It may be officially Fall, but depending on where you live in the country, you may still be spending your time outdoors enjoying the warmth of Summer weather. The temperature is about to drop though, and you'll soon be sporting all of your 2008 Fall apparel and heading indoors for your extracurricular activities. I'm curious though: What you do with your Summer gear when things get chilly?
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Yard-long beans, or asparagus beans, are at the peak of their season right now, which runs from late Summer to early Fall, with the exception of places such as California and Mexico where they grow year-round. They've been springing up in local farmers markets, but you can also find them at most Asian grocery stores. Do you know much about these leggy legumes, which are a relative of the black-eyed pea?
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I've always loved barbecued fruit, such as grilled pineapples and peaches. So for a recent dinner party, I fused shish-kebab style skewers with fruit to create a warm, juicy dessert! I used figs, nectarines, and pineapple, but other fruit such as apricots, mangoes, and cantaloupe would be equally delicious.
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In California, it's not unusual to get some pretty hot temps in September, and last weekend was no exception. LilPeaPod took Samson camping for the first time, and not only was he totally overwhelmed with nature, it was also super hot. It's pretty well known that smooshies don't do well with heat or swimming, so taking a dip in the lake was out of the question.
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For me, September means hoarding as much Summer produce as possible before it's gone and savoring each day of beautiful weather — while we still have it— with pool parties, picnics, and fireside campouts. On the social front, this month also brings more political banter as we approach the presidential election. Here are five of my essentials for September.
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Don't leave your grills (or pets) unsupervised at any outdoor parties! Have some extra sticks and balls to distract him from hovering around the BBQ and your yums. If your speedy pup grabs something piping hot, or gets too close to the grill, you should have a plan, and supplies, to treat paw burns.
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Keep the trash safe from your nosy pets! In addition to the obvious dangers of cleaning product poisons or choking hazards, the bacteria and molds found in rotting foods can seriously endanger your furry friends . .
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As if the ominous name didn't clue you in, death caps are very dangerous. This species is responsible for the majority – 95 percent! – of fatal mushroom poisoning of people and pets.
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With the end of Summer fast approaching, I made a Popsicle inspired by Mexican paletas, a mostly pureed frozen fruit dessert that's either ice- or cream-based. After chopping up a cantaloupe last week, I wanted to combine it with a crisp cucumber and spicy jalapeño to create a refreshing yet snappy paleta.Zealous with my jalapeño, I chopped up an entire thing, seeds and all, and threw it in the blender. The result was too spicy for my taste, so I balanced the heat by adding a touch of sugar.
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While there are times I wish North had more outdoor space to frolic, quite often I'm grateful for my pooch's sheltered city lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, he still takes nice long walks . . 
