You all know that I love a good cranberry recipe. There’s just something about the tart flavor that just feels cool and crisp in the winter, making them so much fun to cook with. From braids to breads to just the color alone, there’s something beautiful about cranberries for winter time. You might remember I recently shared a recipe for a cranberry chocolate braid, and in the past I’ve shared some cranberry tea cake bars, but I just had to share some amazing cranberry recipes and ideas from other bloggers from around the web! I hope they’ll provide plenty of inspiration this winter.
Food
Turkey Vegetable Soup (Made with Thanksgiving Leftovers!)
Thanksgiving this year is going to be a little bit weird for us. Usually, we go out of town to visit my grandmother, and it’s always an amazing time. But to be honest, things with Ketchup have been a little iffy around here– with new therapies starting and old ones ending, he’s in such a great period of transition that we don’t really want to rock the boat. It’s going to be our first Thanksgiving in years being home for the holiday instead of visiting family, and honestly? We’re going out to eat. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t buy one of those delicious turkeys on sale… a good Thanksgiving-in-January preparation, if you will. But one thing I really love about Thanksgiving, regardless of where I spend it, is the leftovers. Then again, after a day or two, you really get tired of Turkey Sandwiches… that’s where this yummy soup comes in. It’s easy to make, it’s delicious, and it uses stuff you probably have on hand after Thanksgiving dinner– you can swap out any vegetables or meat you’d like, meaning this turkey vegetable soup could just as easily become a ham and potato soup, or a vegetarian hearty vegetable soup… the possibilities are endless, so let’s get cooking.
Chocolate Cranberry Braid (and the Science of Cranberry Sauce!)
I love cranberries. Something about that fall flavor just tastes awesome. That said, they can be pretty stinkin’ tart when you just taste one. The kiddo found out the hard way because when we cook together, he insists on tasting every single ingredient. It got me thinking about the science behind cranberries and a way we could learn by experimenting while we cook!
Corn Casserole for a Crowd
Seasons come and go, but one thing that stays the same in my family is corn casserole. It’s a treat during the holidays, but it’s also a perfect duplicate for a delicious end-of-meal bite served at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Jose Peppers, so we make it year-round. Sometimes called corn pudding, this corn casserole is beyond easy to make– seriously, you dump, stir, and bake… the end. That’s why it’s a staple in our house, because there’s no hassle!
Harvest Succotash
Growing up, fall trips to Silver Dollar City were kind of a big deal. I mean, the Ozarks are just stunning in the autumn as it is– beautiful orange and red leaves, rolling hills, and just the smells of fall. One of those scents that I’ve tucked away in my memory is the wafting fragrance of the giant cast iron skillets of succotash… delicious squash, corn, chicken, and okra, all sauteed in the skillet with plenty of butter and served in bowls. It’s just one of those fall must-haves, and I was dying to replicate it at home when this year didn’t have a trip to Silver Dollar City in the cards.
Surprisingly Easy Salted Caramel Cocoa
Fall temperatures are finally starting to get colder. I mean, seriously, we’ve spent most of the autumn in the 70s and 80s, so it hasn’t ever really felt like fall. The one saving grace is that the leaves are starting to turn red and orange, and I’ve been able to enjoy some fall drinks like Pumpkin Spice Cocoa and this Salted Caramel Cocoa… eventually, you may even decide to skip your favorite coffeehouse stop altogether, because trust me, this is SO, so easy to make.
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples (In the Slow Cooker!)
There’s just something special about going to Cracker Barrel for lunch. No, it’s not the checkers outside or the store in the front of the restaurant. It has to be the epic side dishes you can get with your meal. It never fails… my order is the same every time I go there. Chicken and dumplings with fried apples, mac and cheese, and the hashbrown casserole. For the longest time, Cracker Barrel was my choice because I couldn’t get those darn apples anywhere else. Want to know a secret, though? I learned how to make a spot-on copycat so I don’t have to drive quite as far for that heavenly cinnamon apple goodness… without further ado, here’s how to make Cracker Barrel Style Fried Apples (in your slow cooker!)
