Happy Monday, everyone, I hope you had a lovely fall weekend! We finally crossed a big item off our fall bucket list and went to the orchard…then ended up leaving without any apples or pumpkins. ? My Mom’s birthday was in late September and to celebrate she wanted to take the whole family to a semi-local orchard with a ton of kid-friendly activities. We were too late for U-pick apples this year, and the kids started melting down before we had a chance to hit the pumpkin patch, but what we did cover was a lot of fun. (Hello, first (I think?) preggo shot for baby #2 on the blog?! I have been horrible at taking bump shots this time around!)
Ben, Lincoln, myself and my parents went super early (my brother and sister-in-law + the kids came later since their youngest still takes a morning nap,) and I’m so glad we did because despite an already packed parking lot when we arrived, we had a ton of activities virtually to ourselves (it was a ZOO two hours later!) Lincoln hopped ’til he could hop no more on the “jumping bean”.
Then he and Nana geronimo’d their little hearts out in the corn pit. Do these things exist where you live?
I’d never heard of them until this year, though I suppose this is the first year we’ve paid to participate in kid’s activities at orchards, and Lincoln is so obsessed. Nothing says “Iowa” like a bottomless corn pit!
Lincoln and my Mom slid ’til they could slide no more…
Then we ended the afternoon by watching baby goat races because makes sense, right? ? It was actually sooooo adorable!
Anyway, we still need to get our pumpkins somewhere, and luckily Hy-Vee’s got me covered with $.99 Honeycrisps at the moment, but the weekend’s festivities reminded me that we are firmly into fall and I have yet to share my favorite recipe roundup of the year – 15 Irresistible Fall Comfort Foods! I’ve already gotten you started in the fall recipe department with Easy Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Baked Apple Chips, and Wild Rice Harvest Bowls over the past couple of weeks, but today I want to share the most irresistible, autumn-themed recipes on IGE that you’ve got to make before the white stuff starts to fly. SHUDDER. From cozy soups to homemade noodles, decadent desserts and savory salads, grab your black fleece (?) and fuzzy slippers, and let’s get to cooking these delicious fall comfort foods!
Caramel Apple Crisp with Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce
Juuuuust going to leave this one right here…because what says “irresistible” more than warm caramel apples buried under a double layer of sweet, cinnamony crisp?! If you like Apple Crisp than Caramel Apple Crisp with Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce is going to knock your fuzzy socks off. (Psst: I’m LOVING these GF Harvest Organic Oats which are produced under a purity protocol vs crop rotation + mechanical sorting methods. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, click here!) Click here for the recipe >
Fall Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
I know what you might be thinking – salad = comfort food? Trust me, Fall Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad is packed with satisfying, savory flavors like cheese, fried shallots, and pears then drizzled with an easy homemade Maple-Dijon Vinaigrette. Totally irresistible – you’re going to want to get after this ASAP. Click here for the recipe >
Apple Orchard Panini
Let’s see here – gooey cheese: check. Sweet and luscious apple butter: check. Crispy, buttery bread: check. Yep, this kicked up grilled cheese, aka Apple Orchard Panini, is killing it in the comfort food department. (I recommend Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White gluten-free bread, btw!) Click here for the recipe >
Loaded Potato Soup
Thick and creamy with allll the fixins’, Loaded Potato Soup screams comfort food but is made entirely with milk – no heavy cream needed! There’s still plenty of bacon for decadence though. Click here for the recipe >
Smoked Sausage, Kale and Cider Quinoa Skillet
