Feed your face in fall.

Fall Feast.

Happy Monday my merry friends (and L'shana Tova to those celebrating the new year!) It seems that autumn in New York is here to stay, so let's put on our hoodies and get back to celebrating the season's arrival. In true meri merry fashion, I say we start with some tasty fall eats and pumpkin flavored treats (because you can't think about shopping or field trips on an empty stomach.) Enjoy!!

Mmmm.

Goodbye summer fruit salad, hellllo fall bagel brunch! Though many rave about Trader Joe's pumpkin cream cheese (and you KNOW how I feel about Joe:) I think I'm going to have to take this simple cream cheese recipe for a spin. It calls for cream cheese, canned pumpkin, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. Who's coming over this Sunday?

If it has apple it's healthy right?!

This recipe boasts "3 ingredients, 3 minutes"... we HAVE to give it a try!!! Caramel Apple Cheesecake Dip sounds like the perfect way to turn fall's apple crop into a delicious dessert.

Break out the crockpot!

Remember back in spring when I was all "shed the bulky clothing, no more rich, creamy goodness..?" Well F that shizz, it's getting cold and I want something piping hot and full o' flava. Here are 12 Fall Crockpot Recipes which include everything from mac cheese and meatloaf to jambalaya and pulled pork. Get cookin peeps!!

2 ingredients!? Just TWO!?!

I'm not much of a baker, but this recipe claims that if I combine those 2 ingredients above, I'll get a Weight Watchers approved, tasty pumpkin muffin. I'm off to preheat the oven!

I'm in love with Joe.

In my fantasy world, ALL my groceries fit in 1 tote bag
and I look this chic traveling home from the store.
(Reality = 3 bags and 5 "stop and rests" en route)

We've never met; I don't know what exactly he "trades"; but I am in love with Trader Joe. Trader Joe's is my absolute favorite place to grocery shop because it is impossibly cheap (I live in fear of some sort of child labor expose) and though Dr. H and I love to cook, life doesn't always allow time for following recipes, no matter how few ingredients.  Also, their employees are clearly taking some sort of happy pills and they pack your bags with Tetris like precision. So here are some Merry Meri & Dr. H approved favorites for your next trip to the happiest grocery store on earth (and check out THIS great site for more ideas).

Trader Joe's refrigerated and frozen sections are filled with packaged foods which will give you the satisfaction of a "home cooked" meal in a fraction of the time. 

We love ALL the pre-marinated chicken breasts
(found in the refrigerated section)

We ALWAYS have a bag of these guys
in our freezer. So easy, so tasty.

Recommended by one of my girlies, this is now a staple
in our freezer for "I don't know what to make" nights.

AWESOME side dish for an otherwise homemade italian
dinner (or ya know, pasta with turkey meatballs!)

A few other AWESOME "TJ-sponsored" meal ideas: Vegetable or Shrimp Fried Rice and a few types of dumplings and shu mai (all found in the frozen foods section); Keep some pizza dough in the freezer for an impromptu make-your-own pizza night; Reduced Guilt Mac Cheese (small portion, but so tasty I pretty much lick the container clean); frozen Linguine with Clam Sauce (one of the only non-takeout meals Dr. H will feed himself if I'm not home for dinner); Quinoa Duo with Vegetable Melange (because I still haven't figured out how to cook quinoa flavorfully).

The broccoli florets are another favorite.

I also like to keep some frozen vegetables from TJ's in our freezer. Though they aren't nearly as tasty as their fresh counterparts, it's nice to know that I can always get my greens into a meal without stopping at the grocery store on the way home from work.

And of course, my friend Joe has you covered for sweet treats as well:

The perfect tart and sweet snack when you're
craving "just a taste". Get them. Get them now.

Be careful. Studies show that it is impossible to keep these
in your home without eating them all within 72 hours ("studies")

Are you a fan of Trader Joe's? Do you have any favorites which I should add to my next grocery list? Leave a comment - share the deliciousness!