Apples, pumpkins, and fall foliage, oh my!

It is autumn! Okay, maybe not technically for a few more weeks (Sept. 23, to be exact), but can’t you smell it in the air? We can here in Vermont – mums are starting to grace the front porch steps, gourds and pumpkins are making their way into the supermarkets, and the apple orchards are in full swing. And of course, the leaves are already starting to get a tinge of vibrant color. Fall has always been my favorite season, as it marks the beginning of the phenomenal eating of months to come.
This past weekend, I had my first Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffin of the season – something I look forward to for the whole month of August. I don’t know what it is about these muffins, but they are so good – moist, with candied pumpkin on top and a cream cheese filling. I could die with happiness from eating one. Also over the weekend, I made my first apple pie of the season. No pictures, but no worries – there will be many more to come. I take a lot of pride in my apple pies. They are simple yet undeniably delicious, topped with fresh whipped cream…and no, I see no reason for modesty here. I am going apple picking this weekend, and am already wracking my brain for ways to use all the fresh local fruit. Another pie, to be sure – my co-workers requested that I bring one in, and I’m happy to oblige. Lumpy applesauce is also a must. What else? Maybe a tart? Or perhaps a savory application for chicken or pork? I’m sure I’ll find many yummy ways to use them up.
As you might guess, fall is also the gateway to my two favorite holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas – both of which just happen to be jam packed with lots of delicious goodies. Is there anything better that Thanksgiving dinner, with turkey and gravy and mashed potatoes and green bean casserole and cranberry sauce and orange Jell-O and pumpkin pie and….I guess I am getting a little carried away. Seriously, though. It is fantastic. I do tend to get carried away with the holidays (my home is already decorated with leaves and gourds and candles), but I think it is part of what makes me so endearingJ.