Breaking news: Summer is over. But dry your salty tears, because the spooky season is taking its place.
Yes, I know, it means saying goodbye to long, hot summer evenings and sand between your toes, but there’s no time to fret.
Having an Autumn bucket list to complete should help you love Fall just as much as the summer.
Pumpkin Patches
Picture this: You’ve just put on a warm, soft scarf and hat.
The air is crisp, and you’re spending the day picking the perfect pumpkin to carve, eating apples smothered in chocolate or candy, and drinking enough hot cocoa to fill a small pool. This kind of day is most commonly known as the Autumn Dream.
Pumpkins are always a great indicator of the beginning of the spooky season, whether you use them to carve a funky face or to make a mouth-watering pie. They are a sure-fire way to get you excited for the weeks ahead.
Autumn Crafts
One of the only downsides of Autumn is the slightly unpredictable weather. Depending on where you live, this can mean torrential rain, icy nights, or high winds so, it’s completely understandable if you want to stay inside!
But that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your day with some seasonal crafts. For example, why not use old socks to make some cute sock pumpkins?!
@shellydoesdiy Details HERE👇🏽 You need to make these DIY sock pumpkins‼️ They were so easy to make, took MAYBE 2 minutes and make such pretty Fall decor. I added stuffing to a sock, tied it with twine, and then wrapped the excess on top to make a stem. These would make a great craft for kids or a fun moms’ night in idea.
♬ original sound – ShellyChicBoutique
Or add some warmth to your side table with some mosaic coasters?
@hobbycrafthq Create stunning autumn DIY mosaic coasters with this easy tutorial created by @kit 💘 🍂 Find the full instructions over on the Hobbycraft Ideas Hub #Hobbycraft #Mosaic #MosaicIdeas #CraftTok #AutumnCrafting #TileArt #AutumnHomeDecor ♬ Halloween, horror, spooky cinematic background music(852258) – domino
You could even soften some candles to add a little ghosty décor to a dining table.
@_nelly_london Happy september 1st 🍁🤎🍂☕️ @Home Decorating|Liz Grella obsessed #halloween #halloweencrafts #autumn ♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune
Or, a tiny clay ghost fellow to keep you company on cold autumn nights.
@cleoneceramics So close to halloween yet still so far 🥲🎃👻 #ghost #julyhalloween #codeorange #ghost #halloween #autumn #spookyseason #summerween #clayghost #handmade #artists #clayart #claydiy #claytutorial #airdryclay #cutecrafts #quickcrafts #diyartideas #pottery #ceramics #clay ♬ h a l l o w e e n t o w n – draculasc
Seasonal Chef
Fancy yourself a Gordon Ramsey type? Well, this is the section for you. Nothing makes you appreciate cold weather more than hot, home-cooked food and sugar-filled baked goods.
Just because it’s autumn doesn’t mean that foods have to be filled with pumpkin…but it’s always a fun seasonal treat.
So, grab your chef hat, tie up your apron, and crank the stove up. First, we are making the classic October showstopper, Pumpkin Pie.
@cookwithmanuela ✨step-by-step pumpkin pie recipe✨ As promised here is my video recipe for this rich and creamy pumpkin pie 😍🤣 #pumpkinpie #happynovember #pieseason #pie #madefromscratch ♬ Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy – Lindsey Stirling
Who said dessert couldn’t come first? This recipe will surely get your belly rumbling. It’s hot, sweet, and packing a pumpkin punch — the perfect treat!
If you’re not a pumpkin person, I have got you covered. Apples are also perfect for baked goods!
It wouldn’t be an autumn bucket list if I didn’t suggest a classic apple crumble, an easy, sweet dessert that is extremely fun to make.
Or why not try something new like these mouth-watering cinnamon apple donuts?
