Weeknight Baking: Pumpkin Banana Bread

What do you make when you have an abundance of browning bananas in October?  Well...after googling "pumpkin banana bread," and deciding it's a legitimate thing, that's what!  Why have I never tried this combination before!?  I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe, because she's proven to have a pretty good track record, so why not?  Oh, and I added a handful of chocolate chips for good measure.  Again, because...why not?  It's not quite as nutmegy or clovey as my usual go-to pumpkin bread, but it still retains the flavors of fall plus the added moist density of banana bread.

Happy fall!

image/pioneerwoman

Fall Favorites: Crockpot Applesauce

I've tried lots of applesauce recipes - and this recipe is by far the favorite.  Maybe it's the tartness of the granny smith apples or the richness of the apple cider, or the dash of salt just for good measure, but it's tart + sweet + smooth all at once.  Plus, it couldn't be easier to throw together.  God bless the crockpot.  Hands down, it's a fall favorite.  Eating this with oatmeal on a crisp fall morning feels like an indulgence, I hope you get a chance to try this for yourself this season.

image via sayyes

Pumpkins Galore

Here's a smattering of pumpkin recipes that have caught my eye this past week.

+ pumpkin pecan scones with brown butter glaze

+ pumpkin soup with sage and ham

+ pumpkin pierogis with pumpkin sage cream sauce

+ pumpkin spice banana pancakes

+ starbucks copycat pumpkin scones

+ pumpkin and bacon pasta

+ pumpkin bread pudding

+ pumpkin, sage, and feta risotto

+ pumpkin cinnamon rolls

image/bloom

Fall Favorites: Pumpkin Apple Muffins

I love all things about fall.  The warm, homey scents in the air, the vibrant colors and crisping of the leaves, the slight hint of chill in the air, and the aromatic flavors of fall.  And if you can't tell already, I love anything and everything pumpkin.  I recently found this recipe for pumpkin apple muffins, with a delightful crunchy streusel topping.  I didn't have the energy to make the accompanying cinnamon cream butter, but it sounds equally delicious.  Enjoy!

image/sayyes

Fall Favorites: Starbucks Fall Cups

Is it just me, or is anyone else smitten with these fall Starbucks cups?  I love the design, it's so festive and fun for fall!  Talk about good marketing, it definitely makes me want to go out and get a fall-flavored latte.  I've always been a fan of the pumpkin spice latte (though I go for 1-pump, not 3, as it's too sweet for me), but I just recently tried their new toasted graham latte, and it's pretty good!  Anyone else tried it yet?  It's less sweet than pumpkin spice, with a creamy, subtle note of graham cracker.  

image/forktopen

Fall Favorites: Crockpot Granny Smith Applesauce

Fall favorites is back - as is my favorite season!  This past Saturday we made a trip to a local farm which has a 100-year old apple press.  It's been a tradition to go every year at the brink of fall, but this time my daughter was much more alert and interested in "the apple store."   We picked up some granny smith apples, apple butter, and cold pressed cider.  

I'd seen this recipe for granny smith crockpot applesauce on another blog, and thought I'd give it a whirl, thought honestly I was a bit skeptical as my last attempt at crockpot applesauce was a huge flop. However, this recipe did not disappoint, and today at lunch she gobbled her helping right up!  It's the perfect balance of tart and sweet with the warmth of the cozy spices of fall (in addition to being crazy easy, throw everything in the pot and cook for 4 hours).

image/potterandfinch

Fall Wreathes

With cooler weather just around the corner, I'm eyeing all of these delicious fall wreaths to add some zip to our front door as the seasons change.  What's your favorite?

fall burlap ribbon wreath

harvest wreath

fall berries

 oak leaves

pumpkins and sunflowers

images/etsy, crate and barrel

Fall Favorites: TJ's dark chocolate covered peppermint Joe Joe's

Have you had these?  Trader Joe's dark chocolate covered peppermint Joe Joe's.  It's all the flavors of Christmas wrapped up in one delicious chocolatey-pepperminty bite.  As I was searching for images of this coveted cookie, I even spied someone selling them on Amazon!  Talk about marking up a holiday product!  This is one of my favorite store bought cookies of the season, now let's see if any are left on the shelf at my next grocery adventure...

image/flickr

Fall Favorites: Pantry Spice Candle

With December upon us, and in the interest of matching the season, "fall favorites" will become "winter favorites." Yes, I know, technically it's still fall, but it's frigid and icy here and Christmas lights are sprouting up by the minute, so we're calling it Winter!

This Yankee Candle, Simply Home edition in the scent "pantry spice," is all of my favorite fall scents wrapped up into one; cinnamon, cloves, crackling fire, maybe even a wisp of nutmeg and sugar cookie?  It is amazing - truly.  I used to buy the large 3-wicked candles from Bath and Body Works, but after being lit for an hour or so the scent became smothering and too strong.  This candle keeps that warm, pleasant, and mild cozy vibe consistently, no crazy glade plug in effects over here.  All you need is one and its sultry scent will weave its way through your entire abode.  

image/kohls

Fall Favorites: White Chocolate Dipped Brown Butter Ginger Cookies with Pistachios

Realizing I'm falling a little behind on my promised "Fall Favorites" posts, I figured I'd better punch out a few before Winter descends.  These cookies popped up on my blog roll the other day and I was instantly captivated.  How could you not?  White chocolate dipped brown butter ginger cookies with pistachios.  They're long in the name and I'll bet in flavor as well.  Wouldn't this be the perfect cookie to bring to a fall gathering?  Feel free to bring a batch by my house anytime!

image/ambitiouskitchen

Fall Favorites: Pumpkick Beer

In honor of my favorite season, I'm starting a new series to document all of my favorite fall recipes, products, and such.  First up - New Belgium Pumpkick Beer.  This was an impulse buy at the grocery store, and boy am I glad!  This beer tastes like fall…for real!  Or to quote the website, "an unexpected kick of cranberry juice brightens this spiced season ale…plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, a touch of lemongrass that send your taste buds sailing."  Enough said.

image/newbelgium