As cool days become the norm, it's time to think about tea as more than that delicious beverage in your cup. It's also a fantastic flavor enhancer in the kitchen! Get a trio of fantastic recipes that will have you delighting in the versatility of tea.

The end of the gardening season brings with it a rush of fresh fruits and vegetables that want to be used before they go bad. That means a lot of preserving, but also lots of fresh foods to be enjoyed while they can. So I leave you for the week with a fun, spicy appetizer (or light meal) that takes advantage of tomatillos, jalapeño peppers, greens, and onions.

As days grow colder and morning walks are greeted with showers of falling leaves, nothing hits the spot quite like a bowl of soup. So that's what's on the menu today, in spades. My ultimate autumn menu involves a bowl of creamy potato-leek soup that's been sprinkled with grated sharp cheese and crumbled bacon with a bit of crusty bread alongside. Add a glass of chilled white wine and I'm welcome fall with open arms.

Fall bring pumpkin this and pumpkin spice that and, you know what? I adore it. What's not to love about something like rich pumpkin cheesecake that blends the flavors of cheesecake and pumpkin pie with a crust that's infused with the best of pumpkin spice? Yeah, I couldn't think of anything, either. Then add some crunchy pecans and velvety caramel-rum sauce and you've got a perfect fall dessert.

Menu planning is the art of planning your menu ahead of time. With the right skills, you can plan for a day, a week, or even a month. There are many advantages of menu planning and that's why thousands of parents like to plan their meals so that kids can get a healthy diet. Some benefits of menu planning are saving of time and money, healthy eating, and less wastage of food. So take some time this weekend to start your own good habit!

It's welcome for dinner, lunch, or breakfast. It's great by itself, on the side, or when wrapped around another food product. In fact, if you could wrap bacon around bacon you might create a nexus of awesome so great the world as we know it would end and an entirely new and perfect universe would open up. I love bacon.

With fall just around the corner, it's time to think about how to take advantage of the new season of flavors and ingredients in your kitchen. Everything from hearty soups in the crockpot to roasted vegetables in the oven are lining up to be your favorites this autumn.

When time allows, I enjoy putting together decadent weekend breakfasts and brunches. It's a sign that this isn't an ordinary weekday. No, there's time to relax and enjoy a lazy, luxurious meal that leaves the nest smelling of crisp autumn days and coffee.

As promised, chocolate-covered strawberry magic bars make their debut. Enjoy a bevy of great flavors in one neat, tasty package. How often can you marvel over a dessert that's lovely to look at, easy to bake, and so delicious that you'll dream about it? Yep, it's definitely magic!

A highly active garden has plans for writing about dessert put on hold so that tomatoes can be a priority. There will be salsa, roasted sauce, and jambalaya ... oh my! And, before you think there's nothing for you, dear reader, read on for great information on picking, storing, and using tomatoes plus fantastic recipes. Enjoy!