@_gemmalouisemiles autumn baking | cinnamon apple donuts 🍂 one of my favourite fall bakes to date! so delicious & so easy, they taste like warm apple pie 🥧 all you need is puff pastry, apples, cinnamon, sugar & a dash of milk! save this recipe to bake this autumn 🍁 ingredients (makes 4 apple donuts) 1 sheet of puff pastry 1 apple, sliced into rings and core removed 1/4 cup golden castor sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbsp milk -preheat oven to 180c -then slice your apple into rings and core out the centre of each one -coat each apple ring with cinnamon sugar -slice your puff pastry into strips & begin to wrap around each apple ring, until it’s fully covered -I also cut out a little stork & autumn leaves from the remaining puff pastry -brush each apple donut with milk -sprinkle with cinnamon sugar & bake for 15 minutes -tip: enjoy hot with a big scoop of ice cream – YUM
♬ Sixty Second Commercial 1 by Michael Reynolds – malcolm
Not a cinnamon girlie? Try switching out that part with some nutmeg or mixed spice — or even just a little brown sugar.
Now that dessert is sorted, it may be time to start thinking about a starter. These honey balsamic roasted carrots are the perfect addition to any Autumn menu.
@yumlabels 🥕🍯BALSAMIC HONEY GLAZED CARROTS🍯🥕 mix in a vegetable, my version of mix in a water after inundating you with 12+ dessert recipes in a row… happy holidays 🥴 But these carrots do have their own sweet twist with hints of honey and cinnamon that pair oh so well with the balsamic tang! Perfect side to pair with so many main dishes this season. And I love how aesthetically pleasing they turn out every.single.time! 1 lb carrots, washed and peeled 1 Tablespoon olive oil 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 Tablespoons honey 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Optional: 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta Preheat oven to 425. In a small bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Add carrots to a large bowl and pour sauce mixture over, tossing well to coat carrots. Spread the carrots on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes. Brush excess sauce from the pan onto the carrots. Once they’ve cooled for 5-10 minutes sprinkle cheese (if using). #honeyglazedcarrots #sidedish #holidaydish #roastedcarrots #carrotrecipe #vegetarianrecipes #glutenfreerecipes #yumlabels #easyrecipes #healthylifestyle #healthyrecipes #balsamiccarrots ♬ Boogie Shoes – KC & The Sunshine Band
We’ve all had our ‘Brat’ summer, so why don’t we start our ‘Rat’ fall with this timeless ratatouille recipe?
@veganscratchkitchen 🍅🍆🥒🧄 RATATOUILLE 🧄🥒🍆🍅 With Fall harvest in full swing, I can’t think of a more fitting recipe to usher in the new season than Ratatouille. A timeless plant-forward classic steeped in rich history, this dish emerged in Provence in the 1700s and was originally created by poor farmers who needed to use up the harvest of all the remaining summer vegetables. It was actually known as a “peasants stew,” and while it may have been championed by the poor, Ratatouille is rich with flavor. Also, if you haven’t seen the animated 2007 film yet, you MUST do yourself a favor and watch it. Like 100 times over. ingredients 2 red bell peppers, sliced from the core 4 heirloom tomatoes, quartered 3 shallots, peeled and halved 2 bulbs garlic, ends sliced off 1 jalapeño or chili pepper 3 roma tomatoes 2 Chinese eggplants 2 small yellow squash 2 small zucchini 6-8 sprigs thyme, leaves removed olive oil salt & pepper prep Pre-heat oven to 425F. Add bell pepper, heirloom tomatoes, shallots, garlic bulbs, and jalapeño to a tray and cover with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in the oven for 35-40 mins, then add to a blender and blitz until smooth in consistency. Pour into the bottom of a cast iron pan and level out Use either a mandolin or knife to cut roma tomatoes, eggplant, yellow squash, and zucchini into thin slices. Arrange tomato, eggplant, squash, and zucchini slices in sets of four. Starting on the outer edge of the cats iron pan, add each set of tomato, eggplant, squash, and zucchini to the sauce base, working in a circle to create a spiral going inward toward the center of the pan. Pop into the oven for 30 mins. Take out, garnish with thyme flowers and some additional salt and pepper to taste, then serve and enjoy 😊 #ratatouille #fallharvest #veganrecipes #vegan #vegantiktok #veganfood #veganeats #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfood #plantbasedeats #plantbasedtiktok #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound – VeganScratchKitchen
Or, switch up a classic with this baked potato soup!
