Fall is a beautiful time of year with the colorful leaves, crisp air and pumpkin patches popping up in towns near and far. Even when the weather starts to get colder, there are plenty of activities that people of all ages can enjoy. If you’re looking for something seasonal to do with your loved one, try one of the following activities:
Take a walk (or a drive) and look at the autumn colors. Just getting out and enjoying the fresh, crisp air can do wonders for your body and your mind. Observing nature, even if you’re just looking at it through the open window of your car, can help refresh and renew.
Go apple picking. Autumn is the best time to pick apples. There are many varieties available, so there’s sure to be at least one that will suit your taste. Some apple picking farms even have rides around the orchard, so if walking is difficult, you can still get out among the trees to pick apples. Most orchards will offer bags of apples as well, so if picking isn’t your thing, grab a bag of fresh apples and take them home. And if you’re feeling really motivated, invite a loved one to make some homemade applesauce or an apple pie together.
Enjoy crafts with leaves, pumpkins, gourds, acorns—whatever you can find.Crafting isn’t just for kids. Crafting can be a fun and gratifying experience and can easily accommodate any difficulties with dexterity depending on the project you select. You could press leaves, paint pumpkins, make a colorful leaf mobile from construction paper, or collect acorns and dip them in paint (gold, glittery acorns work great in Christmas decorations as well). If it’s beautiful outside, take a sketchbook outdoors and draw or paint. The best thing about crafting is that it’s only limited by our imaginations. Do whatever you like, and have fun!
Look for a community-sponsored planned activity. Throughout the fall, and especially around Halloween, most communities have outdoor, fall-related activities available. Go for a hayride, take a horse-drawn carriage through the woods, walk a corn maze, or just go for a hike and enjoy the beautiful show nature puts on for you.
Bake. Nothing says autumn like pumpkin spiced or apple everything. Baking can also be a great way to spend a day with family or friends. Make some cookies, have hot apple cider, and just enjoy each other’s company.
Whatever you do, enjoy yourself and embrace the “cozy” feel of the fall season. Spending time outside or inside, whether alone or with family and friends, can make you feel good — and as the nights get longer and the days get shorter, we can all use some feel-good activities.
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Grain-Free Pumpkin Spice Bread
Does anything feel more like fall than squares of fragrant, pumpkin-spiced bread and a hot beverage?
This grain and gluten free recipe is very easy to make. Eggs and almond butter provide both healthy servings of fat and protein, which are good for your brain health and for regulating blood sugar. Canned pumpkin and sweet potato are readily available this time of year and contain beta-carotene and other carotenoids, which improve the tissue health of the liver, and also help detoxify it. Almond flour is full of calcium and fiber and is a welcome departure from nutrient-devoid white flour.
Eat this as a snack, dessert, or even an alternative breakfast. Try a hardboiled egg along with a pumpkin square for a balanced meal to start the day!
Difficulty Easy
Prep, Cook, and Cool Time 50 minutes
Servings 12 squares
Ingredients
● 4 large eggs
● 1 cup pumpkin or sweet potato puree (about ½ can)
● 1/3 cup roasted and salted cashew or almond butter
● 1/3 cup maple syrup
● 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
● 1 tsp vanilla extract
● 1¾ cups blanched almond flour
● ¼ cup tapioca flour
● 1 tbsp coconut flour
● 1 tsp baking soda
● 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
● ¼ tsp of ground ginger
● 1/8 tsp sea salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9 x 9 inch pan with cooking spray or coconut oil. Line the pan with a square of parchment paper and then grease the parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin or sweet potato puree, almond or cashew butter, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt.
Slowly and gently mix the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
Transfer all the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, and the top is slightly puffy.
Remove from the oven and allow the pumpkin bread to cool. Cut into 12-16 squares and serve.
Author: Leslie Myers
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