Thanks to those of you who have checked in via email and comments, to let us know that you are ok, despite this massive storm that has moved through your area. We continue to watch the news and are thinking about all of you. What a storm. 🙁
Since today is Halloween, I decided to share some fun blog posts from other people! These are some of the blogs that I read regularly, and don’t share them often enough with all of you. (And then scroll to the bottom of the post for a chance to win a treat from us!)
Want to see how some zoo animals react to pumpkins and masks and other Halloween celebrations? (I like the baby Cheetah trying to hide behind the pumpkin. Although the monkey and mask is cute, too.)
Here are some cute dinner ideas. (I like the Rice Krispie Candy Corn Cupcakes and the Mummies in a Blanket.)
My favorite food blog is the one my dear friend Monica writes. You might want to check out her:
Whole Grain Maple Pumpkin Spice Donuts (good any time this fall)
Overnight Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (and her other flavors of overnight oatmeal)
Hot Spiced Drinks (yum – hot apple cider!)
Maple Pumpkin Spiced Lattes (made in your slow cooker)
Baked Potato Soup (can also use leftover mashed potatoes. I made this last winter and it’s delicious.)
Of course she has tons of non-fall recipes, too. Check her recipe index.
Check out the Halloween Hay Bales, all dressed up for the holiday. (Mummy – ha!)
Free printable pumpkin carving patterns.
Last minute quick-and-easy costume ideas. (I can’t pick a favorite – several of them cracked me up! But Ceiling Fan? Love that.)
Creepy music to download for free.
Since we don’t get to go trick or treating with our own candy bag any more, we thought we’d put together a bag of treats for one lucky winner! (Shown here, $60 value.) If you’d like a chance to win, just leave a comment below and tell us your favorite food or drink that you make (or buy) when it’s cold and rainy and blustery and you just need something warm and wonderful. I tend towards soup when it’s cold outside. Even better if I can make it in the slow cooker so that it’s ready and smells wonderful when I get home from work. I have a few favorites. Wild Rice and Chicken Soup, Lasagne Soup, Cheddar Chowder, and Cold Weather Chili. Even better with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on the side. So what is your go-to food when it’s cold and you need something that warms you up? We’ll randomly draw a winner next week!
Sheri wishingIhadleftsoupintheslowcookerfordinnertonight
I also love soup. In particular, soup with BEANS in it! And I love hot apple cider, straight from the jug with no spice added. And hot tea! Ohhhh, I love cold weather SO much!
I made chili in the crockpot this last weekend. I topped it with cheese and sour cream. Yum! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love beef barley soup with good bread. There’s a great beef barley soup recipe in Ellie Krieger’s Food You Crave cookbook that’s pretty healthy too.
Chili and hot chocolate!
Hi Sheri! Thanks for the suggestions! What is “Lasagna Soup”?! It sounds really good! My go to lately has been hot tea!!! I love ice tea in warm months but hot as soon as fall hits! I have been drinking “Yorkshire Tea” lately. It’s an English tea and kind of strong, almost bitter if you let it steep too long. I also have an organic English Breakfast tea from Tea Forte that is very good. Soup would have to be homemade vegetable soup!!! Hope you enjoyed your Halloween!
I like to drink hot chocolate and eat gingersnaps
Oh my gosh! I have just been reading some of the other posts! I am getting lots of really good ideas and recipes from here!!! Thanks everyone!
Tea, coffee, or some cheesy soup are always winners to me!
Homemade soup or chili. Just made some Harvest Turkey soup this week.
Chili is always a wormer upper. Made with ground round or chunks of chicken, chili with a little “heat” is my favorite.
Mountain soup. 🙂
David Rio Orca Sugar Free Chai with almond milk…warm and sweet and wonderful!
I love crock pot cooking when it gets chilly. One of my faves is called Peasant Stew. It has chixken thighs, onions, peppers, chilies, several kinds of beans…’maters and spices. Chicken falls of the bone when done. Top with cilantro and soir cream. Mmmmmmmmm. “t’s a Cooking Light recipe if interested.
Venison stew makes me happy on a cold or rainy day.
pumpkin spice cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting!
