Autumn means cozy, warm and inviting foods that make you feel like you’re in The Great Hall at Hogwarts. October and November also give you an excuse to host a Friendsgiving or a simple dinner party.
Pull out the fall decorations, put your hair up in a bun and get cooking with these five must-use ingredients this season.
- Sweet potatoes, squash or any root veggie
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Sweet potatoes, squash or even just yellow potatoes are perfect comfort foods that taste good while still being healthy. Plus, what better time of year to eat orange foods than fall?
Try these super easy baked sweet potato fries that use cornstarch to help the fries crisp up. If you’re looking for a simple alternative to fries, try this recipe that is as easy as poking holes in a sweet potato and baking it for 60 minutes. Feeling adventurous? Bake it in tin foil over the embers of a campfire for a smokey taste. Of course, I can’t talk about these delicious root vegetables without mentioning soup. This recipe can be refrigerated for up to 5 days (meaning: meal prep!!) and you’ll look forward to coming home from a long day of classes to dig into this dish.
- Apples
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Whether you head out to a farm to hand pick your apples or pick up a bag at the grocery store, apples can do so much and are indeed the best fruit all year round. These apple oatmeal muffins use apple cider instead of milk to bring out that apple flavour and will definitely be eaten in only one day.
If you’re looking for a dessert, you can’t go wrong with an apple crumble, especially with the Thanksgiving season here. Try using Fuji or Granny Smith apples, as they are some of the most student-budget-friendly apples.
And of course, I can’t talk about apples without mentioning how easy it is to have a healthy, quick and cheap snack. Sliced apples of any kind are delicious, especially with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled on top.
- Farro
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Farro is a type of grain that is “packed with nutrients, nutty flavour, and a chewy texture.” There are different types of farro but all farro is actually healthier than rice and will keep you fuller for longer.
My personal favourite way to eat farro is in a cold salad like this one. I never follow the recipe exactly but it’s as easy as cooking and draining the farro, then adding in an assortment of sauteed mushrooms and spinach and a splash of balsamic.
You can also use farro as a substitute for quinoa or pasta in any hearty soups. Ina Garten pairs the farro with pancetta, carrots and mushrooms in this yummy soup.
Farro can even be used as a breakfast dish. Cook it as you would cook oatmeal and top with some milk, bananas, walnuts and maple syrup for an autumnal breakfast to start your morning right. - Spices
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What screams autumn more than spices like cinnamon and cloves? Spices can do so much and they make every dish more flavourful and autumnal.
Here’s an unusual recipe that goes on everything from toast to muffins to banana bread: Cinnamon Butter. With only five ingredients, this recipe is fluffy and light and can be eaten with breakfast or as a dessert.
Another way to use spices this fall is in cookies. Ginger cookies incorporate a bit of everything; cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and so much more. These pumpkin chai snickerdoodles are sure to be a great study snack. An easy way to use spices this autumn is to warm up some milk of your choice and add in some cinnamon and cocoa. Just like that, you have a super simple and very festive hot chocolate.
- Oats
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Oats are a fantastic and healthy ingredient that can be used all year round but there are so many ways to use oats that will celebrate the season. First, cook your oats with some almond milk and brown sugar. Add in some chopped up apples, spices of your choice and currants and you have a quick warm breakfast.
As for desserts, who doesn’t like Starbucks’ Oat Bars? These copy-cat bars might look plain but are incredibly dense and perfect for a quick on-the-go snack.
Another way to use oats is in cookies – but these aren’t any old cookies, these are breakfast cookies (yes, you read that right: cookies for breakfast). This recipe can be changed to different flavours, like apple pie, carrot cake or pumpkin pie. Any of these sound like heaven for the cooler mornings when you just want a quick breakfast before heading out. These cookies are also an amazing way to get in lots of nutrients from ingredients like pumpkin seeds, which are a great source of magnesium.