The smell of cookies in the oven, the perfect slice of pie, and the sprinkle of cinnamon in every pastry are all too familiar during the fall season. The autumn harvest of pumpkins, apples, cranberries and more opens the door to many recipes, often paired with cinnamon or nutmeg.
Due to the foods prepared during this time of year, it is a favorite for many, including junior Gracie Brogan.
“Fall is the superior season in terms of food,” Brogan comments, “Nothing compares to the crisp air and homemade desserts that the season brings out.”
Not only is she a fan of fall foods, she has a unique recipe of her own. Brogan recalls often bringing her prized oatmeal cookies to lunch during the fall season.
“I always make sure to share them with my friends and to keep bringing more,” she states, detailing her memory of their popularity among her lunch table.
Brogan is far from the only individual with special memories attached to a treasured recipe. Junior Alexandria Regan puts her own special twist on an autumn staple, apple pie.
“My favorite recipe would definitely be my dad’s mini apple pies from picked apples in a neighbor’s yard,” she states.
Regan fondly remembers the pies being “so delicious with a scoop of ice cream!”
Along with apples, pumpkin is a recurring theme this season, from Halloween jack-o-lanterns to pumpkin spice lattes, it is popular across the country and even the world. Culinary teacher Ms. Randy Colin agrees, as her favorite fall food is “anything pumpkin.”
“That includes anything in the squash family, like butternut or acorn squash,” she notes. Her favorite seasonal recipe is a comfort dessert which reflects her love of pumpkin as well, and is included below.
Stacey’s “I don’t have any evaporated milk!” Pumpkin Pie:
- 1 pre-made pie crust
- 1 small can pumpkin puree
- 1 1/2 cups eggnog, store bought or homemade
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Mix the pumpkin, eggnog, eggs, and both sugars on low until incorporated.
- Add salt, vanilla, and cinnamon and mix until incorporated
- Pour mixture into the prepared pie shell and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.
The warm, spicy tastes of autumnal cuisine are not the only reason for its popularity. Baking and cooking, along with food in general brings friends and family together. Colin expresses her love for holidays and the power of food.
“It connects people through food; the cooking, the eating, traditional recipes, friends or relatives you haven’t seen for a while, laughter and conversation,” Colin remarks.
Whether it be oatmeal cookies, mini apple treats, or pumpkin pie, there is no doubt that the autumn season brings joy all around with its widely loved flavorful desserts.
