AWB BLOGtober Fest, Day 5: {Foodie Friday}

Today is Day 5 of the AWB BLOGtober Fest Challenge. And today, we're talking about food - specifically favorite fall recipes.  Fall foods are some of those that I most consider "comfort foods" - chili, stew, soup, pumpkin and spices.  Mmmm. I can hardly wait for the weather to cool down so I can make some of that yummy stuff.  However, I'm not going to talk to you about dinner. I'm going to talk to you about all the sweet stuff that makes a girl gain 20 pounds every winter.

First on my list: Caramel Cake with Browned-Butter-Caramel-Sea-Salt frosting.  

I am not lying when I tell you that the first time I made this cake, I loved it so much I made it six more times over the next six weeks. I took it to everything that holiday season. And, FYI, the leftover frosting (if you have any) is superb on graham crackers. You need to know going in that browned butter has a very distinctive, nutty flavor and not everyone is a fan. I am. And my waistline paid that winter of 2008...but man, was it ever GOOD stuff!

This year, we have discovered two things that are going to be cool/cold weather staples - Pumpkin-Chocolate-Chip Muffins  (I altered the Allrecipes.com recipe by adding a 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom and I also use freshly grated nutmeg).  The kids love them, we've had them for breakfast four times this month and have taken them to Care Group as well.  I never even get to take pictures of these because they get inhaled. They're super easy to mix up and toss in the oven. My 8 year-old (not my cook - that's my 9 y/o) mixed up a batch for breakfast early this week.

The other thing that we've loved recently is Pumpkin Pancakes. I doubled the recipe and have to admit to not being exact in my pumpkin measurements since many reviews I read said the pumpkin flavor wasn't quite strong enough. I also added about a tablespoon more butter because I was too lazy to lop off the extra that was on the already-cut-stick-of-butter-in-the-fridge. Yeah, I'm a rebel like that. And, I added...wait for it...wait...for...it...cardamom.  I know you're surprised about that.  These pancakes were fabulous with the caramel syrup I make when I make the previously mentioned Caramel Cake. Oh my stars, that was sooooo good!!!  The kids loved them and have asked for them for both breakfast and dinner a couple of times since the night we originally had them.

We can talk about other (savory) fall favorites later, okay? I promise!  What's your favorite fall food?

P.S.  I know I missed yesterday -- we spent almost all day at the State Fair, then I had dinner with some of the ladies in my Care Group and I fell in bed exhausted last night!  But if I were to "promote" anything it would be the series of six posts I did on our infertility journey -(be aware this brings the posts in reverse order - so read from the bottom post up).  The posts are long because (a) it was a TEN YEAR journey and (b) I learned a lot about God and myself during that time. :)