Howdy, foodie friend! I can almost taste fall! I have been making many soups to prepare you for soup season, so it’s felt like fall in our home!
With fall comes all things apples, soup season, and, of course, pumpkin. So grab a cool or hot drink, and let’s cozy into all things fall, including some great new soup recipes and a few of my favorite apple recipes.
Ever been to a favorite things party? They are so fun, I’ll tell you all about it today. Plus my favorite finds this week and a little weekly inspiration to breathe life into your soul.
What I’m Makin’ | Apples & Soups
Homemade Apple Butter
Have you ever made your own Apple Butter? Using this method in the Instant Pot takes the guesswork out and shortens the time drastically for a rich, smooth, fall spice-loaded buttery spread. Low sugar!!
Try using it in this Apple Cider Cocktail, full of bright fall flavors! Check out the post for the many ways to use this versatile apple recipe.
Easy Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe {Low Sugar}
This velvety and sweet Instant Pot Apple Butter recipe is perfect with all the fall flavors and warm spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice – it's low sugar too. Using an instant pot, your cooking process is finished in a fraction of the time, making it a great gift!
Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail
This Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail recipe will warm your soul on these chilly autumn evenings. Fresh apple butter, classic apple cider, rich vanilla, and orange flavors beautifully blend with bourbon's sweet and bitter notes.
Apple Caramel Dump Cake
Dump cakes are a favorite of mine, perfect for when you need a quick and easy dessert! Try this caramel apple dump cake made with real caramels. YUM!
Easy Caramel Apple Dump Cake Recipe
This Caramel Apple Dump Cake recipe has all the fall flavors and is so easy to prepare. Such an easy recipe, only 5 main ingredients! The fruit mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, topped with dry cake mix is the perfect fall desserts.
Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp (+ Gluten-free option)
Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp {Gluten-Free Option}
The essential fall dessert, old fashioned apple crisp is an easy and not fussy recipe with all the best fall flavors, Apples, cinnamon, brown sugar with a buttery crisp topping. Easily convert to gluten free and vegan.
Soup Season is Upon Us
I can eat soup year-round, but as the temperatures plummet, I crave a warm bowl of soup for lunch or a light dinner.
NEW RECIPE>> Thai Chicken Soup is a must-try this fall! Loaded with simple flavors, slightly different than your average chicken noodle soup (nothing wrong with those either!)
Next, we have one of my favorites: creamy chicken poblano soup — even if you are spice averse like me, you will love this light and brothy soup! A Joanna Gaines recipe from the Magnolia Table Vol 2 cookbook!
And is fall even complete without enjoying tomato soup with grilled cheese? Try my easy tomato basil bisque recipe from my mother-in-law’s tea house cookbook.
And let’s not forget this hearty, 10 Vegetable Soup — loaded with veggies and whole grains!
Finally, one of my favorite soups from Panera every fall is their Autumn Squash Soup! Oh SO GOOD and I made it much healthier without sacrificing flavor for you.
In the here and now | Real-life stories
How was your Labor Day weekend? We had a much-needed relaxing time up in the mountains, God’s country we say! But it all is, isn’t it!?
We spent a day in Breckenridge at the Rubber Ducky Race (a tradition with our families) and 4-wheeled over Mosquito Pass into Leadville — STUNNING! Enjoyed great food together and slept amazingly!
The highlight of my week was attending my book club’s summer Favorite Thing’s party! If you have never done one, you should host one this year. I usually host one in early December with a Christmas theme.
Here’s the gist: It’s a time for ladies to get together and bring 3 of their “favorite things” to share with others. We bring our 3 identical gifts wrapped so you can still see them, and we take turns “Vanna White-ing” them and sharing why it’s our favorite thing and where we bought it (one of us usually takes notes so we all have a list of the great things people brought).
Then after each person has put their name in 3 different containers (for three rounds of gift grabbing), the hostess pulls out names one at a time, and you get to choose your (new) favorite thing to take home. You leave the evening with three fun gifts, a lot of laughter, a great time with girlfriends, and a full heart! No stealing involved!
