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
Vegetable beef soup, chili, pot roast with potatoes and carrots, beef stew, ahhh… the comforts of the winter season. Maybe some tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch…apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast….apple cider (heated) on cold nights.
Hot apple cider! I usually add some cinnamon, and if I’m feeling really decadent, caramel and whipped cream.
I love hot soup on a cold day. And hot chocolate. And apple cider. 🙂
Hot chocolate, macroni and cheese, and enchiladas! (Not necessarily at the same time though…)
Beef stew and homemade bread hot from the oven. There’s. Also an apple cake I like to make. It’s my grandma’s recipe.
Chili and corn muffins. Or beef stew and hot crusty rolls. Or soup and grilled cheese. I’m making myself hungry!
On a chilly fall day, I love nothing better than a cup of hot apple cider!
Soup is the best for a cold day. It’s comfort food and easy to fix! Corn chowder and unstuffed pepper soup are my family’s favorites.
Chicken velvet soup( deconstructed from a favorite restaurant).
Hot cider or hot chocolate please 🙂
Thanks for all the great links!
I love a lentil soup on a cold day, it warms me up and fills me up. As for a drink, tea is my fav hot drink, but hot chocolate is a close second.
One of my favorite cold weather comfort foods is green chile stew and cornbread
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup or Chili
Warm chocolate chip cookies and milk. Yum!
Jacques Torres “Wicked” Hot Chocolate! If it’s really cold, and we’ve reached evening or the weekend, there might be a dash of something alcoholic in there too. 🙂 Maybe rum.
http://www.mrchocolate.com/most-popular/hot-chocolate-wicked.html
Starbucks Grande Mocha!
Grilled cheese sandwiches.
Hot Tea.
Vegetable Soup.
Fresh cornbread.
Yes please!
Soup.
Grilled Cheese.
BBQ.
Anything in the Crockpot 🙂
Yum yum!!
Potato/Onion soup with cornbread.
Oh my gosh – loved those photos of the animals playing with the pumpkins and Halloween goodies! Hmm……any of the homemade soups hubby makes, and often with grilled cheese sandwiches!!! (I think his chicken with whatever is the best!)
I like hot tea and hot cider when its cold out!
Well, for a quick warm-up, I go for a good cup of coffee or tea, depending on my mood. But soup is great, too – or stew – and home baked bread.
I’m going to have to go with chili. I don’t like mine particularly spicy and I sometimes serve it over brown rice with shredded cheddar cheese on top.
Split pea soup.
Do you read Pioneer Woman’s blog? She made a pork shoulder roast cooked with Dr Pepper that has become the cold weather go to. Only I put it in the crockpot for a long time………
then there is Irish Coffee, which I start drinking in Nov. It’s a special treat on cold evenings!
When it starts getting cold outside, I tend to make warm beverages when its just me. I have noticed that I start to cook/bake more when it gets colder for my husband and I (this being our second winter together). He hasn’t complained!
I love to make 5 hour stew and Choc Chip Cookies.
Blueberry cobbler all the way!
Cottage pie-yum!
Homemade Sausage Tortellini Soup and a loaf of fresh rustic whole grain bread, slathered with butter. Heaven on a cold night! If I do the soup in the slow cooker and the bread in the bread machine, then I can set them up early in the day, and then when I get home, I can have a bit of a sit & knit in the late afternoon while the house begins to smell so lovely.
Peppermint Mocha is in season now. Makes the morning coffee taste that much better. Yum.
When it gets cold and grey hewre, I go for a big batch of turkey meatloaf and mac and cheese. Two really nice warm treats that can last for a couple of meals. ;D
Pinto beans cooked with ham.
Hot maple tea. Yum!
Like you, I like soup, especially with warm, freshly made dill bread.
i like chili in the crockpot (or on the stovetop). my kids call it three can chili no spice, which i think they mean as a slur but hey…it’s a can of black beans, a can of tomatoes, a can of chicken broth or beer if we have any. i stir in left over rice (or add a handful of uncooked at the beginning) and let them put the seasonings in at the end, since they are so picky. not haute cuisine, but we like it and it means SNOW and FOOTBALL. the fun kind.
I just love chili and cornbread when the fall leaves start to turn and the weather turns cooler! Glad everyone is safe.
Lasagna Soup, Chili, Guiness Stew and hot cocoa. Not all at the same time of course!
My go to food is crock pot chicken and dumplings, yummys!
I think pot roast has to be my favorite cold weather meal!! 🙂
I love chili or spaghetti for dinner. And hot chocolate for dessert!
Blanco Chili Con Pollo – It is a chili made with chicken breast meat, white beans, leek, sweet corn, green bell peppers, all cooked in chicken stock and spiced with Lemon Pepper, Cumin and Garlic Salt. Just before serving squeeze about a tablespoon of Lime Juice into the mixture and serve on a bed of tortilla chips, garnish with grated cheese and sour cream! It is outstanding!
When it’s cold out my family always requests a big batch of homemade
cinnamon buns! We also love homemade soups … can’t wait to try
your suggestions Sheri.
My favorite is Chili with chocolate ladled over a baked potato. Talk about a smile on your face.
Hot cocoa with lotsa marshmallows.
Hot spiced apple cider.
Spaghetti with garlic bread for dinner. Quick and easy. Yummmm!!
Chicken pot pie.
A nice hearty soup or stew that simmers all afternoon on the stove.
I make a 15 bean soup with chicken stock, canned fire roasted tomatoes and shredded chicken. I also love hot cocoa to warm up anytime. My all time go to drink is Earl Grey tea and milk. Gotta go put the kettle on!
I have two go-to drinks for warding off the chill on grey rainy November days. I like a good strong cuppa loose leaf Earl Grey tea or fresh hot apple simmered with a cinnamon stick and cloves. Knitting always helps too.
I love white chicken chili when it starts to get cold outside.
My favourites are white hot chocolate with lots of whipped cream, and a spoon.
Hot coco and fresh bread straight from the oven