Tonight we are  starting our primetime fantasy adventure once more with Neverland and then continuing the the East End.  This Week we will also be adding a fifth day of shows with  the return of grimm and the premiere of Dracula on NBC.  We have a common theme, trust each other. As with alot of series this year we see time and time again lies and mistrust cause burdens that may have been avoided.

Once Upon a Time in Neverland: Nasty Habits

Rumpelstiltskin

We start the night off in Neverland, and get a lot of Neal’s and Rumplestiltskin’s history.  They meet up on their quest to find Henry as Rumpelstiltskin is preparing himself to die for his grandson.  The harns the ink of a squid that can immobilize any magical creature for a few moments.  Once at the camp, they place all the lost boys including, henry in a deep sleep, They take him from the camp but not before Pan tells Neil that his father plans on killing Henry to save his own skin because of the proficy.  Once out of the camp Neil questions rumplestiltskin about it and he admits he originally was going to kill Henry when he tracked him to New York, before he knew it was his grandson. Neil doesn’t  believe his father because of their past, so he freezes  him and runs off with Henry back into Pan’s lair.  Meanwhile on the other side of the island tinker is set to invade  Pan’s  camp but when she ask about their escape plan they admit they have no clue how they are going to get back to Storybrook or the Enchanted Forest. Frustrated Tinkerbell, walks off and tells them if they have a way off the island she would be willing to put “her head on the chopping block” but not before.   Hook comes up with a possible idea, and  leads  the party to Neal’s old cave where they find a coconut  that creates a star pattern on the ceiling, a key to how Neal escaped.  Hook tells them that Neal was a true Pirate that he didn’t tell him how to use it cause pirates keep secrets.

When Neal left, Rumpelstiltskin I cried. It was hard to see Neal not believe his father honestly loves Henry and Neal.”You’re my Happy ending, son” I hope that there is someway that the prophecy will be wrong because I  dont want to watch Rumpelstiltskin pass on. He is my favor character in this series, and to turn inward and give up everything dear to him, I want him to have a redemption. I believe, even villains can happy have endings.

Witches of East End: Today I Am a Witch

In witches of east end, all the girls are having horrible dreams. Joanna  is dreaming that the doppelganger is in her room, Freya is  having sex with Killian, and Ingrid is dreaming that she has to die because of doing the resurrection  spell.  The girls find Wendy down stairs reading the family grimore. They have a brief conversation about what the magic can be, and Wendy says she will teach them how  to use magic, but they have to keep it a secret from Joanna since she would not approve. Joanna joins the conversation and says that they are not allowed to practice and burns the grimoire saying that she has banished the shapeshifter.  Killian begins working at the bar when the glasses on the shelf explodes because freya’s magic comes from her emotions. Ingrid, meanwhile goes on a date with Adam, before running off to the library to try a spell that she writes, but because she is untrained, nearly freezes her self to death.  During a conversation about Killian’s new job we find out he has a tendency to steal Dash’s finances and he apparently has had at least one other. When Freya calls Killian on it he asks if she got the whole story and apparently Dash has a secret.  Freya heads home to wallow in her sadness and finds the shifter attacking her mom she uses the magic she had practiced with  Aunt Wendy to throw a kitchen knife at the intruded and he disappears in a puff of smoke.  With this  Joanna  and Wendy discuss what’s going on and decided it is time to teach them cause it is getting worse.

So definitely getting more into what’s going on in this weird twisted world. I’m wondering what Dash’s secret is. I’m thinking they are another set of witches and the family is a lot older than they are making them out to be. My biggest issue with the series so far is the “doll” depending on the scene the amount of hair wrapped around it changes, which if it grew in each scene then I would think they are gathering strength, but sometimes it seems like there is less hair  than it was in a previous scenes.  Though I am glad at the end we did get a glimpse of who the bad guy really is. I was thinking it was Dash’s mom so my guess was wrong.

So tonight’s popcorn is great for fall, its a applelicious popcorn ball.

Chewy Caramel Apple Popcorn Balls

Caramel Apple Popcorn Balls

Ingredients:

2/3 cup popcorn kernels (or 3-4 bags microwave popcorn)

2-4 Tbsp. canola oil (leave out if using an air popper)

4 cups fresh apple cider

2 cups brown sugar, packed

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup corn syrup

3/4 tsp. salt (leave out if using microwave popcorn)

melted white chocolate, for drizzling (optional)

Instructions:

Pop the popcorn by heating the oil in the bottom of a large, stockpot (6 quart works great.) Turn the heat to high and add the popcorn kernels and stir with a wooden spoon until they start to sizzle. Put the lid on and frequently pick up the pan (with hot pads) and shake as the kernels pop. When the popping slows, remove from heat and immediately pour into a very big bowl. Set aside while you prepare the caramel.

In a small saucepan, bring the apple cider to a boil. Lower the heat and cook until the cider is reduced to 1/2 cup, about 40 minutes. Check after 30 minutes. Pour into a glass measuring cup to see if it’s reduced enough. When it’s completely reduced to 1/2 cup, it will be a bit syrupy. Pour it into a larger, 3-4 quart pan with a tight-fitting lid, and add the brown sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and cover tightly with a lid. Cook for 3 minutes without removing the lid. Remove the lid, being careful not to drop any water back into the pot. Clip a candy thermometer to the inside of the pan and cook until soft ball stage (236 degrees F to 238 degrees F.) Add the vanilla after the caramel comes to the correct temperature. It will bubble up and splatter, so be careful! Stir and pour over the popcorn, stirring with a large wooden spoon.

Eat out of the bowl, or using buttered hands, form into balls and add a stick for easier eating.

Also, you can drizzle with white chocolate for a special treat.