Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Fall Food Ideas and a Few Tips

 Fall is in the air - yes it is TODAY!  Temps have dropped here and we have cooler temps for part of the week.  I like 60's and 70's - that is perfect for me.  
Makes me want to fix fall/winter dishes and bake more.  Don't get me wrong - I love summer - but fall is just refreshing.

COWBOY BEANS
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion - chopped
1 green pepper - chopped
1 - 14 oz. can of kidney beans (or whatever) drained
1 - 14 oz. can pork and beans
15 oz. can tomato sauce
3/4 C brown sugar - packed
1 tsp. white vinegar
2 tsp. prepared mustard
Brown your beef, onion and peppers.  Drain.  Add remaining ingredients and place in crockpot for about 3 hours on low.    Serves 6.
This is yummy with cornbread!  I have done this and used whatever beans I had on hand - and it came out great.

HOWL AT THE MOON CASSEROLE
2 C cooked and cubed chicken
10 3/4 oz. can cream of chicken sup
14 oz. can green beans (drained)
4 oz. can mushrooms (drained)
1 C shredded American cheese - I use used several slices
1/2 C mayo
8 oz. tube refrig. biscuits  OR your own
2 Tbsp. butter - melted
1/4 C seasoned bread crumbs
Combine chicken, soup, beans, mushrooms, cheese and mayo in a saucepan.  Heat just to boil.  Pour in an ungreased 2 qt. casserole.  Arrange biscuits on top, brush with butter and sprinkle bread crumbs.  Bake at 375* until top is golden.
Serves 4 - 6   Super one dish meal - add a salad and you are good to go.


FRITO CASSEROLE
Super simple - NO rules.  Use leftover chili or goulash or pizza mix up.  Anything with some beans, tomatoes, meat - seasonings - whatever you have or want.  Top with shredded cheese and Frito's and bake until bubbly.  It doesn't get any easier than that.  There literally is no certain recipe - do what you want.  Serve with a salad or any side.  



EASY APPLE CRISP
6 peeled and cored apples (sliced)
1/2 C melted butter
3/4 C brown sugar, packed
3/4 C quick cooking oats (uncooked)
1/2  all purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Place apples in a buttered 11x7 pan (I use smaller).  Combine butter, b. sugar, oats, flour and cinnamon - sprinkle over apples.  Bake at 350* for about 35 minutes

OR
Make a Galette!!!!!  Super easy.  One pie crust - laid out flat.  Place apples (or whatever fruit you have) mixed with a touch of seasoning, sugar, and flour (for thickening) and chopped nuts if desired.  Place in the center of the crust and then fold the edges up and over.  I usually paint with an egg white and sprinkle a bit of sugar over crust.  Bake until crust is done.
These are so easy and yummy.  Basically just an earthy and natural pie!


I know this doesn't look fall-ish - BUT THINK - spice cake or butter pecan cake (any type of fall flavor) - then add butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips.  Maybe add some chopped nuts.  You can really FALL this up however you want.  Easy!

One of my favorite things is:
Brownie mix - made as called for and baked.  When it comes out of oven - spread chocolate chips on top - they melt - spread around like icing - then I sprinkle with coconut.  It is like eating a Mounds brownie!!  This is on the menu this week!

You can also make up brownies - pull out when 3 - 4 minutes out from being done  top with mini marshmallows and mini chips - place back in oven for about 3 minutes.  The marshmallows melt and brown a bit and chocolate melts.   OMG!  Cool and slice!  They won't last long!!!!!!


TIPS
When making a white, yellow or spice cake - use apple cider as your liquid for a jazz up in flavor!  You could use OJ instead - but cider makes a great tasting cake

Stuff hollowed out (cored) apples with peanut butter and raisins for a fun and crunchy snack.  I love eating apples with peanut butter!

