The Autumn Kitchen

There are few things more cozy than an active autumn kitchen. The colors of the harvest, the steam coming off a simmering soup, the smells of cinnamon and vanilla, and the sound of roasting veggies in the oven. No matter the size of the kitchen, every autumn kitchen can become healthier and cozier by simply embracing all that the Creator offers during this beautiful season.

Seasonal Foods in autumn include the following:

Apple, Pear, Squash, Brussel Sprouts, Sweet Potato, Cabbage, Pumpkin, Cauliflower, Carrot, Sage, Sprouting Broccoli, Parsnip, Celery, Potato, Garlic, Okra, Spinach, Kale, Chard, Green Beans, Shallots, Beets, Cranberries, Artichoke, Pomegranates, Nuts, Oats, Amaranth, Ginger, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Turmeric, Millet, Quinoa, Chickpeas, Beans, and Lentils.

When we consume foods that are we season, we are getting that food at its peak. What this means is that the food will tend to be more nutritionally dense, less bombarded with chemicals, cheaper to purchase, and it will indeed taste better. Autumn is also the time to begin consuming more warming foods and drinks throughout the day so that our bodies can put their energy into keeping us warm and healthy.

One of my favorite things to do while in the kitchen in fall time, is to keep a fragrance pot simmering on the stove. All you need is an apple and cinnamon sticks. Other options are whole gloves, ginger, vanilla, rosemary, and sage. Just plop all of your ingredients or oils into a pot and fill with water. Turn the stove on a low simmer and as the water heats, it will fill your room with all the autumn mood you could want. (I will sometimes use my ingredients two days in a row by simply refilling my pot with water as it evaporates.) Check on your pot occasionally to make sure that the pot still has water, so as not to burn anything. Let's make the most of all of the beauty and bounty of this wonderful season, and let us make the kitchen the heart of the home again. Shalom friends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9z_UVxjpk4