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fall

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Beet apple walnut fall harvest salad

Farmers markets everywhere are still brimming with vibrant beets and crunchy apples. Put them together in this delicious Beet Apple Walnut Fall Harvest salad. See what else is still in season in November.  The crisp combo of tart apples and earthy sweet roasted beets is the perfect way to continue to enjoy the best flavors of fall as we head into the second half of the season. Serve as a side salad to your weeknight meal or earmark this one as a fresh new surprise for the Thanksgiving table. It’s easy enough and pretty enough for just about any occasion. But don’t think this salad is just about looks. Beets are a low calorie root veggie with an impressive record: they can help keep your blood pressure in check, improve athletic performance, fight inflammation, improve digestion, support brain health, and they may even have some cancer fighting potential thanks to…

3 delicious roasted pumpkin seed recipes

Fall means indulging in all the flavors of the season, but all of those pies, pastries, cobblers, and Halloween candy aren’t exactly the most diet-friendly snacks. For the lighter side of fall foods, be sure to roast the pumpkin seeds you pulled from your Jack-O-Lantern’s. Pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium, potassium, calcium and so much more. But just because pumpkin seeds are healthy doesn’t have to mean they taste healthy. Here are three pumpkin seed recipes that are anything but bland. Garlic Parmesan These savory seeds are great tossed on salads or served as a snack all on their own. Ingredients 2 cups pumpkin seeds (Run seeds through cold water to remove from stringy pulp, then dry them out overnight, or place in the oven on a well-greased baking sheet on low heat for 30 minutes.) 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese 2 tsp…

How to store apples so they last all winter

For many people, autumn means one thing: apples. Families love heading to the orchard and loading up on bags full of apples for making devious homemade applesauce, pies, and cobblers. But don’t let your enjoyment of those tasty fall treats end earlier than it needs to. Believe it or not, some varieties of apples can last you all the way through March. They just have to be stored the right way. Also see, the best apples for eating fresh. Apples are abundant in the fall, meaning you can buy them at cheaper prices and stock up. You’ll save money by buying in bulk, and you’ll also avoid grocery store apples which can be coated in unnatural waxes or doused with chemicals used to delay their ripening. Here’s everything you need to know about storing apples for winter: What type of apple should you buy Apples come to maturity between late July…

Cheesecake-filled pumpkin bread

If you love fall baked goods but aren’t a fan of super sweets, this cream cheese filled pumpkin bread recipe will satisfy your seasonal cravings. You’ll love this bread-like snack and its slightly sweet center. It’s dense, decadent and the perfect fall treat to make for breakfast, dessert or just about anytime. Also try this Classic Pumpkin Roll recipe. cheesecake-filled pumpkin bread Ingredients Bread 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 1/2 cup canola oil 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1-1/2 cups flour 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground ginger Filling 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1/3 cup sugar 2 tbsp flour 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract What else you’ll need: 9×5 inch loaf pan electric mixer nonstick cooking spray cooling rack toothpick Directions Preheat oven to…

Mistakes you should avoid when cooking potatoes

Potato problems? Potatoes may seem basic, but there are a lot of ways to mess them up. Whether they come out partly raw, mushy, or generally flavorless, the good news is there is usually a simple solution. Read on and see what you might do differently next time to achieve those perfectly tender, flavorful spuds you salivate over. You don’t choose the right potato for the job. You’ll come across more than a dozen different kinds of potatoes at the grocery store, so how do you know which will work best for your recipe? Well, a good rule of thumb is to use russet potatoes for baking or steaming, and use red or gold potatoes for roasting or sautéing. Russets and yellow potatoes are best for mashing. Round red potatoes and fingerling potatoes are best for boiling. Not sure what to use? Those round white potatoes that you see at…

Classic pumpkin roll recipe

Pumpkin rolls are a classic fall dessert that everyone goes crazy for. This homemade pumpkin roll recipe will give you the most deliciously moist spongey spiced pumpkin cake with dreamy cream cheese filling rolled up inside. These rolls might look difficult, but don’t let that perfect swirl intimidate you. It’s actually quite simple! Just follow these easy directions and you’ll master this must-make dessert in no time. Classic Pumpkin Roll Ingredients For the pumpkin cake: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground allspice 1/4 tsp salt 3 eggs, room temperature 2/3 cup pumpkin puree (I like to use Libby’s) 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar For the cream cheese frosting: 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature…

Slow cooker maple, pear, pecan oatmeal

Can you think of any better way to start a cool, autumn morning that a piping hot bowl of maple, pear, pecan oatmeal? Yes, that’s Maple. Pear. Pecan — It’s fall packed in a bowl. I’ve already made it twice this season, and we’re just getting started! I mix up the ingredients before I go to bed, so it’s waiting for me in the morning. With a healthy, delicious option like that, who even wants to reach for those donuts? It’s a little trick to resist the morning sweets. Plus, it feels like someone else made breakfast — who doesn’t love that? Remember when you’re grocery shopping, you must use steel-cut oats for this recipe. Other oats just won’t hold up under the long cook time. Plus, steel-cut oats are way healthier for you than their processed cousins. Also, use real maple syrup. Those syrups for kids are basically corn syrup.…

Why we give candy to kids on Halloween

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend approximately $2.6 billion on Halloween candy this year — that’s a lot of Skittles, Starbursts, and snack-sized candy bars. But as you’re buying bags of goodies to giveaway, you may wonder how this sweet tradition got its start. Well, the answer isn’t totally clear, but let’s shed a little bit of light on this dark holiday. Many scholars think that Halloween can be traced back about 2,000 years to its roots as a pre-Christian Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”), which means “summer’s end.” The festivities, usually held around Nov. 1, were a celebration of the end of harvest season and the beginning of darkest days of the year. Because the ancient records surviving to this day are largely incomplete, our understanding of the holiday isn’t fully understood. But Samhain is also thought to have been a time for the spirits…

Tuscan risotto with kale, mushrooms, and walnuts

This classic dish gets upgraded to main meal status with the addition of hearty mushrooms, Tuscan kale, and crunchy walnuts. It’s so easy to prepare, and better yet, you can have this elegant vegetarian dish ready in about 35 minutes. This traditional method of making risotto involves standing at the stove and stirring for around 18 minutes. It might seems a little labor intensive compared to low-fuss pastas, but to achieve the signature creamy texture risotto is known for, it’s well worth the effort. If you’re not vegetarian, and if you want to serve this as a side dish instead, consider pairing it with your favorite chicken Marsala for a tasty Italian combo. This Tuscan risotto with kale, mushrooms, and walnuts will easily be your new favorite go-to recipe this fall and all year long. Tuscan risotto with kale, mushrooms, and walnuts Serves 4 Ingredients 5 cups vegetable or chicken…

12 fun facts you never knew about pumpkins

Nothing says “October” more than a beautiful, orange pumpkin, but this most beloved symbol of fall is hiding some fun little secrets. Think you know everything there is to know about these great big gourds? Here are 15 fun facts you never knew about pumpkins: 1. Pumpkins are fruits, not vegetables Fruits are considered to be the part of the plant that has seeds on the inside. By this definition, a pumpkin is definitely a fruit. They’re a member of the gourd family, which includes other fruits like watermelon and winter squash. 2. Pumpkin pie wasn’t served at the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving Despite our modern day obsession with pumpkin pie this time of year, it was no where to be found at the original Thanksgiving feast of 1621. Pilgrims wouldn’t have had butter or flour for making pie crust, let alone an oven for baking. Some historians speculate that the pilgrims…