Hello everyone! It is now officially fall, (unquestionably) the best time of year! I have been soaking up the season so far mainly by enjoying the sunrises and sunsets, watching college football on Saturdays, and cooking + baking a variety of fall recipes. It has been a rather hot September here in Michigan, but it seems to finally be cooling off a bit! There have been a number of interesting sunrises I have seen this month such as the one shown below.

On to discussing some recent eats!

An update from last time on my attempt at brown butter sourdough chocolate chip cookies. They actually turned out amazing, much better than expected! They were probably my favorite chocolate chip cookies I have ever made so will be sure to make them again going forward. I used this recipe in case you have a sourdough starter and are interested in giving them a try!

Continuing with the brown butter theme (because who doesn’t love brown butter??), I made a vanilla brown butter pear baked oatmeal the other weekend which was also delish. Ripe pears are the best! Next time I would also throw in some chocolate chips for added gooeyness and flavor. If you are interested in more brown butter recipes, check out these brownies, this pumpkin grits, and this apple coffee cake.

One of my favorite summer pasta dishes to make – pasta of your choice topped with roasted zucchini + red bell pepper + red onion, avocado basil pesto, and freshly grated parmesan.

I have been obsessed with these fall spice flavored kombuchas that I get at Trader Joe’s. The best!! A new incentive to go grocery shopping and pick one up for sipping while running errands.

One of the egg dishes that I like to make for dinner in the fall involves scrambling eggs, adding in some chopped apple and fresh rosemary, then finishing off with a bit of sharp white cheddar once the eggs are almost done cooking. Rosemary + apple + cheddar = fall flavor deliciousness. Served along with some sautéed brussels sprouts with plenty of olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Classic Juicy Kitchen Greek salad eaten outside on a nice day. Organic mixed greens topped with chopped cuc, roasted red bell peppers, beets, chickpeas, feta, and grilled chicken (I opt for no artichokes or olives). Enjoyed alongside a decaf iced almond milk latte and amazing cherry chocolate chip scone!

My yoga teacher brought in these homemade popsicles for after our extremely hot yoga class – so refreshing! I can’t remember the last time I had a popsicle before this!

Prepping a bunch of our favorite fudgy almond cacao energy bites for daily snacking. Essential!

This Thai yellow mango curry from Minimalist Baker is amazing! Definitely would say it is the best curry sauce I have made.  I followed the recipe pretty much exactly except I used broccoli and red bell pepper as my veggies, used fresno and serrano peppers since that is what I could find, reduced the sweetening slightly, and added some red pepper flakes to up the heat. The fresh mangoes take the dish to the next level! Be sure to plan in advance to give your mangoes adequate time to ripen. Throw in some roasted + salted cashews, layer atop some brown rice + quinoa, top with a bit of cilantro, and soak up all the curry goodness!

Overnight oats topped with ground flaxseed, peanut butter, honey, and strawberries + blueberries. I think it finally may be time to transition to my warm overnight steel-cut oats for the upcoming months…

Such a good frittata combo! Roasted + chopped sweet potato, corn, jalapeño, red bell pepper, and yellow onion, along with shredded cheddar. Served along with a side salad and a roasted potato medley with avocado oil, salt + pepper, garlic powder, and plenty of paprika!

Finally, some recent nighttime snacking! I have been enjoying some decaf black tea with a bit of homemade cinnamon date cashew milk along with my favorite chocolate bar. Superb!

Everyday Enjoyment:

Reading update: Currently reading Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard, Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis (for my book club), and re-reading Life Without Ed by Jenni Schaefer. I also recently read An Apple a Day: A Memoir of Love and Recovery from Anorexia by Emma Woolf. I have been reading (or re-reading) more eating disorder related books and memoirs lately which has been fascinating!

Head wrap cold pack: If you tend to sleep hot like I do, consider giving this cold pack a try! I have been incorporating this more as I am reading before bed and it seems to help me fall asleep easier and stay cooler. That along with my weighted blanket and keeping the temp turned down!!! I also tend to get a lot of tension in my forehead so the head wrap is helpful for that too.

Fall flowers + pumpkins: Enjoying all the outdoor fall decor! I am a fan of the purple mums we got for our front porch.

Book recommendations??
Fall recipes I should try?

Have a fabulous week!