Make mini muffins.  They are just fun and you can eat a couple and get satisfied.  Not as many calories.  They are great for treats or lunches

Don't forget that fall mix of candy corn and salted peanuts!!  A fall favorite for me.  I love a PayDay candy bar and that is what this mix tastes like.

If decorating with pumpkins - use a marker or paint to draw faces on them.  They are then still good after Halloween to use for pie making or pumpkin butter or canning or freezing.

Now is the time to make up a couple batches of pancakes and/or waffles.  Add some chips to some, maybe some blue berries or nuts to some.  Wrap and freeze for hearty and easy breakfast meals (or dinner).  
Maybe make up sausage egg biscuits or breakfast burritos as well.  SO easy and just makes life easier n a chilly morning.  Grab and go!

Hope this gives a few easy and quick ideas for fall dishes.  I will try to do some each week.  I just love the flavors of fall - it seems so hearty and earthy!
I like easy one pot meals and simple desserts with things many of us might have on hand.
Have fun and enjoy.

HAPPY FALL!

22 comments:

  1. Yum! Making brownies taste like a Mounds bar!! I have mixed the candy corn and nuts before, too!

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    1. Yes indeed - so yummy! I love candy - don't eat it often - but some things are just fun.

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  2. So many yummy sounding ideas! Can't wait to try them all!

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  3. I love them all, I want to eat them all. Our temps dropped a little these past few days. I made a big pot of taco soup, some to eat and some to freeze. Ready to celebrate fall and winter both!

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    1. Our temps really dropped today and it is raining and damp and chilly. Yep, it gets you in the mood. Taco soup sounds good.
      You can eat them all! Have fun!!!!

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  4. Oh, man! Mounds bar brownies! Definitely going to try this, along with the crock pot bean recipe. Yum! Thanks for sharing.

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  5. WOw you read my mind as I am making a bean dish similar to this tomorrow. I just love all your ideas for using things up.

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    1. Well you said you needed recipes for beans! Great minds!!!!!

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  6. Yum, so many good ideas here. Especially the frito dish and the mounds brownies. Yum.

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    1. You and I have similar tastes!! LOL - those would be my 2 favorites as well!

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  7. What great recipes. I will be copying these and giving them a try.

    God bless.

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    1. Thanks. Glad you can use some! It is that time of the year!

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  8. Candy corn and salted peanuts! Oh man! Trouble is I would snarf the whole thing down in a short time. I prefer making a galette. Simpler and less pie crust. Don't you wonder how that chicken dish got the name Howl at the Moon? Can't beat cowboy beans for fall. My sister-in-law used to make a spice cake with black walnut icing. Not everyone like the strong taste of black walnuts.

    We got a ton of rain today. Sure has turned cool so I'm digging out some warmer pyjamas.

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    1. I know! It is hard to stop eating the candy/nuts. Hmmm - maybe so good you just howl?? LOL
      Glen was a huge black walnut fan - me not so much.

      Yep, more rain than needed! I threw a fleece throw over the bed last night. Resisting turning on heat!

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  9. Great post Cheryl! Love all the good ideas and recipes. I'm definitely going to try the brownies and the candy corn/peanut mix. And the frito pie as we used to call it. I haven't had that in years. Thanks for all the good ideas! Fall is a welcome change after our hot summer.

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    1. You are welcome. So many good yummy foods for fall and winter. Cooler days are nice. Thanks!

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  10. Mounds is my favorite candy bar! I use a spice cake and any kind of apple chopped. I think I might add raisins to the apples in the cake.

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    1. Oh yum, that sounds good! Apples and raisins is a good pairing. I love coconut and chocolate together!

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  11. Definitely wanna try making the cowboy beans and Mounds brownies. Yuuuummmy! I make a version of frito casserole, only in our neck of the woods we make them individually in bowls and call them frito pies. So good. I also want to make the easy apple crisp. Thanks for all the ideas.

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    1. That is a neat idea to make the pie individually!
      I just love all the flavors of fall. Glad you found some recipes you want to try.
      Welcome!

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