@heresyourbite This Baked Potato Soup is one of my all-time favorites for fall! It’s cozy, cheesy, potato-y…it’s insanely good🥔🎃 Let me know if you make it! #heresyourbite #fallsoupseries Ingredients – 3lb mini yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1” pieces – 8 strips cooked bacon, cut into small pieces – 2T butter – 2T reserved bacon grease – 1 medium yellow onion, diced – Garlic to taste (I did about 8 cloves) – 1/4 cup flour – 2 cups milk – 1 cup heavy cream – 4 cups chicken broth – 1 to 2t salt (to taste) – 1t black pepper – 1t chicken bouillon (optional) – Pinch of cayenne (optional) – 2 cups cheddar cheese, freshly grated – Toppings: cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions Instructions: 1. In a large pot or dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. *Carefully* soak up the bacon grease with a paper towel, leaving about 2T behind. 2. Add in your butter and onion, sautéing for about 5 minutes or until your onions soften. Throw in your garlic and cook for about 30s or until fragrant. 3. Add in your flour and stir for about 1min 4. Slowly whisk in your heavy cream and milk, working in batches (about a 1/3 at a time). Repeat with your chicken broth. Season with your salt, pepper, chicken bouillon, and cayenne. Stir to combine. 5. Add in your potatoes and bring to a boil. Boil until fork tender, about 15 minutes. 6. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add in your cheddar cheese and bacon (leaving aside a few T of each for topping), stir until melted. 7. With a potato masher, immersion blender or whatever you have on hand, mash your potatoes until desired consistency. 8. Serve immediately and top with more cheese, sour cream, bacon, and green onions. Enjoy! #fallsoup #fallsouprecipe #fallsoups #fallsouprecipes #bakedpotatosoup #loadedbakedpotatosoup #soupseason #soupszn #souprecipe #souptok #souprecipes #easyrecipes #foodtok #foodtiktok #fallrecipe #fallrecipes ♬ som original – PAI DA ALL
Now that your belly is full and your crafts are made, it’s time to cozy up by the fire and settle down for the evening.
Autumn Entertainment
Whether you are a movie fanatic or a music geek, there is something for everyone this season.
Music
What better way to get in the seasonal spirit than blasting some scary tunes!
Feeling witchy? Well be careful who you practice magic in front of, because Donovan Leitch has been noticing some spooky scenes in his hit song Season of the Witch.
Or maybe you are feeling more like having a BOOgie with all your Ghoulfriends.
Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers is the hottest tune on Dracula’s radio this year.
Has the cold weather made your town eerily quiet? The Specials understand what you are going through, as shown by their hit Ghost Town.
Or maybe you’ve started dating someone new, and you thought they were cute, but then they started doing some sketchy things.
Dusty Springfield knows the struggle.
You might want something more on the nose, something that screams HALLOWEEN! Well, what would this playlist be without The Nightmare before Christmas?
Literature
Big reader? Me too. For me ,Autumn marks the perfect time to hibernate with a stack of books on my lap.
One book that might have you Fall-ing in love is The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore, a spicy small town romance.
Or, maybe you are more of a high fantasy person. In that case, try Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.
While it is not specifically set in Autumn, the magic school vibes are strong and make for the perfect cozy read on a cold night.
Or you might want something quick, classic, and arguably the poster boy of Fall books.
That’s right, I’m talking Fantastic Mr Fox!
This leads me to my last segment: movies!
Films
You read that correctly the childhood classic is a movie special, directed by the popular Wes Anderson.
Another top choice has to be the world’s favorite journalist and self-pronounced spinster, Bridget Jones.
Jones shows off what it means to be a frazzled British woman and becomes our best friend through the screen.
These movies remind me of the colder seasons in the best possible way.
Finally, my last fall movie follows the heartwarming tale of a young boy as he travels to see his ancestors in the afterlife and discovers more about his history than he expected.
This wonderful movie is COCO, a cultural tale told through music, color, and an unbreakable family bond.
No matter what you do this season, make it one to remember — whether that be outside in the cool air being around the changing leaves or inside cuddled up with a big hot chocolate in hand.
The season doesn’t mean the fun has to stop!
