Mix It Up with Creative Casseroles From The Farmers Market

When you think of comfort food, you think warm, filling, and satisfying, right?  You may even go back in time and remember a less hectic time when a casserole on the table seemed to mean no cares in the world. Casseroles are a great way to combine fresh flavors in a hot bubbly dish and serve it up home-style to your family and guests.  Let's take a look at a few casserole ideas to get you thinking before you head out to the farmers market for your weekly local shopping trip.

The Satisfying Squash

Squash, Pepper and Polenta Casserole (Photo credit: Rooey202)

Squash is a beautiful, and expected, sight in many farmers markets during the fall season. Why not take advantage of their abundance and create fantastic casseroles to comfort the body and soul. When you plan to make a squash casserole, there are a few things to remember. For more interest, be sure to pick out a variety of squash to incorporate so your casserole is not all one color or texture.  When you prepare the squash, no matter what variety you're using, be sure to drain or squeeze all the excess liquid out, otherwise you will have more of a squash mush.  If you are adding a crunchy topping, don't skimp. Buttery crushed crackers and buttered breadcrumbs were made for these squash dishes. Most squash has a delicate flavor, so be sure to add wonderful fresh herbs and plenty of seasonings and real butter.

The Plentiful Potato

A nice hearty casserole is always good for the soul.  But when you combine freshly harvested potatoes with herbed sausage and top it with crispy fried onions, you have a dish that no one can walk away from without feeling satisfied. Potatoes are one plentiful form of produce in the fall, so when you're talking about creating big, comfortable casseroles, you can't ignore the potato.  Now, don't let the word 'potato' make you think of 'boring'.  There are a lot of varieties of potatoes available at your farmers market with different colors, flavors, and textures.  Once you learn the varieties, you'll learn how to use them properly.  For a hearty casserole, like the one mentioned, you want a firm potato like Yukon Gold.  Mealy potatoes are fine for baking and soups, but you need to know what bakes, what roasts, and what you want in a casserole. Then mix and match this wonderful tuber and enjoy.

The Pleasing Pumpkin

You can take a simple pumpkin to a whole new level with the right recipe. This dish is in a world far removed from dessert or even the routine pumpkin casserole.  This is a dish where not only is the pumpkin featured as a flavor, but also as a decorative serving vehicle.  Start by taking a small pumpkin, about three pounds, scoop out the insides, add in all the ingredients you would choose to make a holiday stuffing, such as savory sausage, croutons, onions, celery, even nuts, and mix together with a few flavor favorites like creamy Gruyere cheese and crispy bacon, then add in some more fresh farmers market ingredients like herbs and dried cranberries.  Stir in fresh cream to make everything come together, then stuff the pumpkin and bake.  Serve these pretty pumpkins to your guests and enjoy the delightful ooohs and aaaahs coming from around your table.

Casserole of bacon and leeks in a tomato-garlic sauce (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ratatouille

With all of the fresh farmers market veggies, there is no way you can resist this mountain of reds, yellows, greens and purples. Made traditionally by tossing a variety of eggplant, green and red bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes in a large skillet, this hearty casserole is not only fun to make, but offers a dish rich in nutrition and tradition. Technically not a casserole until you throw it in a casserole dish, this farm inspired recipe calls for taking advantage of the harvest in any way possible.  This dish became a casserole when hungry folks decided they needed to build on the tradition and mixed in meats and beans to make it a full meal. They then thew it in the oven and, voila, a casserole was born.

Look around your farmers market and see what kind of casseroles you can create out of this incredible array of produce and other goodies.  Still stuck for ideas?  Ask the farmer selling their wares what they make with their harvest.  You might just be surprised with the ingenuity these stewards of the land come up with.

And of course, be sure to check back here later this week for some tasty farmer's market casserole recipe ideas!