By: Brennan McMahon

Pumpkin Pie: This is the most well known dessert for the holidays and it is delicious. It is super simple to make and tastes amazing with a little whipped cream on top. The first pumpkin pie was made in Plymouth after Native Americans showed the settlers how to make them.

Green Bean Casserole: This dish was invented in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly. All you need to make this recipe is mushroom soup, green beans and French Fried onions.

Corned Beef and Cabbage: This dish is commonly used as a St. Patricks Day meal in America. Corned beef is beef preserved in a brine.

Collard Greens and Black-Eyed Peas: These are a southern dish to bring luck and prosperity to people on New Years.

Latkes: This dish is kind of like a potato pancake that is fried in oil. Latkes are a vital part of Hanukkah, as Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil lasting longer than it should, so people will eat a lot of food fried in oil.

Eggnog: This is not really a dish but it is one of the best Christmas drinks. This drink contains eggs, sugar, and milk.

Matzah: This is a cracker like bread that Jewish people eat during Passover. Matzah is also called “poor man’s bread” because it was invented by Jewish people while they were slaves in Egypt.

Ham: This dish is very common on many holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. People eat this if they can’t find a turkey, and even if they can, they still also get a ham to go with it.

Turkey: More than 90% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving. many people put stuffing in it while they cook it. You can also cut it up and put it in rolls to make sandwiches. We don’t know what type of bird was eaten on the first Thanksgiving, but most people chose turkey now because it is bigger than a chicken so it can feed more people. Turkeys are also super common all around the states, so if you hunt you can always catch your own turkey for dinner.

For more information, please visit:

• https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/10-classic-holiday-foods.htm

By: Sophie Johnson and Addie Strack

The winter menus at both Starbucks and Dunkin’ have recently been released. Both containing new, and  delicious coffee or tea options to really get you into the holiday spirit. Between the fall and the winter menu, we can agree that the winter menu is the most exciting as it kickstarts the holiday season with new and improved drinks every year.

The first drink that we tried was the Starbucks Peppermint Hot Chocolate. This has been one of our favorite drinks for years and is a staple menu item for getting into the holiday spirit. Not only is this the perfect amount of sweetness, but the spice of the peppermint makes it taste like a delicious candy cane. We would rate this drink a 4.5/5. The way we remember this drink in past years was more chocolatey, and this year it was slightly watered down, but nevertheless, it warmed us from the inside out and especially got us into a holiday celebrating mood. Along with this drink, we received several free reusable Starbucks cups. This gift was for ‘Red Cup Day’ at Starbucks where they give away a free cup with every drink purchase. This did not affect the peppermint hot chocolate, however it was a nice addition to the experience.

The next drink we tried was the Starbucks Sugar Cookie Chai. This drink was so sweet and flavorful, and this year was the first year we tried it. Not only was this tea topped with a thick and creamy cold foam, but it had red and green sprinkles as well to add to the Christmas or holiday theme. We would rate this drink a4/5 just because of how sweet it was, but besides that, it was perfect. We would recommend getting this beverage iced instead of hot because you can better taste the tea and the cold foam doesn’t melt as fast.

Another drink we tried that was definitely one of our favorites is the Peppermint White mocha. This tastes similar to the Peppermint Hot Chocolate, mostly because of the peppermint aspect, but this one was even better. We can both confidently say that this beverage is a 5/5 and could drink this drink over and over again. We wish that this drink was on the menu year round because of how delicious it is. If you are a coffee lover, this is the drink for you as it is both sweet and energizing from the caffeine. The flavor is so tasty that it is gone so fast. For this drink, we would recommend getting it hot instead of iced. Out of all the drinks on the Christmas menus for both Starbucks and Dunkin, we can both agree that this one is by far the best.

