The Mott’s company sells packets of instant Hot Spiced Cider in a couple different flavors. Someone gave me some packets and so I tossed them into my basic applesauce bread recipe and it worked wonderfully. See for yourself.
1 cup white sugar
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup oil (NOT olive oil)
2 eggs
3 Tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. pure [...]

Apple sauce can be made at anytime of the year because apples are always available. But I wait until the temperature drops into the 50’s or very low 60’s; to me that’s the perfect time and around here that happens in early October. Give it a try. Ask the kids to join in.
16 large apples [...]

What would the cold weather season be without some delicious gingerbread? Whenever I smell this baking it takes me back to school days when I’d kick through the fallen leaves walking home from the bus stop.

1 cup water
2 tsp. baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 stick (1/2 [...]

A contribution from my sister Sandy who uses this as a sauce for broccoli and cauliflower all through the Autumn & Winter months. It’s almost difficult to eat broccoli without it; it’s unthinkable at Thanksgiving!
2 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper
3 cups milk
2+ cups shredded cheddar cheese
In a medium saucepan on medium-high heat, melt [...]

This is a delicious yeast-based coffee cake that tastes like pastry. It’s great to serve any weekend guests and makes 2 beautiful cakes.
Pastry Cake:
1/2 cup warmed water
1 Tbsp. dry yeast
1/2 cup warmed milk
2 large, beaten eggs
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. grated orange rind (McCormick’s brand is great)
6 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/2 [...]

Not your everyday run of the mill pie. This is dreamy rich & good! Be sure to serve with strong coffee, tea or a tall glass of cold milk. Absolutely perfect on a cold day.
1 Pre-baked and completely cooled 9-inch pie shell
2)14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (better syrup makes [...]

Even if you don’t care for sweet potatoes, chances are you’ll like this pie.
Gingersnap Cookies Crust:
25 gingersnap cookies
4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) melted butter
Filling:
1 good sized sweet potato, peeled &; chunked
1 1/2 Tsp. flour
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 tsp. ginger
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. (or a pinch) of ground cloves
1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup [...]

This is a crumb-topped apple pie simply because I forgot to make a 2-crust pie dough today when I was preparing this! Oh well, mistakes sometimes turn out to be delicious!
Single crust pie dough
Filling:
8-10 granny smith apples, peeled & chunked
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1-1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla extract (pure [...]

Ah, what to do with that leftover bird. I make it a rule to never go out shopping the day after Thanksgiving - instead I hang out at home make this soup for dinner leftovers. Let others shop, I cook!
6 cups chicken or turkey stock
2 cups water
2 celery stalks, chopped
4 carrots, peeled & chopped
3 [...]

This is fabulous and beautiful with the speckling of spice. It’s also not as overpowering as a standard pumpkin pie may be to some.
Picture at left is pre-baked in a water bath.
Graham Cracker Crust:
1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
5 Tbsp. melted butter
1 Tbsp. white sugar
Cream Cheese Filling:
3 8-oz. pkgs. Philadelphia Cream Cheese (NOT lite, [...]