september musings
seasonal thoughts and feelings and of course, food.
We are more than halfway through the month, and I am very much committed to staying in the moment as much as possible.
I am someone who used to wish away summer, banishing in my mind, the overheated days and dry winds, wanting autumn to just get here already. But then I became a mother, and the days started to spin by a little too fast. I really just wanted them to last, so now I take each season as it comes and completely lean into what each season offers.
But autumn is truly my favorite season, and I look forward to what each day brings.
I've spent the latter half of August and this current month of September really getting back into the kitchen and the joy of making things. This isn't to say that I didn't cook during the summer because I absolutely did, but I truly love to bake and when you are deep in the throes of high temperature days, turning on the oven doesn't sound quite that appealing. But the temps have cooled, and I've thrown my apron on, and I am in my happy place.
One recipe I did make that was more summery but honestly you could have at any time of the year, is this tasty salad from Half Baked Harvest. It is called the Parmesan Tahini Salad with Breadcrumbs and Crunchy Chickpeas. Oh my word, the flavors in this salad were absolutely phenomenal and the seasonings of the chickpeas just added to the goodness. Highly recommend making this if you enjoy Caesar salads but want to kick it up a notch.
I also made taco bowls quite a bit towards the end of summer as they are quick and easy to make, and perfect for that transitory time between the last days of summer and the peeking around the corners of autumn. Using guacamole, pico de gallo, and a generous garnish of cilantro make this bowl so delicious! We had these with tortilla chips on the side, no amount is too many!
A tradition I started a few years ago is to bake a batch of pumpkin bread at the beginning of September, to just usher in the change in calendar as well as welcoming in the beginning stirrings of a new season. We still take each moment day by day, but there is something comforting about pumpkin bread and the memories that it evokes. I also made pumpkin muffins (pictured above).
I am so looking forward to pulling out my cookbooks and getting lost in recipes and ideas for my family. I love to cook and bake, and it makes me happy to love on my family in this way. I love the way ingredients come together, and I look forward to all the soups, casseroles, and cookies that I will be making.
What dish, sweet or savory, are you looking forward to making this autumn? Let me know in the comments 😊 I will be attempting my first apple pie, so any tips, tricks, or tried-and-true recipes are welcome!
If you enjoyed this post, you might like:
Have you ever tried pickled onions on your tacos, or taco bowls? I love the little pop of acid and slight onion flavor they impart. Plus, they're just pretty :-)
I make pumpkin swoon, a pumpkin cookie with a caramel icing (you can find the recipe in my posts). Just made an apple pie yesterday. I use McIntosh apples and love a crumb topping. I can DM you the recipe if you want.🍎