It’s Here! Fall has officially begun. Though it is still warm here with temperatures in the mid to high eighties, the nights are nice and in the seventies. It is time for beautiful colors, everything Apple and Pumpkin, festivals and Halloween.
This month I decided to have a big festival of my own right here on the blog. You don’t even have to leave home. I have an author a day telling us about tricks and treats, their books and a big giveaway! I have authors from every genre both LGBTQ and M/F. We have shifters, Mermen, vampires, horror and more so read to the bottom to the rafflecopter to enter.
I am getting out my fall dishes this week, though I miss Kira’s help. She loved helping me decorate though she always questioned why I had so many dishes, she always insisted on being there to help me switch over when she was smaller. Te last couple years my daughter helped but she moved last year so its back to me. Maybe I’ll talk Drake into taking over the tradition until Annalise is old enough. Hopefully this week I’ll find some mums for my porch and patio and get my scarecrows out in the yard.
I am also planning my Halloween meal and treats for this year as well. This is one of the ideas Kara and I are thinking of trying if I don’t just put my treats in cardboard tubes and wrap in Halloween paper as usual LOL https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341569952972904777/ Of course ill do the Dumbdum ghosts for the babies as always too. I am not sure about yard decorations. I wanted three skeletons on haybales but not having luck on finding big enough skeletons I can afford.
My apple trees put off good this year. I have made several fresh apple cakes and have enough for at least one more. The recipe is very simple yet delicious.
Cat’s fresh apple cake
4 cups of chopped apples (cooking apples that are harder are best like granny smith. I peel mine)
I cup of firmly packed brown sugar ( i use a little extra)
2 cups all-purpose flour
Two teaspoons baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs beaten
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tsp of vanilla extract, almond, rum or caramel are also good (if I use any I usually do the caramel or rum or butter-pecan
1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Preheat oven to 350. spray a 13 by 9 baking dish or a bundt pan liberally with cooking spray. I use the buttery kind. ( you can do the old fashion grease and flour if you wish. I line up and measure all my ingredients. I chop my apples and put in a little water with lemon( be sure to drain before adding to cake mix. Mix sugar and egg until light and well blended. Add soda, salt, oil, and cinnamon. Mix just until mixed in. Add apples and lightly mix. Now add flour. If adding nuts toss in now. I know this sounds like a weird order but you don’t want to mix the apples so much you break them or the batter so much you make it tough. Pour the batter in the prepared pan and bake 45 minutes or until it springs back to the touch. You can use the toothpick method to test as well. Serve warm with ice cream or you can top with a dusting of powdered sugar (best done on individual servings, not entire cake) or a glaze. We like ours plain.
Now for the Giveaway! I am so excited about this. I have a guest every day starting yesterday so you may want to go back and read her post. https://cathybrockman.com/2019/09/29/oh-oh-oh-its-magic-autumn-magic-mysticdesire-anthology/ Alice is giving away a free digital copy of her new release Music for a Merman, a sexy shifter/fated-mates/cop-protester romance! That is just one of the awesome prizes. I will personalize a bag to fill with all the great print books you can win. Here is a list of the goodies. So check in each day to leave a comment ( do it through the rafflecopter to be counted) The more of the other things you do the more entries you get. This runs all month so you don’t have to fill it out in one day since it is pretty big. Have fun!
Grand prIze package
Personalized bookbag by Cathy Brockman
$20 Amazon Card from Shannon Nemechek
Print book by Belle Scarlett, Kate Hill, Macy Blake, B a Tortuga
Signed books by Kryssie Fortune Gabrielle Faust
ebook of Titania Acedemy by Samaire Provost
Individual prizes (21) 10 dollar card Tara Lain and SJ York
$5 Amazon Cards--Trevann Rogers Christna Lynn Lambert Misty Harvy Meredith Bond V.L.Locey Stacy Turner Danita Mannis Arc by Shannon Nemechek
Audio book By Leona Bushman
Halloween Necklace fromKatherine Eddinger Smits
Pendulum from Judi Pillips
Scary Soap Gift Basket From Wednesday Lee Friday
Ebooks from Rick R, Reed, Flossie Benton Rogers, Brenda Sparks, Sean Michael, Samaire Provost (2)Alice RenaudAre you excited about fall? Do you decorate?