Fall Favorite Food: Recipes From an Amateur

Fall is a season full of cozy, homey feels. What is better than a warm sweater on a brisk, nippy fall day? Or a warm mug of your favorite beverage when it's dreary and cold outside? Personally, I like to snuggle under some soft, comforting blankets and watch a favorite TV show. Yet, I think food also comes to mind when the days start turning colder. I admit that I am new to playing with recipes and trying my hand at some season-themed dishes.

If you're a fellow rookie connoisseur of festive foods, have a look at a few simple recipes that you can make at home during the autumn months.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients

• 1 quart unsweetened or sweetened apple juice or cider
• 3 (3-inch each) cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole cloves (or sub 1 tiny pinch ground cloves)
• 2 (3-inch) strips orange peel (organic recommended // orange part only — the white pith will add bitterness)

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a large saucepan or pot and bring to medium-high heat. Once simmering, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
2. Serve hot. For entertaining, you can keep the cider warm in a slow cooker or on the lowest setting on the stovetop.
3. Store cooled leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or frozen in an ice cube tray to keep for longer. Reheat on the stovetop.

Minimalist Baker. Hot Spiced Apple Cider (No Added Sugar). Minimalist Baker. https://minimalistbaker.com/hot-spiced-apple-cider-no-added-sugar/.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup granulated white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
• 10 ounces chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together the pumpkin, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and egg.
2. In another mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry and stir until a thick batter forms.
4. Stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper and lightly spraying with nonstick spray.
6. Spoon the cookie batter onto the prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.

Emma Chapman. (10/04/2023). Simple Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies. A Beautiful Mess. https://abeautifulmess.com/simple-chocolate-chip-pumpkin-cookies/.

Autumn Soup

Ingredients

• 1 lb of pre-cooked ground beef
• 1 cup of chopped onion
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup chopped fresh carrot
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped potato
• 1 (28 ounce) canned tomatoes
• 1⁄4 cup barley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon sweet basil
• 1 beef bouillon cube

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large kettle.
2. Cook until vegetables and the barley are tender (approx. 1 hour, 10 mins).
3. Option: can be placed in a slow cooker on low for 8-9 hours if wished.

CarrolJ. (2012). Autumn Soup Recipe. Food. https://www.food.com/recipe/autumn-soup-93684.

If you tried one of the recipes above, please comment below on what you particularly liked about it. Sharing is caring!