For many, fall is a popular season. Cozy nights in front of the fireplace, a cup of steaming coffee on a rainy morning, wool socks and warm toques – what more could you ask for? Dessert, of course. Keep these universally pleasing fall dessert recipes in your repertoire to ensure your holiday weekends and chilly evenings are just as sweet.

No-Bake Pumpkin Pie with Gingersnap Crust

Fall would be incomplete without a pumpkin-based dessert. Even though it may be best known as the finale for Thanksgiving dinner, this delicious no-bake pumpkin pie recipe can stand alone. With a modern twist using ginger snaps instead of graham crackers, you can save on time by substituting pre-made vanilla pudding for the packaged mix.

[More at Reader’s Digest]

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First, my credentials. In Kindergarten, my son’s classmate told his mother, “It doesn’t matter if we’re on time. R— is late every day.” Now in Grade 1, I learned my child’s chosen goal for the year is to “get to school on time.” Not learn about how light bulbs work, or make papier mache, but be on time. So in an effort to liberate my child from the pain of chronic lateness, I’ve discovered a few techniques that work for us – and I’m sharing them here.

No yelling

This impossible-sounding step is so essential you need to internalize it as a mantra, rather than a breakable rule, to make the rest of the routine work. No matter how fool-proof your chart, how attractive your incentives, kids will be their regular non-listening, whining, last-minute pooping, still-hungry, forgot-library-books selves, and you will yell. Because they have it coming.

I’m not saying they don’t. They do. But if you make the no-yell commitment top priority – even higher than being on time – you’ll be more creative and successful at motivating all the other steps.

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Full disclosure: my kids, up until now, have rarely done chores. It always seems so much easier to pick everything up myself at the end of the day. Especially when making them put away their own toys requires so much argument, negotiation, cajoling and “helping” that bedtime gets pushed back.

But here’s what I’ve recently learned: Housework is as essential to your child’s well-being as a seatbelt or a toothbrush. Kids who do housework have higher self-esteem, more competent life-skills as adults and don’t look like dorks in front of their peers when they’re the only ones who don’t know how to button their own coats, make a sandwich or brew Mommy a coffee. By not forcing your children to do housework, you threaten your child’s future attractiveness as a roommate, romantic partner or colleague.

Here are 10 ways to train your child into being a confident, responsible, in-demand adult.

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Most kitchens have a blender, a coffee maker, and a toaster; maybe a stand mixer or a panini press. But what about specialty appliances? Novelty appliances are too good to ignore – make for perfect gifts (gag or otherwise!). Which one is your favourite?

Milk and Cookie Shot Maker

Eliminate the need for dishes with these all-in-one milk & cookie shots. A chocolate lining (courtesy of the appliance’s chocolate melter) prevents the milk from soaking the cookie, so you can nibble at your leisure without worrying about the depreciation of your snack’s quality.

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What was—or is—your all-time favourite Halloween treat?

You might be able to tell simply by paying attention to what you buy this year, since a good portion of adults actually choose the treats they hand out based on their personal favourites. (We don’t, after all, want to be left eating treats we don’t like, should the little ones not show up, right?)

Or check out our list below to jog your memory. And if we haven’t included one of your all-time faves, just let us know!

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