Chocolate Witches Hats

In an attempt to be festive & Halloween-y,

I made some simple witches hats...

(an idea I spotted on Pinterest)

At first I was a little disappointed at the blemishes & marks in the chocolate,

but quickly realized that it just gives the "hat" a more tattered look...

the more blemishes, the better!

Happy Halloween...a couple days late...  :)

Chocolate Witches Hats

Fudge-striped shortbread cookies

Chocolate kisses

Orange frosting (I used a simple buttercream frosting--next time I'll make my orange darker!)

Pipe orange frosting around the circle on the bottom side of the cookie (for piping the frosting, I used a ziploc bag and cut off the corner).  Place a chocolate kiss on top.

Fall Apple Dip

This is a classic autumn snack that I permit myself to make once a year.

One of those recipes where you mix crisp & crunchy local apples

with

sweet & creamy dip.

This was something else I brought to that baby shower recently helped with (sorry for the lame picture in a dark room!).

I used walnuts this year, but salted peanuts are my very favorite garnish for a sweet & salty yumminess!

Fall Apple Dip

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla

1/2 cup salted peanuts or walnuts (optional)

Beat all ingredients, except for nuts, together in a bowl.  Add nuts, if desired, and serve with apple slices.