Another Monday here already! It’s hard to believe that we’re almost midway through August. Just the other night I was out for a walk and noticed that night has begun to fall earlier.

Soon, the days will shorten even more and we’ll start thinking about pumpkins and frost again.

But that never depresses me. In fact it’s just the opposite. I love the Autumn and just the idea of it, around the corner, fills me with anticipation. It feels good to be anticipating something.

Not that I should complain in that department because in a little over a week I’m heading to Italy to visit my family for three weeks. I’m so excited that I’ve actually forced myself not to be excited. So much so that I’ve been downplaying my trip quite a bit. But now that it’s looming, I am genuinely anticipating seeing my family again and spending some time getting to know my roots again.

I will most definitely not be posting while I’m away. For those of you dedicated to participating in Magazine Mondays, have no fear. Wandering Coyote of ReTorte (the most dedicated Magazine Mondays follower!) has kindly agreed to host MM beginning on Monday August 17 all the way through Monday September 14. She’s a true MM enthusiast so if you post any magazine recipes, be sure to e-mail her at wandering_coyoteATyahooDOTca.

As for me, I leave you with this lovely bar/cookie as my last MM post for awhile. A few months ago I was looking for a recipe that called for almond paste as I had some hanging around that I wanted to use. Almond paste tends to harden quickly so it’s not something you want to keep for months and months. While searching Epicurious, I came across a recipe for Almond Bar Cookies that appeared in the December 2004 issue of Gourmet. I had all the ingredients so I gave them a go and was not disappointed.

These are so rich. They’re definitely decadent thanks to the buttery flavour and the sweetness imparted by the almond paste. If you’re an almond fan, though, you should give them a try. Just be sure to cut the bars into smallish squares as too big a square will be almost too much. That’s how rich they are!

Here are my fellow bloggers that have joined me for this week’s edition of MM:

Wandering Coyote of ReTorte made Pumpkin, Orange and Raisin Muffins from Canadian Living.

Janie of Panini Girl made Poblano Peppers Stuffed with Potatoes from Bon Appétit.

Have a great week, everyone!

Ciao!

Remember, if you want to participate in Magazine Mondays between August 17th and September 14th, e-mail Wandering Coyote of ReTorte at wandering_coyoteATyahooDOTca .