#Thursday13 - Autumn Date Ideas

I love FALL.  Everything about the season is wonderful! Acorn squash smothered with butter and brown sugar cooks in the stove while a hot apple pie cools. Burning leaves and then enjoying a glass of wine with friends. Here are a few ideas for you and your honey to have some time to yourselves.

1. Visit a local orchard or pumpkin patch.

2. Go apple picking then make caramel apples.

3. Bake an apple or pumpkin pie together then eat it before it gets cold. Have fun with the left over whipping cream. Enjoy a glass of local wine or brew.

4. Find your inner child and go on a corn maze and hayride. Rake leaves into a pile and jump in!

5. Make Apple Cider Floats and snuggle in front of a fire.

Apple Cider Float

1 cup of real apple cider

½ cup ginger ale

1-2 scoops vanilla ice cream or a seasonal flavor such as cinnamon or apple pie

Ground cinnamon and nutmeg for sprinkling

1-2 TBSP caramel sauce

Pour apple cider and ginger ale into a glass. Add vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle on nutmeg and cinnamon to taste and drizzle caramel sauce on top. Serve with straw and spoon.

 

6. If you are in a warmer climate, take your lap top and a bowl of popcorn to the backyard and watch a movie.

7. Have a thermos picnic at the park. Pack soup and hot cocoa.

8. Go on a Fall Foliage Drive. Pick up some pumpkin spice coffee and enjoy the ride.

9. Visit a local book store. Many offer special autumn displays and events.

10. Hop in the car and go for a drive to find a coffee shop or a local pub to visit.

11. Go on a Sunset Date. Grab a thermos of cocoa and a blanket then head off to a park to watch the sunset. If a park isn't in the cards, simply step onto your porch or back deck.  Weather permitting, do some star gazing too. Super romantic!

12. Have a “Power Outage” Date. Turn all the lights off, light some candles and have some fun.

13. Try a Spa Night. Take a bath together, give each other massages and put on your comfy-cozies.

What word do you use to describe this season? Autumn or Fall?

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Tasty Tuesday - Spiked Mulled Cider

Many of you know I'm a Football Mom. My boys are Youth Football, High School Football and College Football. That's sitting outside weekday for pracitce plus games on the weekend. I've learned to dress in a kazillion layers but once the cold creeps into my bones there is no getting rid of it.

However...

I discovered a shot of Hot Damn schnapps in some mulled cider works wonders. 
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When making mulled cider use a hand held sieve to eliminate consuming the spices.

Single serving Spiked Mulled Cider:

Pour apple cider into a pot and simmer over low heat. Add clove, cinnamon stick and nutmeg. Float orange slices. Pour a shot of Hot Damn Schnapps into a mug before filling with the warm cider.

I found prepared mulling spices at my local market. After adding some to a pan, I add a few cups of cider and simmer over low heat. The longer you simmer the richer the flavor. Add a shot of Hot Damn or favorite fall schnapps to the mug before filling with the warm cider.

Easy Spiked Crockpot Cider for a crowd:

1/2 gallon apple cider

4 whole cinnamon sticks

8 whole Allspice Berries or Cloves

Orange peel or slices from 1 orange

(add lemon peel from one lemon during cold season)

 3/4 cup spiced rum

 1/2 cup Hot Damn

 1/2 cup Buttershots

Cook on high for one hour then switch to warm and serve.

For the best benifits 

this hot beverage should be read while reading a steamy romance book 

next to a cozy fire.

Thursday 13 - Fall Recipies

This is the first week all three boys are playing football. I'm getting bleacher butt on Wed, Fri, and Sat. My Coffee Club gal pals gave me some yummy fall recipes. Some of them are for the CrockPot, an item every football mom relies on. 

1. Touchdown Cupcakes

2. Pumpkin Bread

3. Baked Apples

4.Three-colored Poached Pears

5. Apple Crisp

6. Roast in the Crock Pot

7. Sloppy Joes

8. Baked Mac n Cheese

9. Baked Acorn Squash

10. Turkey Soup

11. B-B-Q sandwiches

12. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

13. Beef Stroganoff