The Wednesday Hodgepodge #28

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)...what's your favorite thing about fall?

There is so much to love, it is the cosy season!! The jumpers come out, the blankets appear on the sofa and every hot drink tastes better. The food is so good with soups, stews, pies and mountains of mashed potatoes. Even TV feels cosier in autumn with lots of dramas on, The Great British Bake Off and of course Strictly Come Dancing!

2. What's one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list?

I want to try some new recipes, maybe some new flavours of soups. Soup is perfect for this time of year and if I make it for our evening meal there's always leftovers for the next day. This has just reminded me about the pea and ham soup which we have not had in ages! That might be something for next weeks meal plan! 

3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don't eat? Which one have you had most recently?

Apples are my favourite and are something that I always cook with. I do love to make and eat apple pies or crumbles. I made mini apple pies a couple of weeks ago which went down well. but also use them in savoury dishes. I've even been known to make my own apple sauce to go with a joint of pork.

I only tend to use cranberries in December, it is more of a Christmas type food for me. I love cranberry sauce with roast turkey. I rarely cook with pumpkins. I remember years and years ago when it was hard to buy one here, they were so expensive but then they became more popular at Halloween so are easier to come by. The only pumpkin thing I do enjoy is a Pumpkin Spice Latte but I am determined to try cooking with pumpkin this year.

4. 'Fall is proof that change is beautiful' is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate.

I get why people say that "fall is proof that change is beautiful". There is a lot of beautiful things about it with the colours - golds, reds, oranges, cosy evenings with candles flickering and pretty lights and that low autumn sun which makes everything glow but personally I don’t usually like change. Real life change feels messy, unpredictable and sometimes stressful not all magical and Instagram worthy but Autumn is one change that I don't mind, we sort of just slide into it without any fuss and there is so much to love about this time of year.

5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping...of those listed which would you most like to visit?

Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas

I have never gone out of my way to look at leaves and leaf peeping is a new phrase to me. I live in a more rural area with lots of trees so get to see the changes happening without having to travel far. My dad's place is surrounded by oak and horse chestnut trees and I do love being there seeing the leaves and conkers that have fallen off the trees.

I would love to visit any of those places but think I would have to choose Stowe, Vermont as I have just read that it is in New England which is top of the list for leaf peeping!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Sticking with the autumn theme. I’m one of those people who opens the back door every morning, like a little ritual and the other day I did and shivered, it was a proper crisp autumn kind of morning. I am not a fan of cold weather but those mornings are nice especially when the afternoons are still warmer so I can peel off my jumper and feel the sun on my skin. I like this time of year and the difference between the morning when I take things slowly, sitting under my blanket enjoying a cup of tea and the afternoon where I have the motivation from the sunshine to get things done. My family are not loving it, they leave the house in big coats and by the time they're coming home it's too warm for a big coat and have to carry it. hehehe