Fall is here, are you?

A few days ago I woke up and Fall had arrived! We had left our windows open and I was surprised when I opened my bedroom door to the rest of our apartment. It was REALLY cold! I checked the outdoor thermometer and it said 57. FIFTY....SEVEN.... I was really excited!

At this time last year, I was anxiously waiting for my husband to return home after being gone for thirteen months. Our son and I were taking trips apple picking, going to corn mazes and enjoying the crisp Fall air. It was a time of mixed emotions and a time of true enjoyment for me.

I want to share a few of my favorite things about Fall with you and to remind you all of locations for fun Fall activities that the entire family can enjoy. Hopefully, just as much as I do!

L.L. Bean!
One of my favorite places to visit during the Fall as a kid was the LL.Bean store in Freeport, ME. My grandmother would take us there for shopping and activities all summer and into fall. Now, they have so many different activities and have added a lot of other stores-- you really can't go wrong! Here are some that you may enjoy as well. Click on THIS calendar of events!

Apple Picking!

Kael was about 15 months old when we first went apple picking. We actually didn't "pick" apples. Ha. We chose apples from a wooden barrel. Whatever, Kael liked it. He also like the corn maze and hay maze and the animal exhibits. There are a million orchards here in Maine where you can get your apple fix. Here is a list of a few that you might want to check out for yourself.

Ricker Hill Orchards- This place is located in Turner and is my favorite place to pick apples and just really enjoy everything about the Fall season. Here you can pick apples, take a hay ride, meander through a corn maze (or for the little ones--a hay maze), take the kiddies to the petting zoo, play mini-golf or disc golf and visit their store and AMAZING bakery. It's very reasonably priced and totally kid-friendly. A blast for the entire family, if you ask me! They don't have prices on their website, but you can call them for information or friend them on Facebook.

Apple Ridge Farm
Hayrides, petting zoo and apples. Much like Ricker Hill Orchards!

Actually, better yet... Here is a link for Maine Apple Orchards. I haven't been to many, I usually go the tried and true route. Look through the list and see what appeals to you. Let me know if you find anything interesting!

Another thing that is a great American past-time is the Fair! If you've never been to a fair, you are seriously missing out. The rides, the lights, the food and the stands all make paying out of your nose for second-hand smoke (almost) worth it! I really love fair fries, even though they're just deep fried frozen things from Wal*Mart. Whatever, the shit tastes better when someone else is killing your cholesterol. I used to enjoy the rides and the demolition derbies when I was younger but now that I am older (I actually haven't been to a fair in several years) I just like walking around with whomever I came with, savoring the atmosphere and food, the feeling of the cold Fall air on my skin and usually enjoying some hot cocoa that was (way) overpriced. Here is the list of Maine fairs that I found most helpful. FAIRS!

One event here in Maine that is so tiny it only has five hours to its entirety but is a blast to attend is the Apple Pumpkin Festival in Androscoggin county. Nestled along the banks of a river of a small town, there is a little recreation field that usually houses soccer games, t-ball, tennis and a little skate park. For one day out of the year (the last Saturday in September) it is home to a small-town tradition that I love being a part of. My grandmother took us as kids and I have continued that tradition with my own son. I can't wait to go this weekend and see the look on Little Man's face as he gets to enjoy the bounce-house and some apple donuts. The fire/police departments have an outdoor grill set up, complete with homemade fries and there are dozens of vendors all selling handmade products. If you're in that area (Livermore Falls/Jay) on Saturday, stop on in for some good, old-fashioned, good-time fun from 10am-3pm. I'm putting a pie in the pie contest (I can't tell you which number, though. That's cheating!)



Here are some recipes that I want to share with everyone. I've been experimenting with cooking for some time now and these are some things that I have made lately that are super-yummy! Enjoy.

Cinnamon Rolls!- This is a Food Network recipe from Paula Deen. I love her and her recipes. This recipe is a little too sweet for my taste, which is saying a lot because I LOVE sugar! I suggest only a half-cup of sugar for the filling and not putting sugar on the pan. I also used 3Tbsp of cinnamon for the filling because I like a little more spice. However you make it, the recipe is amazing and I suggest clearing out an entire day  to make these. You have to wait for the dough to rise (twice) and the bake time is just long enough to make you want to cry! Delicious, enjoy.

Cheesy Corn Chowder!- This is another Food Network Recipe, this time by Ina Garten. Very yummy, but it makes A LOT of chowder. Who cares, though. It's quite possibly the best chowder that I have EVER tasted.  Here is the original recipe and here is my version, which I thought was pretty tasty!
WARNING. You need a really big pot to make this. It makes Like, two gallons of chowder. Also, I altered the recipe for what I had on hand and my own tastes. It turned out AMAZINGLY.

Ingredients
8 ounces bacon, chopped (I USED ONE POUND!)
1/4 cup good olive oil
6 cups chopped yellow onions (4 large onions) (I USED TWO LG.)
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric (I USED A LITTLE PARSLEY INSTEAD) 
12 cups chicken stock
6 cups medium-diced white boiling potatoes, unpeeled (2 pounds) (I DICED THE POTATOES ABOUT A HALF-INCH SQUARES)
10 cups corn kernels, fresh (10 ears) or frozen (3 pounds) (I USED 10 EARS FRESH CORN AND 2 CANS CREAMED CORN)
2 cups half-and-half (I USED HEAVY CREAM- I SHOOK IT IN THE CONTAINER FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS)
1/2 pound sharp white cheddar cheese, grated (I SHREDDED MINE BUT DIDN'T PUT IT IN THE CHOWDER, I LEFT IT OUT FOR OTHERS TO PUT IN AS THEY WANTED)


Directions--
In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent.

Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric (OR WHATEVER YOU USE) and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cob and blanch them for 3 minutes in boiling salted water.

(I USED CORN THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN BOILED AT A COOKOUT.)

Drain. (If using frozen corn you can skip this step.) Add the corn to the soup, then add the half-and-half and cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon. ENJOY!!




Dutch Apple Pie!- This is a really good pie recipe. I use this recipe as a base for many fruit pies. Sometimes I do blueberry-peach, blueberry-nectarine, blueberry-apple, peach-apple. Try different variations and you'll love it! Promise! 


Apple Pancakes with Homemade Cider Syrup- I made these for my son a few days ago and he LOVED them. I thought the pancakes were good, they just fell a little flat in the fluffy area. You can make these using your own pancake recipe or even bisquick. Either way, the syrup is GREAT! I used apple juice, so I bet the cider is even better.




Well, that's all for now folks. I'm going to be giving an update on my pregnancy progress in a few days. Sorry the posts have been few and far between, I have been super tired and my husband started a new job today! :)
Check back and keep your eyes peeled for a Facebook update, as well!


Here's a belly picture to tide you over. 37 weeks!

Don't mind the mess, I was sorting maternity clothes!