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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Classic pumpkin roll recipe

Classic pumpkin roll recipe_3

Pumpkin rolls are a classic fall dessert that everyone goes crazy for. This homemade pumpkin roll recipe will give you the most deliciously moist spongey spiced pumpkin cake with dreamy cream cheese filling rolled up inside. These rolls might look difficult, but don’t let that perfect swirl intimidate you. It’s actually quite simple! Just follow these easy directions and you’ll master this must-make dessert in no time. Classic Pumpkin Roll Ingredients For the pumpkin cake: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground allspice 1/4 tsp salt 3 eggs, room temperature 2/3 cup pumpkin puree (I like to use Libby’s) 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar For the cream cheese frosting: 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature…

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Seasonal

Why we give candy to kids on Halloween

Why we give candy to kids on Halloween

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend approximately $2.6 billion on Halloween candy this year — that’s a lot of Skittles, Starbursts, and snack-sized candy bars. But as you’re buying bags of goodies to giveaway, you may wonder how this sweet tradition got its start. Well, the answer isn’t totally clear, but let’s shed a little bit of light on this dark holiday. Many scholars think that Halloween can be traced back about 2,000 years to its roots as a pre-Christian Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”), which means “summer’s end.” The festivities, usually held around Nov. 1, were a celebration of the end of harvest season and the beginning of darkest days of the year. Because the ancient records surviving to this day are largely incomplete, our understanding of the holiday isn’t fully understood. But Samhain is also thought to have been a time for the spirits…

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Seasonal

20 sweet ways to use up leftover Halloween candy

20 sweet ways to use up leftover Halloween candy

Extra large haul this year? Fewer trick-or-treaters than you expected? Whatever the reason, come November 1 you may be left with a lot more candy that you counted on. Here are 20 ideas for what to do with all that candy: Donate it Get it out of the house. 1. Make care packages for grandparents or great grandparents If older relatives don’t have heaps of leftover Halloween candy of their own, send them a care package with some candy, a card, and add a printed picture of the kids (or your pets) in costumes. They would surely appreciate your thoughtfulness. 2. Donate it to the troops Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops will send it to deployed troops around the world or distribute it to veterans in VA Hospitals across the country. Operation Shoebox will pack up your candy and ship it to troops overseas. And Operation Gratitude will send it to…

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Seasonal

12 fun facts you never knew about pumpkins

12 fun facts you never knew about pumpkins

Nothing says “October” more than a beautiful, orange pumpkin, but this most beloved symbol of fall is hiding some fun little secrets. Think you know everything there is to know about these great big gourds? Here are 15 fun facts you never knew about pumpkins: 1. Pumpkins are fruits, not vegetables Fruits are considered to be the part of the plant that has seeds on the inside. By this definition, a pumpkin is definitely a fruit. They’re a member of the gourd family, which includes other fruits like watermelon and winter squash. 2. Pumpkin pie wasn’t served at the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving Despite our modern day obsession with pumpkin pie this time of year, it was no where to be found at the original Thanksgiving feast of 1621. Pilgrims wouldn’t have had butter or flour for making pie crust, let alone an oven for baking. Some historians speculate that the pilgrims…

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Seasonal

The best apples for eating fresh

The best apples for eating fresh

It’s fall and apples are everywhere. If you’re tempted to stock up while they’re in season, think first about how you’ll use them. Will you be baking? Making applesauce? Or do you prefer to eat them fresh, right out of your hand? If it’s the latter, here’s a list of delicious apple varieties you should try. Tart Apples These apples are best if you’re not looking to satisfy a sweet tooth. Braeburn Available: Mid-to-late October Braeburn are a great all-purpose apple, but their sweet and tart taste and crispy bite make them perfect for eating fresh. Cortland Available: Late September Cortlands originated in 1898, and they’re still as popular as ever. Their white flesh is juicy and tart, while still offering some sweetness. Goldrush Available: Late October Goldfish doesn’t easily brown, making it a great pick for snacking or salads. They also store well for up to seven months. Granny…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Pumpkin pie with a pecan sandy crust

