Hi everyone! Happy September!
Mabel "helping" rake leaves
My favorite season, hands down, is Fall. I enjoy all seasons for various reasons (rhyme), but I really do look forward to Fall the most of any time of year. There’s always that “back to school” feeling of fresh starts & new opportunities – even though I’m long done with school! Then there’s apple orchards. Leaves changing from bright green to those gorgeous jewel tones. That crisp smell in the air. Pumpkin muffins. Halloween. Fuzzy sweaters. Hay rides. My birthday. Thanksgiving. And then there’s what are probably my favorite activities of all: Cuddling up on a cool, cloudy day with a book & a cup of tea, or a movie & some mulled cider! Isn’t that the best?!
Although I’m sure there will be many more warm days ahead of us throughout September & into October, today is cool & rainy, so I wanted to welcome the impending Fall season with a list of my favorite Fall movies, accompanied by a recipe for my favorite Mulled Apple Cider. Keep in mind that I’m not suggesting that these movies are artistic masterpieces or award-worthy; in fact, I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that I like some of them, to be honest with you… 
(We’re in the Trust Tree here, right? Please don’t judge me!) But they’re my favorites nevertheless!
Sleepy Hollow: Johnny Depp? Tim Burton? Quirky, brooding mystery centered around Halloween time? Sign me up! I love the story, and the scenery is gorgeous. It sets that perfect cozy “mood” for Fall.
Death Becomes Her: I totally adore Meryl Streep & Goldie Hawn, so this movie is definitely my style. It’s funny, campy, and a little bit spooky.
Practical Magic: This is a cute, funny movie about two sisters (Nicole Kidman, pre-frozen Botox face, and Sandra Bullock) who come from a long line of witches. Kidman embraces her magical powers, while Bullock resents them, until they come in handy. It’s a bit of a “chick flick,” but Stockard Channing plays the sisters’ aunt, and I just love her.
Hocus Pocus: Another movie about a family of witches, this time a trio of sisters who magically come back to life in modern-day Salem, MA, 300 years after being hanged during the witch hunt trials. This is a total little kid movie (remember how I said I was embarrassed to like some of these?!), but it’s one I grew up watching so it’s still fun for me to watch around Halloween each year.
My So-Called Life: I know, I know – so this isn’t a movie, but a television show. Still, it’s one of my favorite television shows of all time & I tend to watch it a lot during Fall, so I would be remiss not to include it in my list here. It is absolutely brilliant, and now in my mid-twenties, I can relate to both the teenage & adult characters, and their questions & musings about life. It’s such a shame that this show lasted for only one season!
Edward Scissorhands: Another Johnny Depp/Tim Burton collaboration that is so touching & beautiful. It’s actually a really good movie to watch during Winter, too.
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs: A Tale of Terror: Ooookay, so this is definitely a movie that is embarrassing for me to admit to liking (loving) – but I just have to include it because it’s a great movie for this time of year. I’m not saying you should go out & buy it (though I own it…), but throw it on your Netflix queue & enjoy it during a cozy evening on the couch. It’s a re-imagining of the classic Grimm Brothers’ story, and this version is actually a lot truer to the original tale than Disney’s cutesy version.
Son-In-Law: The only Pauly Shore movie I can stomach, let alone enjoy! This makes me almost die laughing, and my family quotes it a lot more than is probably healthy. It’s set at Thanksgiving time in the Midwest, so it’s near & dear to me. 
And now for the cider!
Ingredients:
- 8 cups apple cider (make sure it’s just apples with no sugar added)
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- Tiny splash of vanilla extract
- 2-3 cinnamon sticks (I love cinnamon, so I use 3)
- 10 whole cloves
- 8 whole allspice berries
- Half an orange, quartered
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Heat over medium until the mixture is simmering, but not boiling. Turn the heat down & simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain out the spices and pieces of orange. (Alternately, you can combine all the spices in a cheesecloth instead of throwing them in loose, but I never bother.) Serve hot, adding a stick of cinnamon to each mug if you want to be fancy. Leftovers can be kept covered in the fridge & reheated later.
Yield: Enough to fill about 6 mugs
What are some of your favorite fall movies? How about favorite Fall treats or favorite Fall-related things in general? Am I crazy for loving Fall so much?!
Hah growing up Son-In-Law was mine and my brother’s favorite movie. We definitely still quote it all the time!
