Fall Cookbooks for Cooking Fall Favorites From Scratch

We may have our first frost tonight, the leaves are gold and red, and the wind is nippy - there's no doubt that fall is here - and with it, my favorite season for cooking! With late-summer veggies still plentiful, and fall favorites available in the garden or at the farmer's market, there is plenty to choose from when making hearty fall recipes to keep you warm at night. Here are several autumn-inspired cookbooks to give you some great ideas for your fall cooking.

Homemade Harvest
~ Gooseberry Patch ~

This is a collection of some of the best seasonal recipes you'll find anywhere. You'll find delicious recipes perfect for tailgating and other Fall family fun as the summer season comes to a close. This book includes hearty home favorites to make the most of Autumn's harvest flavors. Cooking and decorating tips are a welcome plus to this book, with some great ideas for homemade crafts to go along with this warm, welcoming season.



Cooking from the Farmers' Market
~ Jodi Liano, Tasha De Serio, Jennifer Maiser ~

This book from Williams-Sonoma features 245 recipes to create foods using fresh produce and vegetables straight from the Farmer's Market. Shopping at these down-home businesses is a national obsession, and the fresh-picked goodness translates into great-tasting recipes you can share with family and friends all year.


Fall Harvests: Menus & Recipes That Celebrate Autumn's Bounty
~ Martha Phelps Stamps, Meryl Truett ~

This book takes you through the fall and winter months with lots of delicious recipes collected by a veteran Southern cooking author. Within the 176 pages of recipes you'll find treasures like Refried October Beans, Chicken and Apple Sausage with Ginger, Garlic, and Mint, and a delightful Roast Acorn Squash with Maple. This is a book written for the home cook who desires simple, delicious meals made with the freshest ingredients from farmer's markets and home gardens.

Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America's Farmers' Markets
~ Deborah Madison ~

This book reflects the public's concern for organic produce grown locally. Our desire to avoid over-processed foods is reflected in this 400 page book dedicated to market-fresh ingredients. You'll learn how to make the most of everything from crucifers, roots, berries, dairy products, cabbages, and so much more. This is a richly illustrated collection of seasonal recipes that highlights the wonders of local produce grown from coast to coast.

You can find these books at your local library, or just click the links above to buy on Amazon.com.

Recipe: Healthy Harvest Squash Lasagna with Leeks

This unique take on lasagna combines tasty fall farmer's market veggies like squash and leeks, for an interesting twist on an old classic. Great for vegetarians or a "Meatless Monday" meal. Enjoy the creamy sauce with the sweetness of butternut squash and the mild flavor of leeks in this tasty fall treat!

Healthy Harvest Squash & Leek Lasagna
(Serves 8-10.)

Ingredients:

Cucurbita moschata 'Butternut' squash. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

10 oz lasagna noodles
1 medium (2 lb) butternut squash, peeled, cut in half lengthwise and seeds removed
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
5 medium leeks, cleaned well and sliced
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
6 oz grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking oil.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil, turn off heat, and set noodles in the pot.
• Grate the seeded butternut squash into a bowl, using the largest holes on a box grater.
• Melt unsalted butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat and add leeks, cooking until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Sprinkle in flour to Dutch oven and stir together with leeks, continuing to cook for about 1 to 3 minutes or until flour begins to turn yellow.
• Start pouring in the milk, whisking while you add it, cooking until mixture thickens, about 5 to 7minutes.
• Continue to whisk and add the thyme, salt, nutmeg, and pepper, then remove from the heat.
• Put together the lasagna in the prepared baking dish by layering in this order:

• 1/3 noodles, 1/3 sauce, 1/2 squash, 1/3 cheese
• 1/2 remaining noodles, 1/2 remaining sauce, all pine nuts, all remaining squash, 1/2 remaining cheese
• all remaining noodles, all remaining sauce, all remaining cheese.

• Cover with parchment paper then foil, and bake the lasagna covered for 45 to 50 minutes.
• Uncover and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes or until bubbling and lightly browned. 
• Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Recipe: Autumn Squash Baked Chicken And Rice

This tasty fall casserole uses yummy fresh fall veggies from the farmer's market or your garden to add a healthy twist to a standard chicken and rice dish. It's a simple dish with mild flavors, so feel free to add some red pepper or a fresh Anaheim if you want to spice it up a little. Otherwise, it's a tasty fall dish for the kids or those who don't like a lot of spice to their food.

