Slow Cooker Recipes for Fall

Make these tasty slow cooker recipes using your favorite fall fruits and vegetables.

Fall is a time for warm, hearty meals—and what better way to prepare them than by using your slow cooker? Simmer these fall-ingredient (think pumpkins, apples and squash) slow cooker recipes in your pot, and you’ll stay warm into the winter. Apple Crumble Crock-Pot Recipe Ingredients: 4-5 cooking apples, peeled and sliced 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1/2 cup flour  3/4 cup rolled oats 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 4 tablespoons butter, softened Directions: Lightly butter the Crock-Pot and lay the apple slices at the bottom of the pot. Combine the sugar, flour, rolled oats, nutmeg and cinnamon, and cut in the butter. Sprinkle the topping over the base of apples. Cook on low or auto for 3-5 hours. Slow Cooker …

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PUMC Fall Festival Benefits Both at Home and Across the Globe

The Portsmouth United Methodist Church holds its annual fall festival on Saturday.

The feel of fall was in the air for the Portsmouth United Methodist Church (PUMC) Fall Festival on Saturday. Inside the church, the festival featured a silent auction, children's room, plant room, "attic treasures," craft room, luncheon, jewelry, books and baked goods. Out on the front lawn of the church,  gourds and pumpkins served as a bright eye-catcher in front of the white church to welcomed guests. Heather Nicholson, a senior at Portsmouth High School, is the coordinator of the pumpkin patch. The patch, open now until Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday, is a fundraiser for Nicholson's senior project. Money collected from pumpkin sales will go to help fund a mission trip to Kentucky. For the past six years, the youth group at …

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Portsmouth Living

Playing the Thermostat Waiting Game

Is it time to turn on the heat yet? Not in our house.

With all the stormy and damp weather we've had over the last few days, it's official.  My husband and I have begun to get our yard and house ready for winter.   The lawn furniture is put away and the garden has been tilled. My husband has even put some of the storm windows down. Our boiler has had its yearly maintenance, the chimney has been swept, and our firewood is stacked and ready to go. The mums and pumpkins decorate the front yard. Now begins the proverbial staring contest with the cold weather that every New Englander knows so well. How long before we turn on the heat?  It's something we all do. I hear things like, "Turn on the heat? It's only October!" or "Sure, it's 50 outside, but 60 degrees in the house is warm!"  As though …

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Scott Pickering

11:37 am on Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Christina, I'm with you. I can't believe it, but we haven't turned the heat on yet either. Last year my wife cranked it up in September, so it's amazing that this woman who huddles under a blanket every night has not resorted to firing up the oil burner yet. Can we make it to Nov. 1? I doubt it. Time to set aside piles of money for the oil company ...   more ›

Wunderbar Oktober!

The Knights of Columbus celebrate fall with Ocktoberfest held Saturday at St. Barnabas Church.

The Knights of Columbus celebrated the coming of fall in style with an Oktoberfest-themed dinner held Saturday at St. Barnabas Church. The Portsmouth community that came to the gathering were fed lots of bratwurst, frankfurters, beer pretzels, potato salad and sauerkraut, along with beer and wine. The children gathered together for some Halloween-themed craft projects. Some even dared to hit the dance floor as Oktoberfest-themed music blared through the stereo. Volunteer John Ogaru was enthusiastic about the occasion. "This is our first ever Oktoberfest and hopefully we can make it a tradition in years to come," he said. In the past, the church has hosted events like fish dinners for Lent and youth activities throughout the year, but …

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Falling Back In Love With Autumn

One local resident discusses why she enjoys the fall season, especially as a grownup.

If you have turned on the television in the last month, I am sure you have seen the ads.  From pens and pencils, to binders and clothes, it can only mean one thing - it is almost back-to-school time.   As a child, the first day of school was an exciting time. I was always anxious to wear my new school clothes and to use my new book bag.  Wondering who would be in my class and catching up with friends about each other's summer vacations.  As an adult, I still get excited for back to school time. Only now, it is for a different reason.  It is autumn in New England. As the days grow shorter and the air turns cooler, magic happens. As the sun rises, it sets the sky on fire so that it becomes a beautiful wash of red, orange and pink.  The crows…