There’s just something about October that makes me smile!
OK. There are a lot of things….
The frustrating, prickly heat of summer has ended and the living room is stuffed with extra blankets to accommodate the fresh chill of Fall.
The days are long enough that playing outside after work doesn’t require a headlamp…but, it stays dark late enough that a cup of pumpkin spice coffee can be enjoyed while watching a mild sunrise after an early run.
My toes tingle from scurrying across the cold wood floors, causing me to search wildly for a thick pair of socks or cuddly slippers.
The musty scent of wood-burning stoves fills the crisp air and neighbors can be seen chopping fallen trees to prepare for a cold winter.
A grilled cheese sandwich becomes more than just a quick lunch – it gets packed with hearty breads, cheeses and pestos in an effort to warm and comfort after a long, chilly week.
The daily run becomes an experience rather than a responsibility; allowing me to soak in the wild colors and cool air.
A quick trip to the back yard is all I need to gather the proper tools for some seasonal decor.
And, most importantly, I can feed my addiction to all things pumpkin!
So, as Halloween celebrations are in sight, I chose to hunker down today and dedicate myself to the last hours of my first Ohio October.
I allowed myself to sleep in – burrowing deeper into the blankets as the cool morning crept into the house. Then, the puppy and I took a shorter-than-planned (though enjoyable) run through puddles and frosty leaves. And, as the sun began to peek through the clouds that had been dominating the sky all week, I opened the windows and began to pour over some delicious recipes.
Seeing as how this is my first food-related post, I should offer you a few disclaimers…
1.) I am incapable of following a recipe exactly. I guess it has to do with my problem with authority.
2.) I’m sure you guessed this one was coming: I do not measure.
3.) There are substitutes for just about ANYTHING! Sure…it may change the entire name of the recipe, but it’s still food.
4.) I am a horrible housekeeper. Therefore, photos are often omitted because I don’t wish for you to see the sink filled with dirty dishes in the background. Life is too short to do dishes every time they’re dirty!
5.) Yes, I love locally grown and sustainable foods. I also just plain love food. So, while I will do my best to offer the most sustainable solutions to recipes, I am not perfect.
So, with that, I bring you…
FALL BALLS
Recipe and tips taken from Blunder Construction:
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seed crumbs
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup apple butter
3/4 cup pumpkin Puree
2 cups chocolate chips or chunks
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
Mix dry ingredients (graham cracker crumbs, pumpkin seed crumbs, powdered sugar and spices) until all clumps are gone.
Incorporate apple butter and pumpkin puree.
Sustainable options:
- Make your own pumpkin puree with a locally grown pie pumpkin. I almost did that and then decided I’d rather take a nap…so I used canned.
-Use homemade apple butter. I had some in my fridge made by my colleague, Doug. Yum! But, if you don’t have an awesome co-worker who makes you delicious foods, you can purchase applesauce/apple butter from the store or farmers market.
Scoop teaspoon sized amounts of the truffle mixture onto a cookie sheet and then place in freezer for at least 2 hours.
Make a grilled cheese sandwich and cuddle with your puppy on the couch.
Remove the cookie sheet from freezer and shape into round balls.
Allow chocolate to harden. Enjoy!
LOVE this! They came out beautifully and your recipe tweaks sound like smart ideas. So happy these were successful for you!
Thanks for the awesome tips, Halley! I always get fingerprints all over my truffles – your magic act of suspending them from skewers was so well explained on your post, that I couldn’t help dashing to my kitchen to give it a shot!