Welcome back to Snack Chats, where we pull a few stools up to the counter and have a chat. Like the kitchen island in our home, this is the place for “Oh my gosh, where did you get that sweater?” and “Can I get that soup recipe?” and “You just have to read this book.”
We hope you find something that brings you joy, and we’d love for you to share the things that have gotten you through this month in the comments.
🫣 Welp, that was devastatingly accurate. Listen, my head knows The Dark Months are coming, but my heart just really wants to wear a hoodie by a bonfire and make soup every night for dinner.
🍲 Speaking of soup, I’ve gathered up 50(!) of the Best Fall Soups for you. We’re talking creamy butternut squash and pumpkin soups, sinus-clearing chicken soups, hearty game day chilis, and everything in between. Also, lots of vegan and gluten free options because soup is for everyone!
🍳 I can’t stop thinking about this Breakfast Pot Pie.
👧🏽 I loved these tips from Priya Parker on how to include kids in gatherings without centering them.
🎶 I could watch these kitchen harmonies for hours. CHILLS every time.
🐻 Katmai National Park is hosting their annual Fat Bear Week, and you can vote for which chubby bear deserves the biggest prize. With full bear bios, names like Grazer, and before-and-after pictures, this is the kind of absurdity I need more of right now.
🍂 This vignette of a bay leaf discovering everyone else gets to stay in the soup is just the right brand of niche humor for me.
👸 This one’s for my last minute queens.
🔥 My church is in the middle of an incredible sermon series on Empire. If you feel some kind of way about the ways Jesus is being co-opted to win political wars or Christianity is getting tangled up with nationalism, this sermon is for you.
Aftertaste- I cannot stop thinking about/talking about/recommending this book. A young man discovers he has the ability to reunite people with their dead loved ones through a singular meal that only he can taste (and make!). How’s that for a premise?! The prose is gorgeous, the food descriptions are to die for (get it?), and the reflections on grief and the after life are thought provoking and moving. This would be a perfect fall read if you’re looking for something moody and supernatural without being too scary.
I have really been enjoying books featuring women in mid-life (can’t imagine why? lol). If that’s your jam, I have a few great recs for you:
We All Live Here- Lila is in her mid-40s and still reeling from the implosion of her marriage and the death of her mother when her estranged father shows up and asks to move in for a day or 30. It’s chaotic, human, and deeply relatable, particularly for women living through the sandwich years of raising kids and caring for elderly family members at the same time. It’s a messy but heartwarming story about choosing to love the family you’ve got, no matter how frustrating or unorthodox it may be. Bonus points for excellent British narration!
You Are Here- I was utterly charmed by this slow and quiet romance that takes place mostly on a long walk through the rainy and unforgiving England countryside. Warm, witty, and brimming with hope, this was a delight to read.
Jane and Dan at the End of the World- I don’t think this book will be for everyone, but I found it twisty, fast paced, and hilarious, if a bit absurd. Jane and Dan are celebrating their 19th anniversary at an exclusive restaurant when Jane announces she wants a divorce. Moments later, the restaurant is taken over by eco-terrorists. They’ll spend the next few hours grappling with their marriage, their identities, and their parenting against the backdrop of some lite terrorism. This reminded me a lot of Anxious People, which I also loved (and many people hated, so take that as you will).
Morning Glory Muffins- We’ve made these twice already this season, and my kids gobbled them up both times. If carrot cake for breakfast makes you excited, these are the muffins for you. Packed with carrots, apples, flax, and cinnamon, they’re healthy-ish and great for a quick breakfast or snack.
Crock Pot Barbacoa Tacos- The easiest way to get some super flavorful barbacoa tacos on the table! This can feed a crowd, so save this one for a tailgating party, or repurpose the leftovers into Mexican Beef Stew.
30 Minute Wonton Chicken Soup- Save this one for when the first round of seasonal colds hits. It’s super easy to make and soothes a sore throat like nobody’s business.
Turkey and Butternut Squash Curry- The coziest kind of fall recipe with warming spices, squash, ground turkey, and coconut milk.
The Best Frosted Pumpkin Cookies- My son has already requested these for his birthday in a few weeks. They’re soft and puffy with the dreamiest brown sugar frosting. Truly the best and a must make for fall!
What have you been into this month? I’m currently working on Thanksgiving recipes, so if you’re dying to get your hands on a recipe for a certain dish, please leave it in the comments!