Welcome to Taste Bytes
I’m excited to welcome you to this first Taste Bytes post, a collection of food-related bits and pieces organized around seasonal topics. All my favorites…recipes, taste tests, restaurants, travel destinations, and more.
It’s a gorgeous fall day as I’m writing this post…clear skies, a little chilly, the brilliant autumn foliage still on full display.
My favorite season – a season of change, of rejuvenation, of relaxation. A season of gratitude and appreciation.
And a season of such quintessential tastes. A cup of hot spiced cider. A handful of candied pecans. A scoop of savory herb-infused stuffing. A tart bite of cranberry sauce. A thick slice of pumpkin pie.
Fall, perhaps more than any other season, has such distinctive flavors, each bite putting its stamp of ownership on this special time of year.
Here is this week’s Taste Bytes, a celebration of fall.
Apple Cider
Warm Spiced Apple Cider
There’s nothing like a cup of warm spiced apple cider on a chilly fall day. I tried out this recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine for my #magazinemonday weekly social media post. So simple and so delicious…combine apple cider with orange zest, cinnamon sticks, freshly squeezed orange juice, cloves, and a touch of brown sugar, bring to a boil, and then simmer for around twenty minutes. Fall in a mug!
Homemade Spiced Cider Doughnuts
Another #magazinemonday recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine – spiced cider doughnuts. Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, a subtle apple flavor with notes of spice and lemon, topped off with a cinnamon and sugar coating. My first time making doughnuts from scratch (surprisingly easy), and I’m sold!
Pumpkin Spice Hard Cider
Cider is often my go-to adult beverage of choice, and it’s fun to explore the ever-growing flavor profiles on the market. This pumpkin spice hard cider from the Seattle Cider Company is one of my favorites. It’s part of their seasonal line-up and only available from August to November, but I’m looking forward to trying next month’s release, Oaked Maple, as well.
More Tastes to Try…
- Slow cooker apple cider
- Winter squash braised in cider
- Fall harvest cider-roasted chicken with walnut goat cheese and grapes
- Apple cider caramels
- Apple cider autumn sangria
Pecans, Pumpkin, and Pie
Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie
My top taste of the season! I shared this dark chocolate pecan pie with my coworkers and the consensus was unanimous – this one is a keeper. The addition of dark chocolate chips puts it right over the top, not to mention the homemade whipped cream and Scharffen Berger semi-sweet chocolate curls. Decadent, rich, and worth the splurge.
Pumpkin Pie
Sally McKenney of Sally’s Baking Addiction, one of my favorite food blogs, calls this “The Great Pumpkin Pie” recipe, and for a good reason. With a tender and flaky pie crust and a creamy pumpkin filling (including her “secret ingredient” – pepper), it’s a classic. I recently purchased all three of her cookbooks (to be featured in an upcoming Cookbook of the Week post), and I can’t wait to try more of her recipes soon.
Pumpkin Pecan Bread
I love, love, love pumpkin bread, and I was excited to try out this vegan version (no eggs or butter) from a former Cookbook of the Week selection-the Joy the Baker Cookbook for #throwbackthursday. I do prefer Joy’s more traditional pumpkin bread recipe, but oh, the smells wafting through the house as this one baked…nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cinnamon, pecans – comforting in their familiarity and promise. Fall at its best.
Pumpkin Pie Cupcake
Maybe the best cupcake I’ve ever had – in my top five, for sure. A graham cracker crust, tender pumpkin cake, and whipped cream cheese frosting topped off with pumpkin spice. Perfection! Always a treat to stop by Cupcake Royale in Ballard after visiting the Sunday farmer’s market. Only available through November, so head on over there for a special treat.
More Tastes to Try…
- Brown butter pecan pie bars
- Healthy pumpkin muffins
- Pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter sauce
- Apple pecan salad with maple vinaigrette
- Caramel pumpkin gingersnap cheesecake
Cranberries
Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries
A cheese and cracker plate is always a winner, and this Wensleydale cranberry cheese is about as good as it gets. Creamy, rich, a little tart, a little sweet, and absolutely delicious. I like to serve this with fig and olive crackers from Raincoast Crisps (pictured above) along with a glass of bubbly – a fun and easy appetizer for the upcoming holiday season.
