Autumn in the Cape

Visiting Cape Cod in Autumn is one of the most beautiful and joyful things ever.  John and I were so blessed to have an October 2016 getaway where we refreshed our minds and brought in new thoughts.  The welcome mat was definitely rolled out as we met so many wonderful locals and were graced with businesses accommodated dietary allergies.  Of course, we had to see Boston too so you will be treated with a few of those moments as well.

Luke's Lobster
Boston, MA

Gluten Free Lobster Roll & Gluten Free Clam Chowder
Luke's Lobster
Boston, MA

Fun rock formations
Outside of Boston, MA heading to the Cape

Parkside Market
Falmouth, MA

Write here...

Gluten Free Farmhouse Sandwich & Fresh Cut Fries
Parkside Market
Falmouth, MA

Parkside Market
Falmouth, MA

Downtown
Falmouth, MA

Another delicious Falmouth, MA restaurant to check out is La Cucina Sul Mare on 237 Main Street.  Tina, our server was so accommodating and pleasant to talk to.

Nantucket Book-Folding
anne2059@comcast.net to order
Nantucket, MA

Nantucket Whales at Sunny Wood Designs
facebook.com/sunnywooddesigns to order
Nantucket, MA

Nantucket Whales at Sunny Wood Designs
sunnybwood@gmail.com to order
Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Angela O'
Brant Point Lighthouse
Nantucket, MA

John O'
Brant Point Lighthouse
Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

movie belongs here!!!

Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA

Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA

Angela O' & John O'
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA

John O'
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA

Angela O'
Cisco Brewers
Nantucket, MA

Welcome to Bartlett Farms in Nantucket.  Think of Whole Foods but stationed on a legitimate farm where you come to shop and eat!  

Bartlett Farms
Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Shop
Nantucket, MA

In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Jeep!
Nantucket, MA

Ralph Lauren
Nantucket, MA

Ralph Lauren
Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket, MA

 

 

 

movie belongs here!!!

Fresh Squeezed OJ machine at Whole Foods
Hyannis, MA

Pickle Jar Kitchen
Falmouth, MA

Pickle Jar Kitchen
Falmouth, MA

Brussel Sprout & Bacon Hash
Pickle Jar Kitchen
Falmouth, MA

Tailgating at Gilette Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Tailgating at Gilette Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Awesome Ugly Sweater!
 (Unfortunately, I didn't make it back before the store closed)
Patriot's Place
Foxboro, MA

The O's
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Card Trick (we were the ribbon)
Gillette Stadium
Foxboro, MA

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Martha's Vineyard, MA

Hit up the MV Tours and Transport for a great 3 hour tour around the island.  Reasonably priced, shared small group tours.  Rated top on Trip Advisor.
 www.mvislandtours.com

Menemsha Fish Market
Menemsha, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Gluten Free Lobster Mac & Cheese
Menemsha Fish Market
Menemsha, MA
Martha's Vineyard
orders at www.menemshafishmarket.com

Chilmark, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Gay Head Cliffs
Aquinnah, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Vineyard Vines
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Jeep!
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

In the Pink
A Lilly Pulitzer Jeep!
Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Edgartown, MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern & Company's grassy knoll
Vineyard Haven(Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard 

The Black Dog Tavern
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury), MA
Martha's Vineyard

the pedestrian crossing signs
Vineyard Haven, MA
Martha's Vineyard

Hey sometimes you just gotta get a power nap!
Even if it's on the ferry.

Samuel Adams Brewery
Boston, MA

Samuel Adams Brewery
Boston, MA

Samuel Adams Brewery
Boston, MA

Harvard University
Anneberg Hall
Cambridge, MA

on the subway
Boston, MA

Boston, MA

movie belongs here!!!

