Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

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INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup pumpkin (canned)
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil (can sub with canola oil)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice (add an extra 1/2 teaspoon if you like spice)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp milk
  • 2 cups chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat. Set aside.

  2. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla and egg in a large bowl. Mix until smooth.

  3. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir into the wet ingredients. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir until combined.

  4. Add chocolate chips and stir until combined.

  5. Drop cookies on by the spoonful about 2 inches apart. Add a few extra chocolate chips to the tops if desired. Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean. Allow to cool on pan for 2 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.

    RECIPE FROM IHEARTNAPTIME.NET

November Holidays are Coming!

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With the holiday season right around the corner, I wanted to share a few holidays that you may have considered. 

Day of the Dead- October 31st- November 2nd-

I am going to say it. Have you seen COCO? This day is not the Halloween event in Mexico. It is a day where they honour their deceased family members. There will be events at your local restaurants and you can even search social media for other events. You can create your own ofrenda and put your family members pictures up if you wish.

Sandwich Day – November 3rd- 

Share your favourite sandwich recipes with friends, ask them for theirs or even go support a local sandwich shop.

Book Lovers Day – November 4th-

I am always a fan of a new book to curl up to. Ask your friends for suggestions or possible a book swap for Book Lovers Day!

Veteran’s Day – November 11 (November 10 Observed)

Today is the day that we honour our troops who are still alive and who served our country.  I will be posting an article about areas to go get your veterans days deals in a couple weeks!

World Kindness Day – November 13

This is one of my favourite holidays to share with people. Sometimes we forget that kindness day should be every day. This holiday is a reminder to be a little extra today. I will be buying a coffee for the person behind be today. Pass it forward.

World Diabetes Day – November 14

This is something that has affected our families personally. Here are a few ideas to promote diabetes directly from the World Diabetes Day association.

Support WDD online

  • Share the key WDD messages
  • Promote the WDD website – www.worlddiabetesday.org
  • Promote World Diabetes Day on social media – like, share and retweet
  • Promote the campaign on your website
  • Share WDD resources on your website or social media channels
  • Take a blue circle selfie and share it on social media channels
  • Submit your WDD photos

TOP TIP: Remember to use the hashtag #WDD2018 on all social media posts!

Clean Your Refrigerator Day – November 15

I am definitely taking advantage of this holiday! My fridge needs to be DEEP cleaned. If you like to share things on social media why not post a picture of your amazingly clean fridge once you’re done with a hashtag #cleanyourfridgeday18.  Happy refrigerator cleaning day!

Thanksgiving, November 23

This was probably one of the holidays you were thinking of when I mentioned the holidays are coming. This is a day we can all enjoy our food with family. One of our personal traditions is breakfast instead of dinner. What are some of your traditions? Share them with people and maybe you will learn about theirs too?

Black Friday, November 24

SHOPPING DEALS!!! This has become larger and larger over the years. I am sure there will be specials all over town start looking now!

Cyber Monday, November 27

I personally do not like dealing with the crowds on Black Friday! Cyber Monday is right up my alley and I feel that I get the same if not better deals on certain things this day.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Y’ALL!

Ghost Kabobs

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INGREDIENTS

  • Marshmallows
  • Strawberries
  • Melon (cut into cubes)
  • Kabob Skewers
  • Food colouring marker

INSTRUCTIONS

1. For the marshmallows, use a black food colouring marker to draw a ghostly face onto each marshmallow. (This is a great task for older kids to help with!)  Let the marshmallows dry for a few minutes before using.

2. Wash and cut the fruit into bite-sized pieces.  Add a strawberry, piece of melon and then a ghost marshmallow to the skewer.  Repeat the pattern until you are at the top.

 

 

Eyeball Deviled Eggs

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Ingredients

  • 12 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 pinch celery salt
  • 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
  • 2 drops green food colouring, or as needed
  • 1 (6 ounces) can be sliced black olives, drained

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place all of the eggs into a large pot so they can rest on the bottom in a single layer. Fill with just enough cold water to cover the eggs. Bring to a boil, then cover, remove from the heat and let stand for about 15 minutes. Rinse under cold water or add some ice to the water and let the eggs cool completely. Peel and slice in half lengthwise.
  2. Remove the yolks from the eggs and place them in a bowl. Mix in the relish, mayonnaise, celery salt, mustard, and food colouring. Spoon this filling into the egg whites and place them on a serving tray. Round the top of the filling using the spoon. Place an olive slice on each yolk to create the centre of the eye. Dab a tiny bit of mayonnaise in the centre of the olive as a finishing touch.

