Celebrate October with Fashion & Food

Fall Outfit #4: Celebrate October with fashion & food

Welcome to October!  One of my favorite months and we will make sure to Celebrate October with fashion and food!

And, of course, COLOR!

I love everything about this month.  Where I live, it is traditionally cooler, cozier, warmer hues, and a time to be in the kitchen or out and about!

So, let’s get started……

CELEBRATE OCTOBER WITH FALL FASHION OUTFIT #4

Celebrate October with fashion & food

Am I going to wear vibrant autumn colors in October?  ABSOLUTELY…with a smile!

I knew when I purchased this Easy Knit Blazer In orange zinnia at Talbots that it was going to be perfect for my fall outfits.

I actually saw it styled at Talbots with a denim top and loved the look.  

I am wearing it with my Talbots jeggings (which I wear often), and my new Clark Sara Clover Ballet Flats. I like these so much that I am tempted to order them in the red color as well!

I cannot tell you how much I love my Patricia Nash Crossbody bag I purchased during the summer at Dillard’s on sale…it is beautiful and goes with all of my new wardrobe selections.

You can find more lovely, exceptional quality by the same brand and many on sale at Dillard’s…just put Patricia Nash Crossbody bags in the search bar!  Also, there are a few at Macy’s.

Here are some fun fall outfit ideas at Talbots:

CELEBRATE OCTOBER WITH FOOD

Celebrate October with Fashion & Food

I am not sure why…but there is something about fall that makes me want to COOK…a dangerous proposition, but one I love never-the-less.

Since, I am a HUGE fan of cooking with pumpkin, I decided to invest in this little cookbook and blog through a few of the recipes for you.

I am going to make them just as described in this book, and then make my comments afterwards for modifications.

What better way than to start with the muffins on the cover…..(I wanted something to deliver to a couple of friends, so that is why I chose to start here)

CINNAMON-SUGAR-BOURBON PUMPKIN MUFFINS

Notes from the recipe: Hands on to make takes 25 minutes; Baking takes 25 minutes at 350 degrees; Recommended Cooling is 10 minutes

3 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 15-oz can of pumpkin

3/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1/4 cup bourbon or water

Cinnamon-sugar

  1.  Preheat oven 350.  Line 24 2/1/2 inch muffin cups with paper bake cups.  (I preferred to make 18 larger muffins.  There is enough dough for 24) In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup of the granulated sugar, the pecans, and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon. In an extra large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt and remaining 1 tsp cinnamon. Then make a well in the center of the flour mixture.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together remaining 2 2/3 cup granulated sugar, the pumpkin, eggs, and bourbon.  Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture.  Stir just until moistened…the batter will be lumpy.  Spoon batter in prepared muffin cups, filling each three quarters full and Sprinkle with pecan mixture.

 

Celebrate October

3. Bake 25 to 28 minutes…my muffins are larger and took 28 minutes.  After cooling, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Per Muffin: 265 calories; 10 grams fat (1 gram saturated fat) 23 mg. chol; 212 mg. sodium; 41 gram carbs; 1 gram fiber; 29 grams sugar, 3 grams protein (here is the reason these are not going to sit at my house!)

Celebrate October

I do not drink bourbon, but Mr. B does and this is the brand I used in this recipe.  You can replace it with water.

However, for those who ask WHY BOURBON?  The book says this, ” Bourbon and Pumpkin? The vanilla and caramel notes and buttery characteristics of bourbon whiskey complement the richly spiced filling.”

The muffins are very tasty…but here is how I would modify this recipe:

MY MODIFICATION:

You can tell this is very sweet.  I would take the sugar out of the topping completely.  I would roast the pecan pieces for enhanced flavor and use them alone to top the muffins.

I would cut back the sugar in the muffins to 1 1/2 cups and not 2 2/3. I would add nutmeg in with the sugar…I just love nutmeg with pumpkin.  If I you use only water and no bourbon, then I would add a teaspoon of vanilla.  

If or when I make these again, I will make these modifications.  The muffins as made in the recipe were very moist and I would not want to loose any of that when modifying, but I believe they would be better this way.

They are a delicious fall gift for a family or special event. 

