(Fall)ing in Love

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."
- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year and for good reason.  It showcases the captivating hues of the leaves, crisp mornings and warm, comfy sweaters.  It's the perfect time for pumpkin and apple picking, football games and bonfires.  Fall is the ideal time for culinary masterpieces; the flavors of fall are easy to add to any recipe and are spectacularly comforting & delicious.  


Here are a few of my favorites: 

Pumpkin Spice Granola
Besides the multitude of health benefits, granola is a great portable snack to have on-the-go or in between meals.  This variation introduces a fall flavor staple, pumpkin spice, and produces a fantastic combination of fiber and protein which yields the perfect snack for a busy, collegiate athlete.  Originally introduced to this recipe by a friend, I adapted the recipe a bit to accommodate for different ingredients in my pantry.  Here is my final product:

INGREDIENTS
1½ cup rolled oats, gluten free
1 cup raw almonds
1 cup raw, unsalted peanuts
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 tablespoon of peanut butter
1 tablespoon organic vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix all dry ingredients (except pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vegetable oil and peanut butter), into a large mixing bowl.  Combine pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vegetable oil, and peanut butter in a mixing bowl.  Take this “wet” mixture and pour into the large mixing bowl filled with dry ingredients.  Stir until everything is well coated and spread evenly on a lined baking sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes, stir very well (if you don’t you’ll have large clusters), bake for another 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool completely before you store the granola in an air tight container at room temperature.




Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
Pumpkin spice pancakes are a staple for cold fall mornings.  Simply add pumpkin puree and a dash of cinnamon to your original pancake batter and you've got the perfect fall breakfast treat.  Serve with fresh maple syrup.




Pork with Apple Sauerkraut
Apples are another great additive to traditional recipes.  This variation of a traditionally German meal combines the crisp apple flavors of fall with the savoriness of pork & the sourness of sauerkraut.  Cook a medium, diced apple and a large pinch each of caraway seeds, ground allspice and sugar in 2 tablespoons butter until slightly soft. Stir in 1 pound drained, rinsed sauerkraut and warm through.  Serve with pan-seared pork.





Frozen Bananas + Honey + Almonds
Craving the cold satisfaction of ice cream but wanting to stay healthy? This recipe offers a simple and delicious frozen alternative in only three ingredients!

INGREDIENTS
frozen bananas
organic honey
raw almonds

INSTRUCTIONS
Simply peel and cut a couple bananas into chunks and freeze, preferably overnight.  Blend in a food processor or high-powered blender until creamy consistency.  Refreeze.  Once the banana cream is frozen, scoop out and top with drizzled honey & raw almond chunks.



Kanela Breakfast Club

"We're all pretty bizarre, some of us are just better at hiding it.  That's all." - the Breakfast Club

Lakeview is home to a number of my favorite restaurants. With a wide variety of dining options, retail shops and coffee establishments, it's a neighborhood with much to offer. There is no better way to spend an off-day than exploring Lakeview, showcasing my favorite Chicago neighborhood to a couple of new freshmen on the team. 

First on the list was a breakfast establishment, recently featured on Chicago Food Authority. Kanela Breakfast Club was absolutely phenomenal. Whether you prefer savory or sweet foods in the morning, this restaurant has multiple solid options for both preferences. Craving eggs benedict? This restaurant features an usual rendition that blew my mind. Beyond the typical ingredients of two poached eggs, an English muffin and hollandaise sauce, the dish combines the nutrition of brussel sprouts and cranberries with the tenderness of slow roasted pork belly. All eggs are cage-free and all ingredients are locally-grown or organic. 

Craving something sweet instead? The Stuffed Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast is a solid option. Two pieces of challah bread as French Toast are stuffed with a sweeter cream cheese and warm raspberries. The dish is adorned with crumbles of graham cracker which provide a crunchy contrast to the softness of the French toast. A delightful treat to begin any morning!

The decor inside was sophisticated, classy and refined. On our visit, the service was super friendly and even offered to split the check for five people, a task commonly forgotten at some of the trendier new restaurants. Kanela Breakfast Club is the ultimate place for brunching with friends. Some might say it's the perfect place for a breakfast club!

Mary


Eggs Benedict

Stuffed Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast



Bobtail Ice Cream Co.

You can't buy happiness but you can buy ice cream and that's pretty much the same thing. 

Located on a quaint, bustling corner in Lakeview, Bobtail Ice Cream Co. is a Chicago summertime favorite and a great place to grab a cone or shake on a leisurely walk through the neighborhood.  The shop recently celebrated 10 years of business and my friend Brenna and I were thrilled at the opportunity to try the signature flavors that continue to awe returning customers.

Both the atmosphere and the decor of the shop are very original with a small-town feel.  From the cute blue-and-white striped awning to the authentic, decorated menu on the wall, the decor is fun.  The cashiers are friendly, helpful and more than willing to let you try a couple flavors before purchasing anything. They were sold out of a couple signature flavors when we went (it was a Wednesday night) but there was an overall good selection of flavors, ranging from the stereotypical ice cream flavors to a Chicago special called the "Cubby Crunch". Their signature flavors tend to sell out fairly quickly, however, so I do recommend going early for the best flavor selection.

My two signature flavor recommendations would be the Lakeview Barhopper and/or the Signature Sunset.  The Lakeview Barhopper features the strong chocolate flavor of Dutch cocoa beans with the strong kick of Jack Daniels.  The Signature Sunset is a must for any wine-lover as it combines the rich flavor of merlot with the bitterness of dark chocolate chips.  Both flavors combined well (which was slightly surprising) in a freshly-made waffle cone.  The ice cream was reasonably priced with a fair amount of ice cream per scoop.

Bobtail Ice Cream Company was a delicious change from the abundance of over-rated, unoriginal ice cream restaurants in Chicago. I cannot wait to go back and try the "Cubby Crunch" which I hope is better than the Cubs performance this year (although that shouldn't be hard).  Overall, a great place to grab a cone on your walk through the beautiful neighborhood of Lakeview!

Until next meal,
Mary


Lakeview Barhopper: Chocolate Bourbon Ice Cream
Signature Sunset: Merlot Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Chips