Candy Corn and Pretzel Bark

Directions

1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment, leaving an overhang. Spread 8 ounces melted white chocolatein the prepared pan and sprinkle with 1 cup miniature pretzels, ½ cup candy corn, and ⅓ cup dried cranberries.
2. Chill until firm. Remove from the pan and break into pieces.

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/candy-corn-pretzel-bark-00000000042318/index.html

Sugarcane, trees and pampas grass.

Halloween Peanut Butter and Toffee Candy Bar.

1 pound bittersweet chocolate chips
3 2.1-ounce Butterfinger candy bars, cut into irregular 1-inch pieces
3 1.4-ounce Skor or Heath toffee candy bars, cut into irregular 3/4-inch pieces
8 0.55-ounce peanut butter cups, each cut into 8 wedges
1/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts
3 ounces high-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina), chopped
Reese's Pieces and/or yellow and orange peanut M&Ms

Line baking sheet with foil. Stir chocolate chips in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted and warm (not hot) to touch. Pour chocolate onto foil; spread to 1/4- inch thickness (about 12x10-inch rectangle). Sprinkle with Butterfinger candy, toffee, peanut butter cups, and nuts, making sure all pieces touch melted chocolate to adhere.
Put white chocolate in heavy small saucepan. Stir constantly over very low heat until chocolate is melted and warm (not hot) to touch. Remove from heat. Dip spoon into chocolate; wave from side to side over bark, creating zigzag lines. Scatter Reeses Pieces and M&M's over, making sure candy touches melted chocolate.
Chill bark until firm, 30 minutes. Slide foil with candy onto work surface; peel off foil. Cut bark into irregular pieces.

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Halloween-Peanut-Butter-and-Toffee-Candy-Bar-361189?mbid=ipapp

Falling Leaf Fizz.

Ingredients per cocktail:

1 part Grey Goose La Poire (pear-
flavored vodka)

1 heaping teaspoon pumpkin
butter

Pinch of pumpkin pie spice

Dash of simple syrup

4 parts of sparkling wine

Garnish: dried apple chip

Prep

Place vodka, pumpkin butter, spice and syrup in the bottom of a Champagne glass. Stir well.
1. Top with sparkling wine and garnish

http://www.letsentertain.net/lets_entertain/2009/10/fridays-fall-cocktail.html

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Truffles.

Ingredients

---

• 2½ cups white chocolate chunks 
• 1/3 cup gingersnap cookie crumbs, plus more for garnish 
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin purée 
• 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs, plus more for garnish 
• 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar 
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest 
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• Pinch of fine salt 
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened 
• *I added some chopped walnuts to sprinkle on top! 

How to make it

---

• Melt 1/2 cup of the chocolate in a double boiler over medium-low heat or in the microwave for about 1 minutes.
• Stir often to keep the chocolate from burning.
• Transfer to a large bowl.
• Add gingersnap crumbs, pumpkin, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, zest, cinnamon, salt and cream cheese and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
• Transfer to a shallow bowl, cover and chill until just solid enough to roll into balls, about 2 hours.
• Line a large sheet tray with parchment paper.
• Melt remaining 2 cups chocolate and transfer to a small, deep bowl. Roll 1 heaping teaspoon of the pumpkin mixture into a ball in your hands, then drop into the chocolate.
• Working quickly, gently spoon chocolate over to coat.
• Using a small spoon or fork, lift the truffle out of the chocolate, shake off excess and transfer to prepared sheet tray.
• Dollop a bit of extra chocolate on any parts that remain exposed, then sprinkle a few gingersnap or graham cracker crumbs over the top, if you like.
• Repeat process with remaining pumpkin mixture and chocolate, then chill truffles until chocolate is completely set, about 1 hour.
• ***You could add a few tablespoons of Pumpkin Liqueur or rum to the cream cheese before rolling for a more "adult" flavor... These would look great in any gift basket!

http://www.grouprecipes.com/76852/cream-cheese-pumpkin-truffles.html

Caramel Apple Cupcakes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 apples, shredded
• 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla, divided

Caramel Icing ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2- 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 16 caramel candies

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12 cup) cupcake pans with 18 cupcake liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs together until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Add flour, milk, oil, shredded apple, baking powder, and vanilla and beat for another minute, just until the batter is smooth and creamy. Don't overbeat. Pour batter into the prepared cupcake pan(s).
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick poked into the center of the layer comes out clean.
4. To make icing, melt butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Add milk and continue stirring until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and allow mixture to cool to room temperature. Pour cooled mixture into the bowl of a mixer and add in sifted confectioners sugar and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until mixture comes together and is creamy.
5. Allow cupcakes to cool before icing. Ice each cupcake with about 2 tablespoons of icing and top each with one caramel candy.

Preparation Time:

20 minutes

Servings:

18

Hate the mess you make when filling cupcake liners? Pour batter into a measuring cup. The spout will make filling the cupcake liners easy and mess-free.

http://recipes.kaboose.com/caramel-apple-cupcakes.html

Happy Autumnal Equinox.

Autumn by rad-ix.

http://www.designer77.com/2010/09/absolutely-awesome-autumn-art/

The Autumnal Equinox is almost here. It falls on September 23 this year. I sound like Dr. Seuss. lol

My Black Hat Society Sign.

Justine, Here is the pic of the sign. I will send the e-mail soon. :)

September's Full Moon.

September's full moon is almost always referred to as the Harvest Moon. It can also be called the Barley Moon and Corn Moon. I hope everyone enjoys the night sky and the beautiful Harvest Moon. :) 

Autumn is almost here. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/slightclutter/3140063748/

Preparing for Tropical Storm Lee.

Hopefully, it won't be too bad.

Ninth by Peter Murphy (Vinyl)

I'm a vinyl junkie. :)

Birds and Blooms Magazine.

The Magnolia and the Moon. :)

I took these photos this evening.  The Magnolia tree is showing signs of Autumn. It will be here very soon. :) I hope to take photos of the Magnolia tree in the daylight, tomorrow.

Welcome September.

http://weheartit.com/entry/14099974