Autumn; my favorite season.

After the rush and the heat of the summer we can finally slow down, cool down and begin to recuperate. I find myself on edge in the summer, feeling the desire to live every moment as big and full as I can get it rather than letting it pan out as it could be without all the fuss. I also find myself disconnected, seemingly in a daze from the heat and humidity here in New York. It might just be the North Eastern mentality. We only get a fleeting summer so we better make the most out of it before the cold blows back in. It is both wonderful and exhausting.

This summer was a whirlwind. I’ve been traveling a lot for both for work and pleasure; I wasn’t home for more than a few days since May. Those travels have brought me to Oregon, Washington, Atlantic City (New Jersey), and many parts of upstate. Each experience was met with new flavors that thrilled my tongue, and new sights and experiences that fill my hear with joy. Yet it also left me feeling slightly disconnected and uprooted. I missed a lot of experiences with friends and family, and rarely made home cooked meals. Which is why I am thankful Autumn is coming to the rescue…

I’ve spent the last three Sundays getting the knack of group cooking, or as we call it “the first steps towards communal living” with a set of friends. It is bringing me back home physically and mentally to my friends and my nourishment. We can open the windows and turn off the fans now, allowing ourselves to better communicate and focus on our other senses. I’ll be sure to share some of the items we’ve cooked in other posts. Autumn also brings about harvest time. I adore my lingering stops at farmers market’s brimming with local goodies. I love my time picking tomatoes, cutting herbs, and caring for my chickens. There’s just something incredibly nostalgic about the smell of tomato plants…

I can’t wait to see what other great meals and times this season brings about as it winds itself towards winter. I want to make a commitment to try to use more local items this season, including apples and pumpkins.

What are you looking forward to this autumn?