Tips for turning up the volume on classic fall recipes.

But before that, a Halloween drink for grownups!

Welcome! I’m so happy you’re here. If you aren’t subscribed, consider keeping in touch. I'll send you great recipes and entertaining ideas twice a month.

Halloween is for grownups too! Years ago I threw a party and I wanted to make a black drink because it felt like a Halloween thing. Espresso Martinis did the trick, and let’s just say no one went home disappointed (or tired!).

I made a big pitcher for eight, but you can also make individual drinks. Shake together 2 ounces of espresso (regular or decaf), 2 ounces of orange-flavored vodka, and 1 ounce of coffee liqueur with ice.

---

Ask Ina:

“Every Autumn I find myself bored with all the fall classics - butternut squash soup, pumpkin pie etc. Do you have any suggestions for making them a little more exciting?”

I’m with you - that’s why I like to make traditional dishes with a twist. How about adding warm indian curry powder to Roasted Butternut Squash Soup? Roasting the vegetables before making the soup brings out their sweetness and caramelizes the squash. I serve it with condiments like chopped cashews, toasted coconut, and tangy sliced scallions for crunch and extra flavor.

You can use the same idea with sweet potatoes. Adding some spice gives them more flavor, which is why I love the combination of smoky chipotle peppers with creamy sweet potatoes. It’s a great way to bump up the flavor in familiar holiday side dishes, like Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes or Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Orange Butter (Modern Comfort Food, page 178).

And the truth is I’ve never really loved pumpkin pie. So instead, I like to make Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Maple Frosting. Pumpkin is a great base for cupcakes because it keeps the cake moist. They still have classic pumpkin pie spices, like cinnamon and ginger, but instead of sharing a pie, everyone gets their own individual cake. For Halloween, it’s fun to crumble some Heath Bars on top for added crunch!

📸 Quentin Bacon

---

This Week’s Favorites:

• I can’t wait to watch my interview with Itzhak Perlman on the next episode of Be My Guest. He was such a fabulous storyteller! The episode airs this Sunday, November 2nd, at 11 AM (ET) on Food Network.

• I recently read Suleika Jaouad’s memoir, Between Two Kingdoms. It’s an incredible story of her journey, so well written. I was happy to meet her recently with her husband, Jon Batiste.