The wind is getting colder, leaves are starting to turn, and fall is nearly here! Soon, we will be surrounded by apple pie and pumpkin spice, but there is so much more to fall flavors than these two classics! If you are looking for some fun ways to include seasonal notes in your food, here are some different ideas.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate usually comes in season around October, which means fall is the perfect time to find the most flavorful and juicy pomegranates! The little pomegranate pieces can be a wonderful addition to breakfast foods like oatmeal or yogurt, or even on avocado toast. It can also be a wonderfully fruity and crunchy addition to salads and even desserts! The seeds may be choking hazards for young children, so be mindful of that when feeding foods with pomegranates to young children.
Butternut squash
Butternut squash is one of the lesser-known squashes, but it can be found in most grocery stores in the U.S. It can be a wonderful, sweeter alternative to pumpkin, and tends to be easier to process for use. For a simple side dish, try roasting some diced butternut squash, or make some butternut squash soup as the main course! Butternut squash can also be a wonderful addition to a sheet pan dinner. Either way, this squash is the perfect fall flavor to become a new staple in your household.
Maple
For a sweeter set of fall flavors, try using maple! While many of us are familiar with maple syrup as a sweet final touch on pancakes or waffles, there is so much more you can do with this versatile sweet syrup. It can be lovely as the main ingredient in many sweets, such as cakes, cookies, and pies, adding a fall flavor to the sweets as well as reducing how much processed sugar you must use in them. It can also be a fun thing to add to normal foods, such as drizzling it over oatmeal.
These are just a few of many wonderful fall flavors that are coming in season, so be sure to explore your local grocery stores and farmers markets to see what is available in your community! If possible, take your child shopping with you and let them help you pick out a few new fall flavors to try. Have fun, experiment, and enjoy the flavors of the season in a variety of recipes and meals!
