The harvest season

With October just days away, the fall season is beginning to show its presence in just about every aspect of life.

My favorite thing about fall? Well obviously, the food.

The flavors associated with fall cannot be mistaken. Warming, flavorful dishes full of spices just scream fall. Pumpkins, squash, cinnamon, currants, sweet potatoes, game, root vegetables, cranberries, turkey and herbs have all created a special niche in the harvest season.

When I start seeing pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING I get excited about the months to come. Pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin lattes (yum!), pumpkin donuts-I just can't get enough of the stuff.

Weirdly enough, I actually prefer sweet potato pie to pumpkin, but I wouldn't turn down a slice of either. Sweet potato pie is actually one of my favorite things to make. Flaky homemade crust and a simple mixture of sweet potatoes, sugar and buttermilk is so uncomplicated but so delicious.

Fall also signifies the beginning of a time where I cook more than any other time of year. During fall and Christmastime I am like a whirlwind in the kitchen, baking more sweets than anyone could ever eat. I would suggest, if you are trying to lose weight, to stay away from October-December.

Visions of sugarplums (and pumpkins, roasts, turkey, fennel, cinnamon...) are filling my head.