Autumn has arrived! All you summer lovers, it's time to embrace the leaves changing, the 65 degree, partly-sunny days and soak up what I believe is the best season of the entire year. The crisp morning air, the crunchy leaves under your feet, and a warm pumpkin spice Americano from Starbucks. On top of all this goodness is pumpkin. I love pumpkin in all breakfast and baked goods. I try to avoid the pumpkin soup or ravioli dishes. I just can't go there with my most favorite puree. It might ruin it for me. Here is the grand list of pumpkin recipes I plan to try this year. Some I have already tested and as you'll see, I have loved them all. Others Keep Reading

With the crisp Fall weather (unless you're in Texas?), it's time to cook up a warm beverage. If you're on a quest to reduce the amount of refined sugar your family is consuming, try whipping up this Honey Sweetened Hot Chocolate! Your kids will probably need a few sips to adjust from the regular Swiss Miss but keep trying. If they just won't even give it a try, you could always cut the packet hot chocolate with some of this honey sweetened version to help ease their palates in. This would be a fun option to make for a brunch, MOPS group meeting (when you can have those again) or even after trick or treating on Halloween night! Increase the recipe Keep Reading

Dairy-Free No-Cook Chocolate Pudding A few years ago, we toured Creo Chocolate, a family-run chocolate factory and tasting room that opened in Portland in 2014. They source their cacao beans from farmers in Ecuador, then do every step from roasting to packaging right in their Lloyd District chocolate shop. We were so impressed with their focus on quality, family, and sustainability. (This is not a sponsored post, just sharing the love for a local business. Check them out!) On the tour, we learned that not all chocolate bars are created equal. For example, commercial chocolate products are only required by the FDA to contain a minimum of 10% cacao Keep Reading