Tastes of the Season

It's officially Fall. Is anyone other than me secretly sad about this? Don't get me wrong. I love the Fall but my true love is Summer. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that I'm a July baby, but I really do love the Summer. Summer means vacations, warm weather (although this year it meant HOT weather), grilling, dining al fresco, fireworks, tans, flip flops, dresses, peaches, berries, smoothies...aaahhh. I could go on and on. It just makes give me the warm fuzzies inside.

Source

Fall however is my second favorite season for multiple reasons. The beautiful colors of the tree leaves changing, football (GO RAVENS!), sweet potatoes, Halloween (have I expressed my Obsession with candy? It's a real problem), PUMPKIN, apples, and just the feel and smell of the cool, but not too cold air. Did you notice that I mentioned a lot of food? You can tell where my heart really is...my belly!

After opening an e-mail this morning from Real Simple, I came across this quote:

“Growth is the only evidence of life.”

― John Henry Newman

Now I know that I could get deep here and discuss personal growth and how learning and growing your knowledge is the key to life but I'm interpreting this quote in the most literal meaning. Ecological growth. Plant growth is the evidence of life and health on this planet. With that being said, I would like to share a list of the wonderful life that this season produces in the form of Fall crops.

Fall Fruits and Veggies:

• Acorn Squash
• Apples
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Figs
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Kale
• Leeks
• Mushrooms
• Pear
• Pumpkin
• Persimmons
• Sweet Potatoes
• Swiss Chard
• Winter Squash

Look out for these fall crops at your local market or farmers market. To find a farmer's market in your area visit Local Harvest @ http://www.localharvest.org/ . For farmer's markets in Maryland go to http://www.mda.state.md.us/md_products/farmers_market_dir.php.

My plan is to do Feature posts for each, or most, of the Fall produce listed above and discuss nutritional information, how to buy and store, and of course how to prepare them in a meal with recipes included.

What is you favorite thing about the Fall season? What are your favorite foods and recipes for Fall? Please comment and share!!!

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Breakfast:

Chobani Peach Greek Yogurt, Organic Raspberries, Blueberry Almond Granola

(I'm trying to hold on to to peach for as long as possible)

Added chopped almonds and chia seeds

I also had a cup, or two, of Creme Brulee flavored coffee from Wegmans but I drank it before I could take a picture. I was one of those mornings.