The Best part of Autumn is really the Food

Just a few cool nights and I'm ready for Fall!

When you think about it, besides the cool-weather clothes and glorious multi-hued foliage, the best part of autumn is really the food.

Let Harter House and
Harter House World Flavors inspire you!

Herein, I present the Top 10 food-related reasons to love fall:

10. Fresh nuts from the shell using a nutcracker.

9. Hearty Soups and Stews.

8. Roasted vegetables: I always feel like I get an extra boost of beta-carotene in the fall. Serve this hearty and colorful side dish with any winter-time main course meal.
4 servings
Ingredients:
1 lb. red or new potatoes, halved
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1" pieces
1 medium rutabaga, cubed
1 large onion, cut into 1" pieces
2 leeks, cut into 1" rounds
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 tbsp fresh thyme
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F.
Step 2: In a large baking dish, toss vegetables and herbs with olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper and toss again to combine. Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and lightly browned.

7. Mother Nature’s broad-strokes of gold, crimson and orange, along with the Hunters Moon, are all vibrant reminders of the earth’s bounty.

6. The aroma of chimney smoke makes city streets smell like the country.

5. Halloween candy! And caramel apples!

4. Summer’s over and winter’s not yet here. Now is the time to ride the wave of nature’s most soulful season. Sure, there’s pumpkin. But I think about roasts and stews and chili, and seasonal cakes and pies (pecan, apple and the like).

3. I find the color-burst of trees so breathtaking that I’m almost afraid to drive (I’m easily distracted). So I walk a lot, in the cool temps with a warm fleece under a blue sky. 
2. Roasted chestnuts.

1. For some people it’s time to make the switch from Gin &Tonics back to red wine! However, I drink red wine year round.





And finally, to get you in the mood for all of it, here’s a simple recipe for Kraft Caramel Apples. After all, who needs hot weather and cool lakes when you’ve got caramel apples?

Yield:
5 servings
Ingredients:
5 apples (any variety will do)
1 package (340 g) Kraft Caramels
2 tbsp water
Chopped peanuts, crushed Oreos, M&Ms or chocolate for decorating (optional)
Instructions:
Step 1: Wash and dry apples thoroughly. Insert stick into stem of each.
Step 2: Unwrap caramels and microwave with water in a large glass measure or mixing bowl on high for 3 to 3-1/2 minutes or until sauce is smooth when stirred.
Step 3: Dip apples into hot caramel sauce and turn until coated. Scrape off excess sauce from bottom of apples and decorate.
Step 4: Place on tray lined with waxed paper. Refrigerate until serving time.

Roasted Vegetables and Goat Cheese Fillo Tart

 




I found this recipe and I was excited because
I am focusing on adding more vegetables to savory dishes. 

I made it and it was a big hit!








6 cups of seasonal vegetables (cut into 1 inch diced pieces)

eggplant, mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, and peppers

1 whole garlic bulb
2 Tbl. olive oil
9 sheets fillo pastry
1-2 Tbl tomato paste
4 oz. Goat Cheese

Put the prepared vegetables into a roasting dish, slice the top off of the garlic bulb and put it in the pan with the vegetables. Drizzle with olive oil and roast for around 30-35 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Put the vegetables aside to cool.  Meanwhile prepare the pastry.

Lay the sheet of fillo pastry on the counter, brush sparingly with oil and put another sheet on top.  Brush that sheet with oil and finish with a third sheet of pastry.  Grease an ovenproof dish big enough to hold all the cooked vegetables and line it with the fillo pastry.

Mix the tomato paste with 1 Tbl of boiling water then brush it over the base of the pastry.  Put the cooled vegetables and chunks of goat cheese into the filo lined dish.  Squeeze the roasted garlic forcing the pulp from the skin, then mix this into the vegetables and goat cheese.  You can drizzle a little more tomato paste if you like.

Lay out the remaining pastry sheets and brush each sparingly with oil.  Cut each piece in half and crumble them up, putting them on top of the tart to cover the vegetables.  Bake at 350 F for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden.  Serve with salad.

Remember, you will find everything you need to make this savory dish at Harter House and Harter House World Flavors.

                    ENJOY!