September is a weird little month for dinner. One day it’s 25 degrees and tomatoes are still very much happening, the next there’s a chill in the air and suddenly all I want is something bubbling away in a big pot.
So instead of forcing fall before we’re ready, I pulled together some of my September greatest hits for whatever stage you’re currently in: still clinging to summer, somewhere in between, or fully ready to get cozy.
Pick your current mood and consider dinner, sorted.
3 ways I’m shifting dinner into fall
Keep the summer produce, change how you cook it. Tomatoes, zucchini and corn are still very much happening!!! Just try roasting, blistering or baking them instead of always serving them fresh.
Add one cozy thing. My fave - browned butter, or crispy breadcrumbs, maybe sausage, creamy beans or duh…. melted cheese. One richer element can make dinner feel fall-ish without going full beef stew.
Keep something fresh. Finish warmer dinners with herbs, lemon, crunchy veg or a cold sauce. You still get the cozy, without everything feeling too heavy.
a few things easing me into fall
THE COZY FLOOR LAMP
I’m in my “absolutely no overhead lighting” era. We’ve had this one for a couple years and I love the woven shade on this one, it’s warm and cozy without feeling overly rustic.
THE TRANSITION JACKET
I got this one for Italy and it honestly just makes every outfit so much more pulled together. And it’s perfect for September weather where it’s cold in the morning and somehow summer again by 2pm.
THE BROWN CHECK NAPKINS
Apparently all it takes to make me excited about setting the table again is a brown check. These feel perfectly fall without putting a single pumpkin or leaf on my table. They’re linen too, so they still feel more relaxed.
THE SLIPPERS
My go to winter slippers because I simply cannot have bare feet in winter. Where are my Raynauds people at… lol.
THE FALL CANDLE
Don’t get me wrong I love pumpkin spice but it’s a bit early for that. I love this vanilla + amber + leather scent, not too girly (for Kyle’s sake) but makes the house smell cozy and a little moody ;)
RECIPE ROUNDUP
still clinging on to summer
somewhere in between
getting cozy
Now if Reggie was a human….
We all know you can’t go wrong with pizza! I myself will NEVER get sick of it… yes quote me on that. Reggie would jump through hoops (figuratively… so let’s just imagine here) for this pizza beans recipe. She is a sucker for cheese, but this one feels extra special! Just like Reggie:)