The Lady and her Squirrels at Boston Common park

Where everybody knows your name.
Boston, MA

Autumn Decorations of Beacon Hill homes
Boston, MA

Acorn St. at Beacon Hill
Boston, MA

Acorn St. at Beacon Hill
Boston, MA

Acorn St. at Beacon Hill
Boston, MA

Quidditch Tournament at Boston Common
Boston, MA

Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA

Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA

Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA

Giacomo's Ristorante
The number one restaurant in Boston, MA

Notable pastries: lobster tails and gluten free black & white Othello cookies
Mike's Pastry
Boston, MA

Lobster Tails
Mike's Pastry
Boston, MA

Modern Pastry
Boston, MA

Ricotta Pie, Cannoli, Gluten Free Cannoli
Best Cannoli in Town!
Modern Pastry
Boston, MA

Beachside Village
Falmouth, MA

Cafe Chew
Sandwich, MA

Home of the best hot apple cider ever!!!!
Cafe Chew
Sandwich, MA

goat cheese omelet, fresh potatoes, homemade cranberry pecan bread
Cafe Chew
Sandwich, MA

Old King's Highway
Cape Cod, MA

Old King's Highway
Cape Cod, MA

Old King's Highway
Cape Cod, MA

Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA

Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA

Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA

Cape Cod Potato Chips
Hyannis, MA

Nauset Lighthouse
(The lighthouse on the Cape Cod Potato Chip bags)
Eastham, MA

Angela O' with her favorite chip company bag

Nauset Lighthouse
Eastham, MA

Happy Camper
Provincetown, MA

The Canteen
Provincetown, MA

Happy Camper
Provincetown, MA

Pie in the Sky
Woods Hole, MA

Pie in the Sky
Woods Hole, MA
*A MUST VISIT PLACE*

Pie in the Sky
Woods Hole, MA*A MUST VISIT PLACE*

Pie in the Sky bakery and cafe makes it all from scratch!  Including gluten free bread, gluten free popovers, and gluten free apple walnut cookies!  YUM!!!

Woods Hole, MA

Woods Hole, MA

Woods Hole, MA

Harbor Seals at the Aquarium
Woods Hole, MA

Harbor Seals at the Aquarium
Woods Hole, MA

Woods Hole, MA

Woods Hole, MA

Walk to The Knob
Woods Hole, MA

The Knob
Woods Hole, MA

The Knob
Woods Hole, MA

The Knob
Woods Hole, MA

The Knob
Woods Hole, MA

Walk to The Knob
Woods Hole, MA

Walk to The Knob
Woods Hole, MA

Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA

Private tour of Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA

Farm Stand of Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA

Noquochoke Orchards
A family owned orchard for more than 100 years
Westport, MA

Nobska Lighthouse
Falmouth, MA

Nobska Lighthouse
Falmouth, MA

Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***

Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***

"The best rock", server Jamie
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA

water street kitch and public house notable dishes: Pork Shank, Daily Bread served with fresh radish butter, Glazed Carrots, Crispy Pork Shoulder,  notable libations: village elder with vodka, old fashioned

Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***

freshly made gluten free ice cream sandwich
Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***

Water Street Kitchen & Public House
Woods Hole, MA
***A MUST VISIT PLACE***

Sunrise
Falmouth, MA

Sunrise
Falmouth, MA

Autumn Trees
Drive from Cape Cod to Boston, MA

Boston, MA

Fenway Farms in Fenway Park
Boston, MA

Boston, MA

Fenway Farms in Fenway Park
Boston, MA

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Corn Maze at the Farm

Welcome to Barton Hill Farms near Austin, Texas!  They have an amazing corn maze that goes through a layout change every year.  

This year the design was the Lonesome Dove.  

The crew puts a ton of hard work into the annual event and are quite ingenious with year to year changes.  Check them out! 

http://bartonhillfarms.com/

Midwesteners will notice that the corn is missing as the farm chose to use a product with a stronger stalk! Sorghum! Texas has wild hogs that will plow right through the field!

withangelao'

Pumpkin Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting

Everyone loves a great pumpkin recipe.  This one is pretty darn good!  Thanks Aunt Shirley for sharing.

Cake:

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon cloves

½ teaspoon nutmeg

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil  (I prefer corn oil)

2 cups sugar

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin

1 cup chopped English walnuts

Preheat oven to 350° . Sift flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and spices into a bowl. Add nuts.

In another bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar and pumpkin. Mix and blend well until smooth. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Then spread evenly into a lightly greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes. (In reality, you are going to have to bake for more than 30 minutes.  Mine took 47 minutes to be exact.)

