Though we’re fond of sunny summer days, fall is a beautiful time to be a Chicagoan. At Matrix Partners, we take full advantage of sweater weather, boot season and all things pumpkin-flavored, savoring the crisp air before it turns (truly) cold. Our team brainstormed the things we love most about the season, including recipes and Chicago activities. Enjoy! ____________________________________________________________________________ Eat (and drink). 🍴 Kira and Angie’s Thanksgiving Feast Treats for Dogs via Dogster/Claire Lower This recipe makes approximately two dozen treats. Ingredients: 1/2 pound extra lean ground turkey 1 large sweet potato; baked, peeled, and mashed 2 cups of whole wheat flour Dried cranberries for garnish Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. Place all ingredients except cranberries in a large bowl and mix with a spoon or your hands until combined.
3. Roll dough into golf ball-sized mounds, smoosh between your hands to form cookies, and press a dried cranberry into the center of each one.
4. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes, then let cool and prepare for your pup to become completely obsessed.

🍴 Pumpkin Pie (for people!) Ingredients: 3/4 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon cloves 2 eggs 1 can pumpkin purée 1 can evaporated milk 1 9″ unbaked pie crust (Pillsbury pie crust in the refrigerator section is great) Directions:

1. Mix all of the ingredients except for the evaporated milk
2. Add evaporated milk and gradually stir into mixture
3. Pour into pie crust and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes
4. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 40-50 minutes

🍹 Caramel Apple Sangria Ingredients: 1 bottle white wine 1 bottle sparkling apple cider 1 cup caramel vodka (for added alcohol, but you can leave out if you want) 1/4 cup caramel syrup 4 apples, chopped Directions:

1. Chill the white wine, sparkling apple cider and caramel vodka
2. Once cold, mix together the wine, cider and vodka and add the caramel syrup
3. Chop the apples into small cubes and add to the sangria
4. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve

🍹 Pumpkin Pie Martini Ingredients: 2 parts RumChata 1 part vanilla vodka 3 tablespoons pumpkin pie filling Directions: Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass; sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy! ____________________________________________________________________________ Play. 🍁 Get your greenery on at Gethsemane Garden Center 🍁 Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America 🍁 Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight 🍁 Halloween Swing Dance at Willowbrook Ballroom 🍁 Apple picking in the ‘burbs ____________________________________________________________________________ LOVE. 💚 Sunday night football! 💚 Sweater weather. 💚 Long walks with the pups to take in the beautiful colors of the trees (or to just enjoy stepping on the crunchy leaves). 💚 ALL things Halloween – decor, haunted houses, costume parties and of course, scary movie marathons. 💚 Fireplaces indoors and no more mosquitoes outdoors. 💚 A more comfortable commute on a significantly less sweaty CTA. 💚 Trader Joe’s pumpkin butter and pumpkin spice-flavored pumpkin seeds. 💙 CUBS BASEBALL IN OCTOBER!