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Traditional Fall Recipes to Warm Your Home Thumbnail

Traditional Fall Recipes to Warm Your Home

About the author: Lamar Watson, CFP®, is a Fee-Only Financial Advisor in the Washington, D.C., area who works with clients virtually across the country. Dream Financial Planning is a Fiduciary Financial Planning firm specifically designed to help individuals at any stage of life take control of their finances and fulfill their dreams. Feel free to schedule a Free Consultation to learn how we use the DREAM Financial Planning Process ™ to help our clients achieve their goals. 

As the days get colder, the recipes get warmer! Fall brings a bounty of seasonal produce and an excuse to indulge in hearty, flavorful dishes. Here are some classic fall recipes that capture the essence of the season.

Butternut Squash Soup

This creamy and flavorful butternut squash soup is the perfect fall meal, combining the sweetness of squash with the warmth of seasonal spices. This recipe is adapted from Love & Lemons.1

Ingredients

  • 1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh thyme for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook until softened.
  2. Add the butternut squash cubes and stir for a few minutes.
  3. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the squash is tender—about 20 minutes.
  4. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Alternatively, transfer the soup in batches to a blender.
  5. Stir in the coconut milk, and season with salt and pepper.
  6. Serve hot, garnished with fresh thyme.

Classic Beef Stew

Beef stew is a hearty, slow-cooked dish that brings comfort and richness to your table with tender beef and root vegetables. This recipe is adapted from Dinner Then Dessert.2

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds beef chuck, cut into cub
  • 3 large carrots, chopped
  • 2 large potatoes, cubed
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper and then coat with flour.
  2. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Brown the beef on all sides, then remove and set aside.
  3. In the same pot, add the onion and garlic; cook until softened.
  4. Stir in the tomato paste, and cook for a minute.
  5. Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  6. Add the beef back to the pot along with the carrots, potatoes, and beef broth.
  7. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until the beef is tender.
  8. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

Pumpkin Pie

You can’t celebrate fall without a traditional pumpkin pie! This recipe, adapted from Tastes Better From Scratch, features a smooth, spiced pumpkin filling encased in a flaky pie crust.3

Ingredients

  • 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 unbaked pie crust

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Combine the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a large bowl. Mix well.
  3. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie crust.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for another 40-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
  5. Let the pie cool before serving.

Apple Crisp

This Apple Crisp recipe adapted from The Chunky Chef offers a delightful blend of tart apples and a sweet, crumbly topping, making it an ideal dessert for cozy fall evenings.4

Ingredients

  • 6 cups apples, peeled and sliced (the recipe recommends using golden delicious apples, but other types of apples can be used as well)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Transfer to a greased baking dish.
  3. In another bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, and melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the apples.
  4. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
  5. Serve warm, optionally, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

These traditional fall recipes are a celebration of fall. Whether enjoying a bowl of butternut squash soup, savoring a hearty beef stew, indulging in a slice of pumpkin pie, or treating yourself to apple crisp, these dishes will surely make your home feel welcoming and full of seasonal cheer. 

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  1. https://www.loveandlemons.com/butternut-squash-soup/
  2. https://dinnerthendessert.com/classic-beef-stew/
  3. https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/pumpkin-pie-with-caramel-pecan-topping/
  4. https://www.thechunkychef.com/old-fashioned-easy-apple-crisp/

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