Pizza Style Zucchini Roll Ups
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PickedAtPeak #CollectiveBias
![Skip the pizza... these delicious zucchini roll ups are topped with all of your favorite pizza toppings, then bake and serve over your favorite pasta, or skip the pasta and go low-carb! If you like zucchini, you'll love this family-friendly meal with Prego Farmer's Market sauce and fresh produce from Walmart. #PickedAtPeak [ad]](http://i.imgur.com/vjTUxeK.jpg)
I don’t know who started the whole swap-zucchini-for-pasta trend, but I kind of want to hug them. See, in the fall, I love to add squash to my favorite recipes, and making this yummy zucchini roll up is a perfect way to swap out lasagna noodles for squash in one of my favorite family recipes. There’s just something about a hearty meal that the whole family will love (probably because it tastes just like pizza) that’s still a little bit friendlier at working in fresh produce. Making the most of seasonal produce is a pretty important thing– why not use produce that’s at its peak? That’s why when I saw Prego Farmers’ Market® on the shelves at my local Walmart store, I knew exactly what recipe I wanted to make using the fresh produce and that sauce.
It’s the Great Pumpkin (Roundup), Charlie Brown!
It’s crazy how much fun you can have with pumpkins in the fall… searching for just the right one at the pumpkin patch, carving it, eating fresh-baked pumpkin goods like pumpkin bread and pumpkin cake… I just love pumpkins, and enjoying them all October long is such a great thing. Just a few days ago, I shared a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Mini Egg Rolls. I love that pumpkin is so versatile, and that’s why I’ve worked with it a lot on my blog. But today, I want to share some of my favorite pumpkin ideas from around the web… so keep scrolling and check it out!
RECIPES
CRAFTS
| Ava’s Alphabet | Tissue Paper Pom Pumpkins |
| Third Stop on the Right | Garden Scene Pumpkin |
| Happy Go Lucky | Pumpkin Flower Arrangements |
| Scrappy Geek | Halloween Jack O Lanterns |
| Real Girl’s Realm | DIY Pumpkin Clock |
| a paper arrow | How to Use Pumpkins to Decorate at Home |
| C’mon Get Crafty | Fall Decor with Pumpkins |
| Love Jaime | Crafting with Pumpkins |
Party
| Polka Dotted Blue Jay | Red and Orange Fall Dessert Tablescape |
Pets
| Girl in Betsy | Take Your Dog to the Pumpkin Patch |
| Joy’s Life | Homemade Pumpkin Dog Biscuits |
| Beauty | |
| The Bandit Lifestyle | DIY Pumpkin Body Scrub |
There are SO many incredible pumpkin posts. Ketchup and I can’t wait to make the pumpkin dog treats for our pup! Bookmark this page so you can come back and try out all the recipes, crafts, and activities with you and your family!
Check back next month when Social Fabric features posts with a cranberry theme. You can always search the hashtag #SoFabSeasons to find more of what you’re looking for!
What pumpkin idea are you excited to try? Let me know in the comments below! Also, check out last month’s Apple Themed roundup here!
Cheese-Stuffed Barbecue Meat Bombs
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AD #Tailgreatness #CollectiveBias
![It's tailgating season! Whatever team you're cheering on, you have to try these delicious cheese-stuffed meat bombs. Part sausage, part beef, part gooey melty cheese, all amazing. They're coated in barbecue sauce and cooked in the slow cooker, so they're sure to be a hit for your next tailgating party! Pick up ingredients (and Nexium to prevent heartburn!) at @Walmart. #Tailgreatness [ad]](http://i.imgur.com/xChVTBT.jpg)
Tailgating season is now in full swing, and I have to admit, I’m really excited. You see, here in Kansas City tailgating generally means barbecue, and y’all know how much I love barbecue. But one recipe that’s been a recent favorite when I tailgate is this: sausage and beef, blended together and stuffed with cheese, coated in barbecue sauce, and cooked in the slow cooker until they’re ready to enjoy. I can’t imagine a tailgate without them. Made with spicy sausage, they’re even worth the heartburn (which, luckily, I have a solution for).