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
My family has recently become big fans of porridge. My sister shared a recipe with me after my son stayed the night with her and ate two big bowls the next morning. It’s super easy and wonderfully filling.
Homemade chicken noodle soup
I made some roasted butternut squash and garlic soup last week when I was coming down with a cold – it was fantastic!
I like chicken Alfredo in the crock pot
Homemade-from-scratch chicken-n-dumplings. YUMMY!
One of my favorites is this Rachael Ray stuffed pepper soup: http://www.rachaelray.com/recipe.php?recipe_id=476. Quick and hearty!
My favorite thing to make when it gets cold is Beef and Pumpkin stew but my favorite thing to drink is a tall cup of chaider ( a chai teabag steeped in hot apple cider). Both sssoooo yummy.
Hot mulled apple cider
Oatmeal cookies of course.
White bean and chorizo soup!
chili or beef stew
I like a traditional Irish Coffee with fresh whipped cream. Mmmm.
Chili! or what my husband’s family called a depression (economic, not mood) meal – potatoes and buttermilk. You boil the potatoes, then add onions that have been sauteed in excess butter till they just start to blacken, along with the butter. Eat by dipping a spoonfull into a cup of buttermilk to scoop some of that up with it. My family ate the potatoes with sour cream.
Definitely vegetable soup — homemade of course!
I love potato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches!
Also chicken ‘n wild rice soup!
Yum, might Ned to make some soon.
Have a great day
Soup for me. Either my husband’s chili or the potato leek recipe I got last winter.
hot chocolate preferably with whole milk and Ghirardelli sweet ground chocolate.
I make beef stew in the crockpot with tons of vegetables and then I sit and knit while supper simmers. Mmmmm.
warm apple cider, slowly cooked in my crock pot!
Hot tea and home made shortbread===better late then never, just got power and internet back!
I think I go for soup, too. This week I have planned to make Loaded Baked Potato Soup. Hope the picky kids of mine like it!
We have two favorite soups for cold weather in our house. Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings for the meat eaters, and Stewed Tofu for the vegetarians. Even the meat eaters like the Stewed Tofu.
Chili (or stew) smells good simmering all day while watching it snow///
Potato soup!!!
For a drink, I love hot chocolate or mocha. I love mac and cheese to warm me up, or any kind of creamy soup.
Tea…a steaming mug of hot tea….it it’s near the holidays, maybe some flavored tea, cinnamon, ginger, etc….but my preference is still s good black tea…no milk…
Chili, or navy bean soup and cornbread. (I make a pretty good cornbread, if I do say so myself)
Lasagna or soup!
Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup!
Acorn squash stuffed with roasted tomatoes, garlic, red peppers, chard and a sharp white cheddar cheese.
Potato Pancakes! Made with grated fresh potatoes, chopped onion, an egg and a tiny bit of flour. Serve with Kosher salt…fit for royalty!!!!
Definitely a bowl of chili with some kick to it…add some cheese and I am content. Oh, some red wine and chocolate helps warm me up too!
I love to make green chili with our local brew and have Luis’s homemade tortillas. yum!
Chicken soup!
Terrific giveaway! I thought I was too late, but saw your post today. Yay! My favorite cozy thing to make is baked potato soup or just a nice cup of apple cider. Also, once a year when it’s really cold, a big pot of chili hits the spot!
Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
I make potato soup when it’s blustery outside!
Grilled cheese sandwiches and clam chowder
Steaming chicken noodle soup is a winter winner!
Curry over rice! Yum!!
I love lasagna and baked macaroni and cheese. Walking in the house with the smells wafting throughout the house – yum!!!
MMMMMMM – I like any classic comfort foods like soups, pasta, mac and cheese, grilled cheese….pretty much carbs!!!
Any variety of chili when it starts getting chilly. Once it’s downright cold – hot chocolate – with real milk and marshmallows (for dipping and eating more than as a topping.)
tomato soup and oyster crackers with a grilled cheese sandwich!
Homemade beef stew, or cheddar chees with ale soup – yum, filling and satisfing.
Homemade chai tea latte with lots of foam.
Well my fav is potato leek soup in fact I just had a cup. I came up with this recipe when I was looking for a good healthy alternative for vegans, you would swear it has cream and butter in it.
This is the stove top recipe but you can easily throw it in the crock pot or put the pot in the oven.
4 or. 5 potatoes doesn’t have to be exact that’s what is good about it , cut up
3 or so leeks sliced in about half inch pieces. I usually cut off the tough green parts
2 tablespoons olive oil
Half Bunch of dill or dried. Prefer fresh chopped
Box of vege broth or 2 cans. You can also throw in a vege bouillon
Sauté leeks in oil til soft add rest of ingredients add about 3 to 4 cups water, salt and pepper, I usually add same amount of water as broth. Depending on flavor i may add a tablesppon dried onion or dr bronners seasoning. Cook till soft then chop up with hand blender.
YOu can just as easily throw all into crock pot
You can garnish with cheese, bacon, scallions. I like mine plain. My family likes to dip it with grilled chees. So you could have dinner in about half an hour and a great leftover, I also get asked to bring his to parties. Enjoy
Tomato Soup with grilled cheese.
I make a type of scalloped potatoes with chicken in it that’s a combination of three different old recipes, one from my mom, one from my sister who has passed away and one from a live-in maid/friend years ago. One of them is a chicken/corn tortilla/cheese/onion and special seasonings type of Mexican-ish recipe that I’ve adjusted and the other two are more traditional with chicken/sliced potatoes/cheese/onions, onions, onions/mushrooms and seasonings.
I don’t make it very often but it is definitely a comfort food for a cold evening. I bask in the remembered love of those three as I eat what ends up being a casserole – “their” casserole.