Every fall, with the first crunch of leaves, I cannot resist welcoming the season with a few autumnal favorites. Here is what I recommend, reading, watching and baking.

Learning about the art of sourdough has been a fun process. I didn't get it right off the bat; it took me a few tries and a lot of reading and many troubleshooting conversations with my sister-in-law who already had it down. Being able to transform flour, water, and salt into beautiful loaves still makes me feel a little bit superhuman, but it’s really not as complicated as I thought. And once you understand how a starter works, there’s a lot of room to play and experiment.

Sourdough is beneficial in many ways: I haven’t seen a packet of yeast in a grocery store for the past several months, but aside from that, it has some great health benefits. It’s full of good bacteria and enzymes due to the fermenting process, and much of the gluten is processed out while it proofs, so its easier to digest—often even for those with a gluten sensitivity.