I Am... What to Cook in October

Have you been asking yourself, "what to cook in October?" I've got you! It's full on fall with the leaves on the trees changing color and frost starting to appear in the very early morning. It's time to start fattening up! I'm still clinging onto the last little bit of warm afternoon sun but I'm definitely getting ready to hibernate with ALL the soups and stews. The stuff that's in season in October is much the same as September, minus the berries, so this month, instead of rounding up in season recipes, I thought I'd round up soups and stews, cute Halloween-type recipes, and the ultimate snack foods for tailgating! What are you guys looking forward to cooking in October? Fun things to make in October: SOUPS AND STEWS Dan Dan Zoodle Soup - Hearty, spicy, and warming. Bonus: zucchini are in season right now! Warm and Cozy Beef Bourguignon - Red wine, chunks of fork tender beef, carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms.  I could eat this everyday! Plus, carrots and mushrooms are in season in October :) Creamy Comforting Chicken Congee with Crispy Chicken Skin - It may not look like much, but this chicken congee is comforting and so, so tasty, especially with the scallion ginger oil and crispy chicken skin bits. Perfect for warming up. Dishoom Black Dal - If you're craving a bit of spice to warm up, this dal is just what you're looking for. It's filling, hearty, luxurious, and best of all, full of protein from the lentils. Like traveling to London to eat at Dishoom without the expensive plane ticket. Turkey Pho - Are you gearing up for Thanksgiving next month? Maybe you tried your turkey recipe early and are wondering what to do with the leftovers? Turkey pho to the rescue! Piping hot slippery firm rice noodles, tender turkey, and an umami-rich full bodied broth. CUTE FOOD MASQUERADING AS TOTORO Buttermilk Totoro Pancakes - If you want to bring a smile to someone's face, these Totoro pancakes will definitely do the job! Like regular buttermilk pancakes, but Totoro shaped. Totoro Pumpkin Whoopie Pies - Soft and squishy in the best way possible, these spiced pumpkin whoopie pies are filled with cream cheese frosting. Kind of like a cross between a very soft cookie and a cake, these guys taste great even if they're not Totoro shaped. Totoro Pull Apart Buns - These may be the best buns I've ever made, Totoro shaped or not. If you love soft and fluffy white buns, this is the recipe for you! They're delicious on their own, alongside a bowl of soup, or with soft scrambled eggs. TAILGATE PARTY!!! Japanese Fried Chicken aka Chicken Karaage - Bite size pieces of chicken marinated in soy, mirin, sake, ginger, garlic, and a touch of sugar. Extra juice because of the marinade and extra crispy due to a double fry. Best of both worlds! Perfect Bite Nachos - I like my nachos perfect in every bite and I bet you do too! A little bit of upfront preparation  means faster hand to mouth action when you're snacking. Mac and Cheese Waffles - These are kind of overkill but they are SO good so I won't blame you if you make them and eat them all in one go. Think: lacy crispy cheese crust and creamy dreamy insides, all in a convenient handheld waffle shape. Mini Corn Dogs - It might not be summer fair season anymore, but that shouldn't stop you from eating mini corn dogs. Crispy, corn-y and perfect for dipping. Happy Cooking! Let me know what you're making in October. Inquiring minds (mine) want to know!

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I Am... Whipped Ricotta with Roasted Pumpkin

Say hello to this whipped ricotta with roasted kabocha pumpkin – perfect for a fall dinner party! Fall dinner parties are right up my alley. In the season that's ruled by comforting stews and braises, autumn is just the right time to throw hands off dinner parties where all the prep and cooking is done before so all that's left to do is gather together and enjoy the company of good family and friends.

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I Am... Banff in the Fall and Where to Eat

Fall is my favorite season. I love the crisp air, the way the sun feels warm in the afternoons, and most of all, the fall leaves. There's just something that makes me smile when I see trees in various shades of yellow, orange, and red. I think I tend to feel like fall is the start of something, probably because part of me still wants to go back to school, if only because I want to buy school supplies and brand new clothes.

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I Am... Mini Everything Pretzel Dogs Recipe

Mini everything pretzel dogs to celebrate the days getting chillier! Every morning before we go to work, Mike and I get up early to take a morning walk together. It's kind of a new ritual Mike invented so I could start my day with something active and fun. We don't get a huge amount of light in our bedroom and I'm very susceptible to feeling gloomy with a lack of sunshine, so it's perfect for me. We get fresh air, a brisk walk, and plenty of morning sun. It makes me happy in a way that sets me up to have a great day.

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I Am... One Bowl Pumpkin Cupcakes with Brown Butter Frosting Recipe

Happy October! September flew by in a flash, but I don't care because I am ready for everything autumn and ALL the pumpkin and pumpkin spice things. Pumpkin spice is life and the spice must flow (heehee geeky Dune reference). There's pumpkin and pumpkin spice in these cupcakes so they're perfect for saying hello to October.

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I Am... Easy 6 Ingredient Vegan Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

There's something so cozy about cinnamon buns. I don't know if it's the fact that you tuck them underneath a blanket (plastic wrap, really), waiting for them to take a little nap and rise, or if it's because the smell of cinnamon reminds me of fall foliage, but there's something about a warm tray of cinnamon buns that makes me feel the fall feels every time.

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I Am... Friday Finds: 9.22.17

Happy Fall! I can't believe it's finally here! I'm happy and sad at the same time because I hate the fact that summer ended, but YAY fall! I mean, it's decorative gourd season!

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I Am... Pumpkin Sage Lasagna Roll Up Pull Aparts

Fall is my favorite time for all the cozy comfort foods. Give me all the soups and stews and savory things full of carbs because you better believe I'm eating like I need to fatten up for the winter. Cold weather definitely makes me hungrier and when I'm hungry, only carbs will do.

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I Am... Budae Jjigae Korean Army Stew Recipe

It feels like fall has arrived and I have the perfect dish to get all warm and cozy with: Korean Army stew! I love anything soupy and stewy when it's cold, so a steaming pot of spicy goodness is just what the weather is begging for. The truth is, I've been wanting to make army stew forever, but it didn't seem quite right to do it in the middle of summer, so I patiently waited for just the littlest chill in the air.

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I Am... Friday Finds: 9.15.17

Friday Fall feels! I'm loving the little crisp chill in the air and the late afternoon sun. What I'm not digging is how early the sun is starting to set. But, the earlier nights and slightly colder weather are making me super excited to make all the cozy foods. I'm thinking cinnamon buns because they make the house all toasty and maybe some sort of stew? I also want to make pretzels for Oktoberfest!

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I Am... Sadaharu Aoki’s Matcha Azuki: a Recreated Recipe

This matcha azuki cake was amazing! I mean, how could it not be with six layers of deliciousness? I'm no baker, but there's something exciting about taking on a project, especially in the fall. So, even though I absolutely thought this would be a disaster, I went forward and decided to bake a matcha azuki entremet. I'm so happy that I did because it was surprisingly EASIER than baking a classic round layered frosted cake. And it was incredibly good.

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I Am... Maine Travel Diary 2017

We drove the New England Coast and absolutely LOVED it! It's always been an absolute dream of mine to summer in New England and it didn't disappoint. I'm so obsessed that I want to go back. Totally dreaming of being one of those families who has a summer home and goes every year to the same clam shacks and beaches. New England was dreamy in a way that I didn't know it would be. Everyone was really friendly and there was a definite on holiday kind of feel.

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