It sure has felt like Fall lately in our neck of the woods, and I find myself longing to make time slow down just a little bit so I can take it all in. Sometimes I just stare at my babies as they seem to be growing so fast. I want to remember every little curve of their cheeks, the way their little bodies feel snuggled up on my lap, and the way their eyes light up each time they experience something new. It is my goal this year to more fully enjoy this season with my babies and I hope you will join me here.
I have gathered together some really genuine and talented friends for a Farmhouse Holiday Decor Series which starts today. Over the next couple of months, we will be sharing little glimpses into different spaces of our homes through the Fall and Christmas seasons. We want to focus on celebrating the season in very meaningful and real ways. I hope you will join us as we share little bits of our hearts while we focus on making our homes warm and happy places for our loved ones this holiday season. I hope that this series feel like a place of refuge, warmth and beauty that you enjoy coming back to each week.
I feel so grateful to have you here, and so happy that I get to share my home with you during this season. I hope that we are posting early enough in the season to share inspiration that you can use for your own homes for the holidays. At the end of each post, we will be sharing pictures and links to the other blogs in the tour, so be sure to look for those at the end of this post.
Today we are kicking off the series with our Fall Farmhouse Kitchens and sharing one of our favorite Fall recipes. Fall is probably my very favorite time of the year. I love when the air starts to feel crisp, the garden is bursting with vegetables, and we start looking forward to doing all of the fun activities as a family like hayrides and visiting the pumpkin patch. There is just something so magical about the Fall.
Between my garden and my parents' fruit trees, I foraged all of this deep beautiful color from our yards. I should have snapped a picture of the flower arrangement I made from it all, but I will have to post that to Instagram later or something. I just loved how beautiful all of the color looked laid out on the counter.
Fall baking is also a favorite of mine. It is always way too hot all summer to turn on my oven, so when it starts to feel a little cooler outside, I always get anxious to spend time in my kitchen. My little ones are at such a fun age and love to help me in the kitchen and I love that. When they think of Fall, I want them to have fond memories of helping mommy to bake goodies in the kitchen.
I always make this apple and walnut coffee cake (recipe HERE) since it is so delicious and easy to throw together. It never lasts very long in my home and the apple mixed with that topping just screams Fall. It is a variation of a coffee cake recipe that I grew up with and used to make with my mom when I was a little girl.
Another thing I begin to make again every Fall is homemade honey whole wheat bread. It is a recipe that I got from a friend and I have been making it for probably 15 years now. My kids can't get enough of it and they even just eat it plain. It is also perfect for sandwiches, toast, etc. It is a more dense bread since it is whole wheat, but it has a really delicious flavor.
Our favorite is to eat it with a nice pot of soup- so hearty and comforting.
Here is the recipe if you want to try it out~
HONEY WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
Makes 4 Loaves
Mix 1/2 cup warm water, a little sugar and 2 Tablespoons yeast in a bowl and set aside to proof the yeast.
Place in mixer:
5 cups of hot water
7 cups whole-wheat flour
2/3 cups olive oil
1 cup honey
1 ½ Tablespoons salt
Mix for 2 minutes in mixer
Add yeast with one cup flour
Add 3 to 4 cups flour
Mix for 10 minutes with dough hooks
Shape into loaves on an oiled surface and place in bread pans sprayed with cooking spray (dough is very sticky). Let rise until it has a nice shape and size- about 30 to 45 minutes (I usually turn on my oven to the lowest temp until it warms and then turn it off and place my loaves in there to rise).
Bake at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately rub the end of a stick of butter (straight from the fridge) over the top just until lightly coated.
I think you will love this recipe.
I love the way the Fall colors look with all of the natural tones in my home. (Shelves info and tutorial here).
What is your favorite thing about the Fall?
I hope you grab a cup of tea, sit back in your favorite comfy slippers and take a look at these other beautiful Fall kitchens and recipes. I am so honored to have you here, and look forward to sharing our homes with you during this season!
Ella Claire | Craftberry Bush | Miss Mustard Seed | Jeanne Oliver
Love Grows Wild | Rooms FOR Rent | Shades of Blue Interiors | Dear Lillie
French Country Cottage | My Sweet Savannah | Kindred Vintage | Jennifer Rizzo
Rachel
Kristen I don't know how you do it, but your home makes me want to come over and hang out so bad! and eat your baked treats! 😉 You have such a beautiful way of decorating in such a timeless and beautiful way. Obsessed with some little things I noticed, like your collection of cutting boards, your salt and pepper shaker, that pretty bag hanging on the hook. Gah. Love it all.
Jennifer @ Town and Country Living
Kristen, I love this new series!! I still love the jars on your shelves and the bread looks yummy. Just the other day I was thinking I should start making our own bread. Your recipe is perfect timing. Pinning this and baking bread as soon as I can.
Chelsi
I love this Kristen! Everything you do is beautiful. I'm gonna have to try out those recipes and I'm so excited to follow along this holiday seasons with your fun new series!