Coffee Talk 18: a chance to catch up on the little things in life—both sweet and salty! October 2019
My favorite fall treat: Easy Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Coffee Cake! .Perfectly moist ‘n spiced pumpkin bread with a sweet, crunchy pecan topping. DROOL.
Hello, Friend! Happy Fall!! I can finally say that, right? Have you been enjoying all that fall’s got to give? Or have you totally been like, why is it so hot and humid still? <– ‘Cuz that’s been me. Lol!
Whaddya say we sit for awhile, chat about the little things and enjoy a fresh hot bev with a few warm cookies?
I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to this month! Make sure to comment below & tell me how you’ve been doing. I truly love hearing from you. .
Let’s get started! 🙂
My new haircut! A few folks asked for the front shot of last month’s 8-inch chop. Here ya go! (Also, whyyyyyy did I take such a close-cropped/super closeup shot?? Is this a soap opera?) ..
I had to take a drivers test… Can you believe?!? Folks, I have not taken a drivers test in nearly 20 years. Thankfully it was just a written exam, but still! Turns out, when we moved from Boston to Minneapolis, that I had to retake the drivers exam in order to transfer my drivers license.
Only thing? I haven’t driven in 12 years. Yep, 12 years. Erik and I don’t own a car—and, in fact, have never owned a car our entire lives (either together or on our own). So I was surely sweating bullets during the exam. Actually, since Erik doesn’t even have his drivers license, he opted to take the exam too. That way, he can take the road test in three months and finally get his license.
Let’s just say we were both sweating bullets the entire time we were prepping (aka studying… like what is that???) for the test, then sweating even more profusely during the test.
We actually took two days off of work so we could cram. Just like the good ol’ days. Remember college? Lol. I remember when I’d stay up for nearly 2 days just studying for a test that I knew was happening months in advance. Oh boy!
This time though, I thought I’d have months and months to study. You see, before we moved, I’d looked up the rules on how to transfer my drivers license online. I thought I could take the test in December or so (giving myself a leisurely 6-months to study). Unfortunately, as I was reading through the drivers manual, I found out that I’d have to take the exam within 60 days of moving. This, I read 3 weeks before the 60-day time period is over. And that’s why I had to cram like crazy!
But, you know, you hit a certain point in studying, where it’s like, why put off the test any longer? Can I retain any more of this information? Let’s just do this! So…
WE BOTH PASSED!! Woohoo!!
A sneak peek shot of my living room. 🙂 Can you believe how gorgeous this velvet ottoman is?? . And YES, we totally got blue velvet curtains!! .
Driving again… for the first time in ages! We started using this carshare in Minneapolis that allows us to borrow a car for a certain amount of time, then return it to the convenient location where we picked it up. It’s been equal parts thrilling and terrifying to drive again.
I should mention that when I did drive, I hardly drove at all. So I’m not falling back on like 2,000 miles of drive time/decades of experience. It’s all pretty new, fresh, and frightening as heck! Lol. But it’s been such a different experience from walking and taking public transportation or rideshares everywhere. Like, it’s opened up a new sense of freedom and being on our own schedules, you know?
Meanwhile, Erik and I’ve been getting extra serious about learning how to drive because we’d love to move out towards more rural areas in the future. Hopefully, we’d buy a home out there and live a quieter lifestyle. We were talking about how living in Maine probably wasn’t the best time for us because everything was so spread out and we didn’t have a good means of getting anywhere (aka a car).
But it’s been a bit hard to break the habit of walking/train riding/ridesharing everywhere, you know?
How do you get around? Do you mostly drive? Or do you use public transportation or rideshare? What do you prefer? Also, what kind of city do you live in—more rural, suburban or urban?
Super fun fall breakfast alert!! .☀️ Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins: lightly sweet, fluffy perfect pumpkin muffins. .
Fall Fun… so we’re talking about all the fall things that we want to do this year. More seasonal fun and less working/missing out on all the holidays.
We looked up this pumpkin patch/apple orchard that seems really cool that’s not so far out of the city. It’s got corn mazes, raspberry picking and more. What do you think? Should we brave driving all the way out there (about 1 hour away, I think) or keep to something a little closer by?
If you’re familiar with the Minneapolis area, what fall activities do you suggest? If you’re not, what are your plans for fall activities this year? 🙂
Recipe Requests… I’m now officially taking recipe requests for next Spring! Yep, I said it: next Spring! Y’all know that I have to take requests at least 6 months in advance because I need ample, ample time to create a level of recipe that you’d love and that you deserve.
Recipe requests for Spring? What would you like to see? (Okay, maybe I can squeeze something into February & March… any requests for then?)
