Falling Into Busyness

The cool mornings and shorter days of sunlight have arrived. We’ve got football on weekends (weekly frustration attacks brought to you by The Birds), playoff baseball (expecting nothing less than a trip to the World Series for the N.L. East champ Phils), leaves changing on the trees (Lucy can’t stop sniffing or chasing any leaves on the sidewalk), and a change of fruit and vegetables stocking farmers markets and grocery stores (apple pies and soup season incoming).

I love this period as the seasons shift, though I will say the darker mornings and earlier evening sunsets make the days feel shorter. This fall is particularly busy on my end, filled with trips down to Austin and up to Boston/New Hampshire. Slightly different weather in both those spots as we officially started fall on Sunday.

Last week’s time in Austin was HOT to say the least. While it was up to 99 most of the days I traveled there for work, the food didn’t hold back on the sweat levels either. The spice was real in all the right ways.

Before I dig into the expected food choice of Austin, TX (any guesses?), I need to give a huge shoutout to the food scene in general. The recognition lately is fully deserved, and I feel like I just scratched the surface and already want to get back to try even more.

From the Mexican to Caribbean to Mediterranean, we ate WELL. And the food truck scene is so impressive and part of the culture that I can only imagine the hidden gems that exist.

Now if you haven’t guessed what I was teasing at before and left out so far, I’m disappointed. If you guessed Barbecue, a gold star for you.

Austin is the home of barbecue (some may argue this). The experience walking through Terry Black’s for the first time was everything and more than what one can expect. Served up, cafeteria-style, the food line is a machine, and the people working have it down to the perfect science. Step up knowing what you want to order because indecisiveness doesn’t stand a chance.

You order sides first, so naturally a good mix of mac and cheese, creamed corn, mexican rice and cole slaw. Then you slide into a spot at the checkout counter, where each register has all the meat options glistening right in front: a massive beef rib, sausages, turkey and the true star of the show, the brisket.

I’ve long waited for this trip to Austin. Early mornings for cookouts with brisket at home and even a throwback to Brisket and Brews. It was just a matter of time, and I couldn’t have had a better experience for the first barbecue (and much more) in Austin. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a food city with much more to explore. Already planning on getting back.

What’s Cookin’

As I mentioned, it’s a busy time with lots of eating meals out. So before heading out on Thursday, I lean on a Monday go-to to kick off a week of getting back into as much of my routine as possible: Turkey Meatballs with roasted vegetables over couscous.

It’s not the most photogenic meal, but it’s a feel good meal after indulging during travel and through the weekend. I loosely base the meatballs off these by Erin Lives Whole, and add in a simple tomato and cucumber salad and tzatziki to round it all out.

With one more cook and leftovers to fill out the rest of the week, I’ve got my eyes on these few recipes:

• Mediterranean Chicken from Feasting at Home

• Gingery Chicken and Rice Noodle Soup with Crispy Garlic from Nerds with Knives

• Just-Keeps-Getting-Better Lentil Salad from Bon Appetit

Alright, that wraps up about all the time I have this week to think about food. Shipping off to the next adventure Thursday. But first, we celebrate the Fightins clinching the N.L. East tonight. Red October gonna be a fun one. Here’s to being blessed with all the emotions as a Philly sports fan.

Enjoy your first week of fall 🤘