The last drink that we tried was from Dunkin’, and it is called the Cookie Butter Cold Brew. The idea behind this drink was very good and the price was not bad, but when we tried this drink it just did not meet our standards. First of all, the coffee was slightly watery which affected the flavor negatively. The second reason why this coffee wasn’t very good was because the chunks of cookie on the top got really soggy and made the coffee chunky with every sip that we took. The advertising for this drink really sold us and we were both super excited to try it, so these factors were super disappointing after we had paid for a new drink. We would rate this drink a 1/5. The only thing that was good about this drink was the sweet cold foam on top and the cookie crumbles before they got soggy from the coffee.

After tasting all of these beverages, some better than others, we think that overall, Starbucks drinks are better than Dunkin’ ones. Dunkin’ has significantly better deals than Starbucks but we agree that most of the Starbucks drinks top the Dunkin’ ones. Our overall favorite was the peppermint white mocha and the least favorite was the cookie butter cold brew. These drinks help everyone to get into the holiday spirit and keep you warm during the winter season.

By: Addie Strack and Sophie Johnson

We both love pasta, and we decided to try some different sauces and noodle shapes to find the best combination. We tried pesto sauce with macaroni shaped noodles, Alfredo sauce with penne shaped noodles, and tomato sauce with spaghetti noodles. We also added different toppings to each dish like mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and more. In this article we will review each dish, and give it a rating out of five.

Our first combination that we tried was pesto and macaroni noodles. We decided we wanted to try to make our own pesto sauce to try to make it taste even better (the pesto recipe will be linked at the bottom of our article). We also added some mozzarella cheese and cherry tomatoes to top off the dish. We both really enjoyed this dish, but agreed that the shape of the noodle could’ve been different. We thought maybe using bow tie pasta would be better, and agreed to try that next time. Besides the shape of the pasta, we thought this dish was amazing. It was our favorite dish overall, and the homemade pesto made a big difference. The dish tasted fresher, and it was also fun to make the pesto. We would rate this dish a 5/5, and would definitely make it again.

The next pasta combination that we tested out was Alfredo sauce and the shape was penne pasta. Out of all the shapes of pasta that we tried, this one was our second favorite. We agree that penne is the second best because the sauce is more absorbed in the noodle because of the shape of the noodle. The hole in the middle of the noodle allows for sauce to be trapped and makes the dish extra flavorful. The sauce in this combination (Rao’s Homemade) was delicious and we would rate it a 4.5/5. It was extra creamy and the brand we used was extra cheesy and rich which added a lot of additional flavor to the meal. Overall, this dish was really good, especially the sauce and we would rate it a 4.5/5. We would definitely recommend this recipe and would make this dish again.

The last combination of pasta shapes and sauces that we tried was spaghetti with red tomato sauce. This was our least favorite dish out of the three that we cooked, but it was still very delicious and flavorful. There was nothing wrong with this recipe but we both agree that tomato sauce is just not one of our favorites. One factor that could make this dish more enjoyable is if there was a side like meatballs or something that would add more flavor to the meal in the end. Overall, we would rate the spaghetti with red tomato sauce combination a 3/5. It was good, but not the best thing we’ve tasted, and it definitely did not come close to how good both the pesto macaroni and penne Alfredo pasta combinations were.

All of these dishes were super fun to make. We loved being able to test different combinations and toppings, and we have so many different pastas that we want to try. We want to try making our own Alfredo and tomato sauce since the homemade pesto was so good, and we also want to try making a pasta salad. Our one big recommendation after making all of these dishes is to make your sauce homemade. We think that the biggest difference that set the pesto ahead was the fact that it was homemade, and we would love to try more homemade sauces.

Pesto recipe:

• https://www.loveandlemons.com/pesto-recipe/

By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Since the leaves have all fallen, the weather is getting much colder, and everyone is getting into the winter spirit, I thought these pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies would be the perfect way to end the fall season.

These cookies have probably been the best I’ve ever made! They are full of that delicious warm pumpkin taste, the spice of cinnamon, and are coated with the perfect amount of sugar.

