New Fall Recipes

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Nesting . . . yes, that is the word that I want to use when referring to the fall season. I want to nest. I want to stay home and work on things that have been neglected in the busy-ness of the summer season. Most especially I want to explore new recipes. Here are more top 5 recipes that I can’t wait to try out. What are you looking forward to making?

  1. Mel’s Kitchen Café: Dinner in a Pumpkin
  2. Cooking Classy: Chicken & Barley Soup 
  3. Greens & Chocolate: Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Meatball Subs 
  4. Eatwell 101: Baked Four Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Squash 
  5. Cake Wiz: Small batch Healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Setting the Scene

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I am not sure what is going on in your next of the woods but things have certainly transitioned from summer to fall in a hurry. It has been fun watching the leaves change colors and litter the ground in color. The temperature has already been dropping and I find myself turning on the heat in the car while driving to work in the early morning hours. I feel the need to start cuddling up in blankets, wear sweaters and use more of the color in orange in everything I do.

Does anyone else feel like this? Does it make you sad for the loss of summer or excited for the change? I am a fence sitter when it comes to the last question. I really like summer but I really like fall as well. So to help the transition; here is a play list to help ease the process.

What songs do you think of when the outside world transitions?

  1. Earth, Wind & Fire: September
  2. Dashboard Confessional: Stolen
  3. Ed Sheeren: Autumn Leaves
  4. The White Stripes: We Are Going to be Friends
  5. Mazzy Star: Fade Into You

The Fall List

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I have shared with everyone a lot of the places that I love to visit during the fall. The list is mostly made up of places that I can clearly see the transition from summer into fall but there are other places that I love to visit at the start of fall for one big reason . . . kids are back in school and the crowds are less.

What places do you what to visit once the crowds die down?

  1. Disneyland or any theme park: Let’s be honest . . . it is a lot of fun to go with kids especially if it is their first time BUT, theme parks are fun for adults too and more so when you know you don’t have to worry about height restrictions, losing someone to the crowd, or having someone eat the churro you have been craving for a solid year or more. 
  2. Cannon Beach or any coastal town: The beach is at its peak during the summer. Hot temperatures helps regulate your body against the coolness of the water but don’t you just hate planning a day at the beach to have it dashed to pieces because you can’t find a parking spot, a place to lay your towel down, or even a place to bob in the waves without getting hit by someone’s surf board, boogie board, paddle board, etc.? If I have to wear a wet suit to avoid hypothermia, then so be it. 
  3. Hawaii or any island: I lived in Hawaii and I absolutely love it anytime of the year but I loved it the most when people went back to the mainland for the majority of the year. Paradise can feel an awful lot like Los Angeles when there are a ton of people. 
  4. The Grand Tetons/Yellowstone or any National park: This is sometimes hard to do when not the summer months because some parks close for season but if you can manage to find the small window of opportunity between Labor Day and  the season closing, you will love it! The significant drop of cars driving in the parks is reason alone to wait until summer has passed. The park rangers and all other staff providing services in the park are more “chill” and you feel like you are stepping into a wonderland (what a national park should be) instead of getting on a ride at a theme park. 
  5. Salt & Straw Ice Cream or any locally celebrated establishment: Got to love the internet but . . . ultimately that is how everyone learns about the unique things to do in a city they are visiting. Local establishments are great and the locals like them but not when we see a line longer than three blocks. I live for the off-season and the hours of day when even locals are busy with work and school to go and visit the places that I see on the internet as well. 

Upcoming Attractions

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In keeping with my transition into fall; I need to get on the calendar all of the fall activities that I want to accomplish around town this year. Here is a list of the top 5 things I want to attend this year. What do you have going on around your hometown?

  1. The Spirit of Halloweentown: I heard about this last year and of course it made the top of my list for this year.
  2. The Corn Maize on Sauvie Island: Got to keep up the tradition. 
  3. West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta: Yes please! This should be some great picture taking.  
  4. Wordstock: Totally intrigued and I just have to check it out 
  5. Art in the Pearl: I love seeing the creative abilities of others and what a better way to enjoy it then to have it at a festival with great conversation and food.