fall baking

i think fall is the perfect time to get in the kitchen and start baking up some delicious treats. while i enjoy baking i think i would much rather cook up a big savory meal.  baking requires time, a lot of clean up and you have to be exact; there isn't much room for error.  but the end result is almost always worth all the work. 

jared and i tackled sugar cookies in the shape of pumpkins this weekend.  they brought me right the christmas season, typically the only time i make sugar cookies. i enjoyed hand delivering them to my neighbors and even had a few extra to bring to my coworkers.

next on the list to make, a pumpkin pie (even though costco makes it so easy to just pick one up for $5.00.) 

tailgate food

bloody mary bar - my favorite tailgate cocktail

one of my favorite parts of fall is football season. while i love the iowa hawkeyes, i love all the good food that comes with tailgating just as much.

last saturday we had some of friends over to watch the iowa/iowa state game and had a smorgasbord of good eats.

here is all food we chowed down on during the game:

bloody mary bar
mimosas
great harvest bread cinnamon rolls
fruit and strawberry dip
burgers and brats
lil' smokies
spinach dip
cheesy potatoes
potato & poblano gratin
pumpkin bars
s'mores bars

no, we didn't have a block party, there were just six of us.  but i am pretty sure i ate enough for my entire block, including eating my body weight in spin dip.

even though the game didn't turn out how i would have wanted, we sure had a fun day full of great friends, fabulous food and lots of laughs.

great harvest bread cinnamon roll - best in DSM