We are deep into fall, and it’s time to embrace the cool weather with some cozy meals. Comfort food will warm your stomach, leaving you feeling toasty, and get you excited for the chilly weather that will be with us for a long time. Try these recipes with your family and friends when you go home for Thanksgiving break and impress everyone!
Butternut Pudding
Think squash can’t be made into dessert? Think again! Butternut squash is usually a savory food, but it can also be sweet, and this butternut pudding definitely shows its sweet side. Get two 10-ounce packages of thawed frozen butternut squash puree, four eggs, one 14-ounce can of coconut milk, and 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup. First, preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Blend the squash, eggs, coconut milk, and maple syrup together, and pour into an 8-inch baking dish. Put the dish in a roasting pan, and pour boiling water halfway up the dish to make a water bath. Bake for one hour, and don’t forget to put some whipped cream on top!
Blue Cheese Crisps
These cheese crisps are the perfect food to nibble on before a meal. You will need 1/2 of a baguette and 2.5-ounces of blue cheese. Cut the baguette in a crosswire fashion into sixteen 1/2-inch slices, and the blue cheese needs to be thinly sliced. Put the sliced baguette on a baking sheet and top the bread with cheese. Bake these snacks at 375 degrees for about 12 minutes, until the bread browns lightly and the cheese is bubbling. Minimal preparation, maximum satisfaction!
Carrot and Apple Salad
This salad can be a great appetizer or side dish. With a crunch in every bite, it is fresh and easy to prepare. You will need two tablespoons of honey, two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, two tablespoons of walnut oil, one green apple (cored and thinly sliced), two carrots (peeled and cut into coins) and 1/2 cup of toasted walnuts. Once you have all of your ingredients, get a large mixing bowl and whisk the honey, oil and lemon juice together. Then, toss the apples and carrots in with the dressing, sprinkling the walnuts on top at the end.
Applesauce Chutney
This chutney is super comforting and great for the holidays. Take one chopped red onion, two tablespoons of butter, 1/4 cup of golden raisins, one 24-ounce jar of chunky applesauce, and one tablespoon of minced crystallized ginger. Get a large pan and set the stove to a medium heat and cook the chopped onion in the butter until softened, which will take about three minutes. Add the remaining ingredients for about three more minutes, and then season. This chutney would be great with meat and even on top of some ice cream.
Pumpkin Quesadillas
When you think of fall, you think of pumpkins. Mix up this popular Mexican dish with the season’s favorite gourd. Take two cups of canned pumpkin puree, eight 8-inch flour tortillas, four ounces of crumbled goat cheese, one teaspoon of ground cumin and 1/2 cup of chopped toasted walnuts. In a mixing bowl, stir the pumpkin puree and cumin. Spread the mixture over four tortillas, and then sprinkle the cheese and walnuts on top. Then, put the remaining tortillas on top. In a skillet, put in some oil and turn the stove on to a medium-low heat. Cook the quesadillas one at a time, and turn them over until browned.
Keep the fall season festive with these easy and comforting recipes. You will be wooing your friends and family soon! Comfort food will leave you satisfied and ready to take on the cold weather.