 

Recipe from allrecipes.com

Geneva Ghoulfest

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Come to Ghoulfest to see the creepy, kooky, mysterious and SPOOKY at Geneva Ghoulfest on Oct. 27.
Instead of the traditional Haunted House, kids and families can enjoy FREE age-appropriate Halloween movies and FREE popcorn.

Teens, adults, and children with an adult present can watch Happy Death Day (PG-13) at the Geneva Recreation Center or the not-so-scary alternative of Casper the Movie at Geneva United Methodist Church.

The Ghoulfest schedule is as follows:
7 a.m. – noon: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast
5:30 p.m. Parade line-up on Park Street
5:45 p.m. Costume contest (3 prizes)
6 p.m. Parade Step Off
6-7:30: Trunk or Treat in the Depot Lot
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. FREE hot dogs, cookies and drinks at GFD
7:30 p.m. Scary Movie Night begins with Happy Death Day (PG 13) in the Rec Center and Casper the Friendly Ghost at the Geneva United Methodist Church. Movie and popcorn are free.
THROUGHOUT THE EVENING: Scarecrow Selfie Scavenger Hunt. Take a selfie with at least 7 GBA scarecrows to be entered to win a gift card. Take a selfie with 10 scarecrows to get TWO chances to win.

Pumpkin Roll

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INGREDIENTS:

  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup pure pumpkin puree

For the Filling

  • 1 (8 ounces) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle a clean tea towel with powdered sugar. Set pan and towel aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat eggs, vanilla, and sugar until thick.
  4. Add in pumpkin and mix to combine.
  5. Stir in flour mixture.
  6. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until the top of cake springs back when touched.
  8. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off the paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
  9. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  10. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel.
  11. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake.
  12. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour.

Special note:

  • Store prepared Pumpkin Roll in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also wrap tightly in a layer of plastic wrap and then foil and store in the freezer for up to one month. Remove frozen Pumpkin Roll to room temperature one hour before serving.

Recipe from mybakingaddiction.com

Halloween 2018

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Healthy Candy Ideas

According to greatist.com, these are the healthiest candy to hand out!

  1. Hershey’s Special Dark. This classic is easy to love thanks to the antioxidant benefits of dark chocolate. …
  2. Twizzlers. …
  3. Peanut M&Ms. …
  4. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures. …
  5. Tootsie Rolls. …
  6. 3 Musketeers. …
  7. Tootsie Pop. …
  8. Payday.

Best Candy on the Block?

This is the current favorite candy as of last year!

What to do with leftover Halloween Candy make blondies!  Recipe >> Here

Here are some DIY ideas!

Halloween Decorations

Halloween Costumes

Home Made Macaroni and Cheese

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INGREDIENTS

  • 1(16 ounces) box rigatoni pasta
  • 8ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 8ounces Monterey jack cheese, shredded
  • 4ounces parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2cups heavy cream
  • salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Prepare rigatoni noodles according to package directions, but add a good bit of salt to the water. Once cooked, drain but do not rinse the pasta.
  3. Transfer pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add half the cheddar, Monterey jack and parmesan cheeses, as well as the heavy cream. Stir well to combine, season with pepper to taste.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a 9″x13″ casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheeses on top and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.

Grape Jamboree

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55TH GRAPE JAMBOREE

September 29th and 30th 2018

ALL ENTERTAINMENT IS FREE!.

According to grapejamboree.com, “Approximately 1500 acres of grapes are grown in the Geneva, Ohio area.  The grapes are processed into juice, jam, concentrates, or wine.  Specific growing conditions, which exist only in a narrow band from the Lake Erie shore to 10 miles inland, contribute to the success of grape growing in this region.” This is where the Grape Jamboree comes to place. It brings people from near and far. They eat purple cows, if you don’t know what one is you need to try one, enjoy local and fair foods, and even some of the local brewery’s participate for those who don’t enjoy wine.

 

Click here for a link to all activities and events: CLICK HERE

Check out pictures from past year Jamborees here: CLICK HERE

 

Follow the event on Facebook at—— GRAPE JAMBOREE