Fall is here. For many of us, that means cooler temperatures, a chill in the air, the rustle of warm-hued leaves at your feet, a change back from iced coffee to warm coffee, fragrant spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, creamy butternut squash and pumpkin, and football season.

For me means all of those things, but most importantly, Fall means that Christmas is coming soon. Yes, right around this time, I whip out the Christmas albums. Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song is my personal favorite, and I anxiously anticipate the opening minor chords to the title track. And it is almost as if I can faintly hear the crackling sound that accompanied those chords on the record player that I listened to the album on when I was a young girl. When that album is done, I follow it up with WCBS FM's (a New York Oldies Station) "The Ultimate Christmas Album Volume 1" and dance to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Santa Baby".

But my personal favorite - one that makes me both laugh and smile warmly - is Mr. Hanky's Christmas Album from the TV Show South Park. This album was gifted to me by my father, and as you may have read, my father is quite the "young spirit" to put it nicely.

Mr. Hanky, the Christmas Poo (I will not show the picture on this blog for fear that even a picture of a cartoon piece of poo wearing a Santa Hat will make your stomach turn slightly, something I don't particularly want on my food blog), is joined by his friend's Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Satan, Wendy, Kyle's Sister, Ike, Mr. Garrison, and Chef, among others, to sing about the wonderful season. Classics such as "Christmastime in Hell", "Carol of the Bells (Mmmmkay)" and "Merry F---ing Christmas" are belted out. But I personally enjoy Eric Cartman's rendition of "O Holy Night".

O Holy Night

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear savior's b-b-b-birrrrth

O Holy Night

um... something something something

It is the night with the Christmas trees and pies

Jesus was born, and so I get presents

Thank you Jesus for being in born!

So you can imagine me in my kitchen, making what can be considered a very "fall" treat, as I danced around to the most twisted Christmas album of all time. But as I took one bite of these, I was pulled right back into the fall season as I tasted hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, enjoyed the chai scent, savored the orange flavor, and devoured the creamy, spiced buttercream frosting. And then "The Most Offensive Song Ever" came on and I was once again pulled back into the Christmas spirit.

And yes, that is the real name of the Christmas song on that album. Google, if you dare, but it is not for the religious, prudish, or thin-skinned. You have been warned.

Merry Christmas!