The first cold mornings tend to sneak up on you. One week you are still eating salads on the deck, and the next you are pulling out the slow cooker and wondering where you put the good soup pot. Fall cooking is warm, slow, and forgiving, which is exactly what these shorter days call for. A few nutritious, easy-to-make recipes can bring seasonal ingredients, heart-healthy choices, and plenty of comfort to your table.
1. A Slow-Simmer Soup That Keeps Giving
Chicken and wild rice soup is a longtime favorite for good reason. Start with a whole rotisserie chicken from the store, pull the meat off, and simmer the bones with an onion, two carrots, and a bay leaf for an hour. Strain, add wild rice, celery, more carrots, and the shredded chicken. Add salt to taste, and finish with a splash of cream if you like.
One pot makes enough for several meals. You can also freeze some in individual portions for a day when you don't feel like cooking.
2. Sheet-Pan Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables are an easy way to make the most of fall produce. Cut butternut squash, sweet potato, parsnip, carrot, and red onion into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly. Toss them with olive oil, salt, and rosemary. Roast them at 400 degrees for about 35 minutes, or until the edges are browned and the vegetables are tender.
Serve them with pork tenderloin for a simple dinner, or add them to a bed of greens with feta for a more filling meal. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator and are easy to pack for lunch or a meal away from home.
3. Apple Crumble Without a Pastry Crust
Fall is a good time for apple desserts, and a crumble is much simpler than making a pie. Peel and slice six apples, then place them in a buttered baking dish. Toss them with a tablespoon of sugar, some cinnamon, and the juice of half a lemon.
For the topping, mix a cup of oats, half a cup of flour, half a cup of brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cut in half a stick of cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle it over the apples and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Serve warm.
If peeling several apples is hard on your hands, an apple peeler-corer can save some effort. You can also ask a friend or family member to help with the prep.
4. A One-PanBreakfast Worth Waking For
Baked oatmeal saves weekday mornings. Combine two cups of rolled oats, a teaspoon of baking powder, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. In another bowl, whisk two eggs, a cup and a half of milk, a third of a cup of maple syrup, and a teaspoon of vanilla. Combine, stir in a diced apple and a handful of walnuts if your teeth allow, pour into a greased dish, and bake at 375 for 30 minutes.
Cut it into squares. Reheat a piece each morning with a splash of milk, and you have breakfast covered for a week.
Get Support with Meal Planning and Preparation
Cooking connects us to the season and to the people we cook for. If you could use a little help with planning, prepping, or just enjoying a meal with someone across the table, Senior Helpers Foothills is here. Our caregivers support residents in Denver West, Littleton, Lakewood, Morrison, and Bailey with everyday care that lets people stay in the homes they love. Contact us for more information.