Autumn Squash Baked Chicken And Rice
(Serves 4-6)

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Darice)

8 free-range chicken drumsticks or thighs (1 1/4 lb), skin removed
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 package (6 oz) long-grain and wild rice mix
1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut in 1 inch cubes
1 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 inch slices
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 cups water
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat; when hot add chicken, cook about 3 minutes, turn and cook 3 more minutes, or until chicken is browned slightly. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Put rice, contents of seasoning packet, squash, zucchini and bell pepper in baking pan.
4. Turn heat on under skillet, add water and bring to boiling, then pour the hot water over rice and veggies in baking pan and stir to mix.
5. Add the cheese and stir, then arrange the chicken on top of the rice mixture. 
6. Cover pan with foil and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until rice absorbs the liquid and is tender and chicken is no longer pink at all.
7. Remove and let sit for 3 minutes, then take off foil and serve hot.

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!

Recipe: Tangy Garlic Kale And Onion Skillet

This versatile recipe is chock full of healthy green vegetables and is a great way to prepare some of those loads of fresh fall greens you can grab this time of year at the farmers market. It makes a great side dish with grilled, roasted, or barbecued meat, poultry, or fish, or you can also add potatoes and other veggies such as zucchini or peppers and turn it into a breakfast hash. Serve with a couple of fresh eggs over easy or scrambled, and you've got a full nutritious breakfast with all the important food groups to start off your day!

Tangy Garlic Kale And Onion Skillet(Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

5 Tbsp olive oil, or 4 Tbsp organic butter, divided
2 medium red onions, sliced in circles, then in half
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 to 4 lbs fresh kale, stems removed, cut in strips, washed and dried well
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3 to 4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil or butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onion (and diced or sliced potatoes, if using) and cook until soft and just beginning to brown a little; remove from skillet and set aside.
3. Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium-low, add the garlic, cooking just until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes; remove from skillet and save with onion.
4. Add the remaining oil or butter and turn the heat back up to medium-high, then add the kale and cook, stirring frequently, until the kale just wilts.
5. Add back in the skillet the cooked onion (and optional potatoes or other veggies) and garlic, then the salt and pepper.
6. Reduce the heat again to medium-low and continue cooking, tossing the mixture occasionally, until the kale is tender, about 5 minutes.
7. Sprinkle the balsamic vinegar (if using) into the mixture just before serving, toss and serve hot.

Fresh Breakfast Ideas From the Farmer's Market

If you are looking for fresh, creative breakfast ideas, you can't do better than the local farmers market.  Who knows better about how best to use what's fresh and available than the people who grow it?  You need a day's worth of energy in your breakfast, just like the farmers do.  So, why not start your day by making a great breakfast with the ingredients you picked up at the local farmers market? Here are a few ideas to get you started making a nutritious and delicious morning meal.

Crepes with strawberry syrup and blackcurrants (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Maxed Out Pancakes

A farmers market breakfast can start with anything.  To make it simple, let's look at a breakfast favorite, the pancake.  But, if you're thinking plain, think again.  How about a plate of pancakes with chives, goat cheese, and fresh peas? If that idea doesn't get your mouth watering, you might want to try other herbs, vegetables, fresh greens, and specialty cheeses. You can even mix some pureed pumpkin or other squash or sweet potatoes into the batter.

If you're looking for sweet instead of savory, or a combination of the two, try a selection of seasonal berries or fruit, then mix in fresh herbs to compliment.  Peaches and rosemary are a good combination that surprises and delights the taste buds.  You can add soft cheeses to fruit filled pancakes just as successfully as you can to savory pancakes.  No matter what's in season at your farmers market, you can find a way to include it in a pancake in the morning.

Market Medley 

Some people call it hash, others call it a skillet meal, but no matter what you call it, you know it's downright delicious. Start by taking fresh potatoes, scrub them or peel them, and cook them in a big pot of salted water just until knife tender.  Drain the pot and let them cool, then dice them, and you have the beginnings of a hash skillet medley.  Grab any fresh produce you brought home from the market;  onions, peppers, zucchini, radishes, bush beans, rutabaga, turnips, carrots, kale, collards... well, you get the idea.

Get your big cast iron skillet out, throw in some oil or butter or bacon and start frying.  Get your potatoes in there, then start adding whatever you want and cook until potatoes are browned and the rest of the veggies are tender. You can top the skillet meal with some cheese, chili beans, shredded cooked meat, or even an egg or two.  Whatever you add to the skillet, you've got a base built on farm freshness that is bound to please.

Clever Crepes

Crepe batter. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Don't panic - crepes are actually incredibly easy. The problem people have with crepes is that the batter is not the right consistency.  Make sure the batter is thin enough to easily swirl around in the pan.  If your batter looks like pancake batter in the bowl, it's too thick.  Find a good recipe for crepe batter - it's really easy to make and healthier than a packaged mix. But, enough of that.  Let's get to the fun stuff.

