BookGiveaway:
Karla is offering 1 copy of any one of these books--either print or e-version--to one randomly chosen winner who leaves a comment for Karla. The winner will be announced here on Friday, October 10th, between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. Thanks!
I have a huge smile on my face
and a spring in my step. And it’s all because of one thing.
Autumn.
It’s time for pumpkins, crunchy
leaves, sweaters and steaming cups of spiced cider.
My favorite part of fall is
pumpkin everything. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin lattes. I even have pumpkin earrings. If
there’s a recipe that calls for pumpkin, I’m on it. Pumpkin is my favorite
flavor and scent. I buy pumpkin spice scented candles year-round. I think there’s
nothing that says “home” as much as pumpkin unless it’s apple spice.
My fondest childhood memories
are of time at Grandma’s. We spent most Thanksgivings at her house and she
spent weeks cooking for the season. I have probably consumed more pumpkin pie
than anyone this side of the Mississippi. Seriously, you have no idea how much
I love pumpkin. No, trust me, you just don’t.
My favorite colors are fall
colors, too: copper, cinnamon, purple and pumpkin gold. I love dressing in
these colors as well as decorating with them.
This picture from a few years
ago features one of my dogs, Jake, wondering if he can play with the turkey on
the table. Uhm, no.
I also love this time of year because kids are cutest, I think, surrounded by pumpkins.
The best time of year to ride
my motorcycle is in the fall. It can get a little cool, but I prefer being cool to being so hot I can hardly wait to rip off my helmet. Here, my motorcycle is next to an Indiana cornfield in the fall.
Fall is also the time of the 1812 Battle of Mississinewa re-enactment in our area. My twin sons have worked the Special Olympics booth selling roasted corn the past several years.
I love that festival and the weather is always just crisp enough to enjoy hot food cooked over open fires and spicy apple cider.
Other amazing things that happen
in the fall: trees blazing in red and gold colors and wild turkeys going for
walk-abouts in the ‘hood.
(I didn’t ask them why they
crossed the road. Didn’t think it was any of my business…)
Besides enjoying a turkey
parade, there’s, er, other types of turkey to enjoy.
I wish I could tell you I made
this turkey-bacon beauty but I can’t. I wish I had, though because then I could
taste it!
I do make homemade rolls,
though. I learned the art from a Norwegian granny in Iowa. Oh. Nom.
If you haven’t figured out by
now, fall, for me, means amazing food. All of my favorites are best eaten in
autumn: pumpkin pie, turkey dumplings, pumpkin cappuccinos, turkey stuffing,
pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, homemade rolls, pumpkin pie, turkey club
sandwiches, ginger snaps, pumpkin pie, baked apples, warm donuts, pumpkin pie, pumpkin
spice muffins, pecan pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin pie.
These days I’m eating low-carb
and flour- and sugar- free (as much as possible but admittedly, it’s not easy
this time of year!). Here’s my favorite pumpkin bar recipe for you foodies
watching your carbs! (I usually double this recipe and cook in a 12X8 pan.)
Karla’s Pumpkin Bars
½ cup of pumpkin (or other
squash you like)
½ cup agave nectar (or honey if
you prefer honey)
2 eggs
1 cup blanched almond flour
½ t salt
½ t baking soda
Dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and
cloves (your preference)
Combine the pumpkin, agave and
eggs. Add the dry ingredients. Pour into a greased 8X8 pan. Bake at 350° for about 30-35 minutes. You can top with whipped cream,
but I think they’re delicious naked.
You can also add raisins and
nuts if you wish. Make it your own!
For more low-carb ideas,
check out my low-carb Pinterest board (link below).
What do you like best about
fall? I’d love to know! Do you have any unique pumpkin recipes to share? Please
let me know so I can try them! You
can contact me through my website.
Karla's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
For fun: See how author @KarlaAkins
embraces autumn #BookGiveaway (Tweet This)
Meet author @KarlaAkins: author,
pastor’s wife, mom, grandma, wearer of biker boots. (Tweet This)
Everyone has a story: See what
encourages author @KarlaAkins #BookGiveaway (Tweet
This)
Author's Bio:
Karla Akins is an
award-winning, prolific writer of books, short stories, plays, poems, songs,
and countless nonfiction articles. Her biography for middle grades, Jacques Cartier, went #1 in its
category on Amazon. Her first fiction novel, The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots,
was released in 2013. Her short stories have been published in several
magazines including Havok and Splickety. Her book on
Autism is due out in the spring as well as a book about Marco Polo. When she's
not reading she's writing. When she's not writing she is zooming along on her
motorcycle looking for treasure.
Places to connect with Karla:
