You Know it’s Early Fall When…
You step out onto your porch in the morning and are met with chilly air.
But by mid-afternoon, you’re in shorts and break a sweat just by walking from your apartment to your car.
You have fierce smoothie cravings.
But need a cup of hot tea afterwards.
You want to include pumpkin in everything you eat (or drink).
But are still plowing away at your peach supply.
You long for scarves and sweaters.
But jeans feel so constricting after wearing dresses, shorts and skirts for the past 4 months.
Or maybe my jeans just don’t fit…
Well, there’s not much I can do about the jeans, but I do know how to take care of those pumpkin and smoothie cravings with just one recipe.
Early Fall Pumpkin Smoothie
Get it while it’s hot… er, cold? Who knows!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 banana
- 4 ice cubes
- 1/4 cup pumpkin
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
Method:
- Blend flour, milk, peanut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, banana and pumpkin on high until well mixed.
- Add ice cubes and blend again on high.
- Add chocolate chips and blend on low just until chunky.
I topped mine with more peanut butter, granola and homemade coconut butter.
Yeah, you heard me right. Homemade.coconut.butter. Good lord, so good.
Also I feel you should know I started this post while drinking a smoothie and now I’m ending it while drinking tea. Early fall is a very confused time.
*************************************
Finish this sentence: You know it’s early fall when…
Just a Taste
Well, this holiday weekend is off to a good start.
We just got back from our long run and I’m happy to report it was quick and painless. There was no one to cheer me on this time, but the 9 miles flew by anyways. Oh, right, remember how I said I was doing a 10K step-back run this week because I had to work early today? Yeah, that’s next week so another 9 it was. I’d say it went pretty well for not being all that mentally prepared.
Last night Joey and I went to the Taste of Colorado with our favorite couple, Hannah and Josh.
It’s basically just a giant street fair with tents selling everything from food to art to wooden roses(?). You buy tickets at the start and spend them at the food booths, where you can buy a regular portion, a meal portion, or a small “taste” portion for a few tickets.
Hannah and I felt it necessary to take a picture with this copper cowboy.
Awkward…
Then we got to tasting.
Hummus sandwich taste.
I thought this hummus was pretty dang good.
The other three got tastes at an Italian booth.
Meatball sandwich taste.
Hannah had a taste of what I think was the thickest piece of pizza I’ve ever seen.
It’s not a Friday night without some alcoholic beverages.
My pomegranate mojito and Hannah’s “Tangerita.”
Um. Delicious.
Beer for the boys.
I don’t know what’s so funny about beer, but apparently it’s something.
Shrimp taco taste.
We thought the tacos tastes were the best bang for your buck… er, ticket.
And get this. They were giving out free Chobani!
Free Chobani makes me want to make that face while eating it too.
We may have gone back more than once.
We also played a giant game of Yahtzee, trying to win a free flight from Southwest.
Sorry, but no dice. Pun intended.
At this point it had started sprinkling, but we I didn’t mind because I had cupcake on the brain.
Gave my last bite to Joey and grabbed a piece of Hannah’s strawberry kettle corn.
Joey got some fondue and I stole the pineapple piece 🙂
Blacklight art was viewed on our way back to grab me what I really wanted.
A veggie dog from Mustard’s Last Stand, a Boulder original!
I kind of reminded me of those hot dogs that used to come in Lunchables, though…
I’m off to the Boulder Farmers’ Market with my family because my uncle’s in town from New Orleans! The last time he was here was right after Katrina. Let’s hope this time it’s a little more relaxed, eh?
*****************************
Do you have a “Taste of” festival where you live?
What are your Labor Day weekend plans?
Rhubarb Peach Jam
I wasn’t kidding about the peach recipe.
I swear I’m living proof that you don’t really have to know exactly what you’re doing in the kitchen.
Many times I go to the store with the intent of buying jam and stare at the jars for far too long, hoping if I stare for long enough the prices will magically drop. And that ascorbic acid will disappear from the ingredient list.
Can someone please tell me what ascorbic acid even is?
I’ve made my own before so I figured I could do it again. Jam that is, not acid.
And since I’m clearly on a peach binge…
Rhubarb Peach Jam
For those of use who know nothing about pectin or canning and just want something clean and simple to spread on a piece of toast.
Ingredients:
- 1 large juicy peach
- 3 pieces (stalks? stems?) of rhubarb
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Method:
- Slice peach and rhubarb into small chunks and toss in a pot over medium heat.
- Add sugar and water and let simmer until fruit is soft and mixture is thick. Stir every so often.
*I added the water a little bit at a time. Be careful, a little goes a long way.
**Is rhubarb technically a fruit? There’s no seeds…
***Is this even really a recipe?
My favorite recipes are the ones that allow me to forget things on the stove while I go about my business. This recipe falls under that category. It’s a win in my book.
It’s sliightly tangy, so if you want it more sweet up the sugar.
I’ve been stalking rhubarb at the Farmers’ Market for weeks. But never buy any.
I found some at the store for much cheaper. Which probably means it’s out of season. C’est la vie.
Don’t even point out that I stored this jam in my empty freezer jam jar. I’m well aware.
I promise this is the last peach recipe I’ll post this summer.
But you should also know I’m a liar.
And I’ve yet to make peach cobbler.
And peach season in Colorado is far from over.
Also I found all these pictures in a folder with this one.
Those are peaches and cream oats. Which means that while making this jam I was eating peach-filled oatmeal.
I have a problem…
************************************
Are you a peach fan?
Is peach season over where you are?
Have you ever made homemade jam?
Lauren Loves Good Food 