Our Fall Recipe Round-Up
As the autumn leaves change colors and the days become shorter and colder, our appetites change as well. We start to crave cozy and heartier comfort foods that warm both the body and soul. We already shared our Fall 2021 Comfort Foods Recipe Book, but we wanted to give you some more amazing recipes!
When it comes to comfort food, the way you cook it is one of the most important factors for achieving a rich and savory dish that’s full of flavor. These mood-lifting dishes taste best when cooked in things like a cast iron or a slow cooker as these cooking methods create the perfect texture and taste to soothe your taste buds during the chilly autumn months.
Ready to start cooking? We’re prepared a fall recipe round-up, full of hearty, family-friendly dinners to warm your heart and satisfy your comfort food cravings. Let’s start with that trusty old cast iron.
Cast Iron Biscuits and Gravy
A cast-iron pan has been Karin’s go-to device for a long time. She even stated, “I got an instant pot two years ago and haven’t even tried it yet!”. Using a cast-iron skillet not only adds flavor to your meal, but it is the perfect method for upgrading the look and taste of classic biscuits and gravy and the best part is you only have to use one pan! All you need for this recipe is pork breakfast sausage, flour, milk, buttermilk, baking powder, butter, garlic powder, and salt and fresh ground pepper to taste! The rich homemade sausage gravy is whipped up in no time and then topped with fluffy, buttery buttermilk drop biscuits. This cast-iron dish has comfort and nostalgia written all over it and it’s one the whole family can enjoy!
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
Slow Cooker Pot Roast is the ultimate comfort food that will warm you up after a long, cold day! It’s a super hearty, deliciously flavorful meal and the best thing is that it’s ready to eat when you come home. This dish delivers on that promise offering a warm, hearty, comforting meal, and it’s super easy to make! All you need to do is cut up a bone-in chuck roast, then mix up a can of cream of mushroom soup, Lipton onion soup mix, a little bit of water, and pour it over the top of the roast. Bone-in is the best kind of meat for the recipe because it adds flavor and it’s the best way to tell when the meat is cooked perfectly because it pulls away from the bone. You can also add some veggies to the meal to add some more flavor and nutrition! Karin usually cuts up some carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and potatoes and adds them to the crockpot with the meat.
Heavy Pan Beef Shanks or Lamb Shanks
This recipe is mouth-watering comfort food that everyone should try at least once and it’s the perfect evening meal for any occasion! All you need to do for this recipe is to put your braised beef or lamb shanks into a heavy pan, season both sides with salt, garlic powder, cayenne, and Italian seasoning. After you brown your meat add a little bit of water and you’re done! This meal pairs well with a side dish like rice or mashed potatoes and a delicious glass of red! Now you’re ready to enjoy your delicious home-cooked meal with friends and family. Also, make sure to try Karin’s other beef shank recipe in the Carson Valley Meats Fall 2021 Comfort Foods Recipe Book!
Pumpkins
When we think of fall, one thing that comes to mind is pumpkins! Whether you use them for decorations or cooking, we all love the festive, orange squash. There are so many amazing recipes and ways to use pumpkins and they are a great way to create seasonal memories! A few ways Karin likes to use her pumpkin is by recycling the seeds for next year, turning them into a spooky Jack O’ Lantern for Halloween, and of course, baking them. Some of her favorite ways to cook her pumpkins are shredding them and using the pulp as a side dish like squash, using it as a soup bowl by cutting off the top and cleaning out the inside, and of course, making some pumpkin pie! Check out some more of Karin’s holiday meal traditions in our earlier blog! This year, Karin was fortunate enough to grow pumpkins, and even though they weren’t very big, she grew a lot of them! Want a free pumpkin to try out one of these fun ideas? The first 10 people to place a Ranch Box order this week, can get a free one by entering “Pumpkin” in the order notes. Don’t miss out!