Mabon

Fall Equinox: September 22



apple muffins apple head dolls
southern cornbread yankee cornbread


Have the children paint a gourd.
Have the children make grape prints. Have them paint a bunch of grapes and roll the grapes around on a paper.
Have the children dip their fingers in green or purple paint. Have them make several fingerprints to form a bunch of grapes.
Make popcorn the old fashioned way on the stove.
Make corn muffins. I recommend "Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix." It's easy and yummy. Or you can make cornbread from scratch:
Yankee Cornbread
(this is a sweet cornbread.)
1 1/3 c stone ground cornmeal
1 1/3 c flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large beaten eggs
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stri together in a large bowl the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk, half of the melted butter, and the eggs. Stir just until smooth. Put the rest of the melted butter into a 9x13" baking pan and put into the oven for two minutes being careful not to brown it. Pour batter into hot pan carefully. bake for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick should come out of the center clean.
Southern Cornbread
(this is not sweet.)
2 1/2 c stone ground cornmeal
1 1/2 c flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 c milk
6 Tablesppons melted, unsalted butter
2 large beaten eggs
Grease a 9x13" baking pan and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Stir dry ingredients in a bowl and form a well in the center. Pour the milk, butter, and eggs into the well, and stir just until smooth. Pour into the baking dish. bake for 25-30 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean from the center.

Gather Autumn leaves. Arrange on a paper, cover with "contact" paper, and use at a family dinner.
Have the children paint pinecones and tie colorful yarn at the top. Hang up as a decoration.
Have a grape and apple juice tasting party. Have the children sample different color grape juices, apple juice, and apple cider in fancy glasses.
Make apple prints. Cut an apple in half, have the child dip it in paint and print it on the paper.
Apple Head Doll
To make an apple head doll, you need one apple for each child.
Peel the apple. Dip the apple in lemon juice if you want a caucasian doll, don't dip it in lemon juice if you want an African American doll.
Carve out large area, sculpt a nose and cut out a large mouth. These will shrink as they dry.
Let dry for several weeks in a warm place. On top of the fridge is perfect.
Have a grown-up hot glue fiberfil stuffing on for hair and eyebrows, a beard and a mustache if desired.
Purchase or make a doll body with wire and stuffing, dress, and have a grown-up hot glue the apple head onto the
Apple Muffins
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp grated lemon peel
1 cup sugar
2 cups grated apple (about 2 apples)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin cups or put in muffin papers.
Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a medium bowl.
Combine sugar, oil, egg, lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon peel in a large bowl, whisk to blend.
Mix in dry ingredients, then stir in the apples.
Spoon 1/3 cup batter into each muffin cup.
Bake until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
Turn muffins out onto a rack and cool slightly. Serve warm.
Read The Star in the Apple Story
Click here for an apple coloring page.