Fall Fetish

"Hi, my name is Mary Paige and I'm a pumpkin-olic."

Yes folks... I've gone pumpkin crazy! I can't stop thinking about pumpkins. Who doesn't love a fruit that can be used in decor AND food!? The best part... for TWO months! (Take that Christmas trees!!)

Some may already know this, but Nick is just as obsessed with pumpkins as I am. It may have been the cause of my disease. But I've gone fall-crazy around the house.

Starting off with the decorations...

We've got a Home Goods ceramic pumpkin on the table with my awesome fall colored place mats and napkins with my married initials. (Thanks Marty and Trav!)

Then there's the hurricane vase with fall leaves and candle on the coffee table.

And my favorite piece on my makeshift "mantle" 

(AKA the bookshelf that now holds all of our wedding presents)

Saw the white pumpkins at the local grocery store and couldn't help myself. Can you point out the craft project in this picture?

Why yes, those are old sweaters wrapped around glass vases. I got the idea from the Under the Table and Dreaming blog post. All you need are old sweaters, glass vases, and a glue gun (maybe a sewing machine/needle too... depending on the size of the vase and/or sweater). It's a fairly simple project that I accomplished in 20 minutes. Now I have an adorable fall decor for the next two months! Oh and don't I look great in those frames with my long lost adopted son? Pictures are coming soon.

On top of the pumpkin patch growing in my house... I've also been searching for recipes that have a pumpkin flare to them.

First up! Pumpkin Turkey Chili!

I was able to recreate this recipe, but in the slow cooker. It had a different consistency than normal red sauce chili, but I encourage you to venture out and try this! Today mother nature blessed us with a chilly day (no pun intended!) so the chili hit the spot.

My tweaks in Bold

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound ground turkey
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 dashes salt
1 cup of long grain rice
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and saute the onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and garlic until tender. Stir in the turkey, and cook until brown. Mix in tomatoes and pumpkin in the slow cooker. Season with chili powder, pepper, and salt. In Crock-Pot heat low (5-6 hours) or high (3-4 hours), covered. Serve over rice topped with Cheddar cheese and sour cream.

The ground turkey seem to balance out the cheese, and I used light sour cream. So it was hearty food that's good for the waist line!

This week I'm hosting girls night at our place with a menu that includes many more fall treats!