September 30th, 2023.

It’s time to don your favorite flannel,
make (and eat) delicious fall treats,
AND welcome the glorious Autumn season.

It’s a movement.
It’s a way of life.
It’s Fall Welcome Weekend (read the story here).
The autumn extravaganza that includes the lighting of the official pumpkin candle and
the making of annually-enjoyed treats in the merriment from your own kitchen!

Want to join in?

Easy.

On the day of September 30th, put on your best autumn flannel (if it’s warm, just tie it around your waist), turn up the cozy tunes, and make your favorite fall muffins, pies, chilis, etc. I have some “old faithful” dishes that I make every year, and if you want the recipes you can find them with their background stories here:

Featured

Autumn Dump Cake

SO. EASY.

Sage Sausage Chili

My favorite chili.

Pumpkin Muffins

SO. EASY.

Chicken and Dumplings

A staple.

The Story of Fall Welcome Weekend:

The 2019 lighting of the official pumpkin candle.

When Pinterest exploded around 2010, we all began pinning delicious treats that we were "totally going to make" at some point. But we never did. I realized this travesty in the summer of 2012, when I had my first kitchen and had all the means to make goodies, but found I didn’t actually do it. So, I set aside the first Saturday in October to make all the amazing fall treats I pinned. I’m not a great cook, but I figured one day a year I could manage to make all the things that made my mouth water. I immediately decided this would be an annual celebration to mark the coming of the most glorious season of all.

The second year felt a little lonesome as my husband and I sat around the table with more food than we could eat. It was then decided that this day would be open to anyone interested to revel in its excitement.

Thus, on the first Saturday in October (approximately) - following Friday's official grocery shopping trip - I awaken and seek out a delicious breakfast with my loved one(s) (some travel from out of town for this event) - consisting of pumpkin pancakes, of course. When I return home, the official Pumpkin Candle is lit - a beacon of hope for those of us who struggled to exist in the summer months. Then I get to work making some staples for the day: chili, chicken dumplings, pumpkin spice muffins, etc.

In the afternoon, we open our door (as the most amazing autumn smells waft from within) to friends as we make even more goodies together (some bring their recipes and make them in my kitchen with the help of others) in preparation for a bonfire dinner that evening. You've Got Mail plays in the background, accompanied by a finely-tuned Fall Welcome Weekend playlist, and yoga pants are the uniform of choice. At long last, summer has moved on and we celebrate fall's entrance full-throttle.

In 2020, we went virtual with a 2 hour livestream from my kitchen. In 2021, I had a newborn baby and I had a low-key celebration at home with family. We were back to normal in 2022 with an in-person event, and 2023 will see a brief hiatus in the extreme hullabaloo as—if honesty be welcome (and this is my own website so I say it is)—I just can’t do it up big this year.

HOWEVER: I do hope you’ll be able to join us from your home and share the merriment with my and my family! We’ll be in my kitchen, and you’ll be wherever you are, and it’ll be awesome.