salt

Equipment

  • 1 Pan
  • 1 Heat-Proof Bowl
  • 8 Hot Cocoa Bomb Molds

Method
 

  1. Bring a small pot of water to a boil.
  2. Place chocolate into a heat-proof bowl and set it over the hot water. Stir frequently with a spatula until the chocolate is mostly melted. 
  3. Remove the chocolate from the heat. The residual heat in the mixture will finish melting the final pieces.
  4. Spoon your chocolate into your bomb molds, following the mold's specific instructions for how much to fill it.
  5. Place your molds into the freezer for about 15 minutes.
  6. To create the hot cocoa mix, combine the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a bowl. Stir thoroughly. 
  7. Remove the bomb molds from the freezer.Fill half the molds with the cocoa powder. Typically, this is about 2 tablespoons of mix per bomb.
  8. Heat a plate in the microwave for about 20 seconds. It should be warm to the touch.
  9. Press one of the empty chocolate mold halves into the plate for about 5-10 seconds. The rim should begin to melt. 
  10. Press the warm half into one of the filled halves. If needed, dip your finger into any leftover heated chocolate and rub the seam for a secure connection.
  11. Freeze the cocoa bombs for at least 5 minutes to firm. 
  12. To make your hot cocoa, add your hot cocoa bomb to about 1 ½ - 2 cups hot milk and stir. The outer chocolate will melt and release the inner mix. Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, and/or marshmallows.

Want more sweet treat recipes? Try:

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Food Lifestyle News

Hershey Halloween 2026

Hershey Halloween 2026

The Hershey Halloween 2026 lineup is here! The Hershey Company has unveiled its largest and most diverse Halloween portfolio to date, offering something for every Halloween tradition and celebration. With more than 20 innovations across chocolate, sweets, and salty snacks, there is something for everyone to enjoy this Fall.

Seasonal Shapes & Chocolate Favorites

Chocolate is still the #1 choice for trick-or-treaters across the country. Hershey has some of my personal favorites – like Reese’s and Kit Kat. 

This year’s lineup of new launches and returning classics include:

  • KIT KAT® Count & Witch: The return of the classic wafer and chocolate combination, this year offered in new pack types, reimagined in two breakaway spooky shapes. The treat is also available in regular and king size bars, as well as a 6-pack built for sharing.
  • Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme Fangs Snack Size: A fang-shaped version of the classic iconic Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme flavor, making its Halloween comeback for the first time since 2024. This spooky treat is a seasonal favorite, offering a playful scare and snack.
  • Hershey Halloween All-Stars: An assortment of 18 full-size, limited-edition Halloween shapes and flavors, including Reese’s Pumpkins, KIT KAT Count & Witch shapes, KIT KAT Ghost Toast and Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies. This seasonal variety pack brings together Hershey’s most exciting Halloween innovations in one convenient box.  
  • Reese’s Pumpkins: An iconic Halloween treat, Reese’s classic chocolate and peanut butter combination comes in a pumpkin-shaped format. 

Fruity, Chewy, and Gummy Halloween Candies

While chocolate remains the anchor of Halloween, The Hershey Company’s recent Unwrapping Halloween: Hershey’s State of the Season Report, indicates that in October 74% of parents are likely to buy gummy candy and fruit chews, and 64% are likely to buy sour strips or belts. 

New innovations and assortments in Fruit & Gummy candy from the Hershey Halloween 2026 lineup include:

  • Sweets Assortment Stand-Up Bag: A variety-packed assortment featuring the introduction of Sour Strips to the Hershey seasonal portfolio, as well as Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis, Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis and Twizzlers Twists in Strawberry flavor. The mix is perfect for every sweet tooth, delivering a range of fruity, chewy, sweet and sour favorites.
  • Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis Snack Size: Bursting with bold fruit flavors, these chewy bites keep trick-or-treaters guessing with colors that don’t match the flavor, creating a fun, interactive candy experience. Available in seasonal Halloween shapes and flavors including Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Grape and Watermelon, Jolly
  • Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis Snack Size: Fruit-shaped gummies packed with bold, juicy fruit-flavors. The poppable format makes them ideal for on-the-go snacking while bringing exciting variety to candy mixes and Halloween sharing occasions.
  • Jolly Rancher Gummies Assortment: A mix of snack-size sour and sweet gummies, including Jolly Rancher Sour Gummies Minis, Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis, Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis and Jolly Rancher Sour Gummies Minis Awesome Reds. The assortment offers standout flavors and textures to both sour and sweet candy lovers.

