Even though fall officially arrives on the Fall Equinox, it takes me a few weeks to really shift into the new season. I tend to welcome Fall more in line with the beginning of the fourth quarter of the year on October first. No matter when I acknowledge the start, the coming of Fall means a return to some of my favorite things — the crispness in the air, the smell of burning wood in the fireplace, and of course the delicious, hearty flavors of my favorite Fall foods and drinks.
BEVERAGES
When it comes to beverages, it is all about being warmed from the inside out! I happen to love hot chocolate, spiced apple cider, and the perfect hot toddy. And while I know some of you live for pumpkin spice lattes and eggnog, you won’t catch me anywhere near it. I wanted to a few of my favorite recipes ( feel free to make alteration because I always do), and give them a try.
The people at Bon Appetit have created what they consider the best cup of hot chocolate. It’s a little fancy but I have to say it was damn good! Check out the video to make your own delicious cup.
If hot chocolate isn’t your thing, give this spiced apple cider recipe from All Recipes a try.
Finally when it’s time for an extra kick, and honestly it’s always the right time, break out the whiskey or brandy and enjoy this wonderful hot toddy recipe from Hennessy.
FOODS
Now that you have the drinks covered, it’s time to plan your fall menu! I personally consider myself to be incredibly greedy. If you like food like I do, you have to love these fall favorites. I’m going to share three recipes that I love (and doctor up because reasons). My favorite three fall eats are chili, chicken noodle soup, and pork roast with roasted fall veggies.
You can’t have fall without chili. You can fight me on it. Chili is like the food mascot of fall. It’s perfect for football season (although I’m boycotting the NFL), you can enjoy a bowl while you’re wrapped in a blanket on your couch, and it can last a few days. What’s not to love? I’m a fan of this turkey chili recipe from Meyhem Lauren. I don’t do beans or peppers but this recipe allows for a lot of substitutions.
Many cultures swear by the power of bone broth and I’m not one to argue with wisdom. I make a batch of bone broth every other month to fuel my second favorite fall dish, chicken noodle soup. I love chicken noodle soup and the only way to enjoy it is homemade. Give this recipe for chicken stock and chicken noodle soup a try.
Last but not least is the ultimate pork roast. Ok, maybe it’s not ultimate, but it’s good because I made it. There are a lot of ways to make a decadent, fall-off-the-bone pork roast, but I like this simple recipe from Laura in the Kitchen.
Now that you know some of my favorite flavors of the fall, I’d love to hear your faves. Comment below with the beverage or meal you can’t wait to eat on the first cold day of fall.
