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Check Out These Spooky-Fun Facts About Halloween

October 17, 2014 by

Although many people think that Halloween is simply a children’s holiday filled with spooky fun, others believe that October 31 stems from something more sinister. So what is the real truth about Halloween? Here are a few facts that you may not know about the year’s scariest (and sweetest!) holiday.

  1. Halloween’s origins can be traced back as far as 2,000 years. The holiday stems from a Gaelic festival called Samhain, which translates into “summer’s end,” an apt name for this favorite fall celebration. Samhain was a time for the community to gather resources for the coming winter months.
  2. Halloween was far from sinister. Although Halloween and its predecessor Samhain held a few supernatural and pagan aspects, it was overall a very peaceful and community-oriented holiday.
  3. Halloween costumes derived from All Saint’s Day. While we wear costumes for Halloween these days, the costume aspect actually derived from All Saint’s Day, not Samhain. Druid leaders wore traditional costumes made of animal skins to celebrate All Saint’s Day, and because the two holidays fall so close together, they merged with one another over the years.
  4. The tricks led to the treats. In the 1920s and 1930s, American youth turned Halloween into rowdy block parties filled with acts of vandalism. In an effort to make the holiday more wholesome, community leaders attempted to ply children with sweets given out by neighbors, which eventually led to what we know as trick-or-treating.

Twenty Interesting Things About… Halloween [The Pioneer Woman]
13 Facts You Never Knew About Halloween [Business Insider]
History of Halloween [Live Science]

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Put These Three Family Activities on Your Autumn Agenda

October 3, 2014 by

With the colorful leaves on the ground and the refreshing chill in the air, people of all ages can’t help but want to play outside once fall finally comes back around. These fun activities will show you how to get outside and have fun with the whole family this autumn season.

Make Leaf Rubbings [singleparents.about.com]
If your kids are still very young, they’ll love this simple art project that uses beautiful fall leaves. Start by taking your children outside to collect as many leaves as they can. Next, press the leaves underneath a piece of paper and rub with a crayon to create an artistic imprint of each unique shape.

Paint Fall Garden Pots [parents.com]
Once it comes time to switch out your summer flowers with something heartier for the fall, encourage your kids to help by letting them decorate the pots. Lay out some newspaper, provide them with colorful paints, and encourage them to get creative with simple terra cotta pots.

Visit a Maze [coca-colacompany.com]
Most areas have an old-fashioned corn maze somewhere nearby, and your kids will love getting lost in its twists and turns. Simply do a quick Internet search to find the closest one to you (bonus points if the maze is located at a colorful apple orchard!).

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Dig a Spoon Into These Hearty Chili Recipes

September 19, 2014 by

Few things taste better on a chilly fall day than a warm bowl of hearty chili, but your staple recipe may start to get a bit tired after a few seasons. Here are three tasty new chili recipes that are equally as comforting but a bit more creative.

All-American Chili [myrecipes.com]
Whether you use it to top grilled hot dogs or to eat right from the bowl on a cold afternoon, it doesn’t get more all-American than this chili recipe. Ground sirloin and hot Italian turkey sausage give this a flavorful, meaty taste, while a hefty splash of merlot makes a delicious secret ingredient that your guests are sure to ask about.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup [allrecipes.com]
Add a Mexican flair to your usual chili with this hearty chicken taco soup made entirely in the slow cooker. Serve it topped with sour cream, green chilies, tortilla strips, or healthy avocado for even more flavor.

Turkey and White Bean Chili [marthastewart.com]
If you prefer a chili that’s a bit lighter than most, this recipe is the perfect choice. Lean turkey and mild white beans are the base ingredients, but jalapenos and ground cumin give it that slight kick that you love about spicy chili.

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Dip a Chip Into These Scrumptious Summer Salsas

July 25, 2014 by

Chips and salsa are staple dishes at many social gatherings, and you’ll often find your guests crowded around the salsa bowl with an overflowing tortilla chip in hand. If you want to give your friends and family a different salsa to try at your next dinner party, opting for a sweeter recipe is a great choice. Here are three fruity salsa recipes that your guests will simply adore.

Annie’s Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips
Not only does this recipe add a wide assortment of fruits to your usual salsa, it also includes cinnamon flavored chips to go along with them. This dish is much sweeter than it is spicy, and it even makes a creative dessert for an outdoor dinner party!

Mojito Melon Salsa
If you like mojito cocktails, you’ll love the sweet, minty flavor when it’s used in a fresh and fruity salsa. This recipe for Mojito Melon Salsa uses a juicy combination of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew tossed with some onion and spices, while a generous helping of mint leaves gives it that signature mojito taste.

Watermelon Fire and Ice Salsa
Give the usual tomatoes a rest and try this fruity salsa that uses watermelon as its base. The rest of the recipe is the same as traditional salsa, which gives it a wonderfully complex combination of spicy and sweet.

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Chill Out With These Recipes for Lemonade

June 20, 2014 by

Lemonade is a summertime favorite that you’ve loved since you were a kid, but it may be time to update the cool beverage to suit your adult tastes. If you’re searching for new recipes for your old favorite lemonade, these three might do the trick!

Honey Basil Lemonade [Serious Eats]
The warm, sweet taste of honey is offset by flavorful basil in this unique lemonade recipe. The base is made from the juice of 12 fresh lemons, and a pinch of salt really helps to bring out the flavor of each individual ingredient. Garnish with more basil leaves to create a drink that’s just as attractive as it is delicious.

Vodka Lavender Thyme Lemonade [Saveur]
Turn your favorite childhood drink into your new favorite cocktail with this lemonade recipe that’s all grown up. Dried lavender gives it a fragrant, floral taste that really complements the tart lemon, while vodka and earthy thyme add an extra kick of flavor.

Thyme Lemonade [Martha Stewart]
If you haven’t yet experienced the wonderful combination of thyme and lemon, this lemonade will make you a believer. All it takes is a few sprigs of the simple herb to create a fresh, pretty drink that’s perfect for dinner under the stars.

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