Autumn

Fall you either love it or dread it. For some, it means cooler weather and a reprieve from summer’s oppressive heat. A time to break out our bulky sweaters and boots, the promise of football season, tailgating, pumpkin spice, and hearty stews. For others, September signifies the end of many outdoor activities as the sun sets earlier and the cool night air arrives before dinner. The grills get covered while the beach chairs and picnic baskets get put up till next year.

Fall is a time of harvesting and preparing for a long cold season in most of the Eastern United States. In North Carolina we find ourselves gleaning the sweet potato fields and finding a way to use up the last of our summer garden vegetables by freezing, canning and preserving them for the winter months ahead.

Fall flavors are often associated with pumpkins and other members of the squash family which are abundant in Fall. For that reason, we commonly find spices that enhance these types of foods in popular dishes and coffee. These spices include cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg.