Autumn is the time of year when bathing suits are traded in for jackets, swimming pools are replaced with fireplaces, and cold lemonade is swapped for warm apple cider. Fall is the perfect time of year for heart and stomach-warming recipes with ingredients that range from pumpkin spice to sweet cinnamon. If you are in the mood for an autumn treat, you might want to check out some of these fall food ideas.
As soon as the leaves start to change, everything becomes enhanced with fall flavors. Coffee shops promote pumpkin flavored coffees and teas as well as serving apple cider by the gallon. If you depend on coffee for your caffeine before class, you can try Dunkin Donut’s pumpkin white chocolate iced or hot coffee or their pumpkin mocha flavored latte, as well as traditional hot chocolate.
If you have a sweet tooth, they also offer fall-inspired donuts as well as pumpkin muffins. Still, homemade coffee is another option. Keurig makes various types of coffees for any taste preference. Junior Tara Esposito is a fan of the pumpkin spice flavor. “I stocked up with 80 K-cups of the pumpkin spice flavor to make sure I have enough of it, even when fall is over,” she said.
If you are looking for a more satisfying breakfast, you can never go wrong with pancakes. But, sometimes, the plain old recipe gets a bit boring. This season, you can spice up your short stack with a variety of flavors, from pumpkin to gingerbread. If you are adventurous enough, you can make your own batter using fall favorites like cinnamon and nutmeg. If you are not as savvy in the kitchen, you can stop by IHOP where their featured items include pumpkin and carrot cake flavored flapjacks.
Amy’s Omelette House right here in Long Branch has a packed menu including banana crunch and cinnamon almond French toast and apple spice pancakes. It is obvious that if you are in the mood for a fall inspired breakfast, there are many options for you.
For lunch or dinner, there are many quick and easy autumn options. Instead of regular lunch meat, use slices of turkey breast for your sandwich. Depending on your preference, you can add anything to it, from cranberry sauce to spicy mustard. You can also take a traditional salad to a whole new level by adding apple slices, nuts, dried cranberries, and a sweet vinaigrette.
Fall is also a great time of year for soup. With unlimited flavors, you might want to explore something new, like chicken tortilla or butternut squash. Add your favorite crackers to the bowl and you have a warm, filling meal. Stuffing is easy to make and can be a perfect side to any feast, along with various fall friendly vegetables like squash and zucchini. Stews, chili, and gumbos are also pot-sticking meals that will go a long way. No matter what you are in the mood for, there are plenty of options that highlight the season perfectly.
Nothing can be better than a warm dessert on a brisk fall night. If you are loyal to the classics, you can never go wrong with a standard apple or pumpkin pie. Warm up a slice and pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce and you have an instant dessert. But, there is so much more to explore when it comes to sweet treats. Cinnamon buns are easy to make and even easier to eat; warm, gooey, and filled with cinnamon, you really cannot go wrong. You can even buy them premade from the Cinnabon store or from a local grocery store.
Caramel apples are another classic and come in many options. You can either have a red or green apple and you can also dress them up with anything from nuts, to sprinkles, to mini chocolate chips. For added sweetness, you can drizzle the apples in white and dark chocolate.
If you are in the mood for something cooler, ice creams come in various fall flavors this time of year. Pick your favorite kind and make a sundae with your favorites, from caramel to hot fudge and whipped cream. Local frozen yogurt shops also feature fall flavors, such as pumpkin, and you can always add unlimited toppings.
Snacks are also an instant go-to on a chilly autumn evening. If you are not in the mood to make a trip to the grocery store, use what you have to make something spontaneous.
Dr. Ervin, Professor of Science of Cooking, suggests a trail mix. “Make a snack mix of pretzels, corn chips, peanuts and candy corn,” she said. She also recommends hollowing out a pumpkin or gourd to use as a bowl for dip. “If you are carving pumpkins, don’t forget to roast the pumpkin seeds,” she added.
Pretzel rods are another easy snack option, and you can dip them in anything from peanut to apple butter, or even caramel sauce. With cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, lemon, and cinnamon, you can make a dip to eat with anything from fruit to graham crackers. It is obvious that the possibilities are endless for sweet and easy seasonal snacks.
Furthermore, if you wish to create your own Thanksgiving themed dessert, a popular option in recent years has been the homemade Reese’s turkey. For this crafty snack, you will need a Reese’s cup for the Turkey’s body, two Oreos which you will use for both the body and the feathers’ base, candy corn for the feathers, and icing. As seen in the picture, you use icing to stick all the elements together. The white part of a candy corn piece is most commonly used as the turkey’s beak.
You can explore your autumn appetite from breakfast through dessert, with inspired flavors from pumpkin to cranberry. Pair your meal with an iced apple cider or hot chocolate and you will instantly satisfy your fall cravings. There is always room for dessert, so stock up on your favorite ice cream or pie. With all these tips on how to follow an autumn inspired feast, there is no limit to the combinations you create.
PHOTO COURTESY OF Maggie Zelinka
