Fall is one of my favorite times of year for cooking. You have so many great things in season to work with in the kitchen. Apples, pumpkins, and squash are used as ingredients often by me this time of year. Below you will find some of my favorite fall recipes.
Apples
There are so many choices for apples this time of year. It's a great time of year to make applesauce. The key part to making sauce is knowing what apples to use. Check out my guide for selecting the right apples.
The best baking apples are available throughout the month of October. That is when I like to make my apple pie pizza. Last year I used Jonathan apples and this year, I will try out Rhode Island Greening apples.
The nectar of fall has to be apple cider. It's not just great to drink, but also great to use in recipe, like with Cider-Glazed Pork Chops.
Squash
I have found some really good uses for butternut squash last year. I am not a really big fan of roasting them whole and just eating them. My favorite way to use them is in making Butternut Squash Dumplings. Alton Brown has a great recipe for them and they are so delicious! I also like adding a bit of roasted butternut squash to some mashed potatoes. Gives the potatoes a little flavor kick.
When preparing your squash, don't just throw out the seeds. They can be roasted, just like pumpkins seeds. My wife actually prefers them over their orange cousin.
Pumpkin
The star ingredient of the fall has to be pumpkin. There are so many uses for pumpkin puree. Right off the bat, you have to think of pumpkin pie. And the best pumpkin recipe I have found is Alton Brown's (surprise, surprise!). I got a ton of hits on that recipe review last year.
Another great dessert idea is Pumpkin Pudding. I tried a Martha Stewart recipe last year.
How about pumpkin for breakfast? A couple great options are Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Waffles. Both are amazing!
What about a more healthy option for breakfast? Last year I came up with two recipes for pumpkin oatmeal, both actually baked inside of a pumpkin. Try apple & pumpkin oatmeal or pumpkin pie flavored oatmeal.
Treats
Looking for some good old sweet treats? Candy corn is something that people eat in mass quantities each fall. But did you know you can make it at home? I used Alton Brown's recipe last year and it made the best candy corn I ever had, BY FAR!
How about the perfect fall cookie? That would have to be a Ginger Cookie in the shape of a leaf, topped off with Pumpkin Buttercream Frosting. It can't get anymore fall than that!