Salty Snacks

Prefer salty to sweet? No worries, Hershey has you covered. Beyond the candy bowl, Hershey’s broader portfolio offers a range of salty options, including:

  • Pirate’s Booty Trick-or-Treat: Pirate’s Booty’s signature aged white cheddar puffs deliver a light, airy crunch in individually portioned snack packs. The format gives families a savory, non-candy option for trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treat events and Halloween parties.
  • Pirate’s Booty Boos & Bites: Halloween-themed Pirate’s Booty puffs feature ghost and monster shapes with the brand’s signature aged white cheddar flavor. The snack-size packs bring a playful savory option to seasonal snacking, parties and trick-or-treat occasions.
  • Reese’s Sweet & Salty: Snack-size packs of Reese’s Dipped Animal Crackers, Reese’s Dipped Pretzels and Reese’s Filled Pretzels bring together Reese’s chocolate and peanut butter with salty, crunchy formats. The brand new, cross-category assortment delivers a sweet-and-salty seasonal mashup.
  • SkinnyPop Halloween Packs: Individually packaged SkinnyPop popcorn in Halloween-themed packaging, designed for seasonal snacking and sharing. This lighter, better-for-you option gives consumers a salty alternative that extends Halloween celebrations beyond the candy bowl.
  • LesserEvil Pumpkin Spice Popcorn: A seasonal popcorn offering that brings warm cinnamon-and-spice fall flavor to everyday snacking. Ideal for consumers seeking a salty way to enjoy pumpkin spice throughout the Halloween season.
  • LesserEvil Spooky Popcorn: LesserEvil popcorn brings a lighter, better-for-you salty snack into Halloween-themed packs. The individually portioned format works across trick-or-treating, school events and Halloween celebrations.
  • LesserEvil Spooky Spaceballs: Light and airy cheese corn puffs in Halloween-themed packaging made for parties, trick-or-treating, and seasonal snacking. Delivers playful flavor and festive appeal in a convenient grab-and-go format.

From Summerween to Halloween night, The Hershey Company knows the trends, treats and tales that shape the season. 

For more information on these products please visit hersheyland.com/halloween.

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Food Lifestyle News

Pumpkin Season at Panera Bread

Pumpkin Season at Panera Bread

It’s technically still summer, but the wait is over for our favorite autumn flavors. Pumpkin season at Panera Bread is here with a brand-new lineup of fall favorites, and the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, to bakery-cafes nationwide. As someone who waits for these treats every year, I cannot wait to satisfy my autumnal sweet tooth! Let’s take a look at their new coffee drinks and baked goods.

The Drinks

The fall drink menu offers two new sips with two returning favorites:

  • NEW Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee
    • A dark roast coffee with pumpkin sauce over ice, topped with sweet cream cold foam and pumpkin spice crumbles.
  • NEW Pumpkin Spice Frozen Java
    • A frozen blended coffee drink with dairy blend and pumpkin sauce, topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice crumbles.
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte
    • Freshly brewed espresso combined with foamed milk and pumpkin spice sauce, topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice crumbles.
  • Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte
    • All the flavors and ingredients of the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, served over ice.

The Treats

Pair those pumpkin drinks with some sweet autumn treats! Panera’s seasonal menu will feature two new bakery items and one returning classic. All are crafted by Panera’s chefs to deliver the taste of fall in every bite.

  • NEW Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll
    • A deliciously crafted roll made with sweet dough, stuffed with cinnamon and pumpkin filling, topped with decadent pumpkin spice icing.
  • NEW Caramel Pumpkin Slice
    • A flavorful slice of cake with pumpkin pie spices, brown sugar, vanilla, and salted caramel swirls, topped with pumpkin spice icing.
  • Pumpkin Cookie
    • Deliciously crafted, pumpkin-shaped shortbread cookie decorated with icing.

