You've Got Mail

There seems to be a lot of Halloween movies and even more Christmas movies, but we need some movies that carry on the fall vibe while we're transitioning into the Christmas season.  You've Got Mail fits the bill.
Though the story takes place over several seasons, it begins in autumn and is pointed out by Tom Hanks' character, Joe Fox, asking, "don't you just love New York in the fall?"
We are then mesmerized by the song "Dreams" by the Cranberries and the narration of Meg Ryan while the characters stroll past trees covered in burnt orange leaves, pumpkin vendors, and coffee shops.  If you watch closely, you see Kathleen and Joe cross paths several times while going about their daily routines (❤of course, neither of them have any idea they are so close to their pen pal ❤). The characters are bundled up in warm coats and frequently carrying hot beverages. 
For our movie night (or day since this menu would also make a great brunch), we are going to substitute coats for some plush blankets, but there will definitely be a hot drink involved!

First, let's start with a drink!

There are so many coffee scenes in this movie so naturally we are including coffee on our menu. You can make any coffee you like, but I chose a Caramel Macchiato because
it was mentioned multiple times in You've Got Mail, it sounded good, and (as if you need more reasons) we happen to be using caramel in another dish today so why not add it to our coffee too!

Caramel Macchiato

For a copycat Starbucks Caramel Macchiato recipe, try this one from Cookatoria.  I mixed my caramel sauce in with the espresso rather than attempting a pretty drizzle on top and I substituted oat milk for the milk.

Next, I chose a dish featuring bagels as a nod to the film's New York setting. 
I came across this Everything Bagel Strata recipe from Fit Mitten Kitchen and I enjoyed it so much that I made it again a few days later!
If you love the combination of tomatoes and basil, then you will definitely enjoy this strata. I took her up on her suggestion to use cashew milk and instead of the cheddar and feta I used herbed goat cheese. Yum!

Everything Bagel Strata

Now, what would movie night be without something sweet?
We are having an apple dish because we're at the end of apple season so we might as well enjoy them while they last and because one of the best parts of You've Got Mail is the street fair Joe attends with his aunt and brother.  There are rides and games and children bobbing for apples!
  If you need more of a reason to include apples, then Kathleen is shown snacking on one as she chats with Joe on a park bench (go ahead, you can check... I'll wait.)

Samoa Apple Slices

You could keep it simple like Kathleen and just enjoy an apple with your movie, but why not kick it up a notch and try these Samoa Apples from Delish.  
I personally like eating red apples, but for this recipe the tart green apples go perfectly with the sweet caramel topping.

Yes, the Samoa apples are delicious. Yes, you could just have the one dessert and be content.  Or... you could continue with the sweets below!
When Kathleen first meets Joe at her book shop, she has no idea that he is Joe Fox, the owner of Fox Books, and her competition in the business world.  When she runs into him at a party and figures out who he is she confronts him while he is getting food from the buffet.  She is appalled when he scrapes all of the caviar off of a dish and puts it on his plate.
"You're taking all the caviar?  That caviar is a garnish!"
Now, if you happen to love caviar, go for the real thing.  I, however, thought it would be fun to use Fruit Caviar!

Cran-Raspberry Fruit Caviar

Here is a tutorial on how to make the fruit caviar.  It's not difficult, but it is a little time-consuming. The good news is that you can make it ahead of time and just keep it in the refrigerator until you're ready to eat it.
My fruit caviar is Cran-Raspberry flavored, but you could easily substitute another flavor though I would recommend sticking with a strong flavor to cover up the gelatin taste. 
Lastly, as I said before, one of my favorite scenes is the street fair.  The kids get cotton candy and Joe has a plate of something that looks suspiciously like funnel cake.  So we are creating our own funnel cakes.

Funnel Cake 

I used this recipe from Spend With Pennies.  It says it makes two funnel cakes, but I made mine quite a bit smaller and ended up with five.
They are delicious on their own, but they also go well the the Cran-Raspberry Fruit Caviar.  

That wraps up our You've Got Mail menu.  Whether you make one of these recipes or all of them, I hope you have a wonderfully cozy movie night!  

See you next time!