Tuesday, November 9, 2010

{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 :  

 
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 ::
 
(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 ::
 

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!
 

13 comments:

ilene @ muchloveilly said...

so impressive! i hope to be a better cook once i'm married. i think i'll be motivated when i have a husband to feed. ;)

these days i love baking more than ever. but i obviously cant live on desserts for the rest of my life!

Kelly said...

mmm...pork chops! that sounds really good for this weekend! I love all these ideas, thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Yay for fall food! I never get tired of reading about or eating food. I just can't get enough of it...

Lolai said...

I like your apron, by the way.

Linnea Wheeler said...

Yum...everything looks so delectable!

And I love your kitchen. A lot. :)

Tiffany Kadani said...

I need to try all of these! You are such a domestic goddess! And butternut squash sauce sounds like a perfect alternative!

fernandflora said...

Oh you! Such a fantastic cook! If we lived in the same city, we could have cooking dates! Looks like we're both in the pumpkin, apple, squash mode.

Sandy a la Mode said...

YUM!! there is just soo much deliciousness in this post!! can i come over? ;)

wishful nals said...

fall cookin' is my favorite. pumpkin, root veggies + all the spices. i love your apron, too! :)

Unknown said...

fall cooking is to die for! so rich and warm and delish!

now if only i could get matt to eat pumpkin and squashes... if only...

Blair McLeod said...

you are WAY to cute and that all looks way too good!!

Amanda said...

Okay, my mouth is watering. That second meal is sounds amazing!

Melany said...

Pasta with Pumpkin and Sage- I have to try this!