Below are a few of our favorite things from our time together — to get your juices flowing! Click on the image to take you to the link. And be sure to check out my post on How to Host a Favorite Things Party.
Main Floor Remodel Update | Week 9
We are at the remodeling stage, where taking a picture might not show much at all, so I will spare you this week. But, our baseboards are in, doors have handles, and windows and doors have been trimmed, we are hoping for just a few more weeks before we can officially move back into our spaces.
What Readers are Saying about Old-Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream
Hands down, the best I’ve tried! I used Amish cream top milk. Whisked very well and chilled in the freezer for about 30 minutes prior to putting it in the ice cream maker. We added little frozen spoonfuls of peanut butter. Smooth and creamy. A real winner!” ~ Sarah via Pinterest
“Not a big chocolate ice cream fan but this was delicious. I threw in some heath toffee bits at the end of the churn and my husband loved it. Made it in advance for Fourth of July.” ~ Sandy
“This ice cream came out perfect! Everyone enjoyed it! Will definitely make again!” ~T. Ford
Easy Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe (no eggs)
Five ingredients — that's it, just five simple and basic ingredients to this AMAZING, creamy, no-cook, old-fashioned homemade chocolate ice cream, no eggs! Keep it basic or get creative with your mix-ins, regardless this is an amazing ice cream.
NEW!! Lemon Coffee Cake (4 ways!)
In this brand new recipe, I am excited to bring you 4 different ways to make it to fit your diet, and tastes! If you are or know a lemon lover, this coffee cake is for YOU!
- Lemon crumb coffee cake – regular without modifications, scrumptious!
- High Altitude Adjustments – I’ve got my high-altitude bakers covered!
- Sugar Free Lemon Cake – YES!
- Keto (low carb) Lemon Cake – Amazing!
Best Lemon Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe (+ Sugar Free Option)
This Lemon Coffee Cake recipe is on repeat! Loaded with bright lemon flavor thanks to lots of lemon zest and fresh lemon juice in the cake and in the crumb topping + sugar-free and gluten-free option.
What Caught My Eye | Sales and Deals
Check out all of my Amazon, etc. finds HERE! Plus, previous week’s finds!
What I’m Loving
- I was introduced to these online stores this week during our Favorite Things Party. Temu (deeply discounted clothing and more) and Natural Life, Boho style, super soft and comfy clothes and more. Check out their sales on both sites!
- I have this long cotton shirt dress coming, cute by itself as a dress, or wear as a duster over skinny jeans. And it’s on sale! And I love these wide leg pants, so comfy!
- And from Temu, this darling maxi dress is $11 or this red dress with pockets. Love it, and how about this button down striped blouse?
- Love this Fall sweater blazer! Cozy yet classy!
For Fall Decorating
- Instant fall with this goldenrod plant in a ceramic vase.
- I am obsessed with hammered copper and these measuring cups are so cute!
- And how realistic are these fall gourds!? And I have these wooden candlesticks in my cart.
BROWSE MY AMAZON STOREFRONT
Weekly Inspiration | Resilience
My husband and I have read (and loved) the book Resilient by John Eldredge. The subtitle is Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times. Oh, how I need this!
It also goes hand in hand with the PAUSE app, and we’ve recently started the 30 Days to Resilient “challenge,” for lack of a better word. They are brief morning and evening encouragements that will help build your resilience spiritually, mentally, and emotionally! We are loving them!
I pray you have a “resilient” kind of weekend! Thank you for stopping by today and for supporting The Fresh Cooky.
P.S. If you missed last week’s Fresh Fridays, recipes, sales, tips, ideas, and more!
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Cathy
Love , love your newsletter. Thank you for your recipes great shots you post and your stories. Keep them coming. The gift exchange that you spoke of we ladies do that for Christmas Day with my family. Thank you again and God Bless you and yours. Cathy
Thank you so much, Cathy!! That means so much to me! And I love that you do the favorite things with your family!! Great idea!!!