Frosting:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

1/3 cup butter

1 Tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar  (If you want more of a cream cheese flavor use only 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar)

Combine cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla into a bowl. Mix well; add powdered sugar gradually, beating after each addition. After mixed well spread on slightly warm cake. Cool and cut.

Outdoor Fall Dinner Party

Outdoor Fall Dinner Party 

The goal of this Outdoor Fall Dinner Party was to achieve good old-fashioned camaraderie while being seated at the dinner table.  More often than not it is has become extremely difficult to find a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner table that everyone can actually sit down together and enjoy their meal.  The hustle and bustle of everyone trying to find someplace to sit has worn me down.  Partially because I wanted to be in an adult setting (kids were welcome of course) and partially because I love to entertain I wanted to find a way for us all to enjoy a true dinner party for the holidays.  An event where no-one felt obligated to provide space for and everyone nearby could enjoy.  In some way we were all connected, either neighbors or co-workers who have become friends over the past year or two.  The location was the mini playground in between our apartment buildings.  Most of us could just walk out our front door.

November 3rd was the chosen date so that it did not interfere with anyone's Thanksgiving plans during the week of the bird.  Again a way to avoid the rush of people coming and going as most of us have multiple friends and family dwellings to visit.  The time was early afternoon of course as I despise evening holiday meals because you waste your whole day in anticipation and preparation rather than enjoying.  Thank you to Gramma Sharon for instilling the good value of lunch as the main holiday dinner meal.  Besides why remove the option of being able to eat leftovers for dinner?!

This dinner party was Co-Op style so that there was absolutely no need for a host or hostess.  Everyone was in charge of a minimum of two things on the list whether they were dishes of food, beverages, ice, coolers, tables, chairs, etc.  The Co-Op made this style of dinner unique and a fun way to refresh a potluck!  To be honest I did play the role of a coordinator so that all the items on the list were accounted for however to clarify for your own co-op party there was no actual hosting. In order to make sure everyone had a fair shot of being involved I did send out a letter with the co-op ideas and commitment requests.  That was only to ease the process of set-up and food.

The Food: 

Michelle and Brian your mashed potatoes were absolutely delicious!!  Leah and John thank goodness for your double batch of green bean casserole to provide for those wheat monsters and those GF.  And that was quite possibly the best homemade cranberry sauce ever.  Nadine, gosh darn those sweet potatoes were the most beautiful I have ever seen served at a holiday dinner. And thank goodness those were real and not the yucky traditional ones from a can with brown sugar and marshmallows poured on top.   Emma and Adam, you always have the best beverage selection and we can always count on your sommelier mind to guide us through any occasion.  Ben and Rose, ummm THANK YOU for bringing us a pie from Quacks on 43rd.  Bless you!  Brittany, we definitely could not have called this a holiday dinner without your rolls and pumpkin pies.  Additionally, I am glad that you brought your dad to carve the turkey!!  One spoiled thing that I did gain from my family was that we always had an electric knife to carve the turkey so when it came to manually carving this year I was out!  Too bad as John and I actually made the turkey!!  At least we didn't have to cut up our sage dressing and cheeseball!! And thank you to all the guys as they put up our emergency tents in the case of rain.  We only had about 10 minutes of droplets though, just enough to make the tablescapes appear as if there was a purposeful dew sprayed on them.

And of course since we live in Texas I suspected that someone would want to dump BBQ sauce on their food. Haha!  Brian you were the one...had I known earlier I would have sent that gigant-o bottle of Rudy's BBQ sauce home with you.

The table scatters were mini plastic acorns.

A fun and clean way to add crackers on the table.  Get a couple of mini pails from your craft store and stuff with tissue paper.

Why I Love Fall

- The Semi Cool Weather
- The pumpkin crazy comes out in all of us
-Long sleeves
-Boots!
-Sweaters
-Scarves (not that I've ever stopped off-season)
-Gala Apples
-Caramel Dips and Apples
-The Beautiful Leaves
-Bonfires
-Roasted Marshmallows (I don't like the taste, just the idea)
-Pumpkin bread
-Pumpkin pie
-Pumpkin cake
-Pumpkin ravioli
-Pumpkin Pie Blizzards from Dairy Queen, that include the actual pie crust
-Family Dinners
-Baking Just Because It Feels Good
-Ummm Halloween!  A reason to dress up pets and yourself without getting made fun of.

