Monthly Musings: Fall/Halloween Fun

 It's the last Thursday of the month and that means it's time for Monthly Musings with Holly and Patty. This month we're talking about Fall/Halloween fun. 


1. I'm not sure that we have that many fall traditions; though one I always enjoy is making apple pies with Alec (recipe is linked in question #3). 



2. We don't really celebrate Halloween at all anymore.  After my boys stopped dressing up and going Trick-or- Treating we had a mini tradition of turning Halloween into a family movie night complete with sugary treats and ice cream. But I'm not even sure if anyone will be home this year since everyone schedules seem to change by the day lately. 

3. Some of our favorite fall recipes include:

Apple pie!  I am pretty particular about apple pie and prefer my mom's recipe (that I once shared here).



Apple crisp.  Apple crisp is a real close second behind apple pie.  I love the crunchy crumbly topping and that fact that it goes together much quicker than apple pie.  When I'm craving warm apple goodness and don't have the energy to  make a pie I turn to apple crisp; but I like mine with extra crumb topping.


Pecan Crusted Chicken. I love the crunch of the pecans with the tender chicken cutlet and that hint of cinnamon just makes this dish perfect for fall!


 Leftover Turkey Pie.  It has become a tradition in our house to make enough extra food on Thanksgiving to make at least 2 turkey pies!  We take all the leftovers from Thanksgiving and layer them into a delicious "pie."  


Chocolate Chunk Butterscotch Blondies.  I stumbled upon this recipe when I found some Boo-ttersctoch M&M candies at Target one year.  They were gone in no time because they were so darn delicious! You could always make them with butterscotch chips instead. 









4. My favorite fall fashion pieces are pretty much all sweaters. I have so many that I love but in the fall I especially look forward to those that are in burgundy, deep greens, oranges, and all those other traditional fall colors. 







5. I just decorated for fall this Monday and put a few little touches in all the main rooms of the house.  I focus mainly on pumpkins and fall colors with a lot of textures thrown in.








6. I like pumpkin spice in some sweets and foods but I'm more of an apple/pecan/ maple person myself.

7. Candy corn is gross... but I do buy a bag each year for Alec who just loves them (and for some reason I do try one each year only to remember that I really do not like them at all). 

8. Since I don't have any favorite fall/Halloween movies this made our Halloween night movie tradition rather tough.  We tried Hocus Pocus and my whole family HATED it.  We tried The Nightmare Before Christmas and didn't even make it 30 minutes. I find When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail to be so boring. We did all enjoy The Adams Family & Ghostbusters though so I guess I'll go with that. 



9. Out of those three I'd pick apple pie (but not just any apple pie-- I am super picky about my pies).  I don't like pumpkin pie ever so  that's not even in the running but a nice fresh, warm cider donut is pretty good too. We have an orchard near us that makes mini ones we all enjoy. 


10. I'd pick bonfire I think.  I hate haunted houses because I am a huge chicken and hate being scared. 

Linking up with: Thinking Out Loud, Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot, Spread the Kindness, 








Comments

  1. Maria RineerSeptember 28, 2023 at 5:09 AM

    The recipes all sound good. I want to try the pecan chicken one and the pumpkin chili. Love the fall touches in your home, too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. HollySeptember 28, 2023 at 7:27 AM

    Ok I just pinned your pecan chicken recipe-sounds perfect for fall- thank you for sharing Joanne! Also lovin' your fall sweaters- so pretty

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dara @ Not In JerseySeptember 28, 2023 at 8:06 AM

    I'm planning to make apple challah tomorrow! I love your sweaters. I happen to love candy corn, lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 28, 2023 at 8:22 AM

      Apple challah??! That sounds wonderful-- recipe please!

      Delete
    2. PamelaSeptember 28, 2023 at 10:59 AM

      Yes, recipe please, it sounds amazing!

      Delete
  4. Good Better Best FoodSeptember 28, 2023 at 8:11 AM

    Oooh, the pecan chicken. I am going to look at the recipe and see if I can adapt to being gluten free. Thank you for joining us again this month.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Julie's Creative LifestyleSeptember 28, 2023 at 9:08 AM

    Joanne, I enjoyed reading your answers. I love all of your sweaters and I will be pinning those recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. PamelaSeptember 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM

    I love apple crisps and crumbles, it's the crunchy topping with the velvety apples that is so delicious. I'm going to try your turkey pie, what are the layers? Love your fall fashion - the colors are so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 28, 2023 at 3:47 PM

      Yes it really is! Our turkey pie isn't always the same since it's made with our Thanksgiving day leftovers. I usually start with a layer of turkey, a bit of gravy, some stuffing, some butternut squash, a bit more gravy, then end with mashed potatoes. We've had years where we've added corn or green beans too (but not green bean casserole; I think the creamy soup would be a bit weird mixed with the gravy).

      Delete
  7. JenniferSeptember 28, 2023 at 11:48 AM

    So many good fall recipes! I'm going to try several...the scones, the chili, the butterscotch brownies and I might even attempt an apple pie. I've only made one in my lifetime and that was at a friend's house while she was teaching a group of us. Walked us through it step by step - ha! I have that striped sweater...and I love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 28, 2023 at 3:48 PM

      Good luck if you try to tackle the pie! I think the hardest part of any pie is dealing with pie crust so sometimes we cheat and buy the premade sheets.

      Delete
  8. NicoleSeptember 28, 2023 at 3:20 PM

    The pecan chicken sounds really good. I'm going to have to try that!

    I do the exact same thing with candy corn. I don't like it but I have to try a couple of pieces just to make sure I don't like it! Although I've been seeing that people say that eating candy corn with salted peanuts is supposed to make it taste really good. So that might be something to try some time!

    And I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like Hocus Pocus. So many people are completely obsessed with it and just based on the trailers it looks too weird and creepy to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 28, 2023 at 3:50 PM

      Yes, I have seen quite a few people mention either peanuts or pretzels mixed with candy corn and I am thinking that salty crunch might be a good pairing.

      My boys were rolling their eyes and complained so loudly through the whole thing! LOL We just did got the hype at all.

      Delete
  9. mvmaithaiSeptember 28, 2023 at 3:41 PM

    Wow, lots of goodies here. I love apple pies, crisps and tarts, but never made the pies. For tarts, I buy the frozen puff pastry, add the apple slices, bake and brush with apricot jam (could be spiked with Grand Marnier or other liquor). Easy peasy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 28, 2023 at 3:50 PM

      That does sound easy and delicious. Thank you!

      Delete
  10. mvmaithaiSeptember 28, 2023 at 3:44 PM

    Have you seen Ryan Reynold's The Adam Project? Great family movie!

    ReplyDelete
  11. NatashaSeptember 28, 2023 at 5:46 PM

    I love how many of us hate haunted houses!!! And yeah, our family didn't love Hocus Pocus either. I am loving all your fall sweaters and now I'm a little more excited for sweater weather to get here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2023 at 8:21 AM

      Thank you! I found reading everyone's responses did make me feel excited to celebrate fall.

      Delete
  12. Tanya September 28, 2023 at 6:09 PM

    I love apple crisp, and you're right...so much easier to make than a pie.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kathrine EldridgeSeptember 29, 2023 at 6:47 AM

    I am now hungry after looking at the apple pie! I'm more of a Christmas gal so I don't do much for this holiday. But I do want to eat all these things you cook for the season. Lol!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2023 at 8:24 AM

      Our fall is pretty low key but our Christmas is too.

      Delete
  14. crackercrumblifeSeptember 29, 2023 at 8:51 AM

    Fall is my favorite!! We are Legend of Sleepy Hollow movie people. We watch it every year. The Disney version and the Johnny Depp one. Lol.

    Haunted Houses scare me too! I am much more of a bonfire person!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 29, 2023 at 10:19 AM

      I've watched both but never thought of those for movie night!

      Delete
  15. mireilleSeptember 29, 2023 at 10:21 AM

    I haven't decorated for fall yet as I am hosting a 50th birthday party here next week and I want the yellow accents to still be up. So it will be on my list to do after our vacation. We used to go apple picking and do other fall things but not so much any more. A favorite though is still hiking.
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne September 30, 2023 at 7:46 AM

      Yeah my boys aren't bit into apple picking or any of that sort of thing anymore either. We do go to the orchard a few times each month but usually just to run in and pick things up.

      Delete
  16. Kim CarberrySeptember 29, 2023 at 12:12 PM

    I don't think we have anything planned for Halloween now that my girls are older. I like the idea of a family movie night though.
    Oh wow! All of that food looks so good and I love your Fall decorations. Your home looks so cosy. x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Tamar SBSeptember 30, 2023 at 8:30 AM

    Now I want some pie!

    ReplyDelete
  18. StephanieSeptember 30, 2023 at 6:52 PM

    Hi Joanne, I really enjoyed reading your monthly musings. Your apple pie looks absolutely delicious, and it may inspire me to bake one myself. Thank you for sharing those wonderful pictures of your treats. Autumn is a wonderful season to bring out all of those cozy sweaters. I adore that burgundy one you were wearing in the picture with your husband. It's very cute! With the weather becoming cooler, we're looking forward to enjoying the firepit a little more. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful post at the Crazy Little Love Birds link party #7. I truly enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lindsay's Sweet WorldOctober 4, 2023 at 1:45 PM

    My MIL makes an excellent apple crisp! I need to get her recipe! Yours looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 4, 2023 at 3:03 PM

      It really is so easy to make! The hardest part is peeling and slices the apples.

      Delete
  20. Memphis BridgesOctober 4, 2023 at 9:17 PM

    I like all your sweaters. I am also going to try that pecan chicken....sounds great for fall!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Heather{Our Life In a Click}October 5, 2023 at 10:12 AM

    Those apple desserts all look amazing. You look great in your cozy fall sweaters! We're going to try the new Haunted Mansion movie, I also love Practical Magic but it's more of a chick flick. I love your fall decor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne October 5, 2023 at 2:14 PM

      I vaguely remember seeing Practical Magic but I don't remember much about it and I know we started watching Haunted Mansion but I can not for the life of me remember if we finished watching it or not...

      Delete

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