fall - Around My Family Table

Chocolate Caramel Candy Corn Cookies

September 25, 2012 · by amft · 19 Comments

Am I the only one that kills time by wondering the aisles at Wal-Mart? Come on…I can’t be the only one. There has to be at least one mom out there that will drag a cranky kid out of the house to aimlessly wander the store to see what’s new. Then I keep wandering until lunchtime so I can pump fussy child full of McDonald’s so that they can have a cheap new toy and make the day all better. (And then fussy child falls asleep on the way home.) Sigh!

I’m not admitting to this behavior, but if I did I might have found two bags of “new to me” candy corn flavors. I’m the only one in the house that truely loves these tasty fall candies, so I just had to buy them. And I’m so glad that I did…they are tasty little gems! Sweet with a hint of caramel flavor. My first thought was that they would be perfect with a little chocolate.

And by chocolate, I mean cookies.

I spent Saturday morning teaching my daughter how to bake cookies. We’ve done it before, but she’s only 8 so we practice baking a lot. We tasted everything, enjoyed some chocolate…ate too may candy corns and smelled the new jar of vanilla. My second favorite smell is opening up a new bottle of vanilla! My top smell…opening up a new can of coffee. Heaven, I tell you. I shared that love with my 8yo as we opened up that new bottle.

As much as I love opening up vanilla, I’ve never actually owned a gourmet bottle of it. I always just buy the stuff at the grocery store or Costco. It’s not bad, but it’s not great either! I think I fell in love when I tried JR Watkins Natural Vanilla over the weekend. It smells and tastes like what I remember vanilla smelling and tasting like when I as a kid.

I think my 8yo ate more candy corns than her little tummy could hold. We hardly have candy in the house, much less candy with dye in it. And she was so thrilled that I let her have a few.

The caramel candy corn went perfectly with the chocolate cookie! A little caramel flavor with a lot of chocolate-y goodness!

I hope you can find these candy corns at the store….

Chocolate Caramel Candy Corn Cookies

4 tbls shortening

1/2 cup sugar

2 large egg yolks

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

16 caramel candy corns

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine shortening and sugar with a wooden spoon. Add in remaining ingredients and continue mixing until until a dough forms.

Scoop out teaspoons of dough and roll into balls Place balls onto prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

Makes 16 cookies.

Bake until edges are firm and cookies are just set, about 12-15 minutes.

Remove from oven; gently press a candy corn into center of each cookie (note: surface of cookies may crack slightly). Cool on sheet for about 1 minute then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.

http://www.aroundmyfamilytable.com/2012/09/chocolate-caramel-candy-corn-cookies/

Disclaimer: JR Watkins send me some vanilla to try. I was not compensated for my review….all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: cookies, desserts, halloween, holidays and activities, thanksgiving · Tagged: cookies, desserts, fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving

12 Fall Food Traditions for Families

September 22, 2012 · by amft · 12 Comments

1. Carve a Pumpkin and save the seeds! I know it’s cliche to say this, but so many people just let their kids color or paint a pumpkin. Come on now, folks. Let’s get our hands dirty and get those kids involved in this fun activity. You don’t have to carve a face…use a Silhouette or Cricut to cut out a fun design, make it religious, make it extra spooky! Just do it! Then roast up those seeds for a tasty treat.

2. Chili Cheese Dogs. The first signs that fall is on it’s way for me is a big ol’ pot of chili. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had chili cheese dogs for Halloween supper. It’s perfect for a cool fall night and quick for that rush to get everyone out the door at sunset.

3. Bobbing for Apples. Apples are pretty synonymous with fall. It’s the perfect activity for kids and adults. It’s fun, but challenging. When was the last time you bobbed for apples?

photo credit: fsa.usda.gov

4. Boo your Neighbors! Package up some of your favorite fall treats, put them in a cute container and then share with your neighbors. It’s a secret though so just leave it on their porch with instructions to Boo another family in the neighborhood. Check out Love from the Oven for all the details and printable ideas.

5. Find a Corn Maze! Check your local farms for fall festivals and corn mazes. They are so much fun and many farms have several…one for kids that are easy and a lot shorter and one for adults. I’ve honestly never done a hard one, but the short ones are fun. Spending 20-30 minutes “lost” in the corn is fun and the kids think it’s a blast.

6. Send a box of Smiley Cookies to far away loved ones. One thing that my kids love is getting a package of goodies from their grandparents. Even if you can’t be with your family for the holiday, send a little love with these adorable cookie packages. They are perfect to surprise college kids that are away from home, cousins that live far away, or your grandkids. Or for an extra special surprise, have kids send a care package of cookies to their grandparents. I have to admit…I wish someone would send me a package….they are soooo good.

