Wednesday, October 9, 2013

The Easiest Apple Cider Doughnuts You Will Ever Make

One of my favorite fall foods is the infamous apple cider doughnut. Yeah yeah, it's not really feeling so much like fall in Florida yet, but who made mother nature the boss on when I can start celebrating this glorious season? In the name of my favorite time of year, I am determined to sweat through every 90+ degree day wearing sweaters and boots, sipping pumpkin spice coffee, and eating anything apple- flavored. Thankyouverymuch.

I pinned this recipe on Pinterest and couldn't stop thinking about it. Sometimes, when I'm thinking of baking something, I'm really in the mood to take my time in the kitchen. Just sift, measure and mix my worries away.

This was not one of those times. I just wanted to eat three one as.soon.as.possible.

I'm sure the Pinterest recipe is delicious, probably even more delicious than mine, but damnit if I was going to have to spend a couple hours in the kitchen and worse, have a ton of dishes to do. So I combined some elements of this recipe with another doughnut recipe to make the easiest (and possibly most delicious) apple cider doughnuts you will ever make.

Ingredients
1 can biscuits
Vegetable oil (enough to put about a half inch in the bottom of your pan)
1 cup apple cider
1 1/2 cups (ish) powdered sugar

Directions
Heat the apple cider to boiling; let boil for 10-12 minutes (until reduced). Add 1/2 cup of powdered sugar to start, then continue adding until you reach a glaze consistency. I ended up using 1 1/2 cups. Set aside.

Remove the biscuits from the can. Find something in your kitchen to cut a hole into each biscuit to make the doughnut shape. I used the wide end of a frosting tip. Heat the oil on medium heat for a couple of minutes; carefully place the doughnuts into the oil. Make sure the oil doesn't get too hot, or your doughnuts will burn on the outside and stay doughy on the inside. Fry for 2-3 minutes, or until the outside is a nice golden brown and the inside is cooked through. Remove from the oil and place on a paper towel. Pour the apple cider glaze over the doughnuts. 

Then let the feasting begin. These are just as good later on if you heat them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.


You're welcome.



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Monday, October 7, 2013

It's the Great Chevron Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Isn't October just the greatest month EVER? I've had my fall decorations out since Labor Day and I can't seem to ever feel like I have enough. It probably doesn't help that it's still 90 freaking degrees in Florida and every day it doesn't cool down I die a little more inside. Oh well, I'm determined to enjoy this awesome season as much as the rest of the world, even if it is still hotter than a Western New York summer here.

I saw this adorable Chevron pumpkin on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a whirl.
DIY-crafts-13

All I needed for this craft was a $6 foam/plastic pumpkin from Target, painters tape and some ivory spray paint. The pinterest instructions also said to use an exacto knife, but I didn't feel like spending the money didn't want my pumpkin to be quite so perfect. ;) 


Next I taped off my stripes. For me, there was really no method, just tried to keep the stripes even and match up the points. 

Finally I went outside and spray painted that bad boy. After bringing it back inside I let it dry overnight before taking the tape off. 

Clearly not perfect, but it is one-of-a-kind! If I were to do it again, I would spring for the exacto knife or razor to make the tape edges straight where I tore off. Also, make sure your tape is completely stuck down! Dang spray paint has a tendency to run and will run right behind your tape in the grooves of your pumpkin. And when you spray paint, hold the can a good 12 inches away so it doesn't run so much. I'm going to keep trying to clean up the imperfections on mine.. or just get another $6 pumpkin and give it another try ;) 

Have a great week! 


Thursday, October 3, 2013

New York State of Mind

As I sit here this morning, tea in hand, tissues nearby, coughing and sneezing on my keyboard, I can't help but ask myself... WHY did we have to come back from New York?! Seriously though. It.Will.Not.Stop being 90 degrees and humid here. Let me set the stage for you. 

We visited my family in Western New York over the weekend and it was picture-perfect fall weather. High 60's, sunny, and the leaves where changing... I could get off on this time of year. Maybe that's TMI but you get the picture. It is my favorite time of year up north, with its crisp air, crunchy leaves, boots and sweaters. And then we come back to Florida. 
Where it is STILL freaking summer. 
In October.
Should be illegal. 

And now I am sick. Could have been the plane. Could have been something I caught up there. But I'm going to go ahead and blame Florida. 

I digress. I want to share about our weekend! 

We flew into Buffalo on Thursday afternoon and got off the plane absolutely starving. And what better place to grab something quick than MIGHTY TACO! Anyone from or been to Buffalo? Then you know what I'm talkin about. 



Two mighty-packs later (that's 12 tacos ya'll) we were on the way to my sweet hometown of Clymer, NY, which mainly consists of dairy farmers and Amish families. We spent most of our weekend at my sister and brother-in-law's house, which is, you guessed it, on a dairy farm. Here are some photos of us playing outside with my adorable nephew.



Between hanging out at the farm, my Dad's house, and sneaking away to our local watering hole for drinks with friends, it was a busy but fun weekend! 

We ended it with a bang by visiting Niagara Falls on Sunday with my Mom before heading out of town. Have you ever been on the Maid of the Mist? This boat brings you right in the middle of Horseshoe Falls. Holy awesome, Batman! I think it should be renamed "Maid of the Crazy-Strong-Waterfall-Wind-and-Water-Spraying-Right-In-Your-Face"... they seriously don't prepare you for that. We looked like drowned rats when we got off, but it was so worth it! 







When we got to the airport to head back south, I got the update that the Bills beat Baltimore. This was the icing on cake after a great weekend. See ya at Christmas time, NY!