In the old days of Moments Cookbook, we were all over the mood boards. Believe it or not (and the OGs can probably attest), we made one every single month. That’s how much inspiration we have as the months go by and the seasons change. We live for the transition! And nothing quite compares to that perfect moment when July turns to August, and August turns to September, and so on and so forth. Mostly, though, we love when summer dips away into fall and then it’s officially time for cozy sweaters, hot cups of cider, moody atmospheres, and your favorite Meg Ryan flick. So, we’re bringing the mood boards back in a grand flourish: A) because we love them, and B) because we’ve heard you guys loved them too!
This time around, we’re honing in on the seasons. The fall is time to invest in the coolest jackets and tall boots. It’s the moment to look mysterious in a jazz club with an espresso martini in hand, or stay curled up in your pajamas all day while sipping a cup of coffee. Fall is when the leaves turn golden and the air is crisp, when everyone gets excited to jump into routines and schedules, and maybe even crack open a new book.
Our fall – the Moments fall – is exactly that and then some. With me in New York and my mom in Cleveland, we get the best of both worlds. An autumn in New York, jazzy, cityscape environment to shop in and live our ultimate You’ve Got Mail fantasy. And then an Ohio pumpkin-picking, trick-or-treat having neighborhood where the kids will dress up for Halloween and it’s perfectly appropriate to enjoy a champagne & apple cider cocktail at before the sun goes down.
Fall Mood Board 2023
We hope this mood board is helpful in guiding you toward a fall you’re excited to dive into! Personally, we think looking ahead and nailing down the things you can’t wait to do, or see, or try makes each upcoming season all the more successful in the long run. And if you need a hack for reeeaalllyy following this mood board, we’re huge fans of creating physical vision boards. So, save the images you like to your desktop and send them off to CVS to be printed. Then, once you’re there to pick up your pictures, snag a foam-backed poster board (and tape). Head home, whip yourself up a mocktail, cocktail, or good old fashioned apple cider, and start sticking the pictures onto the board!
They say visualization is the best step toward making sure it all comes true 😉
And now, we leave you with the mood board itself AND a perfectly fall recipe in Beef Stroganoff! If you’ve never had Beef Stroganoff before, let this be your introduction. Perfectly tender meat, a savory, delicious gravy, all poured overtop fettuccini pasta. It’s decadent and so cozy and the best option for a chilly night.
Beef Stroganoff
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter (add more if the pan gets dry)
- 2 lbs cubed stroganoff meat
- 1 medium onion
- 1 qt mushrooms
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1/3 cup sweet Marsala wine
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- fresh parsley, chopped
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- homemade pasta or boxed fettuccini
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325º F. Roll meat lightly in flour. Slice onion thinly. Melt butter in Dutch oven. Add onion and cook until softened.
- Add beef, and lightly brown. Remove beef from pot Turn the heat to high and add the wine. Scraping up the brown bits, cook until wine reduces slightly. Add the beef back into the pot.
- Then add beef stock and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 2-2 ½ hours, stirring once. Add additional broth if needed.
- During the final 30 minutes, bring a salted pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Remove pot from the oven, stir in sour cream, and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Let us know your thoughts, what you would add or what you’re specifically gravitating toward, and how you’re feeling about a winter mood board (which is a long ways away, but still). Enjoy fall!
xoxo,
Kim & Tess
