It’s here! What you say? Only the best time of the year that’s what. The time when leaves are crunching under your feet, the weather has cooled down and you spend the Saturday afternoons watching college football. This is my favorite time of year but this year it’s a little different. This Fall I am enjoying days with average temperatures of 89 degrees and trees with all their leaves. That’s right I am living in Dallas and this is its fall. I am embracing and enjoying the warmth but there is something about leaves not changing color that makes me miss good ole’ Michigan in the autumn. With the first day of fall just having happened last Friday I thought what should I do to make it feel more like fall here? Simple answer… make a fall meal.
When I started falling in love with food and cooking I of course learned all about Julia Child. The dish that always makes me think of her is beef bourguignon. This also makes me think of Ina Garten because she is the first person I ever saw make this recipe. I figured a rich stew would take the chill off of the evening indoor air-conditioned air. It was full of beautiful flavors, and I know that sounds cheesy but make it and you’ll know there is no other word to describe the flavors in this dish. My other favorite part of Fall is the pumpkins. So I made a pumpkin spice cake with pumpkin cream cheese frosting. This cake is basically “fall in your mouth”. That is how the cake earned its name of “Fall into Deliciousness”. It is such a good cake because it taste like a pumpkin bread with frosting, how could that be wrong? Seriously don’t be intimidated this cake is easy and will surely please and impress anyone. Pair this cake with the beef bourguignon and you have a fall extravaganza meal! Julia Child would definitely say Bon Appétit to this meal! Now all I need is date night with Casper or Hocus Pocus!
Burning off the bourbon (I used bourbon because we didn’t have cognac in the house)
Pumpkin Spice Cake Recipe Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Photo’s provided by John Tagle-Fall photos taken at Michigan State University
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