There’s a moment—often subtle, often missed—when summer begins to loosen its grip.
It might be the way the late August sun slants through your kitchen window just so, casting a longer, amber-colored light across the counter. Or how the cicadas still hum, but their song now mingles with a whisper of wind that carries a cooler edge. The tomatoes are still warm from the garden, yes, but the basil grows a little slower, and the mornings ask quietly for socks.
Here at La Coveted Nest, we believe in marking these in-between seasons. They’re tender, fleeting, and full of quiet poetry. We don’t rush the fall in—we ease toward it, one comforting ritual at a time.
Maybe it starts with the first soup—something simple like late-summer corn and garden herbs, simmered slowly while soft music plays in the background. You might find yourself lighting a candle while you prep dinner, not for necessity, but for warmth, for mood, for memory.
It’s the season of hopeful cooking. Of gathering recipes like fallen leaves—pear galettes, roasted fig toast, apple cider braised chicken. There’s joy in dusting off the Dutch oven and rediscovering the rhythm of cooking that nourishes both body and home.
Maybe you feel the itch to tidy, to gently shift the home’s palette. Linen pillows make way for velvets. A throw appears on the end of the sofa. The door stays open just long enough to let in the scent of turning leaves.
As summer unwinds, it asks for our attention—not to mourn its leaving, but to honor it. Drink the last glass of rosé on the porch. Eat ripe peaches over the sink. Take barefoot walks through grass that’s just starting to brown. Then, slowly, with intention, begin to dream of what autumn might bring.
At La Coveted Nest, we welcome this season with open arms and soft sweaters. With rituals that root us, and tables that invite. We hope you’ll join us in finding beauty in the shift—one cozy moment at a time.
Generous Fall & Holiday Dutch-Oven Simmer Pot
Yield: about 4–5 hours of fragrance
Ingredients
-8 cups (2 quarts) water
-2 medium apples, sliced into rounds
-2 oranges, sliced (peel on for extra oils)
-4–5 cinnamon sticks
-2 tablespoons whole cloves
-3–4 star anise pods
-1 cup fresh cranberries (for color and a subtle tart note)
-3–4 sprigs fresh rosemary or a handful of pine clippings (optional, for a woodsy aroma)
-1–2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract or a split vanilla bean
Instructions
1. Layer & Fill
Place all fruit and spices in the Dutch oven. Add the water, leaving a couple inches at the top so it won’t overflow as it simmers.
2. Bring to a Low Simmer
Set over medium heat until the water just begins to steam, then immediately reduce to the lowest setting. A gentle ripple is perfect—avoid a rolling boil.
3. Maintain & Enjoy
Let the pot steam uncovered for hours. Check the water level every 45–60 minutes and top up with hot water as needed to keep ingredients submerged.
4. Refresh for Another Day
Cool completely before covering and refrigerating overnight. You can re-simmer the same mixture for 1–2 more days, adding fresh water and a few extra spices to revive the scent.
Tips for Extra Charm
- Place the Dutch oven on a back burner so guests catch subtle wafts as they move through the house.
- For a deeper, caramel-like aroma, toss in a few slices of fresh ginger or a tablespoon of brown sugar.
- Hosting outdoors? Move the Dutch oven to a small grill side burner to scent a patio or porch.
This larger-batch simmer pot will perfume a spacious home with cozy notes of orchard fruit, warm spice, and holiday cheer—ideal for festive gatherings or quiet autumn evenings.