Hot Spiced Apple Cider * Classic Recipes * Food & Drink

The weather outside if frightful. I cannot believe the massive snow storm that has hit Buffalo New York! There is plenty of snow swirling around the country this weekend including here at our home. We are expecting 1-2 feet of snow over the weekend.
With the beautiful chilly snowy weather I like to cozy up with a hot drink. Fall and Thanksgiving are the perfect time for a nice mug of hot spiced apple cider. I hope enjoy this classic recipe from our recipe box.

The Best Hot Spiced Apple Cider

• 1 gallon of fresh pressed apple cider
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 3 sticks of cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground nutmeg
• 2 whole nutmeg
• 1 bit of cloves (more if you prefer a stronger clove flavor)
• Zest of one orange
• Fresh apple for garnish

In a large stock pot add apple cider. Bring to a simmer. Add fresh nutmeg, cinnamon, whole nutmeg, clove, cinnamon sticks and orange zest. Allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes to blend spices into the apple cider. Slice apples into thin slices. Garnish each mug of spiced cider with freshly ground cinnamon, nutmeg and a slice of fresh apple.  

SWEET TIP: If you are hosting a party and need to keep the Hot Spiced Cider add your ingredients to your crock pot/ slow cooker to simmer.

For a party spiked Hot Spiced Apple Cider add 1 cup of dark rum to the mix.

Thanksgiving Pie Recipes * 20 Pies for you to make

photo by one sweet appetite recipe included in our pie collection

Hooray for the Pumpkin Pie and the Chocolate Pie and the Banana Cream Pie and the Pecan Pie and the Apple Pie and the Berry Pie and....... well all the pies at Thanksgiving dinner. I collected 20 different pie recipes for you to choose from for your Thanksgiving dessert. I even added a couple of Cheesecake recipes. Cheesecake is pie too right? Enjoy!

click below to see the whole collection 

this post is sponsored by Mode and Foodie.com

Turtle Caramel Apple Nacho Recipe * Food & Drink

We wanted to serve Caramel Apples this weekend for a get together but wanted something that was easier to eat and something everyone could eat in bite size pieces. We decided to take our caramel recipe we make every year and came up with our Turtle Caramel Apples nacho style. It's such a delicious and easy treat to have at a party or just to eat while watching your favorite fall movie.



Turtle Caramel Apple Nachos

• 8-10 favorite apples - we used red and golden delicious because they grow on our trees
• 12 ounces of milk chocolate
• 12 ounces of white chocolate
• 1 pint of soft caramel 
• 1/2 cup of chopped fresh pecans
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Core apples. Slice apples. Toss in lemon juice. Arrange apples on serving dish. Set aside. Chop pecans. Make one batch of caramel. Melt milk chocolate in glass bowl in microwave for 30 seconds stir. Continue every 30 seconds until completely melted. Melt white chocolate the same as milk chocolate.  Drizzle hot caramel over apples. Drizzle melted milk chocolate over apples. Drizzle white chocolate over apples. Top off by sprinkling pecans over the top. Serve. 

Happy Fall!

for Caramel Recipe click here

Tools we used for this recipe:

Glass Mixing Bowls at William Sonoma

Kuhn Rikon Crinkle Cutter at Sur la Table 

Cuisipro Apple Corer at William Sonoma

Regency Vintage inspired Serving Platter at Provision by Food52

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Taste Pin * Seasonal Apple Recipes

The apples are ripe our tree in our orchard. There fresh local apples at the market too. It is the season of apple desserts. What do you make this time of year? Do you have a favorite or are you looking for a new favorite. We looked around on Pinterest and found a sweet selection on recipes from our favorite foodie bloggers. 

Recipe:
Apple Coffee Cake Muffins
Recipe & Photo by:
Spoonful of Flavor for Oh Sweet Basil

Recipe:
Apple Beignets (doughnuts) with Caramel Sauce

Recipe & Photo by:
Sweet Paul

Recipe:
Fried Apple Pie
Recipe & Photo by:
Today's Nest

Recipe:
Caramel Apple Martini
Recipe & Photo by:
Inspired by Charm

Recipe:
Chopped Apple Cake Recipe
Recipe & Photo by:
Not Without Salt

See more of our favorite #TastePin collected recipes on Sweet and Simple Magazine's TastePin Pinterest Board enjoy!

Food & Drink * Easy Microwave Caramel Recipe

Fall food means caramel recipes. Our simple caramel recipe is made in the microwave. It's very easy to make. No candy thermometer is needed. The caramel can be used to dip apples, pears or other autumn fruits. It can also be rolled into soft caramels. Add nuts for the nut lover.

Easy Microwave Caramels

• 1 cup butter 
• 2 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk 
• 1 cup light corn syrup 
• dash of salt 
• 1 tsp vanilla 

Mix all ingredients in a microwavable bowl. Microwave 2 minutes and stir. Continue to microwave for 12-15 minutes stirring every 2 minutes. Caution, the caramel will be very hot! Have a bowl for ice water on hand in case of burn. Add vanilla & nuts (if desired) to fully cooked caramel. Vanilla will make the caramel mixture boil up. For caramel apples dip apples straight in caramel rotating to cover the entire apple or pear. Then dip bottoms of caramel apples in chopped nuts, crushed cinnamon graham crackers or what ever suits your fancy! For caramel candies pour hot caramel in butter 9X13 pan and cool completely. Cut in to pieces and wrap in wax paper squares.

Sweet & Simple Tips:
- Chill your apples to help prevent caramel from running off your apples
- Use hot pads when you handle the bowl it will be hot!
- Cut squares of vellum paper or wax paper squares to place under your finished Caramel Apples
- Cut wax paper squares to wrap your caramels
- Sprinkle some Fluer De Sel Salt on Caramel Pears/Apples for added flavor



post & photo by April A. founder & editor-in-chief