{fall-inspired cooking}

i have been obsessed with cooking fall-inspired meals this season.

they are so comforting, hearty and delicious.

i have especially been enjoying cooking with butternut squash, pumpkin, apples & cider.

(i've also been making many desserts involving fall ingredients. 

you've GOT to try these pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing. so ridiculously tasty.)

it has been forever since i've done a recipe post, 

so i thought i'd share a couple that i've used this week and last.

both were adapted from rachael ray recipes. she must love fall meals as much as i do.

they are both quick and easy - great for a weeknight meal.

first :  

pasta with pumpkin and sage

 

you can't get much more hearty and fall-icious than this!

i did an avocado and apple salad salad on the side. i know it's not exactly the season for avocados, but that never stops me. they are one of my favorite foods.

for dinner tonight, we had an even more fall-tastic meal ::

 

pork chops with cider gravy, sauteed apples & onions

(fyi: recipe says it served 4 but it actually serves one. i doubled it. i don't think the gravy portion needs to be doubled however; we had plenty leftover.)

this was soooo tasty and so comforting. and not too heavy - in fact, i felt fantastic afterward.

may i recommend sweet potato gnocchi on the side? it was so perfect with it!

especially with a brown butter/cinnamon/brown sugar/sage sauce. 

absolutely divine. i didn't use a recipe for the sauce, but here's a good reference.

 

 

oh and i almost forgot about this old favorite. i just can't leave it out ::

 

 rigatoni with squash and prawns

i blogged about this recipe once before, but it is my favorite way to use butternut squash

(particularly because it is the only way my hubby will eat it - he usually hates squash) 

 

the butternut squash sauce is a great healthy alternative to a cream sauce.

it is creamy and flavorful without all the calories.

i added some crushed red pepper to it for a little kick.

hope you get the chance to try one or all of these out! 

enjoy the tastes of fall before it leaves us!