Tuesday, September 21, 2010

The Taste of Fall


I could do without autumn. A summer girl at heart, I always get sad to see the season of flip flops, 6 am sunrises and fresh, juicy strawberries go.

That is, until I eat some pumpkin. And then I turn into fall’s biggest cheerleader.


Especially when said pumpkin comes in oat form. At dinnertime.


"The Taste of Fall":
  • ½ c oats
  • 1 c almond milk
  • ½ c canned pumpkin
  • drizzle of maple syrup
  • spoonful of peanut butter
  • diced honeycrisp apple, heated and smothered in cinnamon

Oh my word, this was good. It almost made me forget the fact that my favorite white shorts are thisclose to being put in storage for the season. What better way to kick off the first official day of fall?


I also had some grapes and dark chocolate to round out the meal. A perfect lazy supper, if I do say so myself!

* * *

Backtracking to this afternoon, I went to UPS to pick up a package of chocolate granola that Annelies over at Attune foods was kind enough to send me.


I sampled some of this granola at HLS and loved it, so I jumped at the opportunity when she offered me a whole bag!


This stuff is G-O-O-D, and absolutely something I would spend my own money on. It’s super chocolatey and dark without being saccharine- perfect for killing a mid-afternoon chocolate craving.


And while catching up on Gossip Girl this evening, I snacked on a whole-wheat tortilla with roasted red pepper hummus.


My tortillas got all melded together in the package somehow, so I had to rip one off in pieces!

Tonight’s agenda: more GG, homework and hopefully Fitbloggin’. Sounds pretty dang good to me!

What’s your favorite autumn food?

What’s your favorite granola- either homemade or store-bought?

35 comments:

Susan said...

Mmm I love pumpkin too! But I'm a total autumn girl as well. As for granola, I make a really simple one for my mom with coconut oil,oats, almonds, and maple syrup. She loves it!

Laurie said...

I hear ya! I hate seeing the end of blueberry season. But then I realize its pumpkin season! I made some ridiculously good and pretty healthy pumpkin cupcakes recently! Check out my post on cookiesncardio.blogspot.com

bonnesante said...

Oh yum! Those oats! I'm so envious seeing all the autumnal pumpkin-eating going on in the states right now, Australia needs to get on it! Loving your blog :)

Allie (Live Laugh Eat) said...

That granola is bomb. Mine was all melted when it arrived but it made it almost better actually. Apple cinnamon is pretty good. I have yet to see it in stores though.

the actor's diet said...

i just got sent that same bag of granola - now i can't wait to dig in - though i don't have such a cute bowl to eat it out of :(

Megan D said...

Autumn is actually my very favorite season!! I'm going to have to make this oatmeal asap :)

Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg said...

I've been eating a variation of this every morning :-)

Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman said...

Oooh, that granola looks great. Oh, and I'm so ready for full-on fall. Now we just need to get past this heat wave...

healthyexposures said...

I'm with you...not a huge fan of shorter days and chillier weather!! Especially when it means winter is coming :\ I do, however - enjoy the fall produce, flavors, and ability to turn on the oven again :) I've recently discovered a love for butternut squash, and hope to have them often. Your oats look definitely "celebration of fall" worthy!!

JenATX said...

My favorite fall food has to be SOUP! STEW! CHILI! those are just the coziest, most comforting foods on a chilly fall night :) I'm so excited to experiment with soups this fall as a vegetarian! Imagine all the veggies I can load into one huge pot.. yummmmm

fittingbackin said...

It even looks like fall with those colors! Mine is probably butternut squash!

I'm not a big granola person!

katie anne said...

that right there is my perfect fall dinner! :-P have a great night! xoxoxo

peaceluvmunchies said...

Pumpkin, hands down - those oats look amazzzing! Oh, and apple cider!!

CathyK said...

i'm sad for the end of summer...sure can tell it's fall by the early darkness! i wouldn't mind fall if winter did not follow!
fave granola - quaker harvest crunch. i call it crack granola, it's so addictive!

Ellen R. said...

I'm still religiously checking my grocery store for canned pumpkin every time I go there. Haven't found any yet :'(

A@ Please Don't Eat Me! said...

wow! that dessert looks amazing! yum!!

my favorite fall food? im not sure.. probably minestrone soup!!

Dianne said...

I think my very first bowl of pumpkin oats is coming my way tomorrow...and I have an apple to put in it, too! So excited!

