Sweet Signs of Autumn
As I write, I’m in the midst of reviewing new episodes of “At Home with Christy Rost”. We recently completed filming Season Four, so this is my first time watching each episode. As I watch, I jot down comments here and there with little changes that will be edited into the final version. Even now, I can’t help but recall when I flew to New York several years ago to film the pilot – and in September Eat This TV will launch Season Four on AmazonFire, Apple TV+, Roku, Samsung TV, and YouTube TV. Grateful only begins to describe how I feel.
Because the cost of groceries continues to rise and many are feeling the added stress of uncertain times, my focus for Season Four is on budget-friendly meals and at-home celebrations that won’t stretch the wallet. I’ve included hot, bubbly casseroles, recipes for busy days, holiday-inspired dishes, and plenty of flavors inspired by my travels last fall as an Atlas Ocean Voyages guest chef. I’ve also dedicated an entire episode to Ireland because I’ll be cooking on an Atlas cruise from Dublin to Lisbon October 11-21, 2025. Look for recipes such as Guinness Braised Short Ribs, Irish Cabbage with Bacon, Traditional Irish Soda Bread, and Irish Scones in Season Four. Better yet, come join me! There’s still time to reserve a spot on this exciting Epicurean Expedition on Atlas World Voyager!
The first signs of autumn have arrived at our historic mountain home, Swan’s Nest. Yesterday, I noticed a cluster of golden leaves at the base of one of the willows and this morning it was 30 degrees with a light layer of frost on our roof. Even at noon the breeze is chilly – a sign of cooler days to come even though it’s only mid-August.
As Fall approaches, I’m always inspired to bake, probably because it reminds me of the days when our sons returned to school. Each week during the school year, I would bake a batch of cookies, a single layer cake, or brownies as an after-school treat. As soon as they walked in the door, the boys would call out, “I smell cookies!” or “I smell cake!” and make a beeline for the kitchen. We’d gather around the kitchen island with whatever I’d baked and a glass of milk sharing the events of the day. Those precious memories are as close as my next batch of cookies or other sweet treat once autumn arrives, like these Moroccan Almond Cookies.
-Christy