White Kosmo
This fall-inspired cocktail from Emory’s on Silver Lake, one of my favorite spots for happy hour, features citrus vodka, orange liqueur, white cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and frozen cranberries. A refreshing cocktail, good company, and a lakeside view at dusk. Not bad at all.
Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Cranberries
I tried out this #throwbackthursday recipe from a former Cookbook of the Week selection-The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays. I’m a huge fan of Ree Drummond’s food, and these Brussels sprouts with balsamic and cranberries did not disappoint. Roasted Brussels sprouts – yes, please. Top them off with a balsamic glaze and dried cranberries – oh, wow – simply spectacular.
Cranberry Oatmeal Bars
There’s something about oatmeal that calls to me in these cooler fall and winter months, especially when it’s combined with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. This cranberry oatmeal bar from Fine Cooking magazine fits the bill perfectly – not too sweet, almost more like a breakfast bar, and a satisfying autumn treat.
Cranberry White Chocolate Cupcake
A vanilla cupcake filled with fresh cranberry compote, and topped off with white chocolate buttercream and candied orange zest – another one of Cupcake Royale’s seasonal line-up, along with November’s other featured flavors: pumpkin pie, boozy rumball, and chai cinnamon. The good news is that you can still get this one through December!
More Tastes to Try…
- Whipped cranberry goat cheese spread
- Cranberry pecan baked brie
- Maple cranberry sauce
- Cranberry walnut chicken salad
- Pomegranate cranberry juleps
Thanksgiving Day
This year my sister and I will be making Thanksgiving dinner for our family, and what a gift it is to work side by side with her, preparing a meal for the people we love.
As much as we value our traditional family recipes, we like to experiment with some new ones as well, and I’m looking forward to trying out this delicata squash, pomegranate, and arugula salad.
The real star of the show, and always on the menu, is my mom’s revered sausage and apple stuffing recipe – a classic from the 1988 edition of Bon Appetit magazine, and a simple but powerful connection to the mother we miss so much.
More Tastes to Try…
- Tried and true honey butter rolls (it’s always about the rolls)
- Pioneer Woman’s creamy mashed potatoes (my favorite!)
- Make ahead white wine gravy
- Maple-glazed sweet potatoes and apples
- Sweet potato casserole with brown sugar pecan topping
- Cider roast turkey with applejack gravy
- Herb-roasted turkey breast
And, of course, there’s always the leftovers to consider…
Gratitude
Food has a way of connecting us, of bridging the past, the present, and the future. As we sit down at the dinner table this week, the memories of those who are no longer with us remain. We’ll sit at my grandparent’s dining set, prepare the same stuffing that my mom always made, and share treasured stories of loved ones gone too soon.
And new memories will be made as well, as our family grows and changes. There will be new recipes to try, new people to connect with, and new stories to hear. We’ll gather together, cook together, eat together, laugh together, and maybe even cry a little together.
It hasn’t been the easiest year, with some serious and unexpected life changes. But I’m grateful for every moment of it. Out of those challenges came strength, an enduring faith, and a recognition of how incredibly blessed I am.
I’ve always loved Thanksgiving, but this year, perhaps more than ever, it’s even a little more special.
I hope that all of you have a relaxing holiday filled with the company of friends and family, delicious food to share, and most of all – peace and love.
Sending warm wishes your way for a wonderful Thanksgiving! -Kimberly
Upcoming Posts
I’ll see you soon with these upcoming posts, another edition of Taste Bytes in December, and a new Cookbook of the Week in January.
Seattle’s Fall & Winter Farmers Markets
- Eat local all year long…explore the riches of the University District and Ballard Farmers Markets
December Cookie Countdown
- A new cookie each day until winter break…21 new recipes for the Christmas season
Christmas in Maui
- Escape to Maui for the holiday season…sharing some hidden gems and top tastes from last year’s trip
Holiday Ice Cream
- Mail-order holiday-flavored artisan ice creams for December…eggnog, peppermint, gingerbread, praline, and more
Thanks for stopping by!
Leave a Reply