I think I can confidently say that there will no longer be any days in the 100s in Austin…which means it is officially fall y'all.
I crave this time of year… my family comes from Michigan and my heart & soul definitely feels like it belongs in the north. So when the cool breezes make their way south, I am a happy mama.
We bought our house because it has a long front porch with beautiful, tall oak trees. I wait patiently (sometimes impatiently) for that first cold front so I can sit with my coffee and pretend I am somewhere where the trees all turn marigold and crimson.
When fall officially settles in I get inspired to fall dishes. I wanted to share some of these favs with you.
Mac ‘o Lanterns
4 orange peppers
1 box of Banza pasta (or any kind)
8 oz cream cheese
1 ½ cups of white cheddar cheese
1 ¼ cups of half n half (or heavy cream or whole milk)
Kielbasa sausage (I picked one at Sprouts that was nitrate free)
I boiled water and cooked up the peppers for a few minutes, then I cool them down and cook the pasta (I do not overcook this pasta), set aside. Simmer half and half and when it reduces add in the cream cheese, stir until melted then add in cheese. Add in sliced sausage and cooked pasta. Carve cute jack o’ lantern faces in the peppers, then fill them up. These are so simple! The kids will love them and they are healthy! I served with buttery, wilted spinach.
Other favorites for this time of the year are:
+ Mulled Apple Cider {I love serving with slices of orange and cinnamon sticks}
+ Pumpkin Chili {I love making this one for Halloween night, a big batch with neighbors and some cornbread makes everyone happy!}
+ Creamy Polenta Bowl {This one is becoming a family favorite, you can switch up with just about any ingredients…mash polenta with whole milk, shredded cheese and butter, top with pulled pork, ground beef or chicken thighs. I make my own sauce with chopped tomatoes and chicken broth with spices… sooooo good.}
+ Winter Squash Dip – I love this one for Halloween, we serve it in the gorgeous squash. Creamy and delicious.
Pumpkin Bowling – so fun, grab some toilet paper rolls and some small round pumpkins. This is a perfect game to play before trick or treating or on a rainy Halloween night.
Snag the donut – I love old fashioned donuts. These days I make almond flour or gluten free pumpkin spice donuts. Trader Joes has great options for mixes! You hang the donuts on a tree and the kids have to eat them off without using their hands.
Halloween Dance Party – Alexa knows songs like the Monster Mash, Ghostbusters and One eyed one horned flying purple people eater… we just whip out those dance moves.
I love DIY... I may not be great at it, but I love it haha. This year we are a family of mermaids, we purchased a few pieces but are putting this together ourselves and I am so excited. If you are still stumped, check out these costumes...easy to put together and so cute.
We are a rated G family all day… I am not into scary so here are a list of movies if you are like us check these out.
I hope you all are enjoying the cooler weather. This is the time to breathe in the fall breeze, sit on the porch with neighbors with a cup of coffee, go on a walk collecting fall treasures with your littles, and cook or bake up some fantastic meals. Savor each day friends!