all it took was a rainy day

All it took for me to realize that I’m ready to usher in the wonders of Fall was a chilly, rainy day. Last week we had a couple days that were filled with dark clouds, dreary afternoons, and numerous rain showers. I find these types of days inspiring and was suddenly anxious to bid farewell to the heat of Summer.

I’m a Fall girl. I’ve never hidden the fact that I enjoy my love affair with the season. I love the colors, the smells, the layers, the return of festivals, and the food.
Oh, the food.
When Fall arrives it’s feels like the joy of cooking returns. It brings with it stews and soups and many other comfort foods that only seem to make sense when the weather is a bit more brisk. It’s as if the Earth is giving us permission to pack on a couple extra pounds with the warmth of baked breads, fresh jams, and warm pots of chili that cook low and slow. It’s the type of food that warms the soul and makes me ache to have as many people as possible around my table.
My urge to be in the kitchen returned last week with a vengeance. And, I owe it to that chilly, rainy day. I’ve begun researching and planning all the new things I hope to try this season. I can’t wait to turn off the air conditioning, run my oven for an afternoon, and end the day with a renewed appreciation for pot roast.
It’s almost Fall ~ and my kitchen and I can’t wait!

Ode to the kitchen

I present my top five favorite kitchen ‘gadgets.’ I spend the majority of my time in the kitchen so I figured it was due a pat on the back. I love ya, kitchen. You might just be the most creative place in the house.
1. My beautiful, bright green, cast iron dutch oven. Totally worth the unbelievable amount of money I spent on it.
2. My coffee maker. It gets as much use as the stove.
3. My wooden spoon. But, not just any spoon. I love this one specifically!
4. My extra virgin olive oil. The bottle is nothing special, but
‘evoo’ is all I will use. (hats off to Rachael Ray for the acronym)
5. My cutting boards. Someday I’ll have butcher block…


Ode to the kitchen

I present my top five favorite kitchen ‘gadgets.’ I spend the majority of my time in the kitchen so I figured it was due a pat on the back. I love ya, kitchen. You might just be the most creative place in the house.
1. My beautiful, bright green, cast iron dutch oven. Totally worth the unbelievable amount of money I spent on it.
2. My coffee maker. It gets as much use as the stove.
3. My wooden spoon. But, not just any spoon. I love this one specifically!
4. My extra virgin olive oil. The bottle is nothing special, but
‘evoo’ is all I will use. (hats off to Rachael Ray for the acronym)
5. My cutting boards. Someday I’ll have butcher block…