Halloween Wars

Okay, ways to tell Halloween is near: Halloween stores pop up everywhere, leaves start changing, stores set up the seasonal beer and candy, and advertisements for Halloween specials appear. I am happy to say, a commercial for Halloween Wars on Food Network on Oct. 7th.

So enjoy the upcoming Halloween season, throw up some autumn lights, light some autumn candles and enjoy the magic of fall.

How to Celebrate Fall

Celebrate Autumn

Autumn is finally here, and it is time to get ready to celebrate the season! Here are a few ways for individuals and families to celebrate:

1. Go on an autumn hike
2. Have a family picnic under the falling leaves
3. Go on an early autumn camping trip (before it gets too cold), and take some apple cider and pumpkin bread along for the journey (as well as some sweet potatoes to cook in the fire).
4. Stock up on pumpkins-you can never have enough this time of year.
5. Make autumn treats such as pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, or apple pumpkin pie
6. It's Corn maze and Hayride time! Go find a local corn maze, be it family friendly or spooky and have fun.
7. Go to a football game and enjoy the smell and feel of autumn.
8. Use pumpkins, apples, and autumn foods and leaves to decorate inside and out.
9. Start reading books related to autumn or Halloween, for those with young children, read some great age appropriate books to get them ready for the season.
10. Pack up the family and go on an autumn Sunday drive.

There is so much to do this time of year, so get out and enjoy the beautiful season! Happy Autumn!

Beers For Fall

Autumn Beers

Here is a list of personal favorite beers for autumn, whether cooking or drinking:

• Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Sam Adams Octoberfest
• New Belgium Saison Harvest Ale
• Sierra Nevada Autumn Tumbler
• Pumking
• Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Bruery Autumn Maple
• Dogfish Indian Brown Ale
• Buffalo Bill's Brown Ale
• Pipeline Porter

These are a few I have tried, the first 7 are great for tose who like seasonal flavor, but not super heavy. The last 3 are darker, but still good for the autumn months.

One to add: Blue Moon Caramel Apple Spiced Ale (YUM!)

Season of Pumpkins

Even though it is not September 22, it is officially autumn! Strictly due to the fact that pumpkins are showing up in stores and around town. That's right, Autumn 2012 is drawing near. Also, for those who have not visited a Starbucks recently, the pumpkin spice latte is back along with a box of 5 packets of pumpkin spice mix to make your own pumpkin spice coffee drink. To add to all this, halloween candy is filling up the stores, along with fall magazines, candles, and colors. Even so, for me, the sign of autumn is the sight of pumpkins. Happy Autumn!

50 Ideas for Pumpkins

Pumpkins
50 Creative Ideas

Pumpkin is the official food of Autumn, and it should be enjoyed throughout the season. I have written numerous blogs, recipes, craft, and decorating tips on how to use pumpkins during this season. Here is a list with links (some of which have more than one tip and recipe) of ways to enjoy pumpkins.

Recipes:

1.  Pumpkin Spice Latte (an Autumn Favorite)
2. Pumpkin Coffee
3. Pumpkin Scones
4. Pumpkin Pancakes
5. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin
6. Pumpkin Brownies
7. Pumpkin Soup
8. Pumpkin Sandwich
9. Pumpin Cappucino
10. Pumpkin Bread (seasonalfoodsandweeknightmeals.com)-this is an outstanding recipe
11. Pumpkin Pasta Bake
12. Pumpkin Mac-N-Cheese
13. Pumpkin Pie Stuffed Apples
14. Pumpkin Ice Cream (simply mix softened vanilla ice cream with 2 cups pumpkin pie mix, some cinnamon and a few pinches of brown sugar-optional)
15. Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwich
16. Pumpkin Milkshakes
17. Pumpkin Cupcakes
18. Pumpkin-Cranberry Soup
19. Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffins
20. Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats (mix the treats with some pumpkin pie mix, sprinkle with cinnamon)

Crafty Pumpkin Ideas

1. Candy Bowl
2. Flower Pot
3. Painted
4. Soup Bowl
5. Candle Holders
6. Cornucopia
7. Use tape to make shapes and paint over it, let dry and remove tape
8. Spray paint pumpkins of different sizes and shapes, use them inside and outside
9. Use pumpkins as Place Settings
10. Drill patterns into a pumpkin
11. Create a pumpkin face using food
12. Make pumpkin aliens by placing skewers in a pumpkin with styrofoam balls with eyeballs stuck to them. Use different sizes for effect.
13. Pumpkin Scarecrow



My son found a leaf and traced it and left it in front of the pumpkin for me to celebrate the 1st day of Autumn.

14. Pumpkin Tree-use a sharp tool to make holes throughout the pumpkin, find twigs with leaves large enough to fit into holes

Carving Ideas


1. Pac Man
2. Pirates
3. Jack-O-Lantern
4. Celtic Symbols
5. Snoopy Face (side profile is really easy and cool)
6. A Pumpkin!
7. Owls
8. Witch Face
9. Moons and stars
10. A Haunted Mansion made out of multiple pumpkins
11. The Milky Way
12. Sports Logos
13. "Bob" from Monsters vs. Aliens (super easy to carve)
14. Ghosts
15. "Happy Halloween"
16. Creepy Eyes

These are all ideas, along with craft thoughts, that are simple and fun. All can be found at suite101, hubpages, and soon, autumnglo blog spot. I also have lots of craft ideas for kids making many pumpkin and autumn items on suite101. No matter what, just enjoy some pumpkins during the season.