Delight in the abundance of fall with our seasonal specials. Explore recipes that capture the essence of crisp air and falling leaves, infusing your table with comforting and aromatic dishes.
Embrace Autumn’s Bounty Seasonal Specials with Harvest-Fresh Flavors
Autumn is a time of harvest, when the fruits and vegetables of the season are at their peak flavor. This is the perfect time to enjoy seasonal specials at your favorite restaurants.
Here are a few ideas for autumnal dishes to try:
- Pumpkin soup: This creamy soup is made with roasted pumpkin, spices, and herbs. It’s a hearty and flavorful dish that’s perfect for a cool autumn day.
here is a recipe for pumpkin soup:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (2-pound) pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into cubes
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the pumpkin, broth, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and pepper to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the pumpkin is tender.
- Use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree the soup until smooth.
- Stir in the heavy cream (if using) and heat through. Serve hot.
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, roast the pumpkin before adding it to the pot. To do this, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Toss the pumpkin cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread them out on a baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until tender.
- You can also add other vegetables to the soup, such as carrots, celery, or potatoes.
- Garnish the soup with toasted pumpkin seeds, sour cream, or crumbled bacon.
Enjoy!
- Apple crisp: This classic dessert is made with fresh apples, oats, and spices. It’s warm and comforting, and the perfect way to end a meal.
here is a recipe for apple crisp:
Ingredients:
- 6-8 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 10 cups)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, diced
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine the apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to coat.
- Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats, and butter. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apple mixture.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Serve warm.
Enjoy!
Tips:
- You can use any type of apple you like in this recipe. Some good choices are Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji apples.
- If you want a richer flavor, add 1/4 cup of heavy cream to the topping mixture.
- You can also add other ingredients to the topping, such as chopped nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips.
- Serve the apple crisp warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Braised beef short ribs: These fall-off-the-bone ribs are cooked in a rich sauce made with red wine, tomatoes, and herbs. They’re a delicious and decadent dish that’s perfect for a special occasion.
here is a recipe for braised beef short ribs:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds beef short ribs
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Instructions:
- Pat the beef short ribs dry and season with the flour, salt, and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef short ribs and cook until browned on all sides.
- Remove the beef short ribs from the pot and set aside.
- Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, red wine, beef broth, bay leaf, thyme, and rosemary to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours, or until the beef short ribs are tender.
Crushed tomatoes, red wine, beef broth, bay leaf, thyme, and rosemary in a Dutch oven
- Return the beef short ribs to the pot and cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until the meat is falling off the bone.
- Serve the beef short ribs with the sauce spooned over top.
Enjoy!
Tips:
- You can also braise the beef short ribs in a slow cooker. To do this, simply brown the beef short ribs in a skillet and then transfer them to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the beef short ribs are tender.
- If you don’t have red wine, you can substitute beef broth or water.
- You can also add other vegetables to the braise, such as potatoes, mushrooms, or parsnips.
- Serve the beef short ribs with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
- Cranberry-glazed ham: This sweet and savory ham is a traditional dish for Thanksgiving, but it’s also delicious in the fall.
here is a recipe for cranberry-glazed ham:
Ingredients:
- 1 (6-8 pound) bone-in ham, precooked
- 1 (14 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Place the ham in a roasting pan.
- In a small saucepan, combine the cranberry sauce, brown sugar, orange juice, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the glaze is thickened.
- Pour the glaze over the ham.
- Cover the ham with foil and bake for 1 hour.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the glaze is bubbly and the ham is heated through.
- Let the ham rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.
Enjoy!
Tips:
- You can also use a spiral-cut ham for this recipe.
- If you don’t have whole cranberry sauce, you can use jellied cranberry sauce. Just be sure to drain off any excess liquid before adding it to the glaze.
- You can also add other spices to the glaze, such as nutmeg, allspice, or ginger.
- Serve the ham with mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional instructions for cooking a ham:
- If the ham is precooked, you can simply heat it through in the oven.
- If the ham is uncooked, you will need to cook it for a longer period of time.
- The cooking time will vary depending on the size of the ham.
- Be sure to check the ham with a meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
I hope this helps!
These are just a few ideas for autumnal dishes to try. With so many delicious options to choose from, you’re sure to find something to your taste.
So next time you’re looking for a delicious and seasonal meal, be sure to check out the seasonal specials at your favorite restaurants. You won’t be disappointed.
No matter what you choose to eat, make sure to enjoy the bounty of autumn. It’s a time to celebrate the harvest and the flavors of the season.