A Pumpkin Dream

“Our guests look forward to these fall flavors each year, and we are bringing them to our menu in more ways than ever,” said Scott Uehlein, VP of Culinary, Panera Bread in a recent press release. “What sets our fall lineup apart are the details – from the decadent pumpkin spice icing and filling on our Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll to the spiced crumbles and creamy cold foam topping our coffee beverages. Whether it’s a refreshing iced drink or a sweetly spiced bite, Panera is the ultimate fall destination.”

These great fall drinks and treats are the perfect addition to the tasty soups and sandwiches Panera Bread is known for. I love to warm up with a black bean or creamy tomato soup. Then, I treat myself to some pumpkin spice. It’s my go-to on a cool autumn afternoon.

Panera’s seasonal menu innovations are available for dine-in, delivery, Rapid Pick-Up, or drive-thru. Learn more at panerabread.com.

Have you tried any of these items yet? Share your favorite fall flavors with me on Facebook & Instagram.

Want more fall foods? Check out:

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Food Lifestyle

Spooky Cheese Board

Spooky Cheese Board

No gathering of mine is complete without a cheese board. My friends will attest that I have occasionally even made two at once for my annual birthday celebration, just so I could try some different flavor combinations. Here are some of my suggestions to create the perfect spooky cheese board for your next party.

Start with Your Board

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20260809_GhostPlatter_093926
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I create my spooky cheese boards atop Halloween-themed platters. This instantly adds to the Halloween feel before the food has even been placed. Knowing your board size will also inform the amount of food you can place on it. One cheese along with some fruit and crackers may be best for a small plate. Large platters can accommodate multiple cheeses and charcuterie. 

Also, be sure to have different cheese knives on hand for each cheese you intend to use – so that the flavors don’t mix.

Choose Your Ingredients

My go-to cheese is a brie wedge. I love to pair it with blackberries, charcuterie (especially prosciutto), and gore-met – I mean, gourmet crackers. From there I add other items depending on the scale of the platter and what interests me at the store. 

A general rule of thumb for a full platter is 1 hard cheese, 1 soft cheese, and 1 blue cheese; 3-4 cured meats; and a mix of accompaniments like fruits, jams, nuts, and crackers. There should be about 1-2 ounces of cheese & 1-2 ounces of meats per person. 

Here are a few suggestions for each element:

  • Hard Cheeses:
    • Parmigiano-Reggiano
    • Aged Cheddar
    • Gruyère
    • Gouda
    • Leyden
  • Soft Cheeses:
    • Brie 
    • Goat Cheese
    • Burrata
  • Blue Cheeses:
    • Roquefort
    • Gorgonzola
    • Stilton
  • Charcuterie:
    • Prosciutto
    • Salami
    • Pepperoni
    • Pancetta
    • Chorizo
  • Fresh Fruits:
    • Grapes
    • Apples
    • Blackberries
    • Strawberries
  • Dried Fruits:
    • Apricots
    • Figs
    • Cranberries
  • Nuts:
    • Almonds
    • Walnuts
    • Pecans
  • Spreads:
    • Fig Jam
    • Honey
    • Fruit Preserves
  • Crackers/Breads:
    • Water Crackers
    • Baguette slices
    • Crostini

Popular Halloween boards often feature ingredients with lush purples, blues, and oranges. 

Placement & Presentation

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First place your cheese and large jars (if applicable), then add your other elements around them. 

To add some spooky fun, try some of these presentations:

  • Cut off the tip and top corners of your brie wedge to create a coffin shape. Add seaweed strips to spell out “RIP”.
  • Pretzels & string cheese make fun shapes. 
    • Witches’ Brooms: Cut the string cheese into 1″ pieces. Stick the pretzel in the top and pull apart the cheese at the bottom to make a broom shape.
    • Kasa Obake: To create this yokai, cut the string cheese into 1.5″ pieces. Pull apart the cheese at the bottom and stick the pretzel into the end with the pulled apart cheese. Add a candy eye and use seaweed to make a long tongue. 
  • Use cookie cutters to cut the cheese into Halloween shapes – like pumpkins or ghosts. You can also just a knife to make coffin shapes.
  • Add mini pumpkins or plastic skeletons to your platter for aesthetics.

