Hellomy Foodie Friends!
Autumn is a beautiful time of year. The colorful foliage with brilliant hues of the trees change to russet and yellow and the warm scents of delicious baked goods.
I remember all the fun I had walking home from school with my friends, kicking fallen leaves with my feet and listening to their “crunching” sounds.
Have you noticed the delicious scents that accompany autumn? Food just tastes better in the fall, and it is fun to cook because the evenings are cool. It is a joy to have the oven going and the aroma of food around. Autumn just calls for something with cinnamon or apples, pumpkins or squash. Autumn is such a wonderful time to bake some of our favorite recipes. Recipes that include; apples, plums, cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel can be featured in warm and comforting cakes and desserts.
How many of us have memories of baking as a child? I have to give my mother credit. Having five children running around the house and trying to get us all to join in to make an afterschool treat was not always a successful feat. Her methodology would include giving each of us an assigned duty with a designated spot in the kitchen. One thing to realize when baking with kids, is that it will be messy…it’s ok! My mother would take a deep breath and carry on as flour went flying or an egg hit the floor or the wall. Selecting which recipe to make included having to use some argumentation skills. What my mother did instead was to let us select two or three recipes, and then put on the calendar when we would make them. When the final product came out of the oven smelling delicious, the five of us would be so proud of what we accomplished. The best part of the experience was sharing what we made with friends in the neighborhood or bringing it to visit another family member, or even just taking about the experience at the dinner table that evening. My mother would smile, even if the experience made her crazy.
There are many wonderful autumn traditions to bring in your home to help you embrace this beautiful season. Baking with your family is one of those traditions. As the weather cools, now is the time to get into the kitchen and start baking up a storm. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, to help with the baking supplies you will need to have fun making your creations; from baking pans, to rolling pins, measuring cups, spoons, spatulas, whisks, bowls, cookie cutters, scoops…you get the idea! Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”
Take Care, John & Paula
