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FUN FALL FACTS Fall is upon us! Here are three fun facts to help you fully embrace the season of pumpkins and changing leaves. 1. The largest squash on record to-date weighed 1,486.6 pounds. Think about how much butternut squash soup could be made with that! 2. When leaves change colour in the fall, they are actually becoming their true colour. In the summer, the chlorophyll takes over and causes them to turn green. 3. Pumpkins are grown on every continent of the world except for Antarctica. Courtesy of www.todaysparent.com LIFE IMITATES ART Canadian museum worker Marie-Hélène Raymond is the latest in a growing trend of Instagrammers who dress to match famous works of art, photograph themselves next to the paintings and post the images online. Raymond dresses as characters in portraits or in clothing that matches the patterns and colours of landscapes. To create the matching outfits, she’ll often paint clothing herself. Some of the most striking images include Raymond dressed up as the character in Jean Paul Lemieux's Tourné vers le cosmos and wearing an outfit that has part of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch painted on it. To see more of Marie-Hélène Raymond’s images, you can visit her Instagram profile at https://www.instagram.com/mhraymond. A IS FOR ART DECO As with so many design styles, art deco began as a rejection to a previous trend – art nouveau. Whereas art nouveau was influenced by nature and fluidity, art deco borrowed from more linear design styles such as cubism, modernism and futurism. Originally popularized in the 1920s, art deco embraced manmade materials as well as the use of metals, lacquer and zigzag patterns. One of the most famous North American art deco buildings is so iconic you may not realize it’s art deco at all. New York’s Chrysler Building was completed in 1930 and briefly stood as the tallest building in the world. Clad in steel and decorated with a multitude of metal ornaments, including gargoyles, replicas of radiator caps and eagles, the building is both futuristic and a nod to Gothic-era cathedrals. Other well known examples of art deco in architecture include the Empire State Building, France’s Palais de Tokyo and London’s Hoover Building.

JALAPEÑO POPPER STUFFED PRETZELS

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INGREDIENTS 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup warm water 1/4 ounce (1 packet) active dry yeast 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 jalapeño peppers 8 ounces softened cream cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1/3 cup baking soda 2 tablespoons melted butter Sea salt 3 cups warm water

PRETZEL DOUGH 1.

JALAPEÑO CHEESE FILLING 5.

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup warm water and yeast. Let sit until puffy, about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup of flour, olive oil, sugar and salt. Mix well. Gradually add the rest of the flour and mix. Dust your hands with flour and transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead until it's smooth yet tacky. If it's too sticky, slowly add more flour. Grease a large bowl. Transfer the dough to the bowl and cover with a damp towel. Leave the dough in a warm area until it doubles in size, about 1 hour. Gently punch the dough to deflate.

Chop jalapeños into 1/4 inch pieces.

6. In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, cheddar cheese and chopped jalapeños. Pre-heat oven to 450° F. Meanwhile, roll the dough into 16 balls and flatten into 3 to 4 inch wide circles. Add a tablespoon of filling to the center of each circle. Fold up the edges, pinch together and roll to secure. Repeat with remaining dough pieces. In a large bowl, combine warm water and baking soda. Stir until dissolved. 10. Dip each ball into baking soda mixture and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 11. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with salt. Serve warm. 7. 8. 9.

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