Ready to create your own spooky cheese board? Share your creations with me on Facebook & Instagram.

Want more food ideas for your next party? Check out my post on 5 Ways to Make Spooky Meals

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Food Lifestyle

Monster Cereals 2026

Monster Cereals 2026

For the past 55 years, Monster Cereals have been a staple of horror-lovers’ breakfasts each Halloween season. Everyone knows these iconic cereals with the horror-shaped marshmallows: the chocolatey “Count Chocula”, the strawberry “Frankenberry”, and the blueberry “Boo Berry”, and some other fun friends over the years. 

In 2025 Monster Cereals partnered with The Jim Henson Company to reimagine these beloved characters as puppets. 2026 brings an encore partnership. “Fans loved Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry reimagined through The Jim Henson Company’s creativity last year, so we were excited to team up again to create fresh new packaging designs that celebrate the characters and bring even more Halloween fun to store shelves,” said Megan Brooks, Business Unit Director for Family Favorites Cereal at General Mills.

“Last year, our team from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop had so much fun bringing these beloved Monsters to life as puppets, and we know our fans will enjoy seeing them again this season for more memorable magic,” said Nicole Goldman, Executive Vice President of Branding for The Jim Henson Company. “And new this Halloween, we’re giving cereal and Jim Henson Company fans alike the chance to put their creativity to the test by transforming each cereal box into its own Monster puppet.”

Where to Buy

These limited edition Jim Henson Company designs will be available in retailers nationwide by August. 

Additionally, super fans can score a limited-edition fuzzy Count Chocula cereal box, designed to replicate the fleece-like texture of the puppets, available exclusively on Walmart.com for $7.76 starting October 1st.

Whether this is your first time celebrating the season with the trio or your 55th, Monsters Cereals ensures your Halloween is full of enchanting moments with every spoonful. For more information, follow @generalmills and @hensoncompany on Instagram and Facebook.

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Apple Pie Recipe

Apple Pie Recipe

Apple pies are my favorite autumn-inspired desserts. They bring memories of harvests and autumn farm visits, and are a very easy pie to make for beginner bakers.

Below is my personal recipe that I have been perfecting since I was thirteen years old. My great-grandmother used to make all sorts of pies and I grew up hearing how much everyone missed the desserts at family gatherings. So, I decided to experiment with making my own signature sweet crust pies, starting as a 4th of July tradition and then expanding out to Thanksgivings and other friend and family gatherings. Of course, I also learned how to add my own fun Halloween season twists to keep everything in line with my spooky interests.  

Grab a pie pan, rolling pin, cookie cutters, and ingredients – let’s start baking!

Step-By-Step Apple Pie Recipe

  1. Add two cups flour to a medium bowl. Cut in 1 ⅓ cups butter and ¼ cup brown sugar with a pastry cutter or fork until particles are the size of small peas. Salted butter works best here, but if you use unsalted, be sure to add a pinch of salt to the flour). 
  2. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork (or mixing with a dough hook – if using a stand mixer) until all the flour is moistened and the pastry leaves the sides of the bowl. You may use up to ⅔ cup water here.
  3. Cut the dough in half and gather into two balls. Shape each into a flattened round on a lightly floured surface. Wrap the pastry round in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 45 minutes or until the dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. If you refrigerate too long and the dough becomes rock hard, let it soften before rolling.
  4. Roll one pastry round on a lightly floured surface, using a floured rolling pin. I sometimes use floured wax paper to keep the dough from sticking to my rolling pin. The dough circle should be 2-3 inches longer than your pie plate. Fold the dough in half and slide it over your plate. Unfold and ease it into the plate, pressing firmly against the bottom and side.
  5. Roll the second pastry round on a lightly floured surface and roll out again to about a ¼ inch thickness. Take a cookie cutter and cut out a variety of dough shapes. Set them aside. Combine any scraps, re-shape into a ball, and repeat the roll & cut process until you have used up all the dough.
  6. Heat your oven to 425°F. 
  7. Peel 8-9 Granny Smith apples and slice them thinly.
  8. In a large bowl, mix ¾ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons nutmeg, 3 tablespoons cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons flour. Stir in the apples until they are fully coated with the sugar & spice mixture. Spoon the apples into a pastry-lined pie plate. 
  9. Cover the top of the pie with the cut-out dough pieces to form a pattern as desired. Be sure that there are some holes or slits for the pie to vent while cooking.
  10. Crack and lightly beat one egg (or mix 1 tablespoon maple syrup with 1 tablespoon water for a vegan version). Brush the mixture onto the top of the crust. This will help the crust to brown while backing. 
  11. Cover the pie crust edges with foil to prevent burning. 
  12. Bake 40-50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through the slits in the crust. 
  13. Cool on a wire rack at for least 2 hours. 

