Chai Tea

This delectable drink will have you begging for more cool evenings.

Photography and kitchen assistance by Lauren Farello

The Good: Finally! A positive to those frigid winter nights and this recipe makes plenty to share.
The Bad: There are so many spices in this recipe and some of them are not very common.
The Ugly: Cardmom runs approximately $10-$13 dollars per small container!

Suggestions before starting:
The measurements do not need to be overly precise.  If there is a particular ingredient you like a lot, you can add a little bit more.  This recipe is not rocket science and can be altered to your liking easily.
This recipe makes for a great gift!

Pumpkin Dutch Apple Pie

A common holiday favorite with a not-so-common twist!

The Good: If you are tired of the same old pumpkin pie, this is a delicious twist that is easy and quick to prepare.
The Bad: Although it is quick to prepare, this is not good for time constraints because it has to bake for 50 minutes.
The Ugly:  Typical pumpkin pies will turn green with envy when this is the new holiday favorite!

Suggestions before starting:
Be careful not to cut the apples too early in advance because they will begin to brown up.  If it is necessary, cover with the lemon juice the recipe calls for to keep from browning.
Set ingredients from the fridge on the counter before starting the recipe so they will be approximately room temperature when you make the recipe.  This will help the ingredients mix more easily.
If you are like me, you do not like nuts in your pies. Do not worry, just leave them out!  This is true for most pie recipes (with the exception of pecan pie).