Cooler weather ... open windows ... changing colors ... falling leaves ... pumpkin patches ... firepits ... sweaters! There's so much to love about fall but the list definitely includes all the special desserts we bake just once a year. So here are seven special recipes for fall sweets, not just perfect for fall but only for fall. Call it a "fall baking bucket list" if you will and what's mine (so many long-time favorites!)... is now yours too.

A small Bundt cake packed with all our favorite fall flavors like pumpkin, apple, cranberry, pecans and fresh ginger plus fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. It's barely sweet with a moist crumb, a cake to return to all autumn for a casual snacking cake (just one thin sliver at a time, yes?) or a dessert to carry for fall gatherings. For everyday, consider baking this "loaded" pumpkin bread in a loaf pan, too. An Approachable Home-style Cake, Fresh-Baked & Family-Approved. Beautiful Color! A Long-Time Family Favorite Especially for Favorite Recipes for Fall Baking . Extra Welcome When "Supper's a Little Skimpy". Fun Fall Picnic Food. Budget Friendly. Potluck & Party Friendly.

"Sides" are having a moment, so today's collection includes a lucky-seven side dish recipes for early fall, many perfect for weeknight fare but also for casual Thanksgiving tables across Canada in another week.

Ready. Set. GO! Call me thrilled that an entire Taco Bar can be rushed to the table in twenty minutes flat. Really. (Yes, I really do time my recipes.) We'll brown the tortillas, so important! We'll cook the meat. We'll make a Quick Guacamole. We'll set out all our favorite taco fixin's. And then we'll dig in. The trick to this quick weeknight meal? Store-bought fresh salsa that keeps the taco meat nice 'n' juicy, makes a mean guacamole and then takes its place among all our favorite taco fillings. C'mon. Everybody's hungry and we've got dinner to cook. Home-style Tacos, Ready in a Flash, Cooked in One Skillet. Whole Food, Fast & Flexible. Mere Minutes to the Table. Another Quick Supper , a Kitchen Parade Specialty. Hearty & Filling. Easy DIY.

I hope you're hungry because today the temptation is apples, all on the savory side, apps and sides and salads and suppers. I hope you'll find one or two destined as "keepers" in your own recipe repertoire.

An Update After Ten Years Here's how we remodeled our kitchen, first revealed two years after completion and now re-considered after ten years. What decisions worked then and which ones still stand up now? Great news, only three of our favorites require a big investment. The other seven are small, do-able and even no-cost but still make a difference. Plus, it took ten years for me to figure out how to style a special, highly visible spot in the new kitchen: here I reveal how and its cost, all of $8.50! Kitchen Before & After Reveal. How to Add Light to a Dark Kitchen. How to Add a Second Stove to a Kitchen. How to Blend Existing Kitchen Cupboards with New Cabinetry. How to Add Whimsy to a Kitchen. Low-Cost & No-Cost Ways to Improve Kitchen Efficiency & Function.

This week's recipe collection features seven burger recipes: some for the grill and some for inside; some for the stove and some for the slow cooker; some meat- and some plant-based. What binds them is what makes for happy cooks and happy eaters, casual family-friendly comfort food at its finest. Fingers crossed that here you'll find lots of easy-dinner inspiration and with any luck, one or two recipes destined as "keepers" in your own recipe repertoire ...

Fresh salmon and a vegetable hash with summer squash, bell pepper and corn roasted together in a sheet pan, served with an avocado-buttermilk sauce with hints of guacamole. So grab a sheetpan (you know, a metal rimmed baking sheet aka a cookie sheet with short sides) and a sharp knife. Supper'll be on the table quick-quick. Summer Gorgeous! Whole Food, Fresh & Inventive. Beautiful Color! Another Quick Supper , a Kitchen Parade Specialty. Hearty & Filling. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special. Easy DIY. Low Carb. Low Fat. High Protein. Weight Watchers Friendly. Naturally Gluten Free.

Hungry? I hope so because this week's collection is all about quick dinners and not just any ol' dinners but vegetarian dinners, all suited for this brief bridge of time that's still summer but laced with wisps and even wishes of fall. Think Lentils. Pasta. Simple Skillets. All with your favorite late-summer veggies, eggplant and corn and beans and tomatoes. It's a hungry time of year ...

My latest summer salad recipe, a big batch of homemade tabbouleh salad using Ina Garten’s recipe, an easy combination of bulgur wheat, lemon juice and olive oil with cucumber, tomato, green onion, fresh parsley and fresh mint. Hint-Hint : The secret ingredient in this classic Middle-Eastern salad is ... fresh mint! A Middle-Eastern Classic Salad Made from Scratch. An Easy, Healthy Side Dish, Fresh & Summery. Hearty & Filling. Great for Meal Prep. Picnic & Potluck & Party Friendly. Not just vegan, Vegan Done Real .