Recipe

Emily Louise Rua

Emily's Apple Pie

Sweet Crust Apple Pie
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 Slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 570
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Crust
  • 2 cups Flour
  • 1 ⅓ cups Butter (or Vegan Butter) Softened
  • ⅔ cup Water
  • ¼ cup Brown Sugar
Filling
  • 8-9 Granny Smith Apples Peeled & Thinly Sliced
  • ¾ cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 tbsps Nutmeg
  • 3 tbsps Cinnamon
  • 2 tbsps Flour
Egg Wash
  • 1 Egg Lightly Beaten (Optional)
Vegan Alternative Wash
  • 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
  • 1 tbsp Water

Equipment

  • Pie Plate
  • Stand Mixer with Dough Hook (optional)
  • Pastry Cutter (optional) A fork can work too
  • Pastry Brush
  • Rolling Pin
  • Cookie Cutter (optional)

Method
 

  1. Add flour to a medium bowl. Cut in butter and brown sugar with a pastry cutter or fork until particles are the size of small peas.
  2. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tbsp at a time and toss until all the flour is moistened and the pastry leaves the sides of the bowl. (You may not use the entire ⅔ cup water).
  3. Cut the dough in half and gather into two balls. Shape each into a flattened round on a lightly floured surface. Wrap the pastry in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 45 minutes or until the dough is firm and cold, yet pliable. If refrigerated longer, let pastry soften before rolling.
  4. Roll one pastry round on a lightly floured surface, using a floured rolling pin. The dough circle should be 2-3 inches longer than your pie plate. Fold the dough in half and slid it over your plate. Unfold and ease it into the plate, pressing firmly against the bottom and side.
  5. Roll the second pastry round on a lightly floured surface and roll out again to about a ¼ inch thickness. Take a cookie cutter and cut out a variety of dough shapes. Set them aside. Combine any scraps, re-shape into a ball, and repeat the roll & cut process until you have used up all the dough.
  6. Heat oven to 425°F. 
  7. Peel 8-9 Granny Smith apples and slice them thinly.
  8. In a large bowl, mix brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and flour. Stir in the apples until they are fully coated with the sugar & spice mixture. Spoon the apples into a pastry-lined pie plate. 
  9. Cover the top of the pie with the cut-out dough pieces to form a pattern as desired. Be sure that there are some holes or slits for the pie to vent while cooking.
  10. Crack and lightly beat one egg (or mix maple syrup with water for a vegan version). Brush the mixture onto the top of the crust.
  11. Cover the edges of the pie crust with foil to prevent burning.
  12. Bake 40-50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through the slits in the crust. 
  13. Cool on a wire rack for at least 2 hours.

More Treats (and Possibly Tricks) from Emily

I hope you enjoy my apple pie recipe! Use it as a starting point and add your own spooky tricks to make it your own. If you enjoy this recipe, take a look at some of my other treats:

Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi

Chocolate Coffee Halloween Cupcakes

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Have fun!

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Categories
Food

5 Ways to Make Spooky Meals

5 Ways to Make Spooky Meals

If you spend any time searching for Halloween food on Instagram or Pinterest, you will find a cornucopia of ideas for spooky meals. Sometimes, however, these recipes and designs require far more skill than the average person possesses. Or, they at least take a lot more time and effort than makes sense for an every day meal.