Thank you for bringing back Pauly Shore… how on Earth did I forget about him??
I looove Edward Scissorhands and Cider- can’t wait to give this recipe a whirl- hooray for Autumn!
It’s hard to go wrong with a Johnny Depp movie period
My husband loves to make cider, I’ll have to bookmark this one!
Aww i remember Hocus Pocus! I love that movie
Also, that apple cider looks amazing 
but i don’t want fall to come yet! Summer is my favoritee
I looooooove Fall! Yippy! Can’t wait!
Mmm, cider!!!! 
I have never had mulled cider before, can you believe that?! I must try it as it sounds super cozy for fall!!
Sleepy Hollow is best! Perfect for fall!! Some of those other movies I haven’t seen so I’ll have to check them out.
I’m soooo ready for fall. I’ve got a new sweater, canned pumpkin, and lots of time for movies!!!
Little Mabel is SO adorable! I love seeing pics of her! “Charlotte’s Web” always reminds me of fall because they would play that leading up to Thanksgiving when I was a kid!
I can’t believe September is here already!
My go-to cider recipe is similar but I throw everything in the crock-pot — it’s great for a crowd in the late fall or winter.
Great idea! How long do you cook it?
You so do not have to be embarrassed about those movie choices. Sleepy Hollow, Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, and Son-in-Law are all some of my favorites, too. Especially Hocus Pocus, that movie is awesome. BTW, for a good, cheesy adventure at Christmastime you should check out Jingle All the Way.
Ugh, I’m so not ready for fall… But this cider sounds so tasty, it will definitely ease the transition.
[...] More for Nick & me, I guess! Your loss, Mabel. Your loss. We had steaming hot mugs of Mulled Apple Cider for dessert, and then went for a long walk to enjoy the gorgeous Fall weather we’re having [...]
Oh, I so love the Fall, too!
Sometimes I get funny looks saying that aloud, specially in a country where the summer is so short and, therefore, you should never look forward to its ending. I love the crispy, fresh air and bright fall mornings, the colors, the scents, all the harvest, candles in the dark evenings, and even the rain and storms by the seashore. 
Thank you for the cider recipe – I can’t wait to try it! I’ll also look into some of your favorite fall movies, some of which I haven’t seen yet.
Fall is also my favorite season too. I totally agree with you, there is nothing like a trip to the apple orchard in the Fall. I’m originally from Detroit and have lived in the Twin Cities for the last 6 years. I have yet to find an apple orchard that I love. Any recommendations? Thanks!
That apple cider sounds delish. I might have to make some!
Just became a subscriber today! The apple cider recipe sounds delicious, and I agree with the movie choices – Sleepy Hollow and Hocus Pocus are awesome for setting the Fall mood. Also, My So-Called Life is the BEST! I recently moved and didn’t have cable for awhile, and I ended up watching the entire series over again, since I have it on DVD. Love it – debating about dressing up as Angela Chase for Halloween.
Oooh, that’s a great idea! You better find a Rayanne, Ricky, and Jordan.
Well I am going to go ahead and disagree.
Personally I dislike fall…. a lot! 
I hate retiring my sandals and digging out my socks again, putting on a coat before I go outside, and just being chilly in general. I would take a 100° day over a 50° day anytime! And most of all – I dislike that fall means winter is right around the corner! Boo!! Especially in MN…. I hate the -20° days that winter brings, the heavy snowfalls that bury our cars in a foot of snow and make the roads dangerous to drive on… the ice that collects on the windows, and needing to put on wool socks, snow boots, a heavy coat, scarf, hat & mittens and STILL be cold when you get outside!!! ugh.
I know I should have moved out of MN years ago but now I have a home, a career a fiance and a son so I can’t pick up and go
[...] As I have mentioned, I absolutely adore Fall. I don’t need to rehash all the reasons why, but one reason is this: Pumpkin. Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin scones, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie… Yum! And pumpkin is not only delicious; it’s full of fiber & vitamin A! [...]
[...] is flying by at a ridiculous pace… It seriously feels like just yesterday when I posted my list of favorite movies for Fall (along with a recipe for mulled apple cider) – but that was almost two months ago! [...]
[...] Mulled Apple Cider – I feel like people who don’t drink alcohol often get left out of the beverage fun, so it’s nice to have options for them, too! This is a warm, spicy treat that is enjoyed by kids & adults alike. [...]