According to the calendar, fall has arrived. I feel like summer just flew by this year. Maybe it was the rainy June that made it seem like it didn’t start when it should have. If you are looking for ideas to get you into the spirit of fall, you might like the following books.

Canning and preserving have experienced a comeback in recent years. “Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving: 400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Today” (641.42 Ball) was updated a few years ago and is a great all around reference, whether you are new to preserving or have been doing it for years. Freezing is another easy way to save the summer’s freshest produce. “Freeze Fresh: The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits and Vegetables for Maximum Flavor and Versatility” by Crystal Schmidt (641.6153 Schmidt) is a beautiful guide to freezing fruits and vegetables. You will be surprised what you can freeze for later. Did you know that avocados can be frozen? I didn’t, and I will be giving it a try! I keep hearing how great fermented foods are for you. If you would like to give fermenting a try, take a look at the 2024 update of “Fermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 72 Vegetables, Fruits & Herbs in Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Kimchis, Krauts, Pastes & Relishes” by Kirsten Shockey (641.463 Shockey).

Are you ready for some football? You know fall is here when football season starts. We have recently added a couple football books to the collection. One is a history of the Minnesota Vikings and the other is a brand new memoir about guarterback Aaron Rodgers. I’ll start with the Vikings. “Minnesota Vikings: A Team History from the Pages of the Star Tribune” (796.3326 Minneso) is a compilation of Star Tribune stories covering all the different eras of the Vikings franchise. Revisit all things Minnesota Vikings, both the highest highs and the all-too-frequent lows! Learn more about the legendary and enigmatic Aaron Rodgers in “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers” by Ian O’Connor (921 Rodgers).

It won’t be long until Minnesota is showing off its fall colors. If you are looking forward to a Minnesota road trip, be sure to check out the next two books before you go. “100 Things to Do in Minnesota before You Die” by Julie Jo Larson (917.7604 Larson) contains many references to our local area. It has a wonderful variety of locations to explore in Minnesota. A fun feature are some suggested itineraries such as “Adulting”, “Better Together”, “Rack up some Miles” and “Youth.” Another similar guide to our state is “Minnesota Bucket List Adventure Guide” by Stephen Campbell (917.7604 Campbel). It is arranged by towns and includes GPS coordinates to guide you. So choose your destination and go for a drive. Don’t forget to enjoy the scenery along the way!

Fall also means back to school. We have a couple of books that will give you some fresh, easy ideas for feeding anyone who eats. I’m keeping my eye out for the soon-to- arrive “Feeding Littles Lunches: 75+ No-Stress Lunches Everyone will Love: Meal Planning for Kids” by Megan McNamee (641.53 McNamee). It’s definitely not just for kids. I think it fits into the category of adult lunchables. Moving on to college students (or anyone wanting quick, minimal ingredient recipes) is “The Easy 3-Ingredient College

Cookbook: 100 Quick, Low-Cost Recipes that Fit Your Budget and Schedule” by Robin Fields (641.55 Fields). Yes, you really can make yummy food with just three ingredients.

Stop in at the library and browse or search our online catalog (newulmlibrary.org) for these and many other titles to help you enjoy all the seasons Minnesota has to offer.

New Ulm Public Library is located at 17 North Broadway and is open Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.