Custom Wedding Cake by Dessert Deli. Photography by Knight Studio. This took hours to make and years of practice to get it to look (and taste) that good.

Not all of us can be Martha Stewarts or Christine McConnells, but there are many easy ways to transform ordinary breakfasts, lunches, and dinners into spooky meals the whole family will enjoy.

Here are some of my favorite easy techniques to add some Halloween-flair to your foods:

1. Use Skull Baking Pans

Skull-shaped Cornbread.

One way to add some spookiness to your meals is to use pans with Halloween shapes. Since you have to use pans to make cakes, cornbread, cupcakes, muffins, etc., it is quite easy to switch out a plain square or circular pan for a skull-shaped pan. There are different sizes of pans you can use, from mini skulls to larger ones (like pictured above). Other common Halloween shapes include ghosts, tombstones, and pumpkins. Have fun shopping around during the Halloween season and you can pick up great tools to use all year long!

I used the NordicWare “Haunted Skull Cakelet Pan” for the above-pictured cornbread. Be sure to generously spray or grease the pan and the bread pops out quite easily.

2. Add Halloween Sprinkles

Aside from flour, rice, and sugar, one staple of my pantry is Halloween sprinkles. I am a sprinkle addict and can’t help but to add these sugary toppers to all my desserts and sweet foods. Whether you choose traditional sprinkles in orange and black or specialty shapes like leaves, bats, bones, or pumpkins, sprinkles can add a touch of Halloween to any dessert. I also use them for hot cocoa and smoothie toppers (along with ample amounts of whipped cream).

3. Turn Your Mushrooms into Skulls

I'll never be able to eat plain ramen noodles again!

Mushrooms have the perfect shape to carve out some Tim Burton-esque skulls. All it takes to do this is a knife and two fondant tools. I use the “Large Ball” and “Flower Leaf Shaper” fondant tools to carve the face.

HOW TO CARVE A MUSHROOM SKULL
  • Cut the mushrooms in half. Lay the mushrooms flat on a cutting board. Use the knife to cut 3-4 vertical strips on the stems (it is fine if the knife goes all the way through here). Gently make a thin slit horizontally across the vertical strips – do not cut all the way through, only cut halfway or less. These lines are the teeth.
  • Using a flower leaf fondant shaper, dig two little holes for the nostrils. Just pressing down lightly with the tip of the tool generally will suffice.
  • Using a large ball fondant tool press down on the head of the mushroom to create the eyes. Push down very gently. Sometimes you have to press then release a few times to get the proper indent. If you press too hard, the mushroom will split. Split mushrooms are still salvageable, but they look more like decomposing skulls instead of fresh ones!

These mushrooms can be used in soups, pizzas, salads, and more.

4. Use Cookie Cutters to Create Spooky Shaped Foods

Despite the name, cookie cutters are not just for cookies! If you have a variety of cookie cutters in various sizes and shapes, you can easily cut your food into spooky designs for your meals.

Pumpkin-shaped biscuits are my go-to for breakfast sandwiches or dinner roll sides. Mini cutters on sour dough bread make cute toppers for chili or chowder soups. You can even get creative with pizza and combine cookie cut-out pepperoni and mushroom skulls.

Combining these two easy techniques make a unique and fun Halloween-themed pizza. Just make sure not to include garlic if you have any vampires over for dinner!

5. Carve a Design

Bat Bread

Like most people stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I too jumped aboard the bread-making bandwagon. From plain white bread to herbaceous stuffing loaf bread, I baked many loaves. Although they turned out well (after my first few tries), they just didn’t feel spooky enough. One day when I was about to score the top of the loaf, I got the idea to carve a spooky image instead of just scoring in a straight line. I enjoy making bat bread, but you can also design a smiling jack-o-lantern or other Halloween image.

This makes for a fun presentation and adds spooky Halloween fun to an otherwise completely normal dish.

Tell Me About Your Spooky Meals

 

That’s it for my 5 simple ways to add a little spookiness to your daily meals. I look forward to sharing more tips in future posts.

