pumpkin

Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles with Smoked Sea Salt

September 23, 2015 By Courtney West 7 Comments

Today officially marks the autumnal equinox, otherwise known as the first day of fall/autumn! It is one of two days (the other bring the vernal equinox) when the hours of daylight match those of darkness. It is a time to reflect on what has happened thus far in the year and to evaluate the balance of light and dark within yourself. Perhaps the scales are tipped further towards one than the other. Evaluate. Adjust. Balance. Shed things that need to be shed and embrace something new.

I can tell when fall is about to start because there is a perceptible and tangible difference in the air. It feels less humid and stagnant. It is new and crisp like a freshly laundered sheet. It smells earthy and swirls my hair about my face. Walking through the yard I feel leaves and acorns crunch beneath my feet. Soon there will be a blanket of fiery hued leaves covering the green grass like a lovely old quilt. I’ll lovingly bring out my sweaters and scarves, eagerly awaiting the first hint of cool air. Soon I’ll be spying pumpkins everywhere and I won’t mind in the slightest.

In honor of the official first day of fall, I wanted to give you something pumpkin-y. Perhaps it can tempt your sweet tooth away from all of the junky Halloween candy that is most likely filling store shelves by now. The filling of these truffles is sort of like a nutty pumpkin pie. It’s creamy with just the right amount of spices and maple sweetness. A coating of dark chocolate envelops the creamy filling while a sprinkling of smoked sea salt provides a sharp contrast to the sweetness. I couldn’t think of a better way to honor the change in season than with a couple of these and a mug of tea.

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Spiced Apple Pumpkin Muffins with Quinoa Pepita Streusel

September 14, 2015 By Courtney West 3 Comments

I thrive with structure. It’s comforting like a warm blanket on a chilly morning. Without it I seem to flounder. I waste hours on netflix or sleep too much. I feel listless and unproductive. Structure has taken on a different meaning lately. Instead of a 9 to 5 job providing the structure it’s become my daily yoga practice and this blog. It’s been a hard transition to be honest but it’s one that I’m trying to find comfort in. At a time when the future is uncertain, I focus on what grounds me.

We finally got just the smallest taste of fall weather down here in Houston. It was in the 60s this morning. I tried to hang on to the cooler weather as long as possible but mother nature swiftly took it away as the sun rose higher and warmed everything it touched. There’s definitely a noticeable change in the air though. It’s what I always look for to signify the real arrival of fall. The one that will soon turn the leaves into brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow and smell of pine straw. Soon pumpkins will crop up everywhere and leaves will start to fall.

Speaking of pumpkins, here is your first taste of pumpkin goodness on the blog this year! I took an idea for a humble pumpkin muffin and elevated it with some warmly spiced sauteed apples and a seedy streusel topping. If the recipe components seem daunting, you can mix and match. As I said above I’ve been creating structure in my life through the blog and it definitely shows in the steps of this recipe. If you just want a simple muffin, leave out the sauteed apples and streusel, though I do highly recommend adding some warm spices to the muffins. These muffins are perfect for a slow and lazy morning when you have time to truly appreciate the steps and love that goes into making them.

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