Friday Finds | October 16, 2026
Some of life's sweetest stories begin with a little mischief and end with something delicious.
- A Friday Finds Thought
Welcome to Friday Finds | October 16, 2026
Happy Friday, friends!
There's something wonderful about October. The crisp air, changing leaves, cozy reading afternoons, and the irresistible aroma of something homemade baking in the oven. Around here, however, autumn also seems to bring a little kitchen mischief!
🍎 The Great Apple Heist of 2026
If you joined me for last week's Friday Finds, you might remember the Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp I shared in Sip & Savor. I had every intention of making it right away, but there was one small problem.
Someone ate my apples!
Yes, the apples I'd left on the counter disappeared before I could turn them into dessert. Apparently, I needed an apple security plan.
I'm happy to report that the Great Apple Heist of 2026 has finally reached a delicious conclusion!
After replacing the missing apples and keeping them safely out of reach, I made the crisp using a combination of Cosmic Crisp and Honeycrisp apples. The preparation was wonderfully simple, the cleanup was easy, and before long, the kitchen smelled like autumn itself.
The finished crisp was heavenly! Tender apples, a golden, crunchy topping, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a sprinkle of cinnamon made it awfully difficult to resist going back for seconds.
But perhaps the best part was the official taste test.
The apple thief himself sampled the evidence and declared, You can't buy apple crisp like this.
Well, how could I argue with a review like that? I suppose he's forgiven. Maybe. 😂
And because I can never leave a good recipe entirely alone, I'm already dreaming about the next batch. Perhaps some chopped nuts and a colorful mixture of raisins? The possibilities are delicious!
Missed the recipe that started all this delicious trouble? You can find the Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp recipe in last week's Friday Finds!
📚 What's Waiting in This Week's Friday Finds?
Beyond my adventures in apple baking, we have plenty of wonderful discoveries to share!
From My Reading Chair brings three very different stories worth exploring, while our Featured Author, Marlene M. Bell, takes us from a Texas sheep pasture into the world of mysteries, suspense, and unforgettable adventures.
We'll also enjoy a refreshing Sparkling Pear & Ginger Fizz, meet an adorable pumpkin nightlight that's ready to brighten a bookshelf, and tackle a little kitchen personality question: Are you a recipe follower or a kitchen adventurer?
So pour yourself something delicious, find a comfortable spot, and settle in.
Let's see what we discover this week!
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
🪑 From My Reading Chair
Every book lands differently with each reader. These are the ones that stayed with me this week.
🌿 On the Blog This Week
Wolf in the Hole by Judd Spicer
A Story That Stays With You
Some books entertain us. Others challenge us to examine the world, the choices people make, and the complicated truths beneath the surface. Wolf in the Hole falls firmly into that second category. Judd Spicer delivers a deeply thought-provoking reading experience that invites reflection long after the final page. This is one for readers who appreciate fiction that asks difficult questions and doesn't necessarily offer easy answers.
The Connection in Everything by Rich Marcello
Growing Up, Finding Connection
There's something special about a coming-of-age story that draws you so completely into its characters' lives. Rich Marcello's The Connection in Everything explores the experiences, relationships, and discoveries that shape who we become. Engaging and emotionally resonant, it's the kind of story that reminds us how deeply our connections with others influence our journeys.
Cold Hands by Daniela Alibrandi
The Art of Telling a Story Differently
Every so often, a book comes along that reminds me why I love discovering new authors and unexpected approaches to storytelling. Daniela Alibrandi's Cold Hands offers a distinctive narrative experience that captured my attention and stayed with me. It's a wonderful reminder that sometimes the way a story is told can be every bit as compelling as the story itself.
Friday Finds | Featured Author of the Week
Marlene M. Bell: From the Sheep Pasture to the Suspense Page
This week's Featured Author, Marlene M. Bell, proves that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places, including a wooded Texas ranch shared with thirty sheep!
An award-winning author, Marlene takes readers from international intrigue and dangerous mysteries to the heartwarming adventures of Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! Her Annalisse mystery series features an adventurous antiquities appraiser, while her standalone thrillers explore secrets, suspense, and the unexpected.
I've enjoyed discovering the different sides of Marlene's storytelling, and I'm delighted to share a few of her books with you this week.
Explore more:
Marlene M. Bell's books and reviews
✨ Featured Author Spotlight introduces readers to authors whose work has been featured on the blog, along with my personal reflections and a few recommended places to begin.
🍐 Sip & Savor | Sparkling Pear & Ginger Fizz
Autumn doesn't always have to mean apple cider or pumpkin spice! This week's Sip & Savor brings something a little lighter to the table: a sparkling pear and ginger drink with a lovely golden glow.
With just three main ingredients and about five minutes of preparation, this refreshing mocktail is perfect for a quiet reading afternoon or a little seasonal entertaining.
Sparkling Pear & Ginger Fizz
🍐 5 Minutes | 1 Serving | Nonalcoholic
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pear nectar or pear juice
- 6 tablespoons nonalcoholic ginger beer
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Ice cubes
- Optional: pear slices or a lemon twist for garnish
Directions
- Fill a pretty glass with ice and add a lemon slice, if desired.
- Pour in the pear nectar and lemon juice.
- Add the chilled ginger beer and stir gently.
- Finish with a lemon twist and enjoy immediately while bubbly.
A Little Extra Fall Flair: For a festive touch, try a cinnamon-sugar rim. A thin pear slice also makes a lovely seasonal garnish.
Recipe adapted from Carmy at Easy Healthy-ish Recipes.
Visit Carmy for the Original Recipe →
🎃 Featured Find
🎃 A Little Pumpkin With a Lot of Personality
Sometimes the smallest things bring the biggest smiles, and this week's Featured Find certainly fits that description!
Meet an adorable little pumpkin nightlight with a warm golden glow, an expressive face, and the cutest dangling legs and tiny boots. Perched on a stack of books, he looks ready to keep you company through an autumn reading session.
Made with soft silicone, this rechargeable nightlight offers adjustable brightness and touch controls. It's a playful addition to a bookshelf, bedside table, or cozy reading nook.
And if this little pumpkin makes you smile, Dylviw has a few other charming designs worth exploring! There's a more traditional jack-o'-lantern version, plus festive cupcake nightlights featuring Santa and a polar bear. Most are available individually, although a few combination sets are offered for those who simply can't choose a favorite.
This section may contain affiliate links, which help support the blog at no extra cost to you.
🍎 Let's Chat! Recipe Follower or Kitchen Adventurer?
Are you a follow-the-recipe-exactly cook, carefully measuring every ingredient, or a little-of-this, little-of-that kitchen adventurer who loves experimenting?
I'll confess that I'm definitely in the second camp! I've barely finished enjoying my homemade apple crisp, and I'm already dreaming up the next version with chopped nuts and perhaps a colorful mixture of raisins.
Sometimes those little experiments create something wonderful. Other times...well, let's just say there's a reason we don't serve every experiment to company! 😂
Which kind of cook are you? And have you ever made a recipe your own with a surprise ingredient or two?
I'd love to hear about it in the comments!
📜 More Friday Finds
Missed a week? Browse previous editions of Friday Finds for more book reviews, author spotlights, reader favorites, recipes, and discoveries.
Browse the Friday Finds Archive →
Thank you for spending part of your week with me. I hope you have a peaceful, joy-filled weekend filled with good books and little moments to savor.
Until next week's Friday Finds,
Gina
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I try To follow directions when I cook or bake most of the time