First Day of Fall * Autumnal Equinox

It's the first day of fall. How do you celebrate and decorate for the changing of the season? Here are some of my favorite fall traditions my kids and I have gathered throughout the years. As the cooler weather sets in warm flavors and colors set the scene. I hope you enjoy these as much as we do.

My very first blog post ever was for this Microwave Caramel Apple Recipe. That was 9 years ago! We make these Caramel Apples every year without fail. I wrap up the extra caramel into bite sized caramels to eat later.

My mom has a split tree. It's half red delicious and half golden delicious apples. These Turtle Caramel Apple Nachos are a great recipe to use a mix of fall apples.

My delicious Harvest Apple Pie is a mix of a crust topped and crumble topped pie. I need to make some of this pie today to celebrate the first day of fall and  a big basket of freshly picked apples. I have the no fail easiest Pie Crust Recipe too!

One of my all time favorite crafts for kids in the fall is making these simple Fall Leaf Wreaths from found items you already have on hand. It's a great time to explore outside with your kids in the cool fall air.

Painting some pumpkins to decorate the house is a great kids activity. Everyone will love to join in crafting. I used puff paint to make these Gilded and Faux Studded Pumpkins. 

With the weather getting cooler cozy up with a bowl of my mom's White Chicken Chili. This recipe is a family favorite. It can be make on the stove top or in a slowcooker.

Or if you prefer a tomato based chili my Chipotle Chili Recipe has a nice smokey flavor to it. I set out an assortment of toppings to make it a Chili Topping Bar dinner.

Happy Autumn Time!
xo

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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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Best Brownie Recipes * Taste Pin * Food & Drink

Brownies with caramel, marshmallows, coconut pretzels and more. We looked around on Pinterest and found comfort food of all comfort foods for you to try- brownies! Here are a few of our favorite brownie recipes we found. 

Recipe:
German Chocolate Brownies

Recipe & Photo by:
My Baking Addiction

Recipe:
Caramel Pretzel Brownie

Recipe & Photo by:
The Bakermama

Recipe:
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Peanut Butter Brownies

Recipe & Photo by:
Sally's Baking Addiction

Recipe:
Mint Chocolate Chip Brownie Recipe 

Recipe & Photo by:
Confessions of a Cookbook Queen 

Recipe:
Rocky Road Brownies 

Recipe & Photo by:
Six Sisters' Stuff

Recipe:
Girl Scouts Samoa Brownie Recipe

Recipe & Photo by:
Chef in Training 

All Time Favorite Finds * by April * Sarah Jane Studios

If you don't already know about Sarah from Sarah Jane Studios you will want to know about her lovely illustrations. She is one of, if not the most talented children's illustrators of all time. I say this with a background in design, art and photography. I say this as a lover of children's books and illustrations. She has the heart and soul of a true creative genius. There is a magic in her images of sweet little children and animals that will capture your heart. It is what you see in a master touch. It is what a true artist is striving for to stir the emotions of the soul.
I first came to know of Sarah in the beginning of her professional journey. It was also way back at the beginning of my professional editor, writing and blogging journey. The first post I could find where I featured Sarah Jane Studios was in Jan 2008. We gave away one of the sweet print sets on my Fun Free Fridays Giveaway back on my original blog Sweet Life in The Valley.

$50 is a steal wouldn't you say for such beautiful art prints! I knew the first time I saw her work that it was special. I had to collect it ALL. I started with the month by month prints and loved that she dated and signed each one. I knew that someday these would be worth a lot and I would pass them down to my daughter and so on. I have the blue read with me print over my children bookshelf. I have a large collection that I started back when I worked as the community relations manager at Barnes and Noble.

It's exciting to see her progress and accomplishments from her art prints to her greeting cards and then to fabric designs, embroidery patterns and paper doll collections which you can purchase in her shop.

You would have recognized her Nutcracker set from the Ralph Lauren Children Store window displays during Christmas this past year in New York City and London.

Not only has Sarah accomplish all this she has also illustrated books including A Christmas Goodnight and French Kids Eat Everything.

Now she has come out with a line of lovely wallpaper and wall art pieces. I can only imagine a childhood filled with her beautiful art and sitting under her family tree wall piece reading a book or staring at her wallpaper at night as I fall asleep.

Sarah Jane is one of my All Time Favorite Finds. I am sure you will love her too.
xo
April


by April Atwater founder and editor-in-chief Sweet and Simple Magazine

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