Sobremesa Stories

Letting stories unfold around the table

Fall Inspiration: 10 Delicious Pumpkin Chocolate Recipes

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I know this has been said by pretty much everyone, but I’ve got to say it too: I LOVE fall.  Despite growing up in southern California, I am not a summer girl and hate pretty much everything about the heat.  I love a good day or so at the beach and love the freedom of summer, but nothing puts me in a worse mood than constant, muggy heat (just ask my husband…he can verify that I am an absolute delight to be around in high temperatures, especially while pregnant!).

That being said…fall is one of my favorite seasons.  Not only do I love the pretty rustic decor and all the other things everyone else loves about fall, I love that it means the transition into winter.  It’s such a sweet reminder that all things come in seasons, that hard seasons always fade into sweet seasons and vice versa.  For a million and one reasons, this Californian-turned Midwestern girl loves everything about the season from September to November.

Pumpkin Chocolate Recipes Fall Picture

Take me back to fall days like this from our first year of dating!

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Berry Almond Tart – A Fourth of July Favorite

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If I had to choose one recipe that reminds me of my childhood summers, it’s this one.  My neighborhood threw EPIC 4th of July parties complete with a full-out bike parade through the neighborhood, hours of pool time, delicious cookout food of all types, and an hour of (probably) illegal fireworks while all of us sunburned kids ooh-ed and aah-ed in the cul-de-sac.

Berry Almond Tart

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Easy Mocha Brownies Recipe

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At the risk of sounding cliché….this girl LOVES chocolate.  I am at my happiest when I have a bowl of something sweet, especially if that something sweet involves ice cream of any kind. When we traveled through Europe last summer, I made it my personal goal to have at least one ice cream cone per day (quite an easy goal to accomplish, I might add).

Ice Cream Cone in Ireland

Eating a “99” ice cream cone in Ireland

I especially love having dessert after a meal.  It’s the perfect way to keep people at the table, to ensure that conversation lingers long until all that’s left on the table are crumbs, sticky plates, and almost-empty wine glasses.

I love baking sweet treats and trying new recipes, but this twist on a boxed brownie mix is one of my favorites. A pan of these babies has yet to last more than 24 hours in our house, and seems to be one of my husband’s favorite breakfast snacks.  When I’m having people over last minute or don’t want to take the time to bake a dessert that requires more time, I almost always throw these in the oven.  They take less than 5 minutes to prepare and comes out gooey and delicious (especially if you are a chronic under-baker like me).

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