Fall Comfort Foods

I love Fall. The cool nights and mornings, the sunny afternoons, the gradual change in weather. I love the way the quality of light changes and the change of color in the landscaping as well, although here in northern Florida it doesn't come until much later than many parts of the country. Yes, I'm jealous of those of you in the cooler climates with all your color changes occurring while I wait...

This time of year my mind turns to comfort foods. You know, those warm and hearty soups, stews and one pot meals. This afternoon some cool rain came in and when I got home all I could think about was bread pudding. MMMMmmmmm. I have an old cookbook with a great recipe for a custard style bread pudding. I just put it in the oven. It's especially good warm from the oven but I'll eat it cold too - if there's any leftover! My older daughter enjoys it as well so bread pudding doesn't last too long here.

The other thing I was thinking about was my crock-pot. I can come home on my lunch breaks and put something on to cook and by the time we get home in the evenings dinner is ready. Beef stew, chicken, chili, sloppy-joes. MMmmmm. Nothing beats coming in the door to the aroma of a delicious meal that's ready to eat - especially when the girls have just finished soccer practice and are ready to eat now.

Fall is also the time to gather the pecans that fall from the trees. For the past few years my younger daughter has brought home a few each day from the playground at school. It's become a tradition to save them for a Thanksgiving pie. In honor of fall, the coming holidays and nuts in general, today's boob word is: chestnuts. You know, roasting. On an open fire. Yeah.