It’s time. Time for all the pumpkin things. I waited until October to start posting the recipes but I’ve been testing pumpkin stuff for a good month now. Because I’m just as basic as every other white chick. I love Fall and leaves and scarves and jeans and cool air and bonfires. And pumpkin. All the pumpkin.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, only 27 more days until my birthday. Also, 27 days until I’m no longer in my 20’s. Weird. 
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I
certainly did not invent apple butter, although that would be pretty awesome if I did. I’m also certainly not the first to put a recipe for apple butter on their blog. But I’m putting a little spin on the typical apple butter today for your DIY post of the week.
I actually had never really tried apple butter until I met Adam. His grandma sent us home from a visit once with some apple butter and it was delicious. It was smoother and creamier than applesauce and that was what I loved about it. It’s funny that Adam was technically the one to introduce me to apple butter since the man doesn’t like cooked apples! I know, he’s weird.
Anyway, most apple butter is made with a TON of sugar. Besides adding sweetness, it helps preserve the apple butter. That’s fine for some, but since I don’t do refined or much added sugar, I wanted to try an apple butter that didn’t use sugar. To me, cooked apples are already fairly sweet. Plus if you add in spices like cinnamon it ups the sweet factor. I also wanted to do something to make my apple butter even smoother. Pureed squash is really smooth and creamy plus it tends to lean toward the sweet side. And squash is just awesome in general so I thought why not add it into my apple butter.
Luckily it worked out and I ended up with a fall hybrid butter that is perfect on toast, in oatmeal, on pancakes, or on a peanut butter sandwich. It is so easy to make your own apple butter and it will cost a lot less than buying it from the apple orchard or specialty shops. So if you have a plethora of apples hanging around and want to try something a little different than your typical apple butter, give this squash apple butter a try!
Squash Apple Butter
I have really liked swirling this into my oatmeal in the morning. The whole thing just reminds me of fall and that makes me happy!
In other news, my little sister is getting married this weekend ( 😀 😀 😀 😀 ) and I am just a tad busy helping her with that! While I have plenty of new recipes to share with you, my Friday post will be a round-up of my favorite fall recipes around the blog world. I hope you have a great Wednesday and see you soon!
I think that I may have found someone who loves fall just as much, maybe a little more, than I do. If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that this is my favorite season. From my love of pumpkins and all things squash to it being my birthday and wedding anniversary time of year, it just doesn’t get any better than fall.
Hannah Teson
pretty much feels that exact same way about fall. So much so that she decided to write a book about it! Fall FoMo No More is an ebook for those of you who love everything about fall and want to get the most out of this season. Not only are there amazing and delicious autumn recipes, there is a whole section of the book that is dedicated to helping you plan out fall activities. From Halloween to Thanksgiving, Hannah helps you organize your fall so that you can get the most enjoyment from this time of year. She has a fall shopping list, a cooking and cleaning schedule, fun fall activities, and so much more that make planning your fall activities a breeze.
And then there are the recipes, my favorite part! I was given the opportunity to help Hannah test out a few of her recipes and I can tell you with the highest confidence that they are absolutely delicious. The even more surprising part for some of you, they’re all vegan! She has apple cider donuts, chickpeas and dumplings, onion dip, and of course, all the pumpkin things. If you aren’t drooling just looking at the list of recipes in her ebook, then you might need to get your taste buds checked!
Pumpkin Pie Almond Milk from Fall FoMo
Trust me when I say that you don’t want to miss out on this awesome ebook. Hannah put so much time, dedication, and pure love of fall into this book and it absolutely shines through. I’m so happy to be able to share her hard work with you guys and applaud her for the amazing job she has done!
If you want to grab your own copy, you can head over to her blog House Vegan and get the link for the download. It will be the best $5.99 that you have ever spent, especially if you love fall! You can also check out two of the recipes from the book and see just how tasty your fall could be if you buy this ebook! I loved her pumpkin almond milk and the chili con cashew queso just screams sweaters, football, and fun.
Chili Con Cashew Queso from Fall FoMo
What fall things are you guys looking forward to? I would have to say apple picking, making everything with pumpkin, and fall clothes are at the top of my list this year! I hope that you have a great Monday and I’ll see you guys on Wednesday!
Fall is the best. I don’t just think that because my birthday is in the fall or I got married in the fall or one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving, is in the fall. Sure, all those things further my love of fall but they aren’t the main reasons. There is a change in the air and the scenery and it inspires change in daily life too, at least for me. While many people think of spring as the time of renewal and things coming to life, I feel like fall is the same way. The leaves turn to beautiful shades of gold, orange, and red, there is a certain crispness to the air, and the seasonal offerings at the market are warm and hearty. It’s just a great time of year and I think we should all take some time to enjoy it! These are some of my favorite things to do come fall time.
Apple Picking
My family has always gone apple picking during the fall. Whether it was on a school field trip or a day off on our own, I have many memories of picking apples. This Monday, I got the chance to go apple picking with my parents and my sister and her fiance. I haven’t been apple picking with my family in a few years and it was great to relive some fond memories of my childhood. There is nothing better than walking up and down row after row of apple trees, sampling as many apples as your stomach can hold, and loading up bags with your favorites. Anyone who has been apple picking can tell you, fresh picked apples are just better. And tons of apples can only lead to good things like apple pie, apple crisp, apple sauce, and apple butter. Plus, what would apple picking be without a stop at the country store for fresh apple donuts and homemade fudge? Go find an orchard near you and enjoy this fall favorite activity.
Pumpkins
You know I love pumpkins and it’s no secret that the rest of the population goes pumpkin crazy this time of year. I like eating them, baking with them, decorating with them, picking them, and just being around them. Pumpkins are great and when I see the first few pumpkins hit the stands, I know fall is pretty much here.
Squash in General
I like zucchini and summer squash just as much as the next person, but there is something so satisfying about winter squashes. They’re creamy, filling, versatile, and so tasty. There are so many varieties out there, butternut, kabocha, delicata, acorn, kuri…. The list goes on and on. You can eat them in pretty much every dish during the fall. Add them to soups, salads, stuff them full of delicious things, bake with them, or my personal favorite, roast them. You can make them sweet, savory, or spicy. They might look intimidating, but once you know how to handle them you’ll be eating them all the time. Go get some from your local farmer’s market and enjoy immediately!
The Scenery
I can’t begin to tell you how beautiful I think fall is. I feel like the leaves change from day to day providing new and even more gorgeous scenery than the day before. And the smell of fallen leaves, raked leaves, and burning leaves are some of the best scents I can think of. I also love fall weather. It’s usually fairly mild, chilly in the mornings and evenings but with that golden sunshine the afternoons are pleasantly warm. This is the best time of the year to get outside with your workouts before the harsh weather of winter comes. I love running in the brisk weather in the morning and then taking a long stroll in the afternoon, crunching leaves underfoot along the way. Fall is when I soak up that last bit of sunshine before I’m stuck indoors during the winter. Find a way to get outside during this time of year. Whether it’s for a workout, a walk a football game, or just sitting out in your backyard, enjoy that fall air.
I could keep writing on and on about all the things I love during the fall. Watching football games, band competitions, being around family and food at Thanksgiving, celebrating my anniversary with my husband, sipping warm tea and reading while it’s raining outside, smelling my mom’s hot apple cider simmering on the stove are all things that I love about this season. While you might not be as passionate about fall as I am, you can definitely find something to enjoy about this time of year. Get out there and make the most of fall!
Happy Fall!!
Life Healthfully Lived 