Fall is my favorite time of year. There is just something about the crisp clean air coming in through the open windows, the bright blue flawless sky, and all of the gorgeous colors the trees change into as summer fades slowly away.

It could be that after a long summer and all those hot and humid days the cooler weather is the reprieve that we all have been waiting for.

It also could be that we can finally pull out all those comfy sweaters, tall boots, and cute scarves that have been hidden in the backs of our closets. Of course there is shopping for new ones too!

Football games… back to school… half time band performances…. visiting apple orchards….

The girl in the middle is my daughter! So proud of her!

One of my favorite parts of fall is the change in the cooking and baking! Truth be told I love being able to create fun new treats with pumpkin and comforting casseroles.

The other day I got the October issue of the Rachael Ray magazine and fell in love with it… it was packed with tasty pumpkin treats and my favorite is the pumpkin risotto. I seriously can’t wait to give it a try one of these weekends!

That one recipe led me on a hunt for other pumpkin based recipes… sweet or savory it didn’t matter. And I hit the jackpot! Holy cow…  Two Peas & Their Pod scoured the internets and found 50 of the best pumpkin recipes! The hard part now is trying to figure out what one to make first and hoping that I can do it in a way that is healthy!

This fall I decided to get a bit crafty and make a fall wreath and sew some pumpkins from cute Halloween fabric that I found at JoAnns… then in the Rachael Ray magazine I found 36 different ways to decorate a pumpkin… I’ll have to find the easiest one and give it a shot. There are a few there that look pretty complicated…. or time consuming… actually it’s both.

I’ve shared a few of my favorite fall type recipes in the past. Check them out! Pumpkin Pecan Bars… these are beyond delicious! Sweet potato casserole that is perfect for a side dish for Thanksgiving but is sweet enough that you can eat it as a dessert! So, if you’re looking for something just a little bit healthier try the Pumpkin Crunch Cake. But if you want to skip healthy and go for purely sinful then try the Pumpkin S’more Bars!

I may have a slight addiction to pumpkin… I throw a spoonful or two into my oatmeal, use it as the wet ingredient with a cake mix, and even add a bit to a vanilla shake.

What’s your favorite part of fall?