7. Sweet Potato Pie. I love sweet potatoes, but the kids aren’t too keen to eating them like I am. So, I make sweet treats out of them…I get the sweet potato flavor and the kids are tricked into thinking it’s pumpkin. <insert evil mom laugh here> I recently found this recipe, from The Baking Pan, that I’m dying to try. Or give the Sweet Potato Pie recipe that I posted a couple years ago a try.

8. Use up the Halloween candy in creative ways. A few days after Halloween, I’m always regretting all the candy lying around. Mostly because I try to eat it. So, many years ago when my oldest was little, I started getting creative with what to do with the abundance of candy that enters our home on Oct 31.

9. Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Ok, I realize this isn’t really food, but it involves a pumpkin and that is a food. Besides, what fall list is complete without it. We never miss it!

10. Take a hike, watch the leaves changing and take a picnic lunch. Fall brings cooler temps here in the desert, so it’s the perfect time to get out with the family and enjoy nature. Pack a picnic and spend some time unplugged with your family. The kids will really appreciate it. Pull out your picnic basket…you know the one you got ten years ago and haven’t used. Now’s the time!

11. Apple Picking. I really wish this was something we could do here in the Fall. Most places around the country have apples falling off the trees in the cooler fall weather. Not here in AZ. Apple time is in the Spring. Still, I added it to the list since it would be one of our traditions if we lived where we could.

12. Have a bon fire. Dig out the fire pits, s’more fixin’s and coffee drinks. Let the kids have a blast making s’mores while the adults sit around drinking all those yummy fall coffees! Janice over at Celebrating-Family some great s’more ideas with family bonding time. And check out Healthy Living How To’s Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Disclaimer: Smiley Cookie send my family some cookies. They were amazing! I shared them with everyone I knew and they all thought they were wonderful! I was not compensated for my review. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: halloween, recipe, thanksgiving · Tagged: fall, family, Halloween, Thanksgiving

Super 6: Fall Centerpieces

October 9, 2011 · by amft · 1 Comment

Filed Under: halloween, holidays and activities, thanksgiving · Tagged: centerpieces, fall, picture

Roasted Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

November 1, 2010 · by amft · 2 Comments

I’ve used my Mom’s Roasted Pumpkin Seed recipe since I was in high school. I’ve never thought to change it up as it is perfect the way it is. However, my cousin called last night asking for a good recipe…of course I sent her that one, but she decided to kick it up a little bit. So, I had to do it too…and boy was it good. I didn’t do exactly as my cousin, but they are still pretty similar. Hope you saved your pumpkin seeds from yesterday’s pumpkin carvings….these are great!

Roasted Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
2 c Pumpkin Seeds
1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
3 tbls butter, melted
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne powder

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Clean pumpkin pulp from seeds, wash, and drain seeds. Shake seeds in collander to remove excess water. Combine everything in a large bowl and mix well to coat seeds. Spread seeds on baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 1-2 hours and stir often (watch for burning). Seeds will get crispy if turned often (and you want them crispy).

Filed Under: appetizers, halloween, snacks, thanksgiving · Tagged: fall, Halloween, holiday, leftovers, pumpkin

Witches Brooms (aka Peanut Butter Cookies on a Stick)

October 27, 2010 · by amft · 13 Comments

Using my Peanut Butter Cookie recipe and a picture from a magazine (I wish I could remember what magazine I saw the picture in), I came up with these treats.

My daughter helped me make these for the kids that would be at my birthday dinner…the kids seemed to like them. The adults thought they were really neat…and I had one server stop by to get a closer look.

Witches Brooms
1 Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe, prepared but not baked
1 bag of large pretzel rods
1 bag of chocolate chips
1/4 bag of butterscotch chips
1-3 tbls shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lay pretzel sticks on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Place about a tablespoon size scoop of dough on one tip of each pretzel. Use a fork dipped in sugar to press the lines onto the cookie (this also presses the cookie onto the pretzel). Pay special attention and make sure the lines on the cookie go the same way as the pretzel (this makes it look like the bristles of the broom). Bake 10-12 minutes, but don’t brown the cookies….remember these burn quickly.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on the pan. After they have cooled a few minutes use a spatula to make sure the cookies aren’t sticking, but leave them on the pan to finish cooling. Carefully transfer to a wire rack with paper towels underneath to catch the drippings.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of shortening (start with a little and add more if you need to). Microwave for 1 minute, stir then continue microwaving and stirring every 30 seconds until the chocolate is melted and smooth. The shortening thins out the chocolate to make it easier to work with. Spoon chocolate onto cookies/pretzels where they meet (see picture).

Do the same with the butterscotch chips, but stir and check after the first 30 seconds and then every 15 seconds since you are working with a lot less chips. Use a spoon or fork to drizzle the butterscotch over the chocolate.

