End of the Year Cheer

I have already seen someone's Christmas tree in their front window of their home. It was well before Halloween (several weeks actually) and was definitely Christmas themed. Where I think people can do whatever they want and should be able to celebrate Christmas early, I do like to think that it distracts us from the other meaningful holidays leading up to it.

Halloween has always been a favorite purely due to nostalgia. It was one of the holidays that was mostly geared towards kids and growing up this holiday was always hyped up. There were Halloween parties at school, dress-up days, and trick-or-treating. You got tons of candy and sometimes fun party toys or other kinds of treats. You got to play pretend and watch others join in too. It was a sort of magic that is difficult to manufacture. I think most people still really enjoy this holiday, but by decorating for another holiday so early on you can forget the true enchantment of it.

And Thanksgiving. It's like we are forgetting this holiday even exists. I think it's so important for us to keep the sentiment in mind, not necessarily the historical significance (though it can be equally as important with the correct facts) of this day. If Christmas doesn't really resonate as the day to be thankful for you and your loved ones being alive, then Thanksgiving surely should be. This is literally the single day in the year that highlights the need and importance of being thankful. If you aren't the type of person who practices gratefulness regularly this can be the day you set aside every year to do just that.

If you haven't heard of the positive effects of practicing gratitude, you can do a quick Google search and find these common themes: reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, enhances mood, and improves sleep. Even a single day to gain a little bit of that? Worth it. Not only that, you could prolong the effects by using Thanksgiving as your jumping off point for the year. Incorporating thankfulness can be a daily practice instead of an annual occurrence too. Lastly, the Macy's Day Parade is one of my favorite things to watch on TV and it only happens around this time. It just signifies to my subconscious that it's almost time for all the yule festivities!

So, throw up your Christmas tree before Halloween. Stock the aisles full of holiday decorations months before the actual holiday. Wish people a Happy New Year in September for all I care. But, if I can simply implore you to remember the significance of each one and what it means, that will be enough. They are cherished parts of someone's memory, maybe a large part of why someone keeps choosing to live on, and/or just a really meaningful time for someone else. We should honor each one not only for ourselves, but for others as well.

Enjoy your holidays and enjoy each other. 👪💝👐

Gluten-free like me? Try these fall recipes!

Want that apple pie taste without the horrible cramps and other unmentionable side effects of gluten? Try this recipe out:

Gluten Free Apple Crisp

First of all, what are the best apples to use in this recipe? Here are some to use: Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, Gala, Jonathon.

Now onto the recipe itself! Here is what you will need:

• 8x8 Baking Dish
• 4 Granny Smith (or your choice) apples - peeled, cored, chopped (4 cups)
• 1 Tablespoon of sugar
• 1/2 Tablespoon gluten free flour (Almond or Coconut)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• Add whip cream or vanilla ice cream when serving to make it even sweeter!
• For the crisp
• 1/2 Cup brown sugar
• 1/2 Cup gluten free old fashioned oats
• 4 Tablespoons of cold butter
• 3 Tablespoons gluten free flour
• Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then spray a medium-sized baking dish (like a 6×9″ or 8×8”) with nonstick spray and set aside.
2. To a large mixing bowl add chopped apples, sugar, gluten free flour, and cinnamon then stir to combine and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
3. For the Crisp Topping: to the same mixing bowl, add ingredients for crisp topping then use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is the consistency of a crumbly paste. Evenly sprinkle the topping mixture over the apples then bake for 40-50 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
4. Let the apple crisp cool for 20 minutes before scooping into bowls and serving with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

If you're anything like me, when I was forced to go gluten-free one of the top things I missed was sweet desserts - particularly of the baked variety. When fall hit, I would especially miss pumpkin related baked goods. So, thankfully, there are ways to make delectable gluten-free options like this one right here:

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

What you will need:

• Loaf pan
• 1-1 1/2 gluten free baking flour blend (Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour)
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder
• 1 Teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 Cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 Cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 Cup olive oil
• 1/4 Cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then spray a 9×5” loaf pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
2. To a medium-size mixing bowl, add the gluten free flour blend, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon then whisk to combine and set aside.
3. To a large mixing bowl, add the pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, oil, applesauce, and vanilla extract then whisk until smooth. Add the dry ingredients then whisk until smooth.
4. Scoop the batter into the prepared loaf pan then smooth the top with the back of a spoon and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Check on the loaf at the 20 minute mark — if the top is already browning, gently place a piece of foil on top (no need to crimp) then continue baking. Since this is a long-baking quick bread recipe, you don’t want the top to burn before the center has had a chance to fully bake through.
5. Let the pumpkin bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes then remove and transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in a gallon size Ziplock bag on the counter. This bread is best served on day 2 after it has had a chance to soften.

I missed pumpkin baked goods, but I have also missed apple ones as well. When autumn rolls around, I crave these two like no other. Thank goodness there are options out there, like this one:

Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Things you'll need to get started:

• 12-cup muffin tin
• 1/2 Cup Olive oil
• 3/4 Cup sugar
• 1/4 unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 1-1 1/2 Cups of gluten free baking flour blend (Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour)
• 2 Teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup shredded apples

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees then line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and set aside.
2. Add oil, sugar, and applesauce to the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large mixing bowl if using a hand mixer, then beat until pale and smooth, 1 minute. Add eggs then mix until just combined. Add vanilla then mix until just combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt then add to the wet ingredient in two batches, mixing until just combined before adding the second batch. Add apples then fold into the batter with a spatula.
4. Scoop 1/4 cup batter into each muffin tin liner then bake for 24-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool in muffin tin for 10 minutes before transferring muffins to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter for 3-4 days.

You can find more gluten free recipes here: iowa girl eats. If you try one out, please let us know how you liked it here.

Credit to: Author Porter, Kristin. "Fall Cooking Bucket List: 50 Cozy Gluten Free Recipes." iowa girl eats, Iowa Girl Eats, October 17, 2025, https://iowagirleats.com/fall-cooking-bucket-list/

Watch these this Halloween

I just wanted to take a moment to share some of my favorite Halloween tv shows and movies that I always circle back to no matter how old I get.

Movies

• Sleepy Hollow (1999)
• Halloween Town (1998)
• Hocus Pocus (1993)
• Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Interview with the Vampire (1994)
• Beetlejuice (1988)
• Practical Magic (1998)
• The Corpse Bride (2005)
• The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• Nightmare on Elm's Street (1984)
• Gremlins (1984)

TV Shows

• Sleepy Hollow (2013)
• What We Do In the Shadows (2019)
• Supernatural (2005)
• Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
• The Walking Dead (2010)
• Charmed (1998)
• Goosebumps (1995)
• Tales from the Crypt (1989)
• Once Upon a Time (2011)

You can probably tell that I am a millenial from the fairly concentrated time range, but I assure you these are worthwhile if you haven't watched them before. Personally, I enjoy rewatching familiar shows because of the nostalgia, making it cozy and worth the revisit. There's nothing more fulfilling than burrowing down in some soft blankets with a warm beverage and indulging in a show you haven't seen for a while. Most of these I would not watch any other time of the year, though you can certainly do that if you want. Yet, it's much more festive to turn one on around this spooky season. I hope this quick list helps you find something new or reminds you of something you want to rewatch💀🍂