Now I want to hear from you! How do you add touches of Halloween to your meals? Let me know on Instagram & Twitter @EmilyIsHorror

 

Want to try some Halloween-inspired recipes? Try:

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Categories
Food

Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Shrimp Scampi

Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Today’s post will focus on the recipe for Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi. This garlic-rich recipe is simple, yet delicious. I love to make this recipe on a Friday night before watching a horror film or two. Last time I made it, the kitchen smelled like garlic for an entire day afterwards, ensuring that we were safe from creatures of the night (and any visitor, really).

As with most scampi pasta dishes, this recipe can be highly customized and you can change it up depending on the ingredients you have on-hand. For a pop of color – add sun-dried tomatoes. Mushrooms can be added for extra Vitamin D. The possibilities are limitless!

Basic Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi Recipe(Makes about 2 Servings):

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2/3 cup onion, diced
  • ¼ cup fresh basil
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 16 large shrimp, peeled & de-veined
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • 2 servings spaghetti
  • Optional – ½ cup mushrooms, chopped
  • Optional – ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes

Step One: Prep Pasta

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the spaghetti. Cook until tender.

Shrimp Scampi Pasta Uncooked
Shrimp Scampi Pasta Uncooked

I chose to use orange and green vegetable pasta for a more Halloween-feel, but once cooked they did not have as bright colors as I had hoped. If you have a higher budget, specialty squid ink pasta has a delightful black color to make this meal very spooky.

Step Two: Brown Onion & Garlic

Heat the olive oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add the onion. Let brown. Add garlic.

Brown the onion and garlic in your large pan.

It typically takes about five to eight minutes for the onion to brown, depending on your pan. You can stir occasionally and/or rotate the pan to make sure all the onion is browning mostly evenly.

Step Three: Cook Shrimp

Add the shrimp (and optional mushrooms) to the pan. Season with the basil, crushed red pepper, salt, pepper, and parsley. Flip the shrimp once the underside is a bright pink. Cook through.

Step Four: Add Scampi Sauce Ingredients

Add butter, lemon juice, white wine, and parmesan cheese. The optional sun-dried tomatoes can be added as well. Stir occasionally for 5 minutes.

The shrimp should be a nice pink color once cooked through.

The scampi sauce will reduce during this time. You should be able to smell the garlic throughout your kitchen by this time. Vampires beware!

Step Five: Combine

We have not forgotten about the pasta! Remove the cooked spaghetti from the pot using tongs and place into the pan with the shrimp scampi mixture. Use tongs instead of draining the pasta – bringing over some pasta water with the spaghetti helps the scampi sauce to stick to the noodles more.

Using tongs allows some of the pasta water to be brought over with the spaghetti.

Thoroughly coat the spaghetti with the scampi sauce.

Mix it well.

Now, you just have to plate it. Add your favorite garlic bread for a complimentary side and you are all set! For those more vampire-friendly individuals, you can reduce or cut down on the garlic, but I love the strong garlic taste.

Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi

Enjoy!

Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi Recipe
The Horror of Being Emily

Vampire-Repelling Shrimp Scampi

Learn to make this garlic-heavy shrimp scampi, the perfect recipe to repell vampires and other creatures of the night. Easy to cook and made to impress!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 2 Vampire Hunters
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2/3 cup onion diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
  • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • 16 large shrimp peeled, de-veined
  • 8 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • 2 servings spaghetti
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms (optional)
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (optional)

Equipment

  • Large Pan
  • Large Pot
  • Tongs

Method
 

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the spaghetti. Cook until tender.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add the onion. Let brown. Add garlic.
  3. Add the shrimp (and optional mushrooms) to the pan. Season with the basil, crushed red pepper, salt, pepper, and parsley. Flip the shrimp once the underside is a bright pink. Cook through.
  4. Add butter, lemon juice, white wine, and Parmesan cheese. The optional sun-dried tomatoes can be added as well. Stir occasionally for 5 minutes.
  5. Remove the cooked spaghetti from the pot using tongs and place into the pan with the shrimp scampi mixture. Thoroughly coat the spaghetti with the scampi sauce.

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