Autumn Delight Popcorn Balls

Halloween means pumpkin carving, costumes, trick-or-treating, and of course, candy. While popcorn balls are not exactly your traditional Snickers or M &M's, they are a yummy Halloween treat. These popcorn balls incorporate "Autumn Delight" which is a combination of peanuts, Reese's Pieces candy, candy corn, and raisins. Autumn Mix is currently offered in the bulk bins at the majority of the markets. With the exception of marshmallows, which may be purchased only in Varsity Marketplace, Varsity Morgan, or Varsity Towers, ingredients may be purchased at any of the markets. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this tasty yet simple alternative will cost you $9.92 or $0.33 per popcorn ball. This does not include the cost of cooking spray or salt. Happy Halloween!

Autumn Delight Popcorn Balls
Yield: 30 popcorn balls
Total Cost: $9.92 (does not include cost of cooking spray or salt)

• 8 cups popped Act II Light Butter microwave popcorn (2 2.75-ounce bags)
• 1 1/2 cups "Autumn Delight"
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 bag Jet-Puffed marshmallows (10-ounce bag)
• cooking spray

In a large bowl, combine popcorn and "Autumn Delight".

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in salt and marshmallows. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for 7 minutes or until the marshmallows melt and the mixture is smooth. Stir frequently.

Pour marshmallow mixture over the popcorn mixture. Stir with rubber spatula, making sure that the popcorn is coated well.

Spray hands with cooking spray. When popcorn mixture is cool enough to handle, shape the mixture into 2-inch balls. Cool completely on waxed paper. 

Reviews

Brookies

Homecoming weekend welcomes back alumni 'Dores from near and far. Despite their differences, alumni are united by their love for Vanderbilt and what it means to be a Commodore. Alumni have shared experiences and memories and in deciding this week's recipe, I attempted to determine Vanderbilt's defining food. What I came up with is the "brookie", a Vanderbilt Dining experience and memory most certainly shared by many. For those of you who may not be familiar with Vandy dining lingo, the brookie is a gooey, half brownie and half cookie. Moist brownie and chewy cookie combine to form what can only be put into words as getting a taste of heaven in every bite. My version of the brookie differs a bit in the slightly higher cookie to brownie ratio and reduced overall thickness. It involves five ingredients which may be purchased in either Varsity Morgan or Varsity Towers. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, these brookies will cost you $8.89 or $0.44 per brookie. This does not include the cost of cooking spray.

Brookies

Yield:20

Total Cost: $8.89 (does not include cost of cooking spray)

• cooking spray
• 1 box (17.6 oz) Duncan Hines Double Fudge Decadent Brownie Mix
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with cooking spray. Make brownie mix as directed on box using egg, vegetable oil, and water.

Spread batter evenly in pan and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove brownies from oven. Cut cookie dough crosswise into 16 slices. Place slices in three rows of five slices each. Use remaining slice to fill in spaces between slices.

Bake for additional 15 minutes or until cookie topping is golden brown. As cookie dough begins to bake, after approximately 7 minutes, spread it with a  rubber spatula to ensure full coverage.

Remove from oven. Allow to cool for at least two hours. Cut into 20 bars and serve.

Reviews 
"Oh my God. Oh. My. God."

Strawberry Smoothie

Many of us know someone who has had or currently has breast cancer. In 2011, it is estimated that among U.S. women, there will be 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 57,650 new cases of situ breast cancer. Furthermore, breast cancer deaths are estimated to reach nearly 40,000. October is breast cancer awareness month and the support of sports teams, companies, organizations, and retailers is evident across the nation. In the spirit of "going pink", this week's recipe is a light pink smoothie made from just three ingredients. These ingredients may be purchased at any of the markets and based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this refreshing yogurt and fruit mixture will cost you $7.22 or $1.76 per serving. 

Strawberry Smoothie
Yield: 4 6 oz smoothies
Total Cost: $7.22

• 2 (6 oz) containers Yoplait Original 99% Fat Free strawberry banana yogurt
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup orange juice
• 12 large ice cubes
• 4 strawberry halves, for garnish (optional)

Slice strawberries. 

Place yogurt, sliced strawberries, orange juice, and ice cubes in blender. Cover; blend on medium speed for about 2 minutes or until smooth.

Distribute among four glasses, garnish with strawberries, and serve immediately.

Reviews
"Mmm, tangy."

Stuffed Acorn Squash

It's officially fall here at Vanderbilt and this weekend students welcome the much-needed four-day break that we get every mid-October. Fall break is a chance for students to catch up on studies and rest as we prepare for the second half of the fall semester. Although I am staying on campus for fall break this year, I decided to use it as an opportunity to create a "feature ingredient" recipe for this week. This week's recipe features an acorn squash purchased for $1.00 at The Vanderbilt Farmer's Market, which I highly recommend that you visit. The breakfast patties may be purchased at Varsity Marketplace and all other ingredients may be purchased in Varsity Morgan, Varsity Towers, or Varsity Marketplace. Based upon the calculated cost per serving of each ingredient, this hearty, fall dish will cost you $6.58 or $3.29 per serving. This does not include the cost of salt and pepper.

Stuffed Acorn Squash
Yield: 2 servings (half acorn squash with stuffing)
Total Cost: $6.58

• 4 slices (2 cups) honey wheat bread
• 1/2 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 acorn squash
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 apple, diced
• 2 Morningstar Farms breakfast patties, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons cup applesauce

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Slice bread into 1/2-inch cubes and toss with melted butter. Spread cubes on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Dice apple into small pieces and set aside.

Slice the acorn squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out and discard the seeds. Season with salt and pepper. Place the squash, cut side down, in a glass baking dish. Add about a 1/2-inch of boiling water in the bottom of the dish and bake in oven for 20 minutes or until soft. 

Meanwhile, heat apple juice and butter in frying pan over medium heat. Add the diced apple and breakfast patties. Saute for 5 minutes or until apples begin to soften. Use a spatula to crumble the breakfast patties. Add the honey, maple syrup, and raisins to the pan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for an additional 3 minutes. 

Remove the mixture from the heat and toss with the bread and applesauce until well moistened. If needed, add salt and pepper to taste. Stuff the squash halves with the mixture and place cut side up in the glass baking dish. Make sure that all excess moisture has been removed from the dish. 

Bake for 20 minutes, until the filling begins to set up and is golden on top. Remove from oven and serve warm.

Reviews 
 "Very seasonally festive."
 "Better than acorn, better than squash."
"So good I even ate the skin!"