At Bob's Red Mill, fall is one of the most cherished times of the year. The weather changes, the festivities begin and fall ingredients are in abundance. If you've been waiting all year for your favorite seasonal produce to be ready, then now's the time! Continue reading to discover the many ways you can store, cook and eat your favorite foods this fall!
Apples
Though pumpkins often take the spotlight, we feel that apples deserve just as much recognition. From Granny Smith to Fuji, several delicious apple varieties reach their peak harvesting season in the fall. With flavors ranging from tart to sweet, apples can be added to countless recipes to boost the meal's flavor and nutritional value. Purchase apples at your local grocery store, or do the picking yourself and head to the closet orchard. This is one ingredient you'll want to have on hand all season long.
Storing Apples:
Most apples can be stored at room temperature for up to a week. However, if you want to keep your apples fresh for longer, we recommend storing them in the fridge. If you decide to store apples at room temperature, be sure to keep them separate from other seasonal produce. An apple releases chemicals that cause the produce around them to ripen more quickly and spoil.
Recipe Spotlight:
Ready to put your baking skills to the test? Try out this delicious Baked Apple Stuffed Pumpkin. A semi-sweet, indulgent dessert, it’s the perfect recipe to ring in the fall season.
Cranberries
Cranberries take fame in many fall recipes. From jam to baked desserts, cranberries offer a sweet and tangy flavor that can't be matched. Commonly harvested in mid-September, fresh cranberries hold an extremely sour and distinct taste.While this tart flavor might be too much for one to handle on its own, cranberries offer the perfect balance when paired with sweet desserts and savory side dishes.
Storing Cranberries:
The best way to keep cranberries fresh is by sealing them in an airtight bag and placing them in the refrigerator. If held like so, cranberries will likely remain fresh for up to three weeks.
Recipe Spotlight:
Put the tart flavor of cranberries to the test and whip up this mouthwatering Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake. Simple to make and loaded with flavor, this coffee cake makes for a delicious after-dinner dessert or sweet breakfast.
Eggplant
Most commonly known for its deep purple skin, eggplant is a spongy vegetable that can be enjoyed as the main course, worked into a side dish, or used as an alternative to meat in vegan and vegetarian recipes. Reaching their peak harvesting season in the fall, you'll likely see store shelves start to fill up with this hearty vegetable in early August.
Storing Eggplant:
Unlike apples, eggplant can spoil rather quickly. It's best to have a recipe in mind when purchasing this ingredient so that it doesn't spoil before being used. When stored at room temperature in a dry, cool spot, eggplant will likely keep for three days.
Recipe Spotlight:
Start your eggplant cooking journey by making this Eggplant Tart with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese. Flavorful, moist and loaded with seasonal roasted veggies, this tart is the perfect treat to bring to your next gathering.
Pumpkin
No fall produce list would be complete without mentioning pumpkin. While pumpkin is often used as a fall decoration and carving tool, this nutrient-packed squash can be turned into countless sweet and savory dishes. Offering a subtle nutty flavor, pumpkin can be baked into everything from bread to risotto. When choosing a pumpkin for cooking purposes, we recommend steering clear of the massive carving pumpkins. Instead, purchase a sugar pumpkin, as this variety is much better for baking. If you're having trouble finding sugar pumpkins at your local store, canned pumpkin can be used as a direct replacement in nearly every recipe.
Storing Pumpkin:
Sugar pumpkins are just as tough as they look and will last about three weeks when stored at room temperature. Canned pumpkin has a much longer shelf life and can remain fresh for months.
Recipe Spotlight:
This year, skip the pumpkin pie and make these Pumpkin Chai Boost Bars instead. The perfect on-the-go treat, curb your sugar cravings throughout the day with these festive bars.
Sweet Potatoes
Offering up the same festive colors of pumpkin, sweet potato is another seasonal orange veggie you can indulge in during the fall. With their peak harvesting season starting in October, the sweet potatoes you'll begin to see on shelves will likely be much larger than previous months. Their rich, starchy taste makes them a staple in many fall dessert recipes.
Storing Sweet Potatoes:
If stored in a cool, dry area at room temperature, sweet potato will remain fresh for a couple of weeks. Storing sweet potatoes in too cold of temperatures or the refrigerator should be avoided.
Recipe Spotlight:
Step up your breakfast game this season and make these Sweet Potato Waffles. Made with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom, they’re the ideal holiday breakfast!
There you have it. These are just a few of our favorite fall recipes that highlight fresh harvest produce. Do you have a favorite recipe that uses the flavors of fall? Let us know in the comments below.
