Autumn is on its way…
With it comes crisp clean air and opportunities for revisiting who we are, giving us the chance to decide which parts of us to allow to fade into the dark, which to grant new birth, and which to renew.
I always feel this season to be geared towards vibrancy and intimacy. It is as if Autumn is a celebration of the life we have lived this year as it comes to a close. Time to review and
reevaluate our actions, reactions, and the reasons behind them. Time to give thanks for our blessings. Time to acknowledge our hurts, our fears, our losses, and time to find our new normal.
“Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche-
You can literally feel the change in the air, and it is incredibly ethereal. A simple walk turns into a deep connection within ourselves, creating new opportunities for growth.
This fall will mark my first time as a home school mama using a curriculum with my (soon to be) five year old while juggling life as a SAHM/Homemaker and a (soon to be) 2 year old! I have so much excitement built up for this new adventure and I am so glad this change has come along with such a forgiving and revitalizing season. As we exit our fast-paced, adventure-filled summer, autumn it seems, beckons us to slow our pace and really sink deeply into our lives. Where I generally struggle with impatience toward life and a lack of grace toward myself, in autumn I am more apt to stop and think and laugh freely at my mistakes, correct them, and move along. There is no path more welcoming towards forgiveness than the path of a crisp, dimly lit evening fueled by tea, blankets, and loved ones. Okay,.. Maybe add a book and some quiet time to that and you’ve found perfection!
Another reason I adore this season is the rich and hearty foods that come with it. During summer I struggle to find simple meals that everyone loves and won’t heat up the entire house, I lose my joy of cooking and baking. Oh, but autumn brings with it tomato bisque, zucchini boats with marinara, egg bakes (recipe below) and shepard’s pie. Chilli, cornbread, oatmeal, and spaghetti. A vast array of hearty dishes that last for days and are vibrant with flavor. A time to try new bakes and experiment with new herbs and spices. It doesn’t hurt that my husband doesn’t stop baking until he has perfected his dish (hello, tart army of 2018! No complaints from this guinea pig ;)
So as we enter into this contemplative season, allow me to offer my sincere congratulations; Whatever you have gone through this year; You. Made. It. If you turn to look back, do so with the knowledge that you have all the power to decide who you are and who you want to be. Your past, while it has an effect on who you have become, does not define you.
Go forth and be made anew.
Egg Bake:
This is one of my absolute favorite recipes. It is SO easy to personalize. Great for hosting brunches (which should happen more than they do, people.)
In the words of Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson -
“Why would anyone eat anything besides breakfast food?”
“People are idiots, Leslie.”
Great for lunches or breakfast-for-dinner. Fast. Easy. Great for littles to help with (have them crack eggs in a separate bowl first in case shells drop and be sure your mindset is prepared for a mess ; )
Ingredients:
Whatever you want, but in case you need some inspiration, here are a few of my go-to’s:
1 doz eggs, whisked
1 8oz Feta
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2 handfuls fresh spinach, chopped
2 8oz can halve/quartered artichoke, drained
-OR-
1 doz eggs, whisked
6 med. golden/red potatoes, cubed
1 pkg. turkey sausage (we usually do the packages with 2 ‘ropes’) chopped
½ block cheddar, cubed
½ block cheddar, shredded
-OR-
1 doz eggs, whisked
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
½ block monterey jack, cubed
Directions:
Heat oven at 425
Grease 9x13” pan (we use extra virgin olive oil,) whisk eggs, chopp/cube ingredients, whisk/stir together, pour into pan.
Bake for 35 minutes, add shredded cheese topping.
Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until you can run a knife through the middle of the bake and have it come out relatively clean.
Serve + Enjoy!
Written By: Amanda Durham
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