Fall Fest

The Fall Fest is this weekend in our little town. The streets around the courthouse square are blocked off, making room for cook-offs, music and fun fall festivities. This is also a weekend that is difficult emotionally for me, so to cope I turn to my creative side for some therapy.

After touring around various blogs posted at The Inspired Room this past week, I gathered together some dollar tree finds and a hot glue gun and I went to work - literally.

Project 1: a floral and ribbon swag which I attached to my office door with a clip ring and upholstery nail. Project 2: white pumpkin table top topiaries to adorn the front counter.

Once I was home, I made a quick and easy Apple Crisp.

2 cans apple pie filling
1 box jiffy cake mix
1 stick butter, melted

Place pie filling in a square baking dish. Top with the cake mix and drizzle the melted butter over it. Microwave for 6-8 min. on HI or bake at 350 for about 15-20 min.

Then, I started dinner ...

Maple Apple Chicken
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 c. sliced onions
2 red cooking apples, sliced
1/2 c. maple-flavored or pancake syrup
1/3 c. Italian dressing

Preheat oven to 350. Spray large ovenproof nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Heat on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 3 min. on each side or until lightly browned on both sides. Remove from heat. Place onions on top of chicken; surround with apple slices. Mix syrup and dressing; pour over chicken. Bake 20 -25 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Spoon syrup mixture in skillet over chicken just before serving.

Going to serve some good ol' sweet potatoes along with this tonight.

(Post-serving note: I melted Provolone cheese on each piece of chicken and added a strip of crispy bacon before spooning the syrup mixture, onions and apples over it. Delicious!)

These along with my Quince Spice Paddywax candle burning in the kitchen makes it a fall comfort kind of day at my house. Just the kind of day this gal needs.