Meticulous actions soothe and comfort me. Maybe that’s why I like baking and cooking so much. It’s akin to free therapy. I get lost in the details and actions like peeling and slicing veggies, measuring and sifting flour, and stirring a pot for hours. My hands aren’t idle. They’re serving a greater purpose. The reward is the delicious and homemade food that I’ve created. All from scratch and made with love. It’s nourishing for both body and soul.
I take more time to eat and savor my food when I’ve gone to the trouble of making it with my own two hands. I want to enjoy every part of it, taste every component, and notice every texture. A meal is infinitely more enjoyable when I’ve made it in my own kitchen. There’s something to be said about enjoying the fruits of your labor. Perhaps that is why Thanksgiving is so enjoyable. It’s a completely homemade meal made by the hands of those you cherish and love.
After several days in a row of working away from home, I was feeling like spending some time in the kitchen. The result is this fall-inspired panzanella (i.e. bread salad) perfect for dropping temperatures and gracing your Thanksgiving table. It has more steps than a typical salad but it is so much worth the effort! Since I am always dissatisfied with store-bought gluten free/vegan bread, I decided to make my own the day before. If you feel like going this route, perhaps try this sage & toasted pecan boule I posted a couple of weeks ago. Or, you could keep it simple on yourself and use some good quality store-bought bread of your choosing. As for the butternut squash, I’ve seen peeled and diced butternut in the freezer section of some grocery stores so that will save you some prep time as well.
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Halloween is nearly here! Can you believe it? I feel like it was just the start of the year and I was photographing 
I used to have a sort of Halloween season ritual as a kid. As soon as October 1st arrived, I would start planning for the holiday. I would check out the same Halloween book from the library every year. It was full of Halloween themed crafts, stories, and pictures. Upon getting it home I would plan out my costume, what decorations I wanted to create, and start thinking about the design for my jack-o-lantern. I would also insist that my mother buy these large orange trash bags with jack-o-lantern faces on them meant for filling with leaves and pine needles. I would happily help fill them up then place them in the front yard to act as bright orange sentries. All of the planning and scary movie watching would always culminate in me meticulously putting on my costume and heading out for some trick-or-treating on Halloween night. It was and still is the best time of year.
Since Halloween falls on a Saturday, I decided to give you some lazy Saturday morning breakfast inspiration. These pancakes are rather simple to put together. The maca and cacao nibs will give you some sustained energy for all of your Halloweeny festivities throughout the day without the crash that can accompany coffee. I love using cacao nibs in these because you get the flavors of chocolate without the added sugar. And, if you are making these for kids, they are getting a little dose of veggies in their breakfast with the added pumpkin puree. It’s a win-win for everyone! Have a wonderful Halloween friends 🙂
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