Happy Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Halloween Fun Fact: Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death. Learn more here.

Scaredy Crackers

Do you want a quick delicious Halloween treat for the weekend?  Martha Stewart has come up with some delicious crackers to make for your Halloween festivities.  Try this recipe, and let us know what you think!  You can learn more here.

Fall Harvest Celebration

Make sure to check out the Fall Harvest Celebration at Aspira.  The event will be this Thursday from 630-830pm.  There will be food, beverages and even a costume contest!

How to Make Saffron Rice Pulao

Normal white and fried rice can get boring as side dishes.  However, there is an indian dish that is perfect for that special occasion.  Saffron Pulao is an specialty that includes one of the most expensive spices in the world Safron.  Keep reading to learn more about the dish and how to make it!  You can learn more at The Kitchn.
Saffron pulao is an elegant accompaniment to your favorite Indian dishes and is traditionally served as part of Indian festival meals. Saffron, being one of the most expensive spices in the world, adds to the mystery and fragrance of this dish. It is definitely a keeper when you want to make an everyday dinner special.

I like to serve this when I have guests coming over and I want something more special than plain steamed rice. I also add lightly toasted cashews and raisins to my pulao, and they add a delicious sweet and nutty element to the pulao.

Pulaos — or pilafs, as they are often also called — can be made with several different ingredients, like seasonal vegetables and meats, and are very regional. The difference between pulao and biriyani is that biriyani is a layered rice dish, while a pulao tends to be cooked all together. Pulaos are also traditional all over the Middle East, and not just the sub-continent.

This saffron pulao can also be turned into biriyani rice by layering it with slow cooked meats, seafood or vegetables.




Saffron Rice Pulao

Makes 4 to 5 cups

1 1/2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter) or neutral oil
5 whole green cardamom pods, lightly smashed but left whole
5 whole cloves
2-inch piece whole cassia bark, broken (or 1 cinnamon stick, left whole)
2 whole bay leaves
1 whole star anise
2 cups basmati rice (do not soak)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
3 cups boiling water
Generous pinch of saffron threads, soaked in a little warm water
Small handful toasted cashew nuts and raisins, to garnish

Warm the ghee in a heavy pot with a well fitting lid over medium heat. Add the cardamom, cloves, cassia bark or cinnamon, bay leaves and star anise and sauté for one minute, until the spices are fragrant. Add the rice and salt, and cook gently for an additional 2 minutes, until the rice is coated with the spices and is aromatic.

Pour in the boiling water and the saffron. Let the water come to a boil, then turn the heat down to just above the lowest setting. Cover the pot tightly with aluminum foil, crimping it at the edges so it forms a tight seal, and place a lid on top. Use oven mitts to do this if the pot rim is hot.

Cook, undisturbed, for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, move the pot off the heat and let it sit for an additional 5 minutes.

Uncover the rice, and fluff it up with a fork. Stir in the cashews and raisins, if using and serve.
Recipe Notes
You can make various kinds of pulao rice dishes using this method for saffron rice. Vegetables would go in just after the spices, and get cooked for a couple of minutes before adding rice. Add a teaspoon of garam masala to the vegetables, and let the spice mix cook out for an extra burst of flavor.
You can also make a sweet version of this pulao (a traditional Mangalorean/ Goan version), which goes brilliantly with spicy food. Instead of adding the salt, add 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar plus a pinch of salt to the rice. Leave out the saffron, and stir in sweet, caramelized onions, toasted cashews and lightly fried raisins at the end. Use ghee for the best flavor.

Avoid Carving the Pumpking

Do you want to decorate for Halloween? You do not need to deal with the mess of carving a pumpkin to have one in your home. There are plenty of options to get that Halloween feel without using that dreaded pumpkin carving knife. Keep reading for some great options on pumpkin decorating. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

There is only so much you can do with grimacing orange jack-o-lanterns. Instead, check out these 25 no-carve pumpkin ideas that are endlessly creative and varied, yet still suit the holiday. Even better: they are easy to pull off, and don't require the motor skills of a top chef.

Above, a black matte pumpkin (seen on Cosmopolitan) is covered in glitter, and is darkly glamorous for the holiday.

1. On trend with metallics and copper, from Suburban Reno.
2. When you are stuck for time, and there are only office supplies on hand, take a cue from A Subtle Revelry.
3. You can channel Lily with preppy Pulitzer pumpkins from Popcosmo.
4. Lovely Indeed channeled string art for this version.
5. Look closer and you’ll realize this image is actually string art as well. FromDream a Little Bigger.
6. Put those thrift store doilies to good use, from Allyson Baker Design.
7. Cross stitch is an easy way to create a pattern. From Elsie Marley.
8. There’s always duct tape, according to Creating Really Awesome Free Things.
9. Better Homes & Gardens suggests stamping as an alternative to carving.
10. Another use for all that Halloween candy you’ll have to buy! From All You.