Let sit for about an hour to allow the chocolate to set up.

Makes about 18.

Filed Under: cookies, desserts, gifts, halloween, kid friendly · Tagged: baking, chocolate, cookies, dessert, fall, Halloween, holiday, peanut butter

Pumpkin Pancakes

October 25, 2010 · by amft · 2 Comments

I promised to share some recipes to use up that wonderful pumpkin butter recipe from last week. Everyone loved this easy breakfast and it didn’t take any time at all to whip these bad boys up.

What’s in store for this week….an easy flour-less cookie, a Halloween treat, a special edition of Tip Day Thursday, and my family’s Halloween tradition.

Pumpkin Pancakes
2-3 cups of favorite pancake mix/recipe, prepared per instructions (I used a Bisquick)
8 oz pumpkin butter

Make pancake mix/recipe per instructions (a plain recipe works best here). Mix in pumpkin butter. Cook as you normally would.

**If you didn’t make the pumpkin butter, you can sometimes find it at the grocery store. I saw it at Trader Joes. Or add 8oz plain roasted pumpkin, 1 tbl or so of brown sugar, and then 1 tsp or so of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice (or a combo of all three).

Filed Under: breakfasts, halloween, sweet, thanksgiving · Tagged: breakfast, fall, pancakes, pumpkin

Pumpkin Butter

October 19, 2010 · by amft · 10 Comments

So, you learned how to do just plain roasted pumpkin, but sometimes you just want to have something extra special for gifts or recipes. This is perfect!

When I make my Pumpkin Butter, I actually use my Secret Sweet Spice Blend, but I’m not quite ready to part with that recipe yet, so I’ve given you the next best thing…the ability to adjust the seasonings to your preference. YEAH!

I promise to give you recipes over the next month and half on how to use your Pumpkin Butter.

Pumpkin Butter
pumpkin (mine was slightly bigger than a basketball)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup combo of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cloves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Wash pumpkin, carefully cut in half. Scoop out all the stringy insides (saving the seeds in a separate bowl and discarding the rest). Cut pumpkin into quarters, place cut side down on to baking sheets. Bake for about 1 hour (this really depends on the size of your pumpkin).

Cook on low for an hour and then start mashing with an immersion blender or a potato masher. Continue cooking for a couple hours on low with the lid slightly off, so that some of the extra moisture can escape. Mash every 45-60 minutes. Keep at it for about 4 hours or so. Mash one last time, until you reach your desired consistency, then you can bag for freezing or can it (I can mine, so start prepping my cans about 60-90 minutes before I want to be finished). Tip: Freeze/Can in amounts that you would normally buy pre-canned from the store (16oz, 32 oz, etc)…It will make using it much easier.

**Apparently the USDA has changed their minds and says it is unsafe to can pumpkin. Use your own judgment if you decide to do it. I have been doing it for years and I will probably continue to do it…just wanted to give you all the info.**

Filed Under: canning, halloween, how to, other desserts, thanksgiving · Tagged: canning, fall, freezer meal, pumpkin, scratch, slow cooker

Roasted Pumpkin

October 18, 2010 · by amft · 4 Comments

I love fall. Partly because my birthday is coming up this week and partly because I love the change in the air, leaves, and food.

Usually every October, I buy a couple large pumpkins and make enough roasted pumpkin and pumpkin butter to last through the fall and winter. I use it a lot and give it away to friends and family too!

You don’t have to can it, but I do…you could just as easily freeze it in quart sized freezer bags for when you need it. This week I will focus on how to make these, a recipe to use your new pumpkin butter, Halloween tradition carnival, and my family’s favorite Halloween meal. So grab, some pumpkins and let’s get started….

Roasted Pumpkin
pumpkin (mine was slightly bigger than a basketball)

When you can pierce it with a fork or knife easily, then remove it from the oven. Cool slightly. You should be able to easily remove the outer skin/peel now. Once the peel is removed, chop into large chunks and puree in a food processor (or with an immersion blender or even a potato masher). Once you reach your desired consistency, then you can bag for freezing or can it (I can mine, so I put it in my slow cooker to keep it hot while my canning jars are prepped). Tip: Freeze/Can in amounts that you would normally buy pre-canned from the store (16oz, 32 oz, etc)…It will make using it much easier.

Use this in place of canned pumpkin in any of your recipes that call for plain ol’ canned pumpkin (aka most recipes involving pumpkin).

I will walk you through the pumpkin butter tomorrow. I make both at the same time…I figure, why dirty up the kitchen twice when there is really only one additional step to my pumpkin butter recipe. If you think you might want to make both, go get your pumpkins today and then wait til tomorrow.