Fall |

Ah, fall. Changing leaves, bright blue sky, crisp sweater-weather, apple picking, hayrides and pumpkins galore. As if it could get any better, my birthday, my wedding anniversary, Halloween and Thanksgiving! I don’t like to play favorites, because I love all the seasons, but, like the mother who won’t admit that a certain youngest-in-the-family and we-didn’t-think-we’d-ever-have-a-boy child is really her favorite (I’m looking at you, Mom), if I’m honest with myself, fall is my favorite. And it’s not just the weather that is perfect for everything from a morning hike to an epic climbing day at the Gunks, nor is it the relaxed weekends with friends, a welcome respite between the craziness of a Northeastern summer and the craziness of the holidays; it’s the food. It’s finally cool enough to think about pizza, or roasted chicken, or braised pork without dread. Muffins and pies are a pleasure to anticipate while hearty casseroles and stews revive as from the dead. Crisp apples overwhelm the markets and leafy greens come back with a vengeance. And pumpkins! Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere. It’s a glorious thing.

With the passing of summer, the work of preserving the harvest winds down, and we can focus on more elaborate meals, comfort food for chilly nights, and traditional favorites for holiday gatherings. Below you’ll find some of my favorite fall recipes – I’d love to hear yours.

FALL FAVORITES

Breakfast

Appetizers, Soups & Sides

Mains

Desserts & Snacks

Preserving

Check out recipes in the preserves index for: apples, pears, quince, plums, Concord grapes, cranberries, pumpkin & winter squash, leafy greens, bell peppers and chile peppers.