It is now officially fall. The temperatures are (finally!) cooling off, the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors, and it’s time to pull out some recipes for my favorite hearty meals that warm the belly and the soul. These are my top 5 meals that feel too hot or heavy for summer, but get me excited for chilly weather.
1. Chili- I love chili. Whether it’s a classic beef chili, a white chicken chili, or veggie chili, something about this dish screams fall. I usually make a version of chili on Saturdays for football games, then use leftovers the rest of the week (on nacho’s, atop baked potatoes, or in breakfast burritos -yum!).
2. Tortellini Soup- just had this last night! I got the recipe from a friend and it quickly became one of our favorites. Tortellini, diced tomatoes, spinach, onions, garlic, chicken broth, and a dash of crushed red pepper for a little spice make this warm and filling, but not too heavy. Get some crusty bread to help clean up the bowl!
3. Meatloaf- yes, meatloaf. I love my mom’s meatloaf recipe. It’s beef, onions, bread (soaked in milk), lots of ketchup, and some horseradish. A friend of mine also has a good turkey meatloaf recipe that will help with cholesterol. Serve it up with some mashed potatoes and some greens and I’m in heaven. Leftovers are used in sandwiches for lunch.
4. Minestrone- another good soup. Combining veggies, beans, broth, pasta, and sometimes beef (sometimes I go vegetarian on this) creates an all in one meal that can be easy with use of the crock pot. Being that it’s a soup, again makes it feel filling, but not too heavy.
5. Fall sides- these aren’t really meals, but are truly fall. Baked sweet potatoes, butternut squash & garlic dip, and homemade applesauce. Yummy!! These sides transform pretty much any meal from a summer dish to a fall one. Finish it all off with some apple pie and the smells of the season will fill your house and your belly!
Anyone else have some favorite fall foods or recipes? Would love to hear them!
Little Crunchy Bitz of Life 