Finally the weather is cooling this weekend. And this will help the dry leaves under my feet feel more like fall. Bring on alll the seasonal foods!
Yesterday I made a giant batch of pizza dough for the weekend. We’re going to break out the outdoor pizza oven with friends Saturday night (the lows are expected to be 45*!) The last time I made dough, I followed this no knead King Arthur recipe. Since then I found 00 pizza flour by King Arthur at Costco and the recipe/ weights were slightly different on the package so I followed it.
I have a Big Horn from Amazon and as I’m typing it is on sale for $150. We use it probably 4-5 times a year. There’s a learning curve every time I pull it out. It’s not super high end but it gets the job done and I’ve been happy with it. I looked originally at Ooni but the Big Horn was cheaper and I just wasn’t sure if we’d use it. YouTube has lots of videos for tips.
The best part of the pizza oven is having people over. The adults stand around and make pizzas (they cook in 90 seconds) while the kids run in the yard. We slice and eat each pizza as it comes out of the oven. For me, about 10 people is the sweet spot for making pizzas. Plus the mess is all outside and flour is not on the kitchen floor.
Other fall recommendations:
Maybe my favorite soup of all time: Creamy Golden Chicken Soup. It’s chicken soup with a twist of pumpkin and coconut milk and flexible enough to add anything, really. Bulk it up with rice or red lentils. Use a rotisserie chicken. More or less warming spices, pumpkin and/or coconut milk. Freezes beautifully. Everyone who’s tasted this one raves. Even better with this easiest no knead peasant bread.
Last week I shared Quinoa Yogurt Breakfast Bowls with a Fall Twist. It’s been on repeat here. If you’re into quinoa, make a bit extra and try this hearty salad with chickpeas, spinach, feta and apples. If you have extra roasted sweet potatoes or beets, they would be yum in it too.
Are you a Chicken Pot Pie family? Ever tried it as soup? Or what about Loaded Cauliflower Soup instead of potatoes?
Tailgating? Try these dips; fam fav for a weeknight is this meat and cheese dip.
Of course we mustn’t forget chili, all the crock-pot favs, including roast and potatoes.
Fall Sweets
At least once in the fall, usually 2 or 3 times, I make a pumpkin roll with cream cheese. They look fancy *and difficult* but they are not. I am not an attentive baker and will confess of countless times of not following the recipe (once I doubled everything but the flour and it was fine).
Already we’ve made pumpkin muffins and the easiest ever gingerbread (buttery bar cookies).
I’ve printed and dreamed but not yet found the margin to make this apple cake by Alexandra Cooks. She is to be trusted.
Of course we have been making cinnamon rolls both by the Pioneer Woman (makes a lot!) and this milk dough by King Arthur (the texture is amazing even on day 3).
Fall Scents
Just walking past Bath and Body works hurts my nose. Perfume was something I cut out of my routine before I knew anything about clean living. I stopped wearing it or burning candles because they give me headaches.
Now I know how toxic most fragrances are.
The word fragrance is legally protected under federal law classification of trade secrets and therefore can remain undisclosed. Fragrances may contain any combination of 3,000-plus stock chemical ingredients, including hormone disruptors and allergens. Often formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is included in fragrances.
Beautycounter discloses every single ingredient in their products and would never hide harmful chemicals under the name "fragrance." They’ve created The Never List, which is made up of more than 2,800 questionable or harmful chemicals that are never used as ingredients in products.
The US only bans 12 ingredients.
If like me, you don’t have time or energy to scan all the ingredients or money to test all the options, try Beautycounter for safety and concentrated products that perform. They also offer a 60-day, no questions asked, money back guarantee.
In particular, they launched perfume this week as well as other holiday gift sets.
Mom’s Birthday
My mom celebrated 77 trips around the sun this week. A high school friend of mine planned a surprise by taking her to lunch and Schaeffer and I met them in Lexington. We ate a leisurely Italian lunch and Shelley even brought a carrot cake early to the restaurant! Once home my brother called and invited her to dinner. My sister celebrated her over the weekend. [She’s a gardener and I gave her these solar swaying lights. I have them and they’re so fun.]
I’m so happy to be in Kentucky again. Tomorrow is the St. James Art Fair here in Louisville and I’m looking forward to going, although without Mom. She’s always been super active but since breaking her hip in May she has had trouble with mobility; her back is degenerating and is very painful. We went last year, had a wonderful time and are grateful for the memories.
Life is hard; food doesn’t have to be.
Julie
PS - I love hearing what you’re eating. Let me know when you find a good recipe.