Tia Patsavas
Changing leaves, crisp weather and cozy sweaters—fall has arrived in Bloomington.
One of the best things about the fall season is its festive food. From hearty soups to warm desserts, fall flavors can be incorporated with any kind of meal. Celebrate the season with these four favorite fall foods.
Apples
Classically featured in autumn desserts of all kinds, apples are in season through November in Illinois. These three ideas feature apples as a sweet treat for a brisk autumn day.
Apple Crisp: The simple dessert requires few ingredients—apples, butter, flour, oats and sugar—and is heavenly when served a la mode with vanilla ice cream.
Caramel Apples: To make this popular festival treat at home, simply dip apples in melted caramel and coat with your favorite toppings, such as nuts, sprinkles, candies or crushed cookies.
Apple Cider: This sweet and spicy autumn drink is available at any orchard or grocery store, but can also be made at home using just apples, water, sugar and cinnamon.
Sweet Potatoes
Much more nutritious—and flavorful—than russet potatoes, sweet potatoes can be enjoyed in numerous ways that go beyond a Thanksgiving side dish.
Sweet Potato Soup: Sweet potato soups often require few ingredients, and offer a creamy and decadent way to warm up after a chilly day.
Sweet Potato Hash: Make your breakfast fall-festive with a sweet potato hash. Simply sauté diced or shredded sweet potatoes in olive oil with bacon, onion and even some jalapenos, for a cozy and hearty breakfast.
Sweet Potato Cornbread: This side will add luxury to any meal: simply combine ½ cup of a boiled and mashed sweet potato with your favorite cornbread recipe or mix. Try as a muffin, or use as a sandwich bread with barbequed meat.
Bell Peppers
Green, red, yellow and orange: each kind of bell pepper offers its own unique flavors, adding variety to many autumn-meal favorites.
Egg in a Pepper: Enjoy bell peppers with your breakfast by first cutting a one-inch slice of the pepper. Cook the pepper in a small pan for a minute on each side, and then pour an egg in the center. Cook for two minutes per side.
Stuffed Peppers: Loaded with an array of vegetables and rice and bake to perfection, stuffed peppers invite you to enjoy bell peppers in a whole new way.
Roasted Red Peppers: Roasting all kinds of vegetables, especially red peppers, allows the vegetable’s natural sweetness to shine. After roasting the peppers, add them into pasta, a sandwich, or a salad.
Pumpkin
It’s hard to go wrong with a food as festive as the pumpkin. In addition to serving up a pumpkin pie, try mixing in a spoonful or two of this flavorful fruit into your favorite comfort foods.
Pumpkin Bread: Made like any other quick bread, pumpkin bread requires staple baking ingredients and is relatively simple to prepare. Featuring other fall flavors, like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves, pumpkin bread is delicious for breakfast or dessert.
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes: What better way to enjoy fall flavors than with a creamy cheesecake? Though time consuming, making a homemade cheesecake will prove to be worth it.
Pasta a la Pumpkin: Add a spoonful of pumpkin puree to cooked pasta, along with some cream or butter, for a decadent pasta dinner.