Acorn Squash and Sweet Potato Soup

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and a lot of people are looking for new recipes to share at the dinner table. They want something to put in between the turkey and cranberry sauce, something that will brighten up the variety of their Thanksgiving feast. This recipe for acorn squash and sweet potato soup is just the thing for that empty space on their table. It’s bright and vibrant flavors will satisfy anyone’s taste buds. Not to mention the fact that its color is truly the essence of autumn. This dish will have even the pickiest of family members begging for your recipe.

The Ingredients:

• 350 g sweet potatoes
• 1 acorn squash
• 4 shallots
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 3 3/4 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup light cream (heavy cream for a thicker consistency)
• salt & pepper (to taste)

First, you obviously want to preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C. While that preheats cut the sweet potato, squash, and shallot (lengthwise); and then brush the cut sides with the olive oil.

Next, place the vegetables, the cut sides faced down in a shallow roasting pan along with the garlic cloves. Roast that in the oven (after it is done preheating) for 40 minutes, or until the veggies are tender and golden brown.

After that cools, you need to scoop out the flesh of the potato and squash halves and put them in a pan with the shallots. Then, remove the peel from the garlic and add the soft insides into the other vegetables.

Add the broth along with a pinch of salt and bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer partially covered, occasionally stirring, until vegetables begin getting very tender, this should take about 30 minutes.

After it is done simmering, cool slightly, then put it all in a blender and puree until it has a smooth consistency.
Return the soup to the pan and stir in the cream. Season to taste, and let it simmer until it is completely heated all the way through.

It is ready to serve! This dish is a healthy way to indulge your craving for something new during Thanksgiving. Bon Appetit!

Inspired by: veganfeline on food.com

Deep Fried Oreos

The weather gets colder, it's almost Thanksgiving and you don't know what sweet little treats you could make? Here's a sweet and simple recipe that everyone will love, I promise.
Deep Fried Oreos, doesn't that sound awesome? And it's even more tasty than it sounds!

All we need:

At first we make a Funnel Cake dough. At the end it will taste so much better when you use this dough, instead of a pancake mix from the store.

Funnel Cake Dough

1 egg, beaten

2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon sugar 

1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) melted butter

First we're combining the milk, egg and vanilla in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, we'll combine flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar and gradually add to wet ingredients. Then beat with a mixer until a smooth batter forms. Fold in melted butter.

After you made your dough, heat 2 quarts vegetable oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F.

Dip the Oreos in the batter one at a time, and carefully place into the hot frying oil. Fry only a few at a time to avoid overcrowding the deep fryer. Cook until the cookies are golden-brown, this takes about 2 minutes. 

After frying, put the fresh fried Oreos on a plate with a paper towel. Let them cool a few minutes before eating, they will be really hot! But don't wait too long, because they're best when they're still warm. And super tasty with some milk!

Inspired by Allrecipes.com

Fall Leaf Vases

I'm sure most of you have old vases or even mason jars just laying around your house, all covered in dust, doing nothing. Well don't get rid of them! I have the perfect fun fall project for you to add some color to your home! Try these easy Mod Podge leaf vases!
Side Note: If you don't have Mod Podge, mix a little bit of water with some Elmer's Glue, it works just the same. See here for directions on to make it: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Mod-Podge

What you'll need:
Vases or mason jars (as many as you'd like)
Mod Podge
Sponge brush or paint brush
Leaves (real or fake)

Start with finding as many old vases or mason jars as you can around your house. If you'd like, you can even go to your nearest dollar store or craft store and find a few if you don't have any. If you are using silk leaves, make sure to de-stem them. Also, if you do not have any leaves, its a fun idea to even use tissue paper.

*Tip: Make sure you complete this project on a clean surface, but one that is not afraid of getting some glue on it; this can get a bit messy*


If the snow hasn't flown yet, you can go outside and pick a few leaves off the ground. Preferably ones with a little color, and ones that are not broken but still have their full leaf shape and form.

Because we are late into the fall season, the leaves are going to be a little crunchy and fragile, so it will be hard to glue them to the jar. Run them under some warm water to soften them so they are flexible enough to wrap around the jar. This makes it easier to glue; they don't snap and fall apart on you. Let them air dry, but not too much; you want them damp, not dry.

On a newspapered surface, take your Mod Podge and leaves and sit down with your vases and/or jars, first you're going to want to layer a heavy amount of glue on one section of your vase or jar, the size of one of your leaves. Place one leaf on the glue, and immediately brush another layer of glue on top of that leaf, and try your hardest to lay down the edges. It can be difficult at times, just have some patience. And sometimes they will just not lay down, it's okay--a natural look will be interesting!

It is up to you whether or not you want to cover the whole vase or not with your leaves. I believe it looks better with some of the glass showing through, but do make sure you cover the whole thing with Mod Podge so it gives the vase a matte finish when it dries and a nice glow tint when you put a candle in it.

Last but not least, let it dry! This will be your finished product, and if you'd like, you can wrap some twine around the top to give it a rustic look. It gives your home a fall look too. It definitely adds color! So when you're cleaning your house and stumble across a bunch of old vases or mason jars, don't get rid of them, have a little fun and put them to good use!