Pumpkin Panna Cotta – a No-Bake, Foolproof Dessert

By Joy Liao

Brisk, fall weather never fails to put me in the holiday spirit. I love the crisp air, colorful foliage, bundling up in heavy sweaters, and of course, Thanksgiving.

Every year, my mom and I host Thanksgiving dinner. A few weeks ago, my mom asked me to put together a menu for our annual feast. Cooking for 20+ people will not be easy, but I’m up for the challenge!

This year, I’ve decided to go with Pumpkin Panna Cotta for dessert instead of traditional pumpkin pie. It’s a delicious fail-proof choice that requires no baking.

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Fall for Stew

By Katie Barreira

Autumn is the perfect time of year for a savory, tummy-warming bowl of stew. As the weather grows colder and the days shorter, I find myself arriving home from work feeling hungrier and less inclined to cook. And thus, Sundays have become Stew Sundays. Thirty minutes of prep, a couple hours of “set it and forget it” cooking during football and I’ve got dinner covered for at least two nights of the coming week.

Can’t imagine eating the same thing a few nights in a row? No problem; stews are masters of disguise. On Sunday, it’s a steaming bowl, hot off the stove, with a hunk of crusty bread for mopping the rich broth. Monday, the cold meat is shredded and heated with some of the veggies and served on rolls with slaw, for a pulled pork sandwich. And by Wednesday, your thickened stew dresses up as ragu, ladled over soft, creamy polenta or tossed into pasta.

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Sugar and Spice

By Marilyn Hunter

Autumn leaves. Crisp nights. Cooler days. Not here.

Autumn looks very different in L.A. It’s slow to arrive and sometimes impossible to tell one season from the next. At least there’s one thing we can depend on this time of year…pumpkin patches! I know fall is officially here when pumpkins begin to appear.

The boys love the fall season for two reasons: pumpkins and trick or treating. I love this time of year for pumpkins and pumpkin pie spice. Food is one of the biggest pleasures the seasons bring and I love to celebrate the change of seasons by baking. For me, the flavor of pumpkin pie spice signals the arrival of fall. I like to add it to pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, even sprinkled on my morning yogurt.

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