pumpkin pie with pecan sandy crust

How do you make a Thanksgiving classic pumpkin pie even better? Replace your basic pie crust with this delicious pecan sandy cookie crust instead! Pecan candies bring a delicious buttery, nutty goodness to everyone’s all-time favorite holiday pie. The unexpected twist adds some mild fun without upsetting the pumpkin pie purists. Note: Process cookies in a food processor or place cookies in a  zip-top bag and crush with a heavy rolling pin.  Pumpkin pie with a pecan sandy crust For the crust:  2 cups pecan shortbread cookie crumbs (about 1 package of Keeblers Pecan Sandies or 20 cookies) 5 tbsp melted butter 1/4 tsp salt For the pie: 3/4 cup sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground ginger 2 large eggs 1 can (15 ounce) pure pumpkin puree (Libby’s 100% pure pumpkin is my favorite) 1 can (12 fl. ounce) Evaporated Milk…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Homemade pumpkin pie spice blend

Homemade pumpkin pie spice blend mix

Do you know what’s in that pumpkin pie spice blend you purchased? Chances are, if you’re a fan of pumpkin spice, you might have some idea. But I’m here to convince you that making your own is the way to go. Here’s why: You’ll save money Spices don’t come cheap. Buy the good stuff, and you’ll be plunking down $5-15 for just a few tablespoons of various spices, and more if the spice is labor intensive to grow or harvest. But you’re buying pre-mixed spice blends, you’re choosing to spend more on spices than you even need to. You’ll get much less product, for way more money, and that mix is so highly specialized, it’s way more limited in use. You’ll save space Most spice blends are made from your basics. You’re probably already equipped to make pumpkin spice (and many other spice mixes) simply by having a reasonably well-stocked…

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News Bites

The most popular Halloween candy in every state

The unhealthiest Halloween candies

This year, American households will drop about $2.6 billion on Halloween candy, according to the National Retail Federation. If we’re going to shell out that kind of cash, it might as well be on candy the kiddos actually want, right? Well, thankfully Candystore.com has taken the guesswork out of what to buy. Researchers at the online bulk candy retailer analyzed 12 years of sales data — particularly those sales in the weeks leading up to Halloween — to determine which candies are most popular. Of course, preferences may vary depending on where you live. Source: CandyStore.com. So what do you think? Do you agree with your state? America’s Top 10 Halloween Candies If we blur state lines and just take a look at America’s favorites as a whole, you might be surprised! Skittles Reese’s Cups M&M’s Snickers Starburst Candy Corn Hot Tamales Tootsie Pops Sour Patch Kids Hershey’s Most Halloween…

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Crave-Worthy Recipes

Old-fashioned caramel apples

Crisp fall apples, bathed in delicious, gooey caramel — it’s a Halloween delight you simply must make this year! The good news is that they’re super easy to make and tons of fun to personalize. Dip them in crushed nuts, candy or Oreos then decorate with drizzles of white or milk chocolate.  The combos are endless. These goodies will rival those fabulous gourmet caramel apples you see in candy store windows — but you can enjoy them for a fraction of the cost. Make them as favors for your Halloween party or as a sweet treat on Oct. 31 for the whole office. Classic Caramel Apples Recipe Ingredients 8 large tart apples (I like Granny Smith) 1 cup butter 2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 2 tsp vanilla extract What you will need 8 wooden chopsticks Candy thermometer 8 fun straws…

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Seasonal

These states are the most obsessed with pumpkin spice

These states are the most obsessed with pumpkin spice

Pumpkin spice products have been available for several weeks now, but according to new data from Grubhub, it looks like most Americans prefer to wait until fall actually starts to enjoy these festive fall treats. The new data shows which states order the most pumpkin foods and when the popularity of these products spike. To conduct this analysis, the popular food delivery service looked at orders each fall month, then compared them to the rest of the calendar year. The analysis found that October is peak month for pumpkin and pumpkin-spice-flavored goods, with 118% more orders than usual levels. November comes in second most popular month for these products, with 92% more orders, and September is the third most popular month. These findings vindicate all those who argue that pumpkin spice offerings should be kept out of August — it turns out, we’re not really buying the stuff in the…

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