Fall Home & Kitchen Wish List

There’s been a lot of talk about fall approaching, now that we are close to the end of August. I’m a traditionalist, so I won’t decorate for fall until the equinox. But it is a good time to start thinking about what I want to accomplish in the kitchen over those three months from the end of September until Christmas. Here’s my wish list for fall home and kitchen-related ideas!

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Bake, Cook, and Drink

I know I’m going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen in the fall, because I always do. It’s a season full of some of my favorite flavors and ingredients, like cinnamon, ginger, apples, and squash. I am definitely starting to brainstorm some new creations and old favorites. Here are a few things I’m looking forward to trying:

New Treats and Experiments

• A homemade version of chestnut praline syrup for lattes
• Apple butter for canning (like what I used in my brioche cinnamon rolls!)
• Something with pear, something with hazelnut, and something sweet with butternut squash
• A cocktail with flavors of orange and spice like cloves
• Adding molasses to a dessert, other than with ginger
• For Rosh Hashana, a variation on a Honey Cake

Old Cozy Favorites

• Slow cooker hot apple cider with plenty of cinnamon and spices
• A classic lattice-top apple pie
• Some chewy molasses and ginger cookies
• More plum jam whole wheat cookie bars
• Warm spiked coffee cocktails
• Stuffed acorn squash, and other roasted squash dinners

Read, Learn, and Discover

When I’m not in the kitchen, fall is a great time to learn! Maybe it’s because of those back-to-school feelings in the air, but I always feel a little more motivated to discover something new when the leaves start changing color. This year, I am thinking of some cookbooks and research that I can dive into. Here are a few things I’d love to read about:

Reading cookbooks

I’d love to finish reading a cookbook I have been loving: Smoke, Roots, Mountain, Harvest by Lauren McDuffie. It’s separated by season, and I’ve been saving the fall section to read when it’s relevant. We’re finally getting there! I also want to reread the fall chapters of Sweeter off the Vine by Yossy Arefi. This cookbook is separated by seasonal produce, so it may give me some new fall cooking and baking ideas.

I’m also thinking of expanding my collection. In my wish list from this year, I included some new releases, and now there are even more announced! I’m starting to get excited about these three new cookbooks coming out in the fall. One is from a favorite vegan blogger of mine, another from a chef I admire, and the third looks like the perfect choice for a dessert lover like me.

Planting and Gardening Research

We’ve been discussing since we moved in the possibility of adding a couple apple trees to our property. I know their are some nuances with how they grow, so if I really want to try, there’s a lot to learn.

I’d also like to do some research on gardening prep to be done in fall. Although most of our plants currently live indoors, we are working on expanding the garden to the outside. I’ve never done any sort of outdoor gardening before, so I will be reading up on what I can do in the fall to prepare for a good season next year.

Buy, Find, and DIY

I unreasonably love decorating for fall! I don’t change much in my home decor from January through September, but once fall hits, I am ready to switch up everything from the mantel, to shelves, to table decorations. Here are a few ways I’m thinking of adding to my decor.

What to Buy

First, I’m thinking about getting my hands on some discounted outdoor decor for our sun room. As the weather starts to cool off, the stores are trying to get rid of any extra summer patio decor. Luckily for us, we’re building a sun room, so that decor is right in season in this house!

As for fall, my kitchen could definitely use some new fall themed bakeware and display pieces. We have some open shelves in the kitchen and bar area, and I’d love to fill those spaces with seasonal but functional pieces. I am loving these three ideas to get me started:

What to Make

But decorating isn’t all about buying new things. Shopping your own home and creating DIY projects can make fall decor even more fun and personal. One thing I’d like to do is find a project to upcycle some of our berry baskets from the summer. We have a lot of teal, cardboard baskets, and I’d love to do something other than put them out at the curb.

I’m also working on ideas for a tablescape in our eat-in kitchen area. I have lots of fall decor pieces from previous years that I can incorporate by creating new arrangements. Reorganizing what you already have on hand is an affordable way to mix up seasonal decor each year.

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• Silk fall leaves garland
• Mini LED candles
• Large plate
• Small plate
• Yellow checked napkin