Please remind me what I forgot?!

Poor Man's Payday

This treat signals the beloved time of year again.  Autumn.  Just as soon as the first batch of the season is distributed, candy corn lovers hit the stores like there is no tomorrow. Two years ago Kim Dean, my former supervisor and Halloween costume buyer introduced my coworkers and I to Poor Man's Payday.  One year she brought us our own individual treat cups filled with the mixture, another year she brought in a giant bowl which did not last more than the day.  Regardless of how she delivered it to us, she still had to make several batches to leave at home for her family.  This year I made my own individual treat bags using scrapbook paper and embellishments to hand out to my husband's coworkers at Terminal Reality.  I filled the baggies with just enough for an afternoon snack and well... to tickle the seasonal craving for weeks to come.  For those of you who dislike the Payday candy bar you must try this fresh replacement as I, myself did not dare eat that dry hard candy brick. The best ratio to pop into your mouth is 2 peanuts to 1 candy corn.  But experiment for yourself and find out how many peanuts to candy corn will balance your taste buds...

Ingredients:

1 - 12.5 oz can of Spanish peanuts (redskin)

1 - 22 oz bag of candy corn

Tips:
-Do not substitute party peanuts (no skin) for the Spanish peanuts.  During the process of roasting the peanuts without the skin take on too much of the roast smoky flavor for this recipe.
-Brach's candy corn is great.  No matter what you use make sure that your candy corn is made with honey.
-You better double your recipe if you want it to last.
-Purchase the candy corn early in the season before it becomes difficult to find.
-Brach's candy corn is usually at Walgreen's and CVS even when you cannot find it in your local grocer.  
-Make your own treat bags using clear 4x6 inch treat bags with ties found at craft stores like Michael's and Jo-Ann's.  Fill the bag and tie or staple shut.  Using a hot glue gun attach the bag to scrapbook paper or cardstock that you have cut down to the size of the bag.

Update 10/16/2013:  

Just thought I would share some of the new cardstock designs that I used for this year's treats.  Last week, I cut 100 pieces of cardstock and assembled them for my husbands game studio co-workers at Edge of Reality.  Yesterday, I finished them off by adding the labels.

And a great tip! Randall's and Tom Thumb is now carrying the large 40 ounce bag of Brach's candy corn this year.  If using a bag of this size then you will also need to double up your peanuts to two 12.5 ounce cans.  From the 40 ounce bag of candy corn and the 2 cans of peanuts my single batch ranged from 41 to 45 treat bags.  I made 2.5 batches using this method this fall for treat bags and had the other half batch for our home.

Now here's the shocker! Monday while I was at Randall's I spotted a new version of the candy corn mix that Brach's produces.  Get this...It was candy corn and regular cocktail peanuts.  OMG! First of all, I can tell you this handmade version is older and secondly using cocktail peanuts is blasphemy because it changes the flavor entirely.  If there is anyone out there who could tell me the date that Brach's first introduced their version I would be quite interested.

Happy Halloween!!

Autumn Caramel Apple Dip

This is my favorite caramel apple recipe.  My Aunt Shirley introduced this version of caramel apples to me while I was still living in Florida.  I have never purchased caramel apple dip since.  This is perfect for a fall party, bonfire, or anything you wish.

Apples that I photographed at Kapnick Orchards, Michigan last fall.

*Use a double-broiler pan or similar type of set-up so the caramel is melted by the heat of the water.

1 16oz bag of individually wrapped caramels (my aunt uses Kraft brand)

1 can eagle brand sweetened condensed milk

1 container of cool whip

While heating water in the bottom portion of the double broiler open caramels to place in the top pan.   Continue stirring caramel as it melts.  Then add sweetened milk, stirring.  Then add cool whip,  stirring.  Done.

Drizzle over apple slices!

Enjoy!