Originally Posted By Inspector 57 This October has been quite uncharacteristically warm for us. But finally, within the past couple of days, it's turned cool. And when the weather turns cools here, it's as though the lower temperature trips some biological switch within me. I suddenly get the urge to cook. And I want to cook "fall" things. Hearty, warm, comfort food. Food that uses fruits of the harvest. Traditional dishes (even if they're updated.) Things like baked acorn squash stuffed with a mixture of wild rice, cubed squash, pinenuts, and sausage. Chili. Apple pie. Pasta in various incarnations. Pumpkin bread. Oatmeal cookies. Pillsbury jumbo dinner rolls. (Okay, okay, so I'm not a gourmet!) Tonight I got off work earlier than my partner and, based on the weather, decided somewhat impulsively to make dinner for us. Went to Kroger with just a vague idea of what I might whip up. I knew that I would be influenced by whatever was on sale. (My usual M.O. is to make it up as I go along. I don't generally follow a recipe. I start with an idea or ingredient and go from there.) Here are my questions for you: 1) If this whole autumn "harvest food" thing makes any sense to you, what are some of your favorite fall dishes/meals/desserts? 2) Here's what I ended up buying/making. How would you improve/change/enhance this? I was kind of in the mood for chili. We had salad at home. I figured I'd pick up cornbread mix and chili fixin's. There's usually discounted hamburger at Kroger. But no cheap beef today. Instead, I found incredibly inexpensive, really nice boneless pork sirloin/chops. They would have been GREAT to grill! But I had my mind on chili. So here's what I did: 1 medium onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 1.5 pounds pork, cut into small pieces salt and pepper dried herb seasoning Sear above ingredients in a little olive oil over medium high heat. Add: 2 cans diced tomatoes 1 can chili beans 1 can kidney beans (casually drained) 1 can black beans (casually drained) Simmer together one hour, uncovered. Serve topped with sprinkling of sharp cheddar cheese. We both enjoyed the chili, or bean soup, or stew, or whatever it was. But Mr. Bill thought it needed to be more spicy. I didn't need for it to be more "spicy," per se, but I would have liked it to taste a little more "complex."
Originally Posted By The Crockpot Fairy With a wave of my wand, I shall offer my help. *zing!* <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/default.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-68243-P-1&Refresh=1226123124" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/de fault.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-68243-P-1&Refresh=1226123124</a>
Originally Posted By sherrytodd My favorite comfort food recipe is the Black Bean soup from The Caribbean Beach Resort of all places. It has the perfect spice blend to give it a really rich flavor. It looks like a lot of ingrediants, but once you've made it once, you can throw this together in a short time. 1.2 cup olive oil 2 cups diced yellow onions 1 cup diced green pepper 1 cup diced carrot 2 cloved minced garlic 1 cup diced celery 1 tablespoon cumin powder Dash of dried oregano 2 teaspoons paprika 3 dashes hot sauce (I think Frank's Red Hot gives the best flavor) 1 bay leaf 2 sprigs chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon kosher salt Dash of ground black pepper 1/4 cup tomato paste 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans including liquid 2 cups water 1 Heat olive oil in large saucepan. Add onion, peppers, carrot, garlic and celery and saute until vegetables are soft/ 2 Add cumin, oregano, paprika, hot sauce, bay leaf, cilantro, salt and pepper. 3 Add tomato paste, vinegar, black beans and water. Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. I top it with a squeeze of lime, sour cream and fresh cilantro. I've even incorperated this spice blend into my chili and it's wonderful.
Originally Posted By lesmisfan My favorite fall food is stuffed pumpkins, basicall you take any recipe for stuffed peppers, but use little pumpkins instead, they are very yummy!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>..but I would have liked it to taste a little more "complex."<< Maybe you needed a more "difficult" recipe. HAHAHA!! Get it?
Originally Posted By Dznygrl <<what are some of your favorite fall dishes/meals/desserts?>> THANKSGIVING DINNER. Seriously, I know how you feel. Whenever the weather changes I instantly become interested in foods of the season. Unfortunately I don't have very many recipes. I've been wanting to make pumpkin soup all month long. I have the recipe waiting for me, I just haven't made the time. I've never made it before but we'll see how it goes. A few weeks ago I made applesauce spice cupcakes and a couple nights ago I made pumpkin gingersnap pudding. They were both very tasty! Had that wonderful fall flavor.