Celebrate October

Pottery Barn October Settings

Thank you so much for celebrating the first day of October with me!  I hope you enjoyed it…and tomorrow I will be here with Jennifer for another Would You Wear It…..be full of joy…it is October so………..

KEEP SMILING!!!

By Pamela Lutrell

Celebrate October

18 Comments

  1. The recipe sounds wonderful, and I appreciate your modifications. I’m thinking this would be fun to do when I’m at my son’s house with the dog, then I can leave these behind after grabbing a few to take home. Moist muffins are best, so I’ll be trying these, no doubt using your modifications.

    I do like your outfit, and many of the things in the slideshow. You know that I’m a Talbots shopper and they outdid themselves with the autumn collection. It’s great that you are enjoying that gorgeous purse so much. It’s a beauty and goes with so many of your outfits!! Glad it’s October, this is my favorite time of year!

  2. From today through December, it is my favorite!! This is a wonderful jacket and also comes in navy! When you make the muffins, taste the batter to see if you like how much I recommend cutting back on the sugar…of course add more if you want the sweeter. Mr. B loves one with his coffee! Enjoy!

  3. You look great in this outfit! I really like the color combination and the shorter top under the blazer. I wonder if the blue shirt would be enough to offset the warm rust color of the blazer for those of us with cooler complexions.

  4. Thanks Elle…It might be…that is a good way to look at it. Also, as I told Karen, this blazer is available in navy. For my new color direction, I just love their Orange Zinnia pieces…for me it is perfect. Also, I must give Leigh Ann credit for pushing me to wear the shorter tops. Now that I am dropping some weight I am more confident to do just that. Thanks for being here.

  5. So often people think of pumpkins only for their decorative value at this time of year without realizing their nutritional value. The beautiful color of pumpkins is due to the powerful antioxidant beta carotene which when eaten our bodies convert into much needed Vitamin A. Pumpkin has many additional health benefits, and as we know, it can be used in many recipes in addition to sweet choices as it is a type of squash.
    Your newly purchased knit blazer is so pretty as is your crossbody purse. Talbots certainly has many attractive items in their fall line that I plan to investigate farther.

  6. Thanks for sharing, Celia! My next recipe will be a main dish. I love to cook with pumpkin!

  7. Hurray for Leigh Ann pushing shorter tops! So flattering. Remember What Not to Wear? The hosts would say to not cover your lower hslf ( your bottom) completely- make it look bigger. Like draping a piece of furniture. They suffested top og hip to mid hip., which cuts it in half! They were right.
    You look great in your new colors. I’m somewhere between a winter and a summer ( onoy had my colors done by a Color Me Beautiful person who couldn’t decide, then told me to just be a winter. Because it’s easier. Bad advice. So I never really honed in on my best looks. And so many “analysts” come up with different ideas for the same person, I don’t know who to trust.

  8. I got the same bad advice years ago! So glad I met Annie Castano! She gave me perfect advice and I trust her completely…she has changed everything for me in a good way!! Thanks Susan!

  9. Your outfit truly represents October at its best. The orange color is very attractive on you. I are a big fan of Talbot’s for their classic looks. We are seeing the first tinge of color on our trees, & I’m anxiously awaiting the beauty that is October.

  10. Susan, you’re exactly right about proportion! This look is much more modern and slimming. I preach this to everyone I know who does this, and I used to, before cancer had me lose thirty pounds. Hard way to diet!
    Love the color combo too, Pam!

  11. Kudos for a great blog! I have enjoyed it for many years because you offer more than just fashion.
    Do you use reg . pumpkin or pumpkin puree?
    Thx for sharing recipes.

  12. Thank you, Carol! For these recipes, I will be using canned pumpkin. I often roast pumpkins for Thanksgiving pie and pumpkin bread for family! Thanks for being here!

  13. The Biourbon and Pumpkin muffins are mine! All mine! ( well I have to use Gluten Free Flour but so…)? Yummy.
    And your new blazer is o terrific! Love it! I have a new navy sweater jacket from Talbots but wish I had yours! With a white shirt and colorful scarf! Wow!

  14. I wore it today for an event! Love this jacket and all things October! Thanks Becky!

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