A sneak peek for a new recipe!! Can you guess what it is?
Top Recipes
Popular Recipes/Posts This Month
- Cranberry Chia Gluten Free Vegan Snack Bars
- 3 Ingredient Homemade Crunch Bar Recipe (V, GF)
- .. Gluten Free Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (Healthy, Dairy-Free)
- . Gluten Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe (GF)
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies – Healthy Vegan No Bake Cookies without Milk!
Latest Recipes & Favorites
- 3 Ingredient Almond Butter Paleo No Bake Cookies (Fast, Healthy, Vegan)
- 2 Ingredient Keto Chocolate Pecan Fudge (Low Carb, Vegan, Dairy-Free)
- Healthy Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats Recipe (Vegan, GF)
- 3 Ingredient Healthy Vegan Rice Crispy Treats (Gluten Free, Dairy-Free)
Must-Try Recipe!! Cranberry Chia Gluten Free Vegan Snack Bars. Chewy, sweet & tart–one of my absolute faves. .
How has your month been? Do you have any grand plans for Halloween? 🙂 I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to! Comment below & give me your updates! I love hearing from you. Wishing you and yours a wonderful October and a safe & happy Halloween…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
In case you wanted to catch up with a few past posts:
- 2019:
- Coffee Talk 17 – September
- Coffee Talk 16 – August
- Coffee Talk 15 – July
- Coffee Talk 14 – June
- Coffee Talk 13 – May
- Coffee Talk 12 – April
- Coffee Talk 11 – March
- Coffee Talk 10– February
- Coffee Talk 9– January
- 2018:
- Coffee Talk 8 – November
- Coffee Talk 7– October
- Coffee Talk 6– September
- Coffee Talk 5– August
- Coffee Talk 4– July
- Coffee Talk 3– June
- Coffee Talk 2– May
- Coffee Talk 1– April
- 2017:
I cannot imagine life without a car and the difference in life style always makes me laugh. The city I live in does not have good mass transit so having a car is a must. Congrats on passing your test and driving again!
It’s always so much fun comparing and contrasting different lifestyles, that’s for sure! Thanks so much, Caroline!
I want to try that pumpkin coffee cake! Yum!!
It’s so good Cathy, I think you’ll really enjoy it!
I love Fall with its beautiful colors and wonderful flavors! When it’s cold or rainy outside I love baking!
Absolutely! There’s nothing like baking on a rainy fall afternoon.
It is freezing in the U.K!! Rain and little Sunshine already 🙁 I need a holiday to recover already! I’m loving your Fall recipe looks so good, will try soon, send some Sun my way!!
Oh no!!!!! Here’s hoping you get a holiday soon so you can recover! 🙂 Thanks so much! Sending sunny, warm vibes your way!
Oh, I can’t wait to try the Pumpkin Coffee Cake recipe you shared in this post. Seriously, it sounds incredibly delicious. And thank you for this post. Very interesting read!
It’s amazing!! I hope you get to try it. Thank you for checking it out! 🙂
What a great way to start my day, and the perfect recipe for fall! Looking forward to enjoying this all season long!
Absolutely! Have a wonderful, cozy and warm fall season! 🙂
Fall is my favorite time of year! Coffee Cake is one of my very favoirte things. I can’t wait to try this one!
Isn’t it the best?! Hope you truly enjoy my coffee cake recipe. 🙂
I can totally relate to this! Last year my husband and I moved back to the US after spending 10 years in Europe. During those 10 years we never owned a car, as our city was small and totally walkable, Since my US license had long expired during that decade, I had to retake the written and practical driving tests when we returned. It was scary! I had assumed driving was like riding a bike: you never forget. But I was wrong! It took a long time to feel comfortable navigating traffic and city parking again.
We ended up missing the walkable lifestyle so much that this summer we bought a house in a quiet lakeside suburb in the Midwest that offers a lifestyle similar to the one we left behind in Europe. We still need our cars, but at least I have the option of walking for most errands and needs. Best wishes to you guys in this new chapter!!
p.s Love your living room! Looks so fresh and cheerful.
YES!!! Finally, someone in almost exactly the same boat as us! Lol. It does exist!! . You are so, so right when you say it’s not like riding a bike at all. That’s what I was told, over and over again. SO NOT TRUE! I mean, there is just so much going on out there–tons of bicyclists (that get really close to your car), people running out in the street randomly, and so on. I love hearing that y’all moved somewhere walkable again. There’s nothing quite like being able to just walk anywhere you please. Your lakeside suburb sounds wonderful! I’m so happy that you found a place with a good balance of both walking and driving. Thank you so much for your well wishes & your kind compliment. Hugs!
