Fall Rhythms, Reads, and Recipes

As the air cools and the leaves start to crisp on the edges, fall makes herself known. This is the season we begin again enjoying warm drinks and meals, more soup, thicker blankets,  cozy sweaters, and all the pumpkin recipes. I find there are definite shifts in my routines as the days grow shorter and the nights, longer.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Here is a peek into the fall rhythms, reads, and recipes shaping my life right now.

RHYTHMS

• One of my absolute favorite things right now is this app: Read Scripture, by Francis Chan. The app takes you through the Bible in a year in a thematic, understandable way. It is supplemented with creative videos that explain each book and major theological themes in the Bible. Francis Chan says, “We are encouraging a new generation to study the Scriptures honestly—to pursue truth even when it doesn’t agree with our natural impulses. The vision of Read Scripture is not to tell people what the Bible says, but to teach them how to discover truth for themselves in the Word.” I look forward to reading it daily.
• I listened to a podcast a few months ago that was so intriguing. After listening, I ordered the book mentioned and began to rethink the structure of my day. The book, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, helped me to understand how distractions are messing with my time management, why multitasking is ineffective, and offered ways to push my cognitive abilities to their limits. Deep work has truly changed the rhythm of my days. You can find the podcast mentioned here.
• My autumn calendar is filled with dinner dates, a wine and cheese pairing event, a fundraising gala, apple picking, and other little happenings I’m looking forward to, but what I am most excited about are two events this month. The first one I attended at the beginning of the month in Dallas. It was a conference to equip and encourage women bloggers, writers, artists, online marketers, leaders, and disciplers to know God and make Him known through deep community. The second one is a guided writing retreat held in North Carolina at the end of the month.  It is a joy to combine my faith, my love of communication, and my heart for others here on my website. This space allows me to minister, encourage, and educate you, and I find that attending conferences is so beneficial to my calling. They help me to learn and grow, take time to ponder the Lord’s calling, and sharpen my skills.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will make a tiny commission if you click through and make a purchase. You may read more about that here.

READS

• Walking on Water by Madeleine L’Engle. This wonderful book reflects on the creative process, and what it means to be a Christian artist. Her essay combines faith, imagination, art, service into her musings of how to create art, whether that is via music, writing, painting, etc. My copy includes a reader’s guide with great questions to ponder.
• My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life by Ruth Reichl. When Reichl lost her job, she disappeared into her kitchen to find healing and comfort. This book is part cookbook, part memoir (I love food memoirs!) and is filled with recipes that follow the seasons. The photographs are stunning!
• The Forest Feast: Simple Vegetarian Recipes from My Cabin in the Woods by Erin Gleeson. I purchased this book a while ago when my youngest was following a strict vegetarian diet. This cookbook is one of the most gorgeous books I have ever laid eyes on and contains excellent seasonal menus for entertaining.

 

RECIPES

• One of my goals this season is to make more bread. Gluten-free bread is difficult to bake, but I hope to hone my artisan bread baking skills. A friend gave me a gluten-free artisan bread cookbook which offers many bread variations, and it’s been fun to try different recipes. I have used this recipe a few times and substituted the flour with a gluten-free blend.
• This recipe for pumpkin creme brulee looks amazing, and I can’t wait to try making it!
• I wouldn’t be surprised if this fall vegetable quinoa soup ends up in my regular rotation.
• I am a pumpkin fan, so I enjoy pumpkin in most things, and most likely will try making this pasta with pumpkin and sausage, although I will probably use chicken sausage instead of Italian.

What rhythms are shaping your life right now? I would love to hear.

*****

~You know what else I love about autumn? I love fall poems and quotes, which is why I offered this beautiful autumn printable for my subscribers. Would you like one, too? Send your email address to hello@everydaynatalie.com or subscribe below, and I will send one right to you!