I am so happy I found this recipe from TikTok @lillyluvsfall. She has created the perfect cookie for fall, that is so easy to make. I had my friends and family try it, and they said that it was absolute perfection. It really warms up your whole body, and I was delighted to enjoy this treat! Please enjoy making this treat easily from home!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup pumpkin purée
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 2/3 cup flour
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
• I tsp baking soda
• I tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Brown the butter in a large pan then let cool, once done, in the fridge.
3. Once the butter is cool, whisk in the sugar and brown sugar into a large bowl.
4. Whisk in the egg yolks, vanilla and dried pumpkin purée (to dry the purée, just press it on a plate with paper towels) .
5. Fold in the flour, pumpkin spice, salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda then set the bowl in the fridge for 5 mins.
6. Then create the cinnamon and sugar topping by mixing the 1/3 cup of sugar and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon in a small bowl.
7. Roll the dough into balls (about the size of a golf ball) then coat the balls in the cinnamon and sugar.
8. Bake for 10-11 minutes or until baked all the way.
9. Take out to cool.
10. Sprinkle the extra cinnamon and sugar mix onto the tops while still warm.
11. Enjoy!

By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Are you looking for a cozy fall treat while the weather is getting colder? This is the recipe for you! The cinnamon swirl cupcake pairs perfectly with the frosting on top. It is very easy to make, and with perfect results, leaving your mouth watering for more.

I chose this recipe because it looked so unbelievably delicious, and was very quick and easy to make at home! I got this recipe from TikTok @sarahkraffty. She has found the perfect recipe for fall. The moist cake with the cinnamon swirl is perfect with the creamy sweet frosting on top.

I had my friends and family try it and they thought it was delicious. They said that it was very moist, and thought it was the perfect amount of cinnamon swirl. Enjoy this sweet treat for fall!

Ingredients for batter:

• 1 stick of butter (melted)
• 3⁄4 cups of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp of vanilla
• 3⁄4 cup of milk
• 2 cups of flour
• 1 3⁄4 tsp of baking powder
• A pinch of salt

Ingredients for cinnamon swirl:

• 3 tbsp of melted butter
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 1⁄3 cup of brown sugar

Ingredients for frosting:

• 2 sticks of browned butter
• 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 2 tsp of vanilla
• 2 tsp of cinnamon
• 4 tsp of heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Brown 2 sticks of butter on the stove (cook over low heat and stir until it becomes brown), then freeze for later.
3. Mix together the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl.
4. Mix butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar together in a small bowl.
5. Line cupcake pans with liners.
6. Add a small scoop of batter into each cupcake holder, then a small amount of the cinnamon combination, and then take a toothpick and swirl the two together. Repeat once more (or until filled 3⁄4 of the way).
7. Bake for 22-24mins.
8. Take your frozen/chilled butter and whip it until smooth. Then add the sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and heavy whipping cream into a mixing bowl.
9. After cupcakes have cooled, pipe frosting onto tops.
10. Enjoy!

By: Austin Bailey-Zimmerman

Are you looking for the perfect food for breakfast, a snack, or a sweet treat? This pumpkin bread will fulfill your cravings for a fall themed food! This easy to make recipe is moist and the perfect mix of savory pumpkin bread and sweet frosting.

I found this recipe on TikTok @jazzy.leon. She has captured the perfect fall recipe. I had my friends try it, and they thought it was perfect, especially on a chilly day.

Enjoy this recipe from home!

Ingredients for bread:

• 2eggs
• 15 oz of pumpkin purée
• 1⁄2 cup of white sugar
• 1⁄2 cup of brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup of milk
• 1 tbsp of oil
• 2 cups of flour
• 2 tsp of baking powder
• 1⁄2 tsp of baking soda
• 1 tsp of salt
• 2 tsp of pumpkin spice

Ingredients for frosting:

• 4 oz of cream cheese
• 4 tbsp of butter
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 tsp of milk
• 1⁄2 tsp of vanilla
• 1⁄2 cup of powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Add eggs, pumpkin purée, milk, and oil into a large mixing bowl and stir together.
3. Add sugars, flour, baking powder and soda, salt, and pumpkin spice into the bowl and mix it all together.
4. Spray bread pan with cooking spray, then bake in the oven for 60-65 mins. Let cool.
5. Mix together cream cheese, butter, sugars, milk, and vanilla into a small mixing bowl for your frosting.
6. When bread is cooled, spread frosting onto bread.
7. Enjoy!

