It’s officially fall and the temps have dipped. This week, we share delicious recipes for delicata squash and our apple spice upside down cake. Also featured this week, the first of many quick and easy Halloween decorating ideas, a garden update and, of course, the bears.
DELICATA SQUASH
Kevin’s sister, Christine, introduced us to this user-friendly squash. It’s makes a tasty side dish, after being part of your fall home decor. You can eat the skin, which is different from some other squash varieties. The original recipe can be found in the link below.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
You will need: two large delicata squash, about one lb. each; two tablespoons olive oil; one teaspoon dried rosemary; salt and pepper to taste.
To prepare:
- Wash squash, split in half. Remove seeds.
- Cut into moon shapes, about 1/2-inch thick.
- Toss with olive oil, rosemary, salt and pepper.
- Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Roast 15 minutes, turn squash over and roast another 15 minutes.
Here is the original recipe from eatingwell.com
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/roast_delicata_squash_onions.html
APPLE SPICE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE
This idea came from a recipe Roy found in Readers Digest many years ago. It makes good use of a cake mix, and adds fruit, so it’s really a health food!
You will need: One spice cake mix and the ingredients listed for preparation: two tablespoons butter; six medium apples, peeled and sliced; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; two tablespoons brown sugar; pinch of salt.
To prepare:
- Melt butter or margarine in pan over medium heat.
- Add apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt.
- Mix well, saute for 5-7 minutes until apples are tender.
- Prepare cake mix according to directions.
- Place cooked apple slices evenly in the bottom of a greased 9″ x 13″ pan.
- Pour cake batter over cooked apples. Bake according to package directions.
- Cool for 15 minutes. Turn cooled cake onto platter.
- Serve with ice cream or whipped topping.
Great warm or cold!
Not a spice cake fan? Works with carrot, yellow or white cake mixes as well. Experiment with different cake and fruit mixes. Chocolate cake and cherries? Share your ideas with us!
PUT ON A HAPPY (OR SCARY) FACE!
We added Jack-O-Lantern faces to these planters by cutting faces out of construction paper and attaching them with double-sided tape for a quick and simple decoration. Funny sidenote: Christmas Poinsettia and 2 Christmas Cacti are shown! Use what you have!
Using the same technique, we decorated this 4-sided lamp and table combo (left) with a variety of faces. Happy accident – when photo was taken of the decorated lamp shade, another panel showed in the mirror.
We cut our Jack-O-Lantern faces out freehand, but you can find templates for them at:
What can you decorate in your home? Use you imagination and share your ideas!
GARDEN UPDATE
This week, the Impatiens (don’t they look great!) and marigolds have had a surprising resurgence, and the shishito peppers just went crazy! Plus, we were pleased to discover our first purple pansy bloom. We grew pansies from seed this year, and blooms have been few and far between. It’s late in the season, but our patio garden continues to bring us food and joyl!
VEGETABLE ART:
Home-grown basil adds dimension to this week’s pepper harvest!
JOKE OF THE WEEK
What did one leaf say to the other? I’m falling for you!
Source: Mytutors.com
THE BEARS
The bears couldn’t wait to play in the falling leaves, so they got into our leaf garland decor (above). Now they are enjoying rummaging through our fall and Halloween clothes!
Enjoy!
Roy & Kevin
Funclesarts 