Originally Posted By chickapin I57--I'm no gourmet either, but cumin or smokey paprika might give a little depth. I like a bit of sour cream and LOVE cilantro as well. Last night I was exhasted so just threw this together: 1 can refried beans 1 can pot roast chunks 1 can diced tomatoes w/green chilies 1/2 envelope of taco seasoning I simmered it for a while and let people put it in tortillas with grated cheese on top. I was feeling guilty for just chucking 3 cans together and it was the biggest hit I've had in awhile. Go figure. I love when the weather gets a little colder and I can start with the soups and crock pot stuff. The house smells so good and it is so easy. (Anybody else raised with ham hocks and beans?) Favorite cool weather desserts--pumpkin pie and apple crisp. yum...
Originally Posted By smedley I love making fall foods too, and would agree with maybe adding a little cumin to the chilli or perhaps some coriander?? One of my favourites is roasted butternut squash soup (you could use another squash or small pumpkin instead of the butternut squash) Sorry it's UK measures but here goes. 2 pints vegetable stock 1 large butternut squash 2 medium onions salt and pepper to season Peel and deseed the squash and cut into 1 inch cubes. Peel the onions and cut into quarters, spray with oil (or toss in a little olive oil) and place in a medium oven for about 45 mins till they start to char slightly on the edges. Place the roasted squash, onions and stock into a large pan and simmer for 20 mins, remove from heat allow to cool slightly and then liquidise in batches in blender (I use one of those stick blenders in the pan at this point) return soup to pan and reheat before serving. At the point where it's blended I usually split it into batches and freeze it... If you wish you can also dry toast some cumin powder and add once reheated for a slightly curried taste.
Originally Posted By mele This is a cold weather tradition in our house: Chocolate Swirl Gingerbread Serve this moist, molasses-rich gingerbread with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. INGREDIENTS Makes 1 cake •1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan •1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour •1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar •1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger •1 teaspoon baking powder •1/4 teaspoon salt •1/8 teaspoon black pepper •1/8 teaspoon ground clove •1/2 cup water •1/2 cup molasses •1 large egg, lightly beaten •2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and slightly cooled DIRECTIONS 1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square pan. In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, ginger, baking powder, salt, pepper, and cloves. 2.Melt the butter in the water in a small saucepan over medium heat, and stir mixture into the dry ingredients until smooth. Stir in molasses and egg. 3.Pour half the batter into prepared pan. With a spoon, drizzle half the chocolate over the batter. Pour remaining batter on top, and drizzle the remaining chocolate over the batter in a decorative pattern. 4.Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo For the record, I am not the crockpot fairy. And you'd never catch me being so dull as to post recipes on a website! And yes, we've been snarfing lots of homemade pumpkin bread around here. And lots of homemade granola. I always start making granola in the fall. Don't know why. I made a turkey with all the trimmings last week since I lost the wrestling match to host Thanksgiving.
Originally Posted By tapdancemom Here are a couple of my favorite cold weather recipes and links to more. <a href="http://mbnation.madebig.com/vibe_user_vibe.asp?Vibe_ID=9845" target="_blank">http://mbnation.madebig.com/vi be_user_vibe.asp?Vibe_ID=9845</a>
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Dear 2/3, The Haunts family loves granola. Home-made granola seems great! If there isn't any coconut in it, we would love to buy some from you to contribute to the kids christmas fund (if there is such a thing!) Love, 999
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Dear Mr and Mr 57, Beef Stew is the best autumn meal!! Just find some of those sourdough bowls and you are set. Love, 999
Originally Posted By threeundertwo Dear 999, Sounds like a deal! Little do the undertwos know that their saintly mother has a brand new wii waiting for Christmas right here. I just bought it today. However, this dear mother is not going to fork out the $50 for the Harry Potter game I know they will want, so we may just find ourselves in the granola business. However, at this immediate moment in time, we find that we are in the rag doll making business for the twins living history project at Sutter's Fort. We need to make 40 of these for them to sell at the general store there. So if you receive a box with rag dolls instead of granola, do be so kind as to send it back and we'll exchange it for the appropriate coconut-free granola.
Originally Posted By ajnhollysmommy Dearest 2/3, would these rag dolls be suitable for a 2 yr old by any chance? If so I am sure my dad would take a run up to Sutters Fort and purchase one said rag doll =) With everlasting love, ajnhollysmommy
Originally Posted By ajnhollysmommy ohh to put this back on topic ~ I57 you could use any of these ideas to cook my family dinner - you owe me buddy!!!! ps 2/3 email me
Originally Posted By LVBelle Here's my favorite cold weather comfort food- creamy cheddar soup! I add pieces of ham and potatos and it's SO good! <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0" target="_blank">http://www.foodnetwork.com/foo d/recipes/recipe/0</a>,,FOOD_9936_32557,00.html?rsrc=search