By: Brennan McMahon

With Halloween happening just over a week ago, lots of kids have to decide what candy to keep and what to get rid of. This is a very hard decision to make so here is a list of the top 10 candies you should keep.

#1 Snickers

Snickers are a very popular candy bar that has chocolate, caramel, peanuts, and nougat. More than 48 million people think that Snickers are the best candy. Warning this candy contains nuts and milk.

#2 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Many people believe that this is the best candy with 42.8 million people liking it. It is the best selling candy in the world. This candy is peanut butter coated in milk chocolate. Warning contains peanuts and milk.

#3 Hershey’s Kisses

This is a milk chocolate candy that is individually wrapped. 42.5 Million people ate kisses in 2020. The first production of Hershey’s Kisses was in 1907, and they make 70,000,000 each day. Warning contains milk.

#4 KitKat

KitKats were originally developed in the UK but are now produced globally. This is a classic candy bar that consists of a wafer surrounded by milk chocolate. Warning this contains milk.

#5 M&Ms

M&Ms are a beloved candy to almost everyone, but most don’t know that peanut M&Ms are more popular than the classic variant. These candies are super good and nobody is upset when they receive them. Warning this contains milk.

#6 Hershey’s milk chocolate bars

This is the classic chocolate bar that everyone knows and loves. The Hershey’s company sells more than 250 million bars each year. Warning contains milk.

#7 Twix

Twix is one of the best candy bars in the world; it has the perfect mix of chocolate, caramel, and shortbread cookies. There are 161 million bars sold each year. Warning contains milk.

#8 Starburst

Starbursts were created in the 1960s by the Wrigley Company in the UK. The USA is where most Starbursts are sold. Over 16,000,000 people ate Starbursts this year.

#9 Skittles

These candies were created by the same company as Starbursts, just 20 years later, and just like them America buys most of them. Their iconic slogan is “Taste the Rainbow.”

#10 Candy corn

Either you love them or you hate them. These iconic candies fall last on our list but there are still more than 35 million pounds of them sold each year. These candies were developed in Philadelphia in the 1980s.

For more information, please visit:

• https://www.inthekitchenwithmatt.com/most-popular-candy-in-america

By M. Ahmadad

The warmer half of October is over, now people are looking forward to the temperature cooling down and getting ready for the snow brought by November and December. Before that, I recommend you try a dessert by Just Jill* (on https://justjill.com) and consider trying this one before moving onto the warmth of hot cocoa.

We already know and love a lot of pumpkin classics, pies, cakes, cupcakes, lattes, etc. so, an apple brownie is a perfect thing to try this month. Apples tasting the best during the fall and with just a bit of cinnamon and caramel if you’d like.

Just Jill’s Apple Brownies

*The recipe/dessert does not belong to me, credit goes to respective owner. The article’s purpose is a recommendation alongside things that I personally add to it while making this dessert

Soft brownies made with vanilla and brown sugar, crunchy and sweet with chopped apples. Brownies are a really versatile and easy dessert, so adding additional things doesn’t take away from the forming of the pastry.

I recommend adding cinnamon and a bit of apple cider (sweetened or unsweetened) into the dry and wet ingredients to boost the recipe’s taste, and chop the apples however thin or thick you’d like depending on the portion you’re making.

A great alternative for those who are tired of pumpkin flavored snacks put in shops and at cafes everywhere during October.

For a link to the recipe: https://justjill.com/apple-brownies/