Crepes can actually be flavored themselves.  If you are making a savory crepe dish, filled with herbs and veggies, throw a few herbs right into the crepes.  If you are making sweet crepes, filled with warm spices and fruit, throw a few of those spices in the crepes.  This isn't necessary, but it is pretty and tasty.  Once you have made your crepes, you're ready for the filling.  Lightly fried or grilled strips of zucchini with a soft herbed cheese makes a nice savory crepe.  Seasonal fruit combined with a simple custard is a beautiful start to the day.  Whether sweet or savory, crepes make breakfast just seem more special.

A trip through the local farmers market should give you plenty of inspiration for these three simple breakfast choices.  Fresh is best, whether it's dinner, lunch, or the nicest meal of the day – breakfast.

Check back later this week for some fun farmers-market inspired recipes!

Recipe: Grilled Garden Goodies Pizza

While it's still close enough to summer to find fresh eggplants and peppers at the farmer's market, and warm enough to grill out, try this delicious homemade pizza with lots of fresh veggies and unique grilled flavor. Great for "Meatless Monday," or if you must have meat, grill up a few natural sausages, slice, and add those for a protein boost.

Grilled Garden Goodies Pizza
(Serves 2-4.)

Ingredients:

Fresh pizza crust. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 (12 inch) pizza crust (purchased or homemade)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 small eggplant, scrubbed and sliced into thin circles
1 small sweet potato,  peeled and sliced into thin circles
1 sweet red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into thin circles
salt and pepper to taste
1 can (6 oz) tomato sauce (pizza sauce, marinara, or anything you like), or homemade sauce
6 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
chopped fresh basil

Directions:

• Prepare grill to medium heat.
• Put the prepared eggplant, sweet potato, and red bell pepper in a large bowl, drizzle with the olive oil, and toss to combine.  
• Heat grill and put the veggies on and grill until softened but still a little firm; set aside.
• Flatten the pizza dough out on a work surface and brush with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Grill for about 2 minutes, flip then grill another 2 minutes; remove to a pizza pan or baking sheet.
• Spread the tomato sauce over, then add mozzarella evenly over the top and the grilled veggies next, then top with the basil.
• Put pizza (on pan) back on grill just long enough to melt the cheese, then remove.
• Let sit for a few minutes before cutting and serving.

Recipe: Classic Turnips And Greens Harvest Soup

This simple and delicious recipe features the flavors of fall from your local farmer's market (or CSA share). It's a great way to use up extra turnips and greens, and the light but hearty flavors of onions, garlic, turnips, and bacon make this a taste treat you'll want to repeat every fall!

Classic Turnips And Greens Harvest Soup
(Makes 4-6 servings.)

 Turnips (Brassica rapa) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

4 medium turnips
1 bunch of turnip greens
2 small yellow onions
2 garlic cloves
2 Tbsp olive oil or other cooking oil
2 slices bacon (or pancetta), cut into small pieces
6 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Peel turnips and cut into bite size pieces; set aside.
• Wash greens, dry well, and cut into thin strips; set aside.
• Peel and dice onions; set aside.
• Peel and mince garlic; set aside.
• In a Dutch oven or soup pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add the cut up bacon or pancetta and cook until it starts to crisp.
• Add onions and cook until they start to soften, then add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
• Add chopped turnips and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add broth and bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer slowly, cooking turnips until fork tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add turnip greens and cook on low heat, stirring frequently, until greens are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot with crusty bread for a light supper.

Recipe: Easy Eggplant And Tomato Harvest Skillet

This is one of my favorite ways to use up some of that extra eggplant from my CSA! Or check out your local farmer's market and load up on fresh summer veggies for this delicious light dish packed full of flavor, vitamins and nutrients. For a heartier meal, serve over cooked pasta or brown rice.

Easy Eggplant And Tomato Harvest Skillet
(Serves 2-4.)

Ingredients:

1 medium eggplant, peeled and cut into cubes
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped small
1 medium onion, peeled and diced small
4 large ripe tomatoes, chopped 
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 garlic clove, grated
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese   

Directions:

1. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat, add eggplant and oil, and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant starts to soften.
2. Add all remaining ingredients except the Parmesan cheese, stir gently, and continue cooking until all vegetables are tender.
3. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the top evenly and cook just until cheese melts.  
4. Remove from heat and serve immediately - by itself or with cooked rice or pasta.

Farmers Market Feasts - Fresh Food From Appetizer To Dessert

Late summer to early fall is prime farmer's market season in Ohio! The farmers market is a place where great ideas meet great fresh food and explode into incredible feasts. You can make one trip to the farmers market and gather enough ingredients to make a full five-course meal that will rival any fancy restaurant. Allow me to get your creative juices flowing as well as your taste buds jumping as we walk through a sample of what you might find to create your very own farmers market feast.

