Harvesting Joy…and Pie

[flickr id=”5075549323″ thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]Fall is my favorite season.  I might be partial to summer because that’s when I was born – but it gets too hot (especially here in Indiana) and far too humid and I don’t have a pool anymore.

Besides – fall has all the gorgeous color, brief though it may be.

Fall is the season I start to bake.  I start making Christmas cookies early & freeze them – but I also start baking bread.  And pie. And anything else I can concoct.  My family loves the influx of fresh food baked in warm oven.  Only thing I wish for at this time of year is a lot more counter space.

Fall is also the season that the local farmers have the corn mazes, apple picking, pumpkin picking, and fall festivals.  There is so much to do at this time of year – and my favorite is the apples.  Apple pie and applesauce adorn our table regularly in the fall.

There really is no better season.

 

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This post was written as part of Indiana Family of Farmers Table Talk series. As a Table Talk contributor I received various products to help along the table talk.  All opinions and stories in the post are my own truth.  

Summer Means Great Neighbors – Chilling & Grilling

It’s safe to say that I’ve mentioned a few times before how much I love my neighborhood. It reminds me of a neighborhood I grew up in when I lived in Buffalo.  We all know each other, our kids all know each other, we watch out for each others families and homes.  There isn’t a weekend that goes by that you can’t find a group of neighbors gathered at someones house.  This stands true through spring, summer, fall, and into the mildest of winter weather.

One surefire way to get a group over your house is to get out the grill.  Usually when we plan on cooking out, we expect to end up inviting at least two of our neighbors to join in the fun.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, chicken – you name it we grill it.  Someone is bound to bring mac & cheese (because you can’t have any food gathering without that) – and of course  type of salad.  Before you know it, our deck table is absolutely overflowing with food and our deck is overflowing with neighbors.

Usually after the kids settle for ice pops. You know, the stick-pops of juice you get at the local supermarket on the cheap. Every freezer in the neighborhood is jammed full of them.

This year I’m bringing something new and fun to the party.

A [amazon_link id=”B003U9ZCRO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Quick Pop[/amazon_link] bar.  Make a base of their yummy vanilla yogurt pop and lay out the fruits and chocolate shell.  In minutes the kids can have a yummy popsicle they made themselves – and it’s not just sugar water.  Fruit’s involved which helps with the healthy points.

Yup, this year my Quick Pops will bring all the neighbors to the yard 😉

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This post was written as part of Indiana Family of Farmers Table Talk series. As a Table Talk contributor I received products.  All opinions and stories in the post are my own truth.