Yes!! You are so right. There is a LOT to process during driving. My friends thought I was crazy when I expressed my amazement at how many things there are to look at at the same time when driving.. the lights, the lanes, the people, the signs, other traffic– all at the same time! I think they have forgotten and now don’t notice all the input our brains process simultaneously. Glad I am not the only one who thinks this! 🙂
YES!! I’m like, “Where do I look? EVERYWHERE??!” How many eyeballs are we supposed to have to keep track of all of this?? Lol. I’m right there with you! Here’s to both of us getting used to it–fast!
Looking forward to trying some of your recipes! I also live in the Twin Cities area, mostly get around by car. I enjoy hiking, walks in my neighborhood, biking and I get to hang out with my 2 grandchildren 2 days a week looking forward to grand baby number 3 any day now!
Yay!!! I can’t wait to hear what you try first! 🙂 Ooh… hiking sounds amazing! Any trails that you suggest? Also, how exciting!!!! 3 grandchildren soon? What a blessing!
I would be terrified to take a driver’s test right now! LOL!! I’ll gladly join you for that coffee cake!
Right?!? Omigosh… I was like, do I remember all the important stuff? Haha. Hope you get to try the coffee cake! 🙂
I have been enjoying your site and recipes. My son and I have many allergies and your recipes are a delightful change for us. We are a gluten free, dairy free, tree nut, free and low salt household. Please keep the delicious recipes coming. Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear this, Sara. 🙂 I hope you and your son enjoy all the fall & winter recipes I have coming up! Thank you for your sweet words.
I have recently fallen in love with your recipes and blog, and now I find out you live right in my area! So cool! We’re in Stillwater, and if you’re thinking of moving toward suburbia, Stillwater is a beautiful place to be. (And I am definitely biased in that opinion!) Our favorite fall activities are Aamodt’s apple orchard, and driving up to Taylor’s Falls with a stop at Franconia Sculpture Garden. The fall colors are gorgeous along the river and Franconia is just awesome. Welcome to the area and congratulations on your driving test!!
Aw…thank you SO much, Maggie! What a kind thing to say. 🙂 I must confess, your comment had me looking up Stillwater–and, oh my!! It’s beautiful! What an idyllic town. I’m gonna make a note to tell Erik about it–perhaps we can plan a trip there some time. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your recommendations on what to do. I was happy sighing just reading about it all! Hope you enjoy a spectacular fall. Welcome to the blog–I hope to see you around!
Very interesting read and I was thrilled to see all the recipes you have linked as well as Cofee talk posts. I bookmarked a few of them. Have a wonderful day.
Thanks Heidy! Hopefully the recipes I shared can satisfy any fall dessert cravings you may have! 🙂 Hope you enjoy. Have a wonderful day, too!
I’d love to see a traditional scone recipe! (Like the kind of dough you cut into triangles. Have been baking GF and vegan for 5 years, but only just found your blog and I’m in love!
Ooh!! Such an interesting request because I’ve been getting that a lot! Okay, I’m going to look into it. 🙂 Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Therese. ❤️ Can’t wait to see what you try next!
Fall is simply the best time of year around here. On the east coast of Canada we don’t quite get hot and humid weather, except for a few days in July or August, so once September hits, it’s our time to shine! Lots of cool, crisp weather to enjoy! As for getting around, we drive everywhere. Public transportation isn’t great and we live too far out of town to walk anywhere. Good luck with your driving!
Ooh, I LOVE the sound of that!! The weather sounds amazing on the east coast of Canada in the fall. (I’ll have to tell Erik so we can plan a trip there during this time of year.) Good to know that you have to drive everywhere. Definitely, public transportation isn’t always an option everywhere. Thanks, Leanne!
I love freshly baked coffee cake, it smells and tastes so good. I remember studying for the drivers test after high school, I did study for weeks because I didn’t want to fail. Congrats on passing.
Isn’t it the best? 😉 I hope you get to try my recipe and love it! Studying for weeks: totally!! I did the same thing in high school. But there’s something about being an adult that makes me so over test-taking and a bit more sped up about the whole process lol. Thanks, Valerie!
What a fun catch up! I had no idea about the retaking of the driver’s test! Well done on you both passing!
I am so keen to try that pumpkin cake! Looks so delicious, and I love that it is gluten free!
Thanks, Alexandra! 🙂 Oh my goodness, we were both so nervous! Lol. Hope you enjoy the pumpkin cake and have a wonderful fall! 🙂