Can You Smell It?

Good Morning Everyone!
Can you smell it? It's in the air! Fall is right around the corner....of course, you know what that means.....
HALLOWEEN!!!

I have made my first 'official' purchase of the season....two actually. :)  I have noticed that more stores are finally putting out the Black and Orange. Some places are just slower than others. LOL
My daughter and I were out shopping yesterday and to my surprise was not one but two Halloween mega-stores, right across the street from each other. YAY! One is Halloween City, they are normally here each year. But right across the street is Spirit Halloween. I know they have a big online presence, it will interesting to see what they have in the store.
And Friday night I noticed that a local bar is no longer open but in it's place are signs for a new Haunted House! There hasn't been one in Villa Rica since Travis' Psycho Shack. I'm excited! I think I may try to get a group of people together again this year to make the trip to Netherworld. Never had much luck putting that group together....people always back out at the last minute. Maybe this will be the year. Hhhhhmmmmmm. Anyone interested??
I also got some yummy new cookies! From Pepperidge Farms. Pumpkin Cheesecake. They are really good!

first 'official' Halloween purchase 2012

and the second

yummy, yummy, yummy!

Ok, before I go any further I have to take care of a recipe....a few posts back I was telling you how my wife had made some really amazing Butternut Squash Soup. I had a request for the recipe, so here it is.

This goes out to Rhissanna. When you make it Miss B you'll have to let me know how it turned out!

This recipe comes from the Rival Crock Pot cook book that was published in 2006.

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

makes 6 to 8 servings.

10 minutes prep time.

     2  pound butternut squash, rinsed, peeled, seeded and chopped into 1-inch cubes

     1  firm crisp apple, peeled, seeded and chopped

     1  yellow onion, chopped

     5  cups chicken stock

     1 tablespoon curry powder, sweet or hot

  1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

        salt and pepper to taste

  1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries (optional)

1. Add squash, apple and onion to the crock pot.

2. Mix together the stock, curry powder and cloves in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the squash and apples.

3. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 5 to 5 1/2 hours until the vegetables are tender.

4. Using an immersion or traditional blender, blend the soup to desired consistency. Add salt and pepper.

5. Garnish individual bowls with cranberries (optional).

That's the whole recipe. Now for my opinions.....the cranberries are NOT optional! They add just the right contrast to the soup. As far as a garnish...well, they sink not float. As for the blender, we blended it for what seemed an eternity. It is soup, it's not thick. My wife and I discussed it and the next time it gets made we are going to add a bit of corn starch to it to thicken it up a little.

I hope you enjoy it!

Now continuing on.....

It's time for some concentrated efforts! LOL!! I have 21 days to pull all my Halloween things together.

Twenty-one days? What?

No, Halloween is still 51 days away, you say.

NOPE! I don't decorate the week before Halloween. Come October first, I'm out putting up lights and 'crows and various monsters and ghoulies! So it's crunch time! I can't wait!!!  :)  I have a few things to complete - top of the list is my panels. I would like to do an 'old fence' too. So much to do. Wish me luck!

Also, if you can believe it, we've made it to 125 posts! And 42 members! I couldn't have timed this any better if I planned it! If you remember, way back in February, I said I would have another giveaway when I reached 125 post or 50 members, well, it seems that we have reached that goal. I've been working on the goodies - through the hacking and coughing- so that it would be ready (yes, unfortunately, I am still sick). I've been thinking of what I will have as the 'rules' as well......I haven't completely decided on what crazy things I will require. Hhhhmmmmm, hand stands? cartwheels? funny faces? So many choices. LOL! At any rate, my very next post will have all the information needed to join in the fun! Excited yet? You better be! HA!

Well, I do believe that's all for this post.

Got a busy day ahead of me.....grass mowing, dog bathing, laundry. Sewing and stuffing too! Hope you all have a great day and a fantastic upcoming week!

til next time..

Be Good, Be Safe, Be Happy!!!

TTFN

watch for the rules in the next post!

i hear witches cackling! :)