4 FALL-FAVORITE PARTY READY RECIPES

Happy Autumn! Let's celebrate with a few of my favorite fall treats.

CARDAMOM SPICED FIG AND PLUM GALETTE

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VANILLA PEAR VODKA COCKTAIL

PUMPKIN GINGERBREAD ICE CREAM SANDWICHES 

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PEACH CARAMELS

PERFECTLY SHAPED COOKIES IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS!

Remember that one time I made those indescribably good LAVENDER LEMON SUGAR COOKIES? 

Yeah, those were awesome. 

What made them even more awesome was how I mastered the  art of 'the perfectly rounded cookie' - don't you love life-hacks? 

PERFECTLY SHAPED COOKIES IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS:

You need: 
A toilet paper tube / plastic wrap / tape


1. Roll the dough into a log shape using the plastic wrap
2. Cut a slit through the toilet paper tube and wrap it around the dough-log. 
3. Tape the tube back together to keep the shape
4. Stick the cookie dough tube in the fridge and chill for an hour!
5. UNWRAP / SLICE AND BAKE!

LATE NIGHT SNACK: LAVENDER LEMON SUGAR COOKIES

I'm a huge lavender advocate - its uses are endless! I'm always using lavender essential oils on cuts, bruises and a pesky pimple or two. Not only does it have its medicinal uses, it really makes for a unique and tasty treat. 

A sweet friend of mine gave me a baggie of fresh lavender -- straight from the farm! I've been dying to give this recipe a go ever since I started seeing different variations crop up on Pinterest. 

I included a similar recipe on my post THINGS I LOVE ABOUT VALENTINES DAY: FOUR OF MY FAVORITE SWEET AND SIMPLE DIY PROJECTS. This recipe is a little bit different, but I'm absolutely addicted now, and I'm sure you will be too.

This is really a great tea-time cookie, btw. I've been eating them with earl grey and it's delicious! 

Give these delicious LAVENDER LEMON SUGAR COOKIES a try!

INGREDIENTS: 

Makes about four dozen.

3/4 cup sugar

1 and 3/4 cups flour

1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 and 1/2 sticks of slightly melted butter (I used salted!)

1 egg yolk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons grated lemon zest

*If you don't have lemons, try oranges!*

2 tablespoons of lemon juice (1-2 lemons)

3 teaspoons dried lavender

START HERE:

Heat oven to 350 degrees

* If you want to use a cookie cutter to create cute shapes - make dough in advance and leave it in the fridge for a few hours until you're ready to roll it out to make shapes. *

Mix sugar, lemon zest and juice and lavender together in a blender on high for about 30 seconds to a minute. 

After you've blended these ingredients leave them to sit while you stir together the flour, baking powder, vanilla, butter and egg. 

Combine lemon/lavender sugar mixture and continue to stir (if you have an electric mixer it's recommended!)

Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil and give it a light spray of oil to keep cookies from getting stuck. 

Space cookies about an inch apart on the sheet, Bake for 10-12 minutes until light golden brown. Enjoy!

LATE NIGHT SNACK: BACON AVOCADO TOASTS

BACON AVOCADO TOASTS

This week's bit of food brilliance was so much fun to make (and eat) and was inspired by the lovely Paninihappy.

 A few weeks ago the roomies and I threw together a little 'Zombie Potluck' in celebration of the always entertaining, and never disappointedly gruesome new season of The Walking Dead. You know you love it. And if you don't. WTF.

I decided on these delicious bad boys in addition to whipping up a quick and easy Salted Caramel Cake - which was an awesome complimentary taste to the smokey flavor of the Bacon Toasts. We also served Blueberry Lemonade Vodka to top off the whole thing. 

 {SERVES 8}

  INGREDIENTS:

2 Avocados / 1 Package of Bacon / Salt & Pepper / Whole Lemon / 1 Loaf of French Bread / Olive Oil

****

1. Mash peeled avocado with sea salt, a table spoon of fresh lemon juice & pepper

2. Cook bacon in skillet until crispy

3. Drizzle sliced bread with olive oil and bake until crispy.

It really was just that easy. 

Enjoy.

LATE NIGHT SNACK: GREEN GODDESS GRILLED CHEESE

 

GREEN GODDESS GRILLED CHEESE

I can absolutely promise you that this refreshing take on an old classic is just as delicious as it looks. After giving this easy any occasion sandwich a try I was so impressed that I knew this had to be the next Late Night Snack feature. A few of my friends also gave it a try and now swear by its awesomeness. This is perfect for those of you who are meat-free, and for those of you who can't eat anything without meat - you can always add bacon. You know, because bacon fixes everything.

Find the recipe from Taste Spotting HERE

LATE NIGHT SNACK: CAKE BATTER DIP

Does anyone remember the glory days of Dunkaroos? I had all but nearly forgotten about this childhood treat until OH SO PRETTY the SKINNY reminded me. It sure feels good to re-visit that genuine childhood joy that came from the simple things. Dunkaroos. Lisa Frank. Clarissa Explains it all. Beanie Babies. I know you owned one. Or two. Or two hundred and twenty seven. Those things.

Now only one thing can be better than a case of light hearted childhood nostalgia. Things that look like they have a billion calories, but really only have like, 105. You totally read that right. 

Get excited! Make your own colorful fun filled treat with easy to follow instructions from one of my favorite Nashville based blogs, OH SO PRETTY the DIARIES. They're a creative group of gals with a penchant for fun, easy projects. Nashville is so full of fun people! 

DIY THE NINETIES:

CAKE BATTER DIP // 105 CALORIES!

LATE NIGHT SNACK: MAKE YOUR OWN POPTARTS!

HOMEMADE POP TARTS

This brilliance comes to us from BakeMeMore.com! 

I was actually just wondering what a freshly made pop tart might taste like when all of a sudden this little Pinterest find came along. The vending machine at work only offers so many breakfast choices, so more often than naught I end up eating a packet of pop tarts. 

I usually cringe at the calorie content and even more so at the ingredient label - but still, I go back for more. I'm a pop-tart gluten for punishment. 

So the moment I found this little ditty - I instantly knew it would become the top candidate for LATE NIGHT SNACK time. And why shouldn't it be? It's breakfast, but oh wait! It's dessert too! Holy shit. 

Find the how-to HERE.

LATE NIGHT SNACK: CUCUMBER + AVOCADO TEA SANDWICHES

Tonight's Late Night Snack is via Tea Time Magazine

How delicious do these look? 

For those health nuts out there - what a perfect snack! You'll have a sudden desire to call everyone you know over for tea at midnight after putting together these dainty (and delicious!) Cucumber Avocado Tea Sandwiches! 

LATE NIGHT SNACK: CINNAMON ROLL PUMPKIN SHEET CAKE

Alright, so staring at all of this fall fashion has made me hungry...

If I'm going down, you're all going down with me! Indulge in some pre-Thanksgiving pumpkin lovin' with this Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Vanilla Sheet Cake Recipe via Picky-Palate