When leaves are changing color and coffee shops are selling pumpkin spice lattes you know fall is in full swing. This article has lots of fun activities and ideas for how to embrace the fall feels.
Spiced Applesauce Crumb Cake
From the cookbook “snacking bakes” by Yossi Arefi
Streusel
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
Spiced Apple cake
⅔ cup white sugar
½ cup canola or vegetable oil
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon finely grated orange zest (optional)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray or brush with oil. Line the pan with a strip of parchment paper that hangs over two of the edge
Make the streusel: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt. Pinch the mixture together with your fingertips until the mixture is well combined and crumbs form.
Make the cake: In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, oil, applesauce, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and orange zest (optional) until smooth.
- Whisk in the baking powder and baking soda. Fold in the flour with a spatula and mix until well combined.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to help the batter settle and remove any air bubbles. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top.
- Bake the cake until puffed and golden, then wait until fully baked by inserting a tester into the center of the cake until it comes out clean (about 30 to 40 minutes)
- Let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then use the parchment paper to lift the cake out and onto the cooling rack to cool completely. If desired, dust with powdered sugar before serving. Store loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15th to October 15th. Although it has already passed, it is still important to honor and celebrate Latino perspectives, art, and contributions.
Want to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month but don’t know how? Here’s a few things you can do:
- Support Latino-owned businesses
- Read books written by Latino authors
- Watch shows and movies that feature Latino actors and directors
- Cook traditional Latino recipes
- Volunteer for events that benefit the Latino community
- Learn traditional Latin dances
What is the difference between the terms Hispanic and Latino?
The difference between Hispanic and Latino (according to the National Museum of the American Latino) is the word Hispanic signifies a connection to the Spanish language or Spain. The term Latino is more encompassing and describes people who have ancestral ties to Latin America or the Caribbean.
Want to learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month?
Go to: https://latino.si.edu/ and/or try the activities, shows, and restaurants suggested on the posters in this photo of posters outside Mr. Crane’s room.
Various Fall Activities
Spice up your weekends with these fabulous fall activities.
Craven Farm
Craven Farm has a lot to offer, from pumpkins to a giant Alice and Wonderland-themed corn maze. The entry is free, but passes to do the corn maze, mini golf, hayride, and other activities cost money. For adults (18+), wristbands cost $20 Friday through Sunday, and on Wednesday and Thursday they cost $15. Craven Farm’s address is 13817 Short School Rd, Snohomish, WA 98290
Shoreline Farmers Market
The Shoreline Farmers Market has lots to offer from baked goods to fresh produce. It goes from 10am to 2pm every Saturday. The market is located on the corner of 192nd & Aurora across from the Sky Nursery.
Nile Nightmares Haunted House
The Nile Nightmares haunted house has several haunted houses that you can explore. Prices vary depending on what day you choose to go and if you choose to get a VIP pass. VIP passes are $55 and general admission is $40. There are other activities as well such as concessions and possibly a photo booth. I am personally not a haunted house person, so I will not be visiting, but feel free to attend the newspaper club and tell us about your experience.
DIYs
Rainy day? Board? Want to try something new? Perhaps give these two fun, simple, crafts a try. They are mostly made of common materials from around your house and garden and make great gifts as well.
Maple seed dragonflies
You will need:
- 4 maple tree seeds
- A small stick
- Googly eyes (optional 🙂
- Hot glue
- Glue the maple seeds onto the stick as shown above. If you would like, you can add small googly eyes.
- That’s it! So easy! You can put these in a garden, trade them, name them, or even frame them.
Ghost garland
You will need:
- ¼ cup glue
- Water
- Toilet paper (a sturdier kind is better)
- String
- Needle
- Tinfoil
- Toothpicks
- Markers
- First, rip off the number of toilet paper squares desired for the length of your garland. Keep in mind that every square of toilet paper is one mini ghost.
- Measure out ¼ cup of glue and mix it with ¼ cup of water. Set aside
- Make little balls of tinfoil, one for each ghost, this will be what the ghosts dry on, so shape the tinfoil into how you want the ghost to form. Then, stick the tinfoil balls onto the toothpicks and stick those into a cork pot holder or a piece of styrofoam.
- Dip each square of toilet paper in the water glue mixture until it is coated in the solution.
- Then take that piece (while it is still coated in glue) and drape it over the tinfoil balls into a ghost shape. Repeat for the desired amount of ghosts.
- Let the ghosts dry until the toilet paper is hard and can be pulled off of the tinfoil balls.
- Take the ghosts off, color faces on, and poke holes in the sides with a needle and thread.
- Thread the ghosts through a string and hang.
- Enjoy! This also works with fairy lights to make a glowing garland.
To wrap it up, fall is a great time of year to enjoy nature and get cozy. Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it fun and informative. Good luck with all your fall adventures!
Photo from https://www.ohsolovelyblog.com/
