Fall to do list!

Here is a list of things I hope to do this fall. What are your plans?

1. Go to an apple orchard and bake a fresh apple pie.

2. Decorate pumpkins in alternative way.

3. Have friends over for hot spiced cider.

4. Go for a hay ride.

5. Collect colorful leaves and make my own wreath.

6. Go to a haunted house.

7. Have a scary movie night with friends.

8. Collect pinecones and display them on my thanksgiving dinner table.

9. Make a list of what I am thankful for.

10. Make candy apples.

11.  Go to farmers market for winter squash and make a warm soup.

12 Take a long drive to somewhere new.

13. Go to a corn maze.

14. Send homemade cards to people I care about.

15.Find the perfect pair of boots.

16. Have a potluck dinner.

Continue to see a few of my favorite photos from last fall!

Bruschetta Spaghetti

It’s the end of September and my garden is still exploding with tomatoes. I would say, that this is the first year that our garden has been this successful and I am so incredibly proud of all its bounty. It seems like I’ve got tomatoes growing out of my ears! These tomatoes so plentiful and so beautiful are growing in all the different colors. The gift of this harvest make me so happy. Sometimes, it feels wrong to cook them; ruining the integrity of the wholesome crop, so this recipe really helps me overcome that struggle! When I was little, I used to go get pasta with my Granny Mary at this great Italian place. Every single time, we would both order angel hair pasta topped with fresh bruschetta. To this day, my love for this dish remains unchanged. The tomatoes from my garden have come in handy in recreating this timeless, fresh dish that I adored as a little girl. I wanted to update it a little bit so I decided to add feta and obscene amounts of Parmesan to give it some creaminess.   Oh boy, was it a good choice! Ina Garten happened to have a recipe similar to this childhood favorite, so I was able to pull inspiration from her! Enjoy!

I love all the colors, just gorgeous!

Trend Alert

I am currently obsessed with Zara’s fall look-book. The looks are effortlessly chic, filled with unexpected combos and classic cuts. Two trends I’m SO excited about are the punky plaids and flowing florals. The floral dresses are feminine, delicate, and not to out of the box – making it a trend anyone can rock this season. I am personally OBSESSED with the plaid. A few years ago plaid was condemned to hot topic, flannels, and Avril Lavigne fans but now it just makes so much sense. Why have we left plaid just to flannels for so many years? I love the idea of a fit plaid pant paired with ankle boots and a sleek simple top. I will definitely be wearing both this season. Which look do you love? Read more to see more photos of these looks courtesy of Zara.

Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze

I love scones and I love pumpkin and I love maple glaze so naturally, these scones work for me in every way. They are seasonal, festive and they are delicious. They take almost no time at all to bake, which is just another reason why I love them. Finding a bullet-proof recipe is like striking culinary gold and this is one of those recipes! These scones always comes out as pleasing to the stomach as they do to the eye. These are wonderful and I recommend you make them, NOW!

Cinque Terre the Beautiful

I went to Italy this summer with my man. We visited Cinque Terre which happens to be the most beautiful place on earth. Here are some photos I took, enjoy!

Beet and Sweet Potato Chips!

I must admit that I never met a chip I didn’t like. It doesn’t even matter what kind, I never discriminate. But my love for chips is plagued by calories, fat and too much sodium, so the relationship is a love-hate one. Every time I indulge in this salty snack, I am left with feelings of regret and a bellyache. However, don’t worry! There’s a healthy alternative for all of you who love chips as much as I do! They can be made at home and out of many other ingredients besides starchy potatoes. How about beets and sweet potatoes? Even for all you beet haters out there, give these chips a chance! Made with only 3simple ingredients you can indulge guilt-free, because you know exactly what you are eating. Delicious! All of the flavor, crunch and satisfaction and none of the remorse! Give these a try and include them in your lunches this week!

In honor of Modern Families big win last night at the Emmy’s! Nathan and I went and found the house last week, so fun!

Chicken Soup with Avocado, Lime and Feta

 Almost nothing is better than a hearty bowl of soup on a cold fall day. I also happen to think that avocado, lime and feta cheese make any meal 100 times better. Combine these two simple truths and we get something truly divine. Chicken soup with lime, avocado and feta. Wow! It’s almost too good for words. Make the soup, enjoy the September breeze and you won’t regret it. Happy Sunday!

My Pop clearly loving it:

Pumpkin Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich

I always love the end of September because even though the sun is still bright and warm, the wind begins to blow in cool breezes. This breeze reminds us of the much cooler weather that we can expect in the not-too-distant future and I can’t help but get excited for the spice filled treats that seem to warm up even the chilliest of evenings. I love the calm that lingers in the air as we pull out our favorite sweaters and transition to a season of holidays. Halloween happens to be one of my favorite holidays. I love going to the pumpkin patch. I love the buildup and excitement of waiting for Halloween. Most of all, I love the seasonal treats that make fall so special. When I see the cans of pumpkin puree move forward on the shelves and emerge to the front of the stores I am filled with joy! Like Ive said before, California is still warm in the early fall months, so the idea of eating hot pumpkin pies and desserts seems a little strange. To satisfy both the warm California fall and the pumpkin craving of fall, I made ice cream sandwiches! Let me tell you, these are beyond good! They really are on another level of delicious. The cookies have a cake-like consistency. They are really puffy and light and the inside tastes, very subtly, like pumpkin cake. I decided to fill them with vanilla bean ice cream which compliments the pumpkin flavor beautifully. They are refreshing, but still have that sweet autumn taste so many crave this time of year. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Whipped Cream and Berries

Today was rough, to put it lightly. I woke up with a burst of life because I knew exactly what I wanted to do today. I had every intention of baking this beautiful cake for my boy, as tomorrow is his birthday. The plan was to make a huge, luxurious chocolate cake with chocolate whipped cream and berries piled to the sky. It was going to be perfect and I could not wait to get started. With all the ingredients ready, and with no worries, I began to bake. Although the cake turned out lovely, the chocolate whipped cream was not as successful. I could not get he ingredients to come together and it was a mess. I found myself, literally, on my kitchen floor, sitting against my oven and staring blankly at the wall. I wanted tears to come but they just wouldn’t flow. Pulling myself off the floor, I decided that chocolate whipped cream was overrated anyways and so I decided to whip up some plain, good old-fashion whipped cream. What could possibly go wrong? Well, apparently, a lot. I prematurely stopped whipping the cream and eagerly slapped it on the cake. I had turned my back for 20 seconds and when I turned back around it had completely melted. That’s when the tears finally started flowing. How come it seems that when you want to make something extra special, something ALWAYS goes wrong? Is it just me!? Wiping my tears away, I made a new batch of whipped cream after salvaging the cake from the melted whipped cream mess. And guess what? It turned out to be a really pretty cake after all! Not only did it turn out beautiful, but it is DELICIOUS too! The lesson to be learned: slow down in the kitchen. Taking the time to read a recipe seems like a no-brainer, even for the confident baker, but take the time to read the recipe carefully and follow the directions. Slowing down and following steps in order will ensure that your creations will turn out perfectly. Skip skimming and you will get it right the first try; imagine that!?! Enjoy this cake. After the time it took me to make it, I know I will!

Blueberry Bundt Cake

I love making bundt cakes because they ALWAYS look beautiful. You do not need to spend time frosting, and you don’t need to stress out that its going to be lopsided; its guaranteed to come out looking like a masterpiece. This blueberry bundt cake is super moist and very easy to make. The pop of color from the blueberry makes it extra beautiful and delicious. I cannot wait to serve this for breakfast or drop it off to a friend as a sweet surprise.