Fall
I love this weather. Even the smells of cooking, of the gas burners on my stovetop firing up, are different when the air outside is so crisp and clean. I made pasta with tomato sauce last night, a childhood favorite, and it was the perfect food for the turn in the weather. I got out my sweaters, pulled on my flannel pajamas and made a list of warm foods to stock up on: teas, cocoa and cider, steel-cut oats, soups.
Why not use white pepper rather than black?
I think that would be a good option. I also think I need to get a pepper mill with more than one setting; the one I have now grinds really coarse.