Taste of Fall

As I’m looking through my most recent photos I’m noticing quite the trend lately…Autumn Flavors Everywhere!!  Clearly I’m not along here as I see pumpkin, squash, and apple inspired dishes all over food blogs lately! 

It all started with a classic, pumpkin bread.  Not just any pumpkin bread though…my mom’s recipe.  Although I’ve “tweeked” it a bit.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread (original recipe in this post)

*makes 1 large loaf.  I have a bigger than normal loaf pan
(about 10”x5”), but you could probably get this into a regular loaf pan…it would just take longer to cook.

Preheat to 350

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup + 2T sugar
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground clove

Wet Ingredients

• 3/4 can pumpkin
• 1 egg
• 3 T canola oil
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup water

Add wet to dry, mix just until combined, and fold in chocolate chips!  I used 1/2 cup :)

Bake for 45-50 min (50min-1hr if you get all this into a regular loaf pan)

Enjoy in the morning with a cappuccino!

   

Next up…Autumn Chowder.  This is one of those recipes that I LOVE, but somehow only end up making once a year.  I guess it’s better that way :) 

Autumn Chowder

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 med. onion, chopped
• 1.5 cups chicken broth or water
• 1.5 – 2 cups yukon gold potatoes, cut into bite size pieces
• 1.5 – 2 cups sweet potatoes, bite size pieces
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 1 cup butternut squash, chopped
• 1 tsp chicken bullion (if water was used instead of broth)
• 3.5 cups milk
• 1 bag (16oz) frozen corn
• fresh black pepper (to taste)
• 3 cups shredded cheese (combination of cheddar and Monterey jack)
• 3 tbsp flour mixed with 1 tbsp water (or more if needed to form a smooth paste)

Partially cook bacon until almost crisp. Stir in onions and cook 3-5 min until onions start to soften.

Stir in broth or water, potatoes, carrots, squash, and bullion if water was used.

Heat to boiling. Reduce head and cover. Simmer until potatoes are tender (15-20 min). Stir in milk, corn, and pepper. Heat to simmering. Mix in cheese and flour paste. Add to soup, stirring until melted.

Serve garnished with chopped scallions if desired.

Then I highly recommend picking up a fresh caramel apple from your local farmers market, farm store, apple orchard…. anywhere you can find one!

I got this one at Wilson’s Farm in Lexington, MA….delicious!

     

And just because…more Bromley pics :)

We call this stance… “The Seal Pup” because he stands and sits with his front paws turned out hehe.

Seal Pup sitting…

Did my last long run before the 10k next Monday!  I was supposed to do 5.5miles and did more like 5.9…so that made me feel good about the 6.2 in my future :)  I’ve also been going on a LOT more walks lately because of that little fluff ball above!  Dogs = instant exercise!

Broke out the boots this past weekend…fall is really here!