I love to stop at Starbucks and get a pumpkin spice latte!
chicken tortilla soup to eat. pumpkin empanada with coffee or hot apple cider by itself!
I make Lasagna alot. I make three at a time. (freeze one, give one away to our sons family).
Split pea soup with crusty bread on the side!
Chicken and dumplings! Yummy.
I love Vietnamese pho soup on cold days!
Homemade soup is a good one. Homemade chili with cornbread is another. I also love to whip up some pumpkin bread to have with tea or hot cider. It makes the house smell so good.
Chili and ‘mommy’ cider!!! Oh man, I want some now:)
Buffalo soup and frybread with hot coffee or tea.
There’s nothing like hot apple cider when it’s cold. Followed by a steaming bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Yum!
I love my veggie white bean soup, but if it’s really cold and nasty, I have to vote for a mug of hot chocolate.
I love to have soup as well. My favorites are taco soup and Campbell’s Roasted Garlic and Potato soup. Or if not soup, I like Stroganoff spooned over a baked potato.
I’ve just made some Squash and Apple soup that I had at a “knitting friend’s” house. Just a little curry and YUMMMM!
I tend to go for chili or things made with chili. Chili mac, or chili pie are good, too. And really, other kinds of soups are great. I made a “what’s in my fridge” version of chicken soup the other day that is SO good! I’ll pack up and freeze what’s left tomorrow night.
I love butternut squash soup when it’s cold outside. Thanks for the blog post–so many great foodie ideas!
Pumpkin soup, cooked in a slow cooker is the best!!!
Since I live in Texas, it’s only cold one month of the year, and I use that time to indulge by drinking hot chocolate.
Sweet potato maple muffins.
Holy moly, there are a lot of comments here! I just made my favorite soup last weekend: Italian Sausage/Tortellini soup. With a salad and some great French bread it’s sooooo yummy and a good, sturdy soup. Mmmmm..mmmm…good!
My family loves beef stew on a night like this.
Definitely chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles and homemade focaccia. Actually, any kind of homemade bread is perfect when it’s cold because the oven warms up the house while it is baking!
Chicken pot pie is the best comfort food ever.
This sausage and apple pie is my favorite cool weather meal. Love! http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/apple_and_sausage_pie/
We love soup and it’s hard to pick a favorite, but probably broccoli cheese. And in the “bought” category, Panera’s mac and cheese!
And how nice of you to have a treat on Halloween.
Macaroni and cheese. Gluten free noodles of course.
Chicken and noodles with my homemade noodles. Now that I am low carb, this is something I really miss!
I found a slow cooker risotto recipe on Pinterest last winter that is now one of my very favorite cold weather dishes. It is the easiest risotto ever and truly delicious! Hmmm…maybe I’ll have to make some tomorrow now…
My favorite is this home-made chicken noodle soup with rotini noodles and veggies that my husband makes. Mine just isn’t as good. I love to eat Cheez-Its in it instead of crackers. Yum!
Beef stew if with my mom or lentil soup if I am with my vegetarian sisters.
Had my favorite tonight. Put today was perfect for tonight…cold and damp.
I have two favorites I like to make when it gets cold: vegetable beef soup and chicken and dumplings.
My favorite comfort food in cold, snowy weather is Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup with lots and lots of crackers. Maybe a cup of tea and a cookie afterwards.
Hi: Two favourites: Campbell’s Tomato soup made with half milk and half water plus at least 10 saltine crackers, and Healing Cabbage Soup (search on all recipes–so easy and absolutely easy and delicious). Either one with a)make me remember my mother making me tomato soup on a cold Canada winter day,or b) learning that it is okay to take time to take care of myself by making a delicious batch of healing cabbage soup. A pair of nice wool socks (handmade of course) my fleece underwear, which I wear like sweatpants in the house, and a nice fleece long sleeve top. all set.
Roasted potato soup! It’s just nice to cook soup now that there is a chill in the air.
Right now I am existing off leftover slow cooker pot roast with carrots and a rustic potato soup that has kale, sausage, and potato. Sooooo Yummy!
My go to soup is tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches. Quick and simple! Or ham & beans with fried potatoes and onions & cornbread. Or chili. Or potato soup.