Spooky Ube Pancakes for Halloween
Ube Pancake Recipe (with Ube Powder)
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or substitute with oat flour or cake flour)
- 2 tablespoons ube powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- ÂĽ teaspoon salt
- Âľ cup milk or coconut milk (warm, to help dissolve ube powder)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter or neutral oil
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ to 1 teaspoon ube extract (for strong ube flavor and deep purple hue)
Instructions
- Bloom the ube powder:
In a small bowl, whisk ube powder with 2-3 tablespoons of warm milk until it forms a smooth, deep-purple paste. This step intensifies flavor and color. - Mix dry ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. - Combine wet ingredients:
In another bowl, whisk egg, remaining milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and the ube paste.
Add ube extract here as well. - Combine and rest:
Slowly add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring just until no dry flour remains. The batter should be slightly thick. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes for fluffier pancakes. - Cook:
Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat and lightly grease it. Pour about 1 cup batter per pancake. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until bubbles form and edges set before flipping.
White Chocolate Stabilized Whipped Cream
ingredients
- 8 oz (about 230 g) white chocolate bars, not baking chips
- 1½ cups (360 ml) heavy whipping cream, divided
Instructions
- Melt the chocolate:
Chop white chocolate into small pieces and place it in a heatproof bowl. - Heat the cream:
In a small saucepan or microwave, heat ½ cup of the cream until just below boiling (tiny bubbles forming at the edges). - Make a ganache:
Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let it sit for 2 minutes, then stir slowly from the center outward until smooth and glossy. If any clumps remain, pour through a strainer to remove. - Cool completely:
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (touching the surface) and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, until well chilled. - Whip the remaining cream:
Once the ganache is cold, place it in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining 1 cup of chilled heavy cream. - Whip to soft peaks:
Using a whisk or electric mixer, whip on low speed and gradually increase to medium-high until soft-stiff peaks form. The mixture will lighten to a creamy ivory shade. - Use or chill:
Use immediately for frosting or piping. For best stability, chill the finished cream 15-30
minutes before using. It stays stable up to 5 days in the fridge. foodmeanderings +1
Halloween Popcorn Three Ways: Skittles Spark, Vampire’s Bite, and Chocolate Monster Mix
Bright and Fruity – Skittle-Inspired
Ingredients:
12 cups popcorn (1 batch in air popper)
1 c white sugar
1/2 c light corn syrup
1/3 c butter
1 envelope soft drink mix
1/2 tsp baking soda
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 225°F, grease a large baking sheet
- Combine drink mix and baking soda in a large bowl
- Heat sugar, corn syrup, and butter in a saucepan until sugar dissolves and comes to a boil
- Pour hot mixture into the drink mixture and mix thoroughly
- Pour over popcorn and toss
- Transfer to baking sheet
- Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes
Vampire Version
Strawberry Popcorn and Chocolate-Covered mixed
Chocolate Lover Version
Coated with white, green, and purple chocolate. Then topped with M&M or Reese’s Pieces, depending on how you roll.
Exploring Polyamory in Romance Novels

Looking for polyamory in your romance novels? Just looking for something new? Polyamory romances go deeper than “boy meets girl.” They explore connection in its boldest form, layered emotions, honest communication, and the kind of love that expands instead of divides.
If you’re ready for characters who grow, collide, and choose each other in beautiful, unexpected ways… these books are for you.
Polyamorous romance books by Liz Ellyn:
Overruling Judgment
Defending Engagement
Willful Parties
Understanding Different Styles of Polyamory

Styles of Polyamory
Polyamory: Multiple loving partners. Everyone knows and consents.
Ethical non-monogamy: Any consensual non-exclusive relationship.
Open relationship: Couple allows outside s-xual partners, often remains emotionally exclusive.
Monogamish: Mostly monogamous, occasional outside s-xual partners.
Polyfidelity: Exclusive commitment within a group. Faithful to several, closed to others.
Relationship Anarchy: No hierarchy, rules, or labels. Values individual freedom.
Solo polyamory: Polyamorous, no primary partner, values independence.
Polyamorous romance books by Liz Ellyn:
Overruling Judgment
Defending Engagement
Willful Parties
Is Polyamory the same as Why Choose?

Polyamory is a concept that includes many variations of relationships involving more than two people.
Choosing appropriate terms within polyamory is important as language shapes understanding.
Why Choose is more intended to be used as a trope in fiction
Sometimes an author can incorporate both polyamory and why choose in a single novel/series.
Check out these books by Liz Ellyn
Overruling Judgment
Defending Engagement
Willful Parties



