Fall is for food.

In my book, fall kind of wins overall.

It's just better than all the other seasons.

If it didn't usher in winter so darn quickly around here- I would like it even more.

Fall brings with it...

cozy warm sweaters

Romance 

beautiful colors

But most importantly- it brings:

My Great Grandmother's homemade pumpkin cookies!!

You will have to eat one of these to TRULY understand the power

they have to completey break down in you any self- control you

thought you had.

Ingredients:

1 c. shortening

1 c. sugar

1 c. pumpkin

1 egg

2 c. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup nuts (walnuts or pecans, or leave the nuts out if you'd like!)

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

3 tbs. butter

4 tbs. milk

1/2 cup brown sugar

1-2 cups powdered sugar

3/4 tsp. vanilla

Recipe:

1) mix shortening, sugar, pumkin and egg.

2) add flour, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, baking powder and bakin soda.

3) bake at 350 for 7-10 mins.

4) when cooled, cover with *glazed icing

*icing recipe:

1) bring butter, milk and brown sugar to a boil.

2) let simmer for 1-2 mins stirring constantly and then let cool

3) add 1-2 cups powdered sugar (depending on how creamy you want it)

4) add a bit of vanilla (again, this is a 4th generation recipe- some measurements have

been left out all together:)

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!

First Fall.

This Fall marks my first one as a Vegan :)

My Shirt Says:

Vegetarian zombies eat GRAAAAAAAIIIIIINNNNSSSS! 

hehehe.

I am oh so excited about this new phase of my life,
and am loving the results!

That being said, I will have to adjust some of my favorite Fall time treats.
Pumpkin spice lattes will be enjoyed with soy milk,
pumpkin pie will have to be in vegan form, and I will of course enjoy my go to Thanksgiving meal- of Tofurky [it's soooo good, I promise! ;) ].

Here are some of my favorite foods, that will be filling my tummy with joy this beautiful autumn season.

Vegan Cupcakes are necessary, of course.

My favorite are from Sticky Fingers, in my home city of DC.

As is Sriracha.

 I put it on EVERYTHING!

If I could sum up my food choices and preferences in one word, it would be 

SPICY! :)

I am OBSESSED with Mexican food! 

This included veggie bowls, with black beans and rice, and tooons of hot sauce.

And LOTS and LOTS of chips and salsa.

Fresh fruit is perfect to snack on.

I've been especially digging mango recently.

And veggies too.

Huge salads are a go- to in my world, no matter what the season.

Oh, and Bloody Marys totally count as a "food", right? ;)

And dirty martinis too!

~*~*~*~*

Here's to a yummy, great food-filled season of Fall!

Hope you enjoy your delicious treats, crisp air, and changing leaves as much as I do :)

XO, Jessica from Crafting Happiness

PS And speaking of food-
 My all-time favorite food is Thai food.
AND our "little college town" of Morgantown, West Virginia now has a restaurant serving it!
I am trying it today!!! SOOO psyched :)

Fall Foods

This week's series of posts will center around fall dishes.
We will include dishes that we are dying to try as well as our old faithful fall inspired dishes.

The dish I am dying to try is Roasted Garlic-Potato Soup.



This dish combines one of my favorite food combos {potatoes+garlic} with the comfort of a warm creamy soup perfect for a cool fall evening.

When the evenings start to get cool I start to crave warm comfort foods.
My go-to comfort food is a nice hearty pasta dish.
My favorite is Rachel Ray's Not-sagna Pasta Toss.

This dish is easy to make but is super satisfying.
I switch it up a bit and sometimes add in some pesto or take an additional step and bake the finished product with some extra cheese on top.
{Because, lets face it, sometimes you just need some extra cheese in your life!)

What fall food do you want to try & what is your go-to fall meal?
Let us know! We love feedback :)