Appetizers 

You want to give your guests something to snack on while they are waiting to see what's coming next. Look for a loaf of homemade french bread, some fresh dill, goat cheese or other soft cheese, and red bell peppers for roasting. With these simple ingredients, you can have an amazing appetizer that will keep your guests well fed and eager for more. Simply cut the bread into thin slices and toast them over the grill while you are roasting your red peppers.

Combine the dill and goat cheese, spread on the toasted bread and top with thin slices of the roasted pepper. You can substitute prosciutto for the red bell pepper for another possibility. The idea is to look around the farmers market for inspiration as well as ingredients for the first course as well as for the main event.

Salads

Your salad options are as long and varied as the rows upon rows of displays at the market. Pick up  fresh lettuce, of course, but be sure to choose an interesting variety.  Look for complimentary produce such as pomegranates, pears, and apples, to match up with bitter greens such as chicory, arugula, watercress, and frisee.  Fresh baby bitter greens are a classic match up with sweet fruit.  And don't forget the berries.  When it comes to salads, fresh is the word, no matter how you build it.

Kale is another great farmers market find.  This remarkable green can be eaten raw or cooked.  One fun way to serve kale in a salad is as a crunchy topping.  Kale, when cut up into small pieces, can be roasted to create a delicate papery thin treat with a very fun crunch to it.  Sprinkle these nutritious crispy bites on top of your salad instead of croutons.  And don't forget to look for fresh herbs to create a savory dressing to go on your salad.  If you have citrus in your market, let that be your inspiration for your homemade vinaigrette.

Soups

Piles and piles of potatoes mean just one thing; inspiration!  No, the potato is not a lowly vegetable, not when you have the varieties available to choose from at a farmers market.  For the soup course you can't do much better than starting with potatoes.  One soup that should come to mind is potato leek soup. Simple, yet elegant, this filling soup should be served in small bowls with a pretty swirl of yogurt and a sprinkle of green onion on top. Other vegetables that work well for pureed soups are squash, pumpkin, rutabaga, parsnips, and turnips.  Mix and match for a splendidly soothing soup to relax your guests just long enough to get ready for the main course.

Look also to the bins of greens for inspiration for a soup course.  A small bowl of beet soup, hot or cold, is a wonderful start to a meal.  Hearty mustard greens and collard greens also make a splendid, bright, soup that gets the taste buds begging for more. Depending on your main course, you'll want to serve a soup that is either hearty and satisfying or light and refreshing.  Don't forget to include the fruit you find at your market and the herbs for soup inspiration.  Apple juice and cider make excellent soup bases.

Main Courses

After a start like this, it may seem as if you've exhausted all your farmers market has to offer, but this is where the simplicity of the market takes over.  A main course can feature something as simple as a perfectly executed sandwich. Pile seasonal cheeses on top of homemade multi-grain bread that has been slathered with herbed butter, then topped with a mix of ingredients for crunch. This can include sliced apples, greens, or a thin slice of sweet onion, or everything.  Something as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich becomes inspired when you layer market fresh specialty cheeses with fresh herbs, greens, vegetables, and fruit, and then grill between slices of hearty homemade bread.

And don't forget to look for fresh and smoked meats at your market.  Many farmers raise meat for the table as well as produce.  Big pots of peppery greens with lots of smoked sausage makes a bright and flavor-packed entree. During the late summer and early fall, the farmers market is also a great place to find a variety of fresh beans.  You will notice a big difference when you cook with fresh beans as opposed to dried beans.  The fresh beans are easier to cook and are very tender.  You can easily build a main course around the offerings at your local market.  All it takes is filling your basket and using your creativity and your good taste, and you'll fill your table with a main course that is very satisfying.

Desserts

Now comes the moment we have all been waiting for. Dessert. Nothing says farmers market dessert like fresh peach cobbler served in a pretty bowl and topped off with a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream.  Of course, apples are a big hit at many farmers markets during the fall season.  Apple pie or Apple crisp are the obvious desserts, but don't forget to think about applesauce, apple dumplings, or apple turnovers.

But, you don't have to bake fruit to have a dessert worthy of this five course meal.  Sometimes less is more.  Sliced apples, pears, or other fruit combined with a wonderful variety of cheeses is often the perfect ending to a hearty meal such as this.  Perhaps a steamy hot mug of apple cider will satisfy the sweet tooth at the end of the evening.  If oranges are in season in your region, try making orange sugar cookies. Not quite dessert-worthy in your book?  Melt some chocolate and dip the cookies about half way in to make treats that looks like, and tastes like, they came right out of a fancy mail-order catalog.

Can you really find enough at your local farmers market to produce a five course meal?  You sure can!  And not only five courses, but five star courses!  Fresh means fabulous when it comes to cooking.  Create each course to compliment the next and you can't go wrong. The only problem is you'll have trouble sending your guests home after they've been treated so well. You might as well start making up the guest room before you even serve dessert. Enjoy!