Caramel Apple Cake

Bake up a giant version of a classic sweet treat. Shaped like a GIANT caramel apple, this fun dessert recipe is sure to be a family favorite! Everyone at fall gatherings will be asking for this recipe!!


RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsps cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tsps vanilla extract
60 caramel candies
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped
wax paper
1 large craft stick


INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease and flour two 1 1/2-quart oven-safe bowls.

3. Combine 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon allspice, 2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt.

4. In a separate bowl, beat together 2 eggs, 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, 2 cups unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup vegetable oil and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and beat until well mixed.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared bowls and bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

6. Allow the cakes to cool in the bowls for 10 minutes, then remove them from the bowls and set them inverted on wire racks to cool completely. Once the cakes have cooled, turn them over and use a long knife to even out their flat tops.

7. Topping: Place 60 caramel candies and 2 tablespoons of water in a medium bowl and microwave on high power for 1 minute. Stir, then heat 30 to 45 seconds more until the mixture is smooth and forms a slow, thick ribbon when dropped from a spoon.

8. Layer the cakes (flat sides together) using a few spoonfuls of the caramel to help hold them in place.

9. Pour the remaining sauce over the cake. The caramel will run down the sides of the cake to cover it completely, or you can spread it with a knife while it's still warm.

10. Let the caramel set for about 20 minutes before pressing the walnuts onto the bottom half of the cake.

11. Cover one half of the craft stick with waxed paper and insert the covered end into the top of the cake.

For more fall recipes check out http://familyfun.go.com/

Long Grove's 17th Annual APPLE FESTIVAL

Any way you slice it, everyone can expect to have fun at the Annual Long Grove Apple Festival!
Celebrate autumn's favorite fruit by coming to this festival and enjoying Long Grove's famous apple pies, apple cider, apple cider donuts, carmel apple lattes, and apple martinis!

This year's Apple Festival takes place October 2,3,&4 2009. BEST OF ALL:FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING! !!

Village restaraunts and many outdoor food vendors will offer bushels of apple inspired treats as well as apples that you can buy. There will be many activities and live music! The live music will feature many music styles such as folk, bluegrass, country, rock, and jazz throughout the weekend of the festival.

The events will "a-peel" to visitors of all ages. Families with children can find many activities for kids such as pony rides, kiddie rides, face painting, horse drawn carriage rides, and several educational booths! There is an ice cream eating contest on October 3rd!
You can also enjoy going to over 70 different shops , boutiques, and restaraunts within the village.


Long Grove is located in the northern suburbs, near Routes 53 and 83 just north of Lake Cook Road. For More information call 847-634-0888 or visit http://www.longgroveonline.com/

HAUNTED HARVEST AT LAMBS FARM IN LIBERTYVILLE!!

The Haunted Harvest at Lambs Farm in Libertyville, Illinois is a fun and spooky celebration for kids and parents of all ages!

This event transforms the farmyard into a delightfully frightening place filled with tons of activities for the whole family. Some of the activities are the Train of Terror, the CreatureWalk, Graveyard Mini Golf, an Enchanted Carousel, and Monster Midway.

This Kid Friendly Event takes place Saturday nights- October 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 6- 10pm.
It is $15 dollars per person for the ALL NIGHT PASS (kids under 3 are FREE!). Or you can pay for activities individually if you prefer (Graveyard Golf $5, Creature Walk $3, Enchanted Carousel $3, Train of Terror $5)

Lambs Farm is located in Libertyville at the intersection of I-94 and Route 176
14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville IL 60048. For more information call 847.362.4636

Dont miss out on this wickedly fun event! :)

Make Your Own Costume- Pink Poodle!!

Any little girl would love to wear this pretty pink poodle costume this year for Halloween! Forget buying an expensive, costume that everyone else is wearing! This costume is really unique and can be made in about an hour!


MATERIALS:
8 pink bath puffs (we found ours at a dollar store)
40 to 50 rubber bands
2 (6-inch) squares of bubble packaging
2 pairs of pink adult-size socks
Pink headband
Wire coat hanger
Wire cutters
Duct tape
4 pink hair elastics
Acrylic jewels
2 feet of 1-inch-wide black ribbon
Tacky glue
Paper
Marker
Hole punch


YOUR CHILD WILL WEAR:
Pink top
Pink pants or leggings
Black face paint (for dog nose)



HOW TO MAKE THE HEADPIECE-
1. Cut each puff's center cord, then stretch out the puff and cut it into thirds. Wrap a rubber band around the center of each. You'll need 23 pieces

2. Fold each piece of bubble wrap in half and insert it into a sock. Tie the socks together (we used calf-length socks; if you use kneesocks, trim them as needed)

3. Slide three puff pieces on the knotted socks, positioning them around the knot, then ease the headband through their rubber bands. Slide a puff piece onto the toe of each sock

HOW TO MAKE THE TAIL-
4. Snip the hook off the coat hanger. Fold the cut ends down, then use duct tape to wrap the central section. Insert the hanger into a sock.

5. Fold the sock lengthwise around the hanger and slide puff pieces onto the center and toe. Bend the hanger's end as shown; you'll secure this hook inside the back of your child's waistband with duct tape.

HOW TO MAKE THE WRISTBANDS & ANKLEBANDS-

6.Use rubber bands to loop four puff pieces onto each hair elastic. Twist the bands to tighten them.

HOW TO MAKE THE COLLAR-

7.Glue the jewels in a row on the central portion of the ribbon (leave the ends unadorned so you can tie the collar at the back of your child's neck). Draw a dog tag on the paper, punch a hole in it, and loop it on to the collar with a rubber band.

Find more fun costumes like this at http://www.familyfun.go.com/

Green Gobble-'Em-Up Goblin Cupcakes

These goblin cupcakes are always a hit with kids. Make as dessert, as a pre-trick-or-treating snack, or simply an add-on to your child's classroom party.

Ingredients
1 box vanilla cake mix
1 package 2 1/2" foil baking cups
1 can vanilla icing
1 small tube green food coloring
1 package red licorice rope
1 package chocolate candy googly eyes
1 package mini M&Ms
1 tube black cake decorating icing

Cooking Instructions
Prepare vanilla cake batter according to box directions. Add 7 drops or more of green food coloring to batter and mix thoroughly to achieve desired shade.
Remove white paper separators from foil cups; pour batter into baking cups and bake in 350-degree oven for 17 to 20 minutes, or until you can stick a toothpick into the center and remove it cleanly.
Remove cupcakes from oven and let cool completely.
In a small bowl, add 5 or more drops of food coloring to icing and mix until desired shade of green is achieved. Top cupcakes with colored icing.
To assemble cupcakes: Add googly eyes to top of cupcake. Cut red licorice rope into smaller strips to use as hair and small pieces to use as teeth. Add green M&Ms to make the nose; use decorating icing to make a mouth. Top black icing with red licorice pieces.

Substitution Ideas
Use mini-Oreos or white Lifesavers as eyes instead of chocolates; use black licorice rope instead of red to create hair and mouth.

Find more yummy recipes like this at http://recipes.kaboose.com/