Sara Bir is the author of two cookbooks, Tasting Ohio and the IACP award-winning The Fruit Forager’s Companion. She also moderates and replies to your comments here on Simply Recipes. Follow her @sausagetarian.
September 22 is the first official day of fall. But when does it start to like fall? It could be when the days shorten noticeably. Or when the nights get cool. Or when school starts up again.
After such a jumbled summer, a change in seasons is welcome. But this year, whatever shape it may be taking, school is breaking new territory. Where I live in the Ohio River Valley, it’s been a hot, hot summer—so my favorite fall fruits may be too dry and shriveled to make an abundant harvest. The festivals I spend months looking forward to are taking a gap year (see you in 2021, Ohio Pawpaw Festival).
But there’s still the always-anticipated wardrobe switch to boots and sweaters. The cavalcade of pumpkin spice products. The promise of smaller electric bills once we shut off the AC.
What does fall look like to you? These recipes embrace the coziness we start craving around now, either with seasonal ingredients (apples! winter squash!) or seasonal vibes (braised pork! saucy meatballs!). May they bring you into fall with warmth and good health.
