Tea Time.

Is it fall?  Many would say, "Of course it is!  Don't you look at your calendar?"

I do, thank you very much.  But according to San Diego it says:

 

I'm 104 degrees, to...

 

I'm extremely hot and yet now, I'm extremely humid.  To...

Thunder and Lightening...all day, to...

Peace, calm, serenity.

After two weeks of bipolar San Diegan havoc, its time for tea.

 

Pumpkins. 

Scarves.

Cranberries.

Boots.

Spices.

All of these things make me think of fall.

For a successful quick bread, cake, or anything with a light, fluffy consistency, bring all of your ingredients to room temperature.  It keeps components of your batter from solidifying.  The reactions will happen more freely, allowing for a lighter cake.

Pumpkin is a squash.  It could be cubed and sauteed with leeks, sage, bacon bits, and some chipotle smoke, and most people wouldn't be able to tell that its the same squash used to make a pie.

Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, define the "pumpkin taste."  Although, pumpkin may be the only squash that can carry those flavors properly.  That may be the reason why people love the pumpkin so much.