"Fall is full of nostalgia for many people. It reminds us of going back to school after summer vacation, the rapidly approaching holidays and family gatherings, and a whole new array of foods. Sweet root vegetables like parsnips, sweet potatoes, carrots, and starchy squash come into season, as do apples, pears, and cranberries. The cooler weather means that hot chocolate and cozy cups of tea will hit the spot, and spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger will help suffuse your body with warmth."
"Aside from the cooler weather and changes in the produce aisle, fall has a scientific reason for evoking such a strong sense of nostalgia: it has its own smell. As leaves and other plants break down with the changing season, they give off a sweet, musky smell that is carried to our nostrils on clear, crisp air. Scent is closely tied to emotion, and whenever that distinctive fall smell floats its way towards us every year, it transports us right back into the past."
Fall brings a shift in produce and flavors as sweet root vegetables, starchy squash, apples, pears, and cranberries come into season. Cooler weather encourages hot beverages and the use of warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Decaying leaves and plant matter release a sweet, musky scent that, carried on crisp air, strongly links scent to emotion and evokes nostalgia. Baking intensifies these sensations; homemade pies and cookies fill homes with comforting aromas that signal approaching holidays. Classic recipes provide a direct route to indulgence, and a walnut-crusted cranberry chicken roulade pairs tart cranberries, goat cheese, walnuts, and Dijon for a special entree.
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