In my next life, I want to be the Stars Hollow troubadour.

On this first day that "feels like fall"...

Stand in the woods and contemplate something really deep and serious. I was surely doing so here.
Or, you could always skip. Enjoy your favorite magazine. (This is a new magazine - first issue should arrive in mailboxes tomorrow! - that I am helping with. It's a Real Simple/Southern Living/Whole Living/Garden & Gun put together by 20-40 year olds)
Find new uses for late summer/early fall supplies. Example: Turn your tomato cages upside down, gather the ends, and wrap lights around for outdoor decor.
Great idea for pumpkins or cushaws.
Make something that requires cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Below: cushaw bread, butternut squash pie, pistachio pear cake.


Start a Gilmore Girls marathon. Or, at least watch these two youtube clips that I'm having trouble embedding. Jess was always my favorite.
http://youtu.be/arF5pRh0ing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijzpa4haclE&
feature=related

Play songs that remind you of fall.

___________________________________________________
Pistachio Pear Cake
Mix together:
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
½ c. oil (or substitute yogurt!)
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. soda
¾ tsp. salt
2 c. all purpose flour
1 ½ - 2 tsp. cinnamon
½ - ¾ tsp. nutmeg
3/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 c. toasted pistachios

At this point, the dough will be very stiff. Go ahead and add 4 c. of peeled, cored, and diced pears (or apples if you so choose). Don’t overmix! I baked in a springform pan at 315 degrees for around 75 minutes (I covered with aluminum foil; this is a dense cake – the top will brown before the center comes close to being finished so covering partially or completely is recommended)

Optional topping (if you decide to do this, I would cut back on the spices and sugar in the cake): In saucepan, mix ½ c. brown sugar, ¼ c. milk, ¼ lb. butter, and bourbon (to taste). Bring to a slow boil for 3 minutes. Pour over cake and return to 300 degree oven for five minutes.