Fall produce: it’s not all pumpkins and apple, folks. There’s a lot more to choose from come harvest time. Check out this list of goodies you’ll start to see at your market in the next few weeks (if not already!):
Vegetables
- Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celery root, eggplant, endive, fennel, garlic, kohlrabi, leafy greens, mushrooms, pumpkin, winter squash (acorn, buttercup, butternut, delicata), sweet potatoes, yams
Fruits
- Apples, cranberries, dates, figs, grapes, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, quince
Proteins
- Duck, lentils, nuts and seeds (almonds, chestnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, walnuts), scallops, turkey
Now, what to do with all that goodness? Take to the kitchen, my friend. This time of the year, slow and low is the name of the game. That means oven roasting, slow cooking, braising, glazing, and simmering.
Break out those slow cookers and dutch ovens and embrace them. We’re talking roasts, chili, soups, casseroles, the whole autumnal arsenal. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Simple Autumn Meal Ideas
- Roast a chicken (oven or slow cooker) and serve with spiced autumn vegetables – you can even roast the veggies with the chicken to make clean up a breeze.
- Fall Harvest Salad – this is great when you’ve got some leftover roasted veggies to use up and you’re in a hurry. Add some cooked turkey or chicken for a heartier meal.
- Pumpkin and Kale Baked Risotto – love this one-pot meal! And it uses real pumpkin (not the canned stuff).
- Chicken Apple Chili – this is an old favorite in our house during football season. I make it whenever I’ve got a few ugly apples to use up (and I’m not in the mood to make small batch applesauce).
- Cook some brussel sprouts and onions in bacon fat, sear a few scallops to go along with and you’ve got yourself a meal.
- To make an easy soup, simmer cubed butternut squash or sweet potato in some broth, puree with a stick blender and top with crumbled bacon.
- Have an impromptu picnic (indoors or outdoors) with a cheese tray. Cut up some apples and pears and serve with nuts, endive, crackers and your favorite cheeses.
Question of the Day
What are your favorite easy fall meals? Share them with us here!
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