Tending the November Home
The smell of fresh coffee in the autumn home on a crisp morning… Yes, it’s still very much autumn in our household. I grew up in a family where Christmas could not and did not begin until the day after Thanksgiving. I loved doing it this way because the anticipation made it more exciting. The yearly tradition of decorating on that Friday. Being able to fully enjoy Thanksgiving as an autumn holiday— the finale of my favorite season. Even as an adult, come November I am still decorating for fall even though most of the world already has their Christmas bins out. I know this is a controversial topic and everyone has different family traditions! But I can’t help but ponder if consumerism culture has done this to us. Are we always rushing the current season by? You know what I mean…the stores with their bathing suits out in March and fall decor in July…
Before the existence of artificial trees and garland, decking the halls for Christmas wouldn’t have happened until December. Now Christmas is put up on November 1st and take it down December 26th. I think there is value in patience and anticipation. In savoring and lingering. Besides, if we would just return to celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas up to the Epiphany, there would be plenty of time to enjoy the decorations and celebrations without having to start so early.
Decorating for fall does look a bit different in November though. The gardens are put to sleep and so the vases of bright red and orange zinnias no longer grace the dining room table. By now I’ve long forgotten to be diligent in watering my porch mums. I’m feeling the draw towards dried foliage and herbs, beeswax candles, and enjoying the last of the pumpkins before they get put down in the basement to eat from all winter. I purchased a vintage grapevine cornucopia and filled it with gourds, pomegranates, apples, garlic, and some juniper from the backyard as a foreshadow of Christmastime to come. I am so excited to add this “Horn of Plenty” piece to my autumn traditions. Filling it with seasonal abundance each November and displaying it on the table will be a lovely reminder of all the Lord has provided.
I will say I am very aware of how much slower I am to get things done these days as I am also caring for a 3 month old. So I’m not opposed to the idea of getting my greenery and garland hung before Thanksgiving day this year. But just this once ;)
The kitchen has been a lovely place to be this time of year. Of course, I have been making sure the pantry is stocked with chocolate chips, butter, cranberries, oranges, pomegranates, apples, sourdough starter, and every other seasonal delight one can think of. I am learning how to get dinner prepared as much as possible in the mornings when baby is in a good mood so when those cranky evening hours roll around, all I have to do is serve something from the crockpot or pop something in the oven to bake. Some notable autumn meals I’ve made recently:
Italian wedding soup with turkey meatballs
I used this recipe but made the meatballs from ground turkey isntead
Honey mustard chicken thighs with roasted carrots and rice
I placed boneless skinless chicken thighs and carrots on a sheet pan with avocado oil and salt, combined stone ground mustard, honey, and crushed garlic and poured that over everything and baked until cooked through. Served with rice and was so so yummy!
Chuck roast with balsamic peppers and pepperoncini garlic bread
I always throw my chuck roasts in the crockpot with salt and pepper and let it cook on low all day until it’s tender and falling apart. I had some of those colorful lunch box peppers that I had forgotten about so I cooked those up with some onion and turned them into balsamic peppers as a side. And the star of the show was pepperoncini garlic bread made on sourdough baguettes.
Tacos with leftover roast
I heated up the last of the beef with lots of salt and lime and served it with pickled onions, corn salsa (sweet corn, red onion, cilantro, lime, jalapeno, and salt to taste) and my favorite cilantro sauce (sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno, and salt all blended together until smooth) on sourdough tortillas.
Honey mustard chicken on sourdough with raw cheddar and apple slaw
Popped a couple chicken breasts in the crockpot with mustard, honey, and garlic and let that cook on low all day until tender and shredded. Put that on sourdough baguettes with raw cheddar cheese slightly melted and topped with a cabbage apple slaw (cabbage, shredded apple, red onion, lemon juice, sour cream, salt)
Butternut sage soup with rosemary craisin sourdough bread
I make this every year on the last day of October. Both recipes are in my ebook here. Added a scoop of bone broth powder to the soup and served with beef meatballs on the side for extra protein.
November looks as it usually does…garlic to plant, fire cider to make, pumpkin seeds to roast, apples to sauce… I pray your November home is just as cozy as ever, too.
Talk soon,
🤍Kaetlyn
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