Lisa @ I'm an Okie said...

Pumpkin is all hype to me! just can't get into that much.

Kat said...

Dinner oats? Hello, gorgeous!

I've gotta say, I'm on the same train as you with the pumpkin thing - it's just too delish. Another pumpkin-treat I love is toast with cream cheese, drizzled with pumpkin butter. It's 11/10.

From Here to There. In Purple. said...

i'm totally making your taste of fall-- thanks for the inspiration girl

Emily said...

Mmm, I'm going to have to try that pumpkin oatmeal at breakfast tomorrow!

Last weekend, I made pumpkin granola that was DELICIOUS! It's definitely the best I've made so far. I had some for breakfast this morning. :)

Happy fall!

thehealthyreminder said...

Your little heart shaped bowl is adorable. I LONGGGGG for cute dishware but I can't seem to find it anywhere! Tips?

Crystal said...

I LOVE autumn! The clothes, the colors, the foods, the weather. Just love it. I love tomato basil soup when it gets cooler outside, complete with crushed saltines on top. Of course, I love pumpkin as well. Pumpkin pie = yum!

Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) said...

storebought granola is for rich people :)

i used to buy it but realized that it's super simple to make, i can make it GF and Vegan and not know the difference, I can totally make it to my specs.

Oh girl swearing on your blog and having ppl read it, yeah, read your comment to me

And tattoos, you are like the LAST person who id ever think would get one.

Oh and i found a woman to do my hair today, blond, perfect, i was like oh Gabriela could appreciate this :)

xoxo

40apples said...

Looks like a delicious autumn dinner! While I get pretty excited at the outset of fall for all the great seasonal foods, it'll definitely hit me soon enough that the days are quickly getting shorter and colder and winter is looming... ugh. It's already so dark when I get up - I feel like that was so sudden! :( boo
I love apples and squashes. Best part of fall.

Chelsea said...

Pumpkin is hands down my favourite fall food! It goes in pies, muffins, breads, oats... what's not to love? :D

I haven't had time to watch Gossip Girl yet this season! I need to catch up soon because I'm dying to know if Chuck is ok!

Steph (@MediterraneanMiss) said...

I love the bosc pears and tiny plums that are in season in the very early fall, and I'm also a huge huge pumpkin fan <3 pumpkin oats, pumpkin breads, etc. {not the biggest pumpkin pie fan, though! I always find it too sweet?}

I love the idea of adding an apple to pumpkin oats, especially a honeycrisp which is one of my favorite varieties. Great idea girl!

I actually don't really eat a lot of granola myself! If I'm going to have oats in any form, I like them in oatmeal-form.. or as oatmeal cookies ;)

Kailey (SnackFace) said...

No need to put those shorts into storage. Throw some scraggly black tights under and some beat-up sneaks on and call yourself a hipster. That's what I'd do. It's fun to pretend.

STOP IT with that granola. I need it! I am all for store-bought. I always manage to burn granola when I try to make it.

Also, I really need to track down pumpkin!

Luuuuuub you! xoxo (Where can I watch GG online. I need to rewatch that latest episode to pine over Serena's gold jacket...a must.)

Andrea @Celery In The City said...

I had my first honeycrisp the other day! I went to buy fruit as a snack between class and decided on an apple and your raving popped into my head..yeah, it was bangin'!

Liz @ Tip Top Shape said...

I just had my first pumpkin-oats!!! I like your combo better, though. Definitely trying yours next morning :D

Deb Conn said...

Your pumpkin/apple dish sounds and looks delicious. I've got to try it!

Gracie @ Girl Meets Health said...

That oatmeal looks BOMB! Pumpkin AND apple? Yes pretty please :D

I'm going to catch up on GG tonight...can't wait! I need my Nate Archibald fix stat ;) hahaha

Justine said...

Truth be told, I am a granola whore- I am happy with a handful or two of whatever happens to be available. There are just so many good ones to choose from!

I think that beets and sweet potatoes are my two favourite fall foods! Even though I eat them year round, it is completely different in that fall/winter.

Biochemista said...

I am loving your autumn bowl creation!! I'm gonna try this out for breakfast tomorrow :) Did you cook the oats before adding them or just throw em in there??

Have a great day love!!! XOXOX

Laur

Gillian said...

Favorite fall food is local apples!! But I must find me some pumpkin. And I'm all about the homemade granola! Care for me to send you a sample?

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