11. Putting a creepy skeleton mask on a pumpkin is quick and easy (and creepy in this case). From Five Birds on Parade.
12. The DIY Network used both chalkboard paint and silver leaf, because they are fancy.
13. I’m still not over Grumpy Cat, and neither is this pumpkin from Zig Zag Mags.
14. Appropriately bloody little pumpkins from Curbly.
15. Beautifully hand-drawn sugar skulls from Brit & Co.

16. Good lord, these animal-themed versions from Country Living are too cute.
17. As is this vampire pumpkin from All You.

18. Paper N Stitch upped the ick factor with this cat eye pumpkin.

19. Pay tribute to someone you love, with a silhouette project like the one fromOMF Style.

20. Duct tape to the rescue (again)! From Better Homes & Gardens.


21. Aunt Peaches tried her hand at marbleizing, with really beautiful results.
22. If you are feeling artsy, trying your hand at painting. These were done byTaylor Joelle’s mom.

23. Although messy, these drippy pumpkins from The Imagination Tree are pretty neat.

24. Chica and Jo have some serious Sharpie style going on.

25. Danielle made a super glamorous guy in brass and black.

Keep Those Colds Away

Cold season is upon us, and we do not want to get sick. There are many things you can do to prevent colds. Apartment Therapy has put together five tips to keep the colds away. Check out the list below and see what tips you need to add to your routine. 

1. Wash (and dry) those hands (a lot) — Go for both quality and quantity with your hand washing routine. Wash frequently (more than you think you need to) and scrub for at least 20 seconds a pop. Make sure to dry hands completely on a clean towel to prevent immediately picking up more germs with damp hands.

2. Sanitize your surfaces — Everything you touch is a potential germ catalyst so be extra diligent to keep your frequently used items clean, especially if other people are touching them as well. After all, germs can live on many surfaces for up to 48 hours so they have plenty of time to nab you. Your cell phone? It's probably filthy. Your keyboard? Germ factory. Take a few minutes each day to sanitize some key things and you could be saving yourself weeks of sick days.

3. Sleep is your best friend — Just do it. Treat your body right and it'll return the favor. Sleep is the most restorative thing you can do to keep your body functioning optimally so log plenty of sleeping time between the sheets and hopefully you'll wind up logging fewer miserable sick days in bed.

4. Boost your immune system — Keep your defenses in good shape so that the germs you do encounter can be deflected. Reduce stress through meditation (or any way that works for you), try acupuncture which has been shown to boost immunity and think about beginning a regular probiotic routine which can help strengthen your gut and ward off problems. Bonus: My best addictive cold weather habit? Regular use of my nettie pot helps me rinse my sinuses before colds can set in.

5. Stock up on medication (just in case) — Even though you're doing everything in your power to stay well, if you do succumb to a bug, the last thing you're going to feel like doing is making a drugstore run. Keep necessities (and maybe a few extra sick day treats) in the house and maybe, just maybe, Murphy's law will work in your favor for once.

A Morning Breakfast Treat

What is your breakfast routine like?  If you are getting sick of the same food and coffee everyday, we have found a new recipe for you to try.  These baked apple donuts are perfect for fall and will taste delicious with your favorite coffee.  You can find more great recipes at The Kitchn.



What could be better than sitting around a morning fire, listening to the pop and crackle, while dunking an apple cider donut into a mug of spiced tea? Not much in my book. It's the simple act of sharing a special treat with friends that makes this time of year just precious—especially when you're tucking into something so quintessentially "Fall" like an apple cider donut! Here's an easy recipe for a seasonal favorite. No fryer required.

These doughnuts are baked instead of fried. Some purists may argue that these aren't "donuts" at all, merely cupcakes dressed in a ring–shaped form and I wouldn't entirely disagree. However, they are so much fun to eat and very reminiscent of a traditional, fried apple cider donut, that I say bake on!

When considering the preparation of a big batch of fried foods at home, the task just seems too messy and inconvenient for an impromptu morning project. By layering the apple cider flavors into a quick bread and baking them in donut form, you really get a similar effect without the fuss of large quantities of oil. These donuts are also much lighter, yet still packed with spice and apple flavor. After eating them I don't feel heavy and stomach achey as I do after the real thing.

Have you ever worked with a donut pan? Usually found in non-stick, they come in two sizes - mini and regular, they are handy to have on hand for occasions such as this. I used the regular size this time, but I find the mini donut pan to be pretty darn cute. You can pour any type of cake or quick bread batter into one of these and bake according to your original instructions and voila, a round of donuts is born!

Whether you are tired of cupcakes or just want to add some humor and fun to your baking repertoire, I highly recommend experimenting with a donut pan. A tray of these apple cider donuts make for great conversation and delight!

Baked Apple Cider Doughnutsmakes about 8 donuts, depending on size of your donut pan



2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup apple butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons canola oil (plus a little extra for greasing your donut pan)
powdered sugar for garnish

Preheat oven to 400°F and grease a donut pan.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In another large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients (these are all your wet ingredients). Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient mixture and whisk until just incorporated. Don't over-mix! A few lumps are okay; they won't show in the final product.

Spoon the batter into each donut mold until about 3/4 full. Bake for approximately 12 minutes and cool on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with tea, cider or black coffee.