With the Thanksgiving weekend now behind us and Halloween quickly approaching, it's time to really shift our focus to drinks that ones people can enjoy at holiday parties that aren't infused with alcohol.
Something I have quickly found during my pregnancy is that my options for fun, festive drinks are really limited now that I cannot indulge in the occasional glass of wine or cocktail. However, this doesn't mean that I have to be the oddball sitting out at parties, rocking non-alcoholic wine (ahem... glorified grape juice), water or soft drinks. 'Nor do you, designated drivers, non-drinkers, and fellow mommas to be!
I have spent time in the kitchen over the last few days perfecting the most perfect, delectable mocktini that would be great to serve up at that upcoming Halloween party. It's sweet, creamy and very reminiscent of a pumpkin pie, only liquid. Who doesn't love a dessert that can be served in a glass?!?
Ingredients
1oz Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
1 tbsp pumpkin puree
2 ounces of milk
1.5 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Handful of ice
Directions
Add all ingredients to a shaker. Shake well. Strain into martini glass. Enjoy!
If a martini is more your jam, you can infuse this Pumpkin Pie Martini with 1 ounce of dark or spiced rum.
The leaves are starting to turn colour and the temperatures are starting to fall. It's time to break out cozy sweaters and embrace reading a good book while snuggled up by the fire, sipping a hot cup of coffee.
An excellent way to celebrate the arrival of fall is by infusing all of our favourite delights with pumpkin spice. Is anyone else riding high on the pumpkin spice bandwagon with me?
If you are, you will just love my recipe for pumpkin spice simple syrup! A syrup that goes great in a cup of coffee with steamed milk, hot chocolate or even drizzled over vanilla bean ice cream!
'Tis the season to pumpkin all the things!
Ingredients
1.5 cups water
1.5 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
Directions
In sauce pan over medium heat, warm water and sugar until sugar has dissolved.
Add pumpkin puree and spices to the simple syrup. Stir constantly for 5 minutes. Don't allow the mixture to boil.
Remove pumpkin spice simple syrup from heat and cool 10 minutes.
Strain the simple syrup into another pot using a cheesecloth and mesh strainer.
Store the simple syrup in a mason jar in the fridge.
Autumn is upon us!! There is something about the cooler temperatures that always makes me craving comfort food. More specifically, casseroles. There is just something about enjoying a heartwarming casserole, bowl of chili or soup on a chilly evening.
Casseroles are always my go-to. I love the versatility of them. Casserole ingredients are easy to tweak. Making it easy to create casseroles with a variety of elements and flavours. No one casserole ever has to be alike. At least in my house they never are. I always tend to work off the ingredients I have on-hand in my pantry and fridge. Generally, you will find by following that rhythm you will always have the ingredients on hand to create even the most basic casserole.
A casserole my children often love to help me make is a Pizza Ravioli Casserole. It's a dish that brings together all of their favourites... Pizza and Pasta! What more could one ask for?
If you're looking for a new casserole to add to your weeknight dinner roster, you're looking at the perfect one! A one-dish casserole that involves minimal clean-up, and tastes so good that you will forget this "pizza" isn't the real thing.
Ingredients
2 x 250g package Cheese and Spinach Ravioli
1 small sweet onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
645ml bottle of pasta sauce
1 2/3 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
1 package (380g) shredded Italiano Cheese or Pizza Mozzarella (you can use less cheese if you want... we used the whole package... we're cheese lovers!)
Pepperoni Slices
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.
In a medium bowl, combine the salad dressing, brother, pasta sauce, minced garlic and onion.
In a 9x13 casserole dish, layer the bottom of the pan with the ravioli. Pour the pasta sauce mixture over the pasta. You can gently stir or toss the pasta within the sauce to coat evenly, if need be. *Don't worry about needing to cook the ravioli beforehand, it will cook while the casserole is baking.
Top the pasta with the cheese and line the pepperoni on top of the cheese.
Transfer the casserole dish to oven and bake 30 minutes.
RELATED: What Happens When You Combine Pizza and Spaghetti? THIS
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