The sun is shining, you’re sweating, hair is frizzing, but wait, something’s different. Is that a 3-degree temperature drop? Why yes, yes it is. And for all of my fellow Floridians, this means that the fall season has finally arrived after a grueling summer. While most people consider Labor Day weekend to be the transition point between summer and fall, Floridians do things a little differently. With weather in the 90s and not a cloud in the sky, how do we welcome the autumn air? Well, we do it the “cool” way, no pun intended.
Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
Yes, the 85 degree weather may not be the prime temperature for hot beverages, so as you’re sweating on your way into Starbucks from the car, order something to help keep you from getting overheated. With a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, you can stay cool in the heat, while still getting a little flavor of fall.
Pumpkin Patch
To take a trip to the pumpkin patch with friends or family, it doesn’t need to be nippy out. Pictures with giant pumpkins can be taken, and the roundest ones can be picked no matter the weather, and this timeless tradition can only put you in a festive fall mood. It may be too warm for bonfires, but hayrides run through several locations in almost every town. So, bring your iced cider, a cute boy and hop on a hayride for a fun fall date night.
Fall Colored Clothes
It may not be time to ditch those shorts and tank tops yet, but you could always trade in the pastel skirt for a dark purple one. Fall colors don’t need warm clothes to exist, and if you’re one to appreciate a darker color scheme, by all means, don’t let the heat inhibit you! Short-sleeved flannels are another great way to incorporate traditional fall clothes into a Florida girl’s wardrobe.
90s Halloween Favorites
By mid-September, ABC family and Pay-Per-View start offering classic Halloween movies which we’ve grown to associate with the start of the fall season. For example, the brilliantly underrated Hocus Pocus and Casper hold a special place in everyone’s heart. So, tune in, DVR and re-watch the movies that gave you pre-candy jitters in the weeks before Halloween.
Fall Food
Cooking up some scrumptious fall themed food doesn’t require crisp weather! And thankfully, pumpkins and apples and squash are always in season. Here are some easy recipes you can whip up for fall dinner parties or just for the sake of fun seasonal cooking:
PUMPKIN SOUP
Ingredients:
- 2 3/4 pounds sugar pumpkin or butternut squash, halved and seeded
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered through the stem
- 2 shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps wiped clean
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
- 5 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium vegetable stock
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut pumpkin into 2-inch pieces.
- Combine pumpkin, onion, mushrooms, and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet. Add oil and 2 teaspoons salt; toss to coat, then spread in a single layer.
- Roast until pumpkin is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, about 30 minutes, rotating pan and tossing vegetables halfway through. Let cool, and then remove skins.
- Transfer vegetables to a medium saucepan; heat over medium.
- Pour in 2 cups stock; then puree with an immersion blender until smooth.
- With the blender running, slowly add remaining 3 cups stock, and puree until smooth.
- Move everything back to the saucepan and bring soup to a simmer. Remove from heat, and season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.
From Martha Stewart Living, October 2009
ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH
Ingredients:
- 1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds), peeled and seeded and cut in 1-inch chunks
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the squash on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss well.
- Arrange the squash in one layer and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the squash is tender, turning once with a metal spatula.
From the Food Network, 2013
Enjoy!
So, just because you’re living a little closer to the equator, you don’t have to skimp out on any of the autumn festivities, except maybe watching the red leaves fall and a pre-winter shopping spree. With recipes, dark colors, classics and pumpkin EVERYTHING, autumn is most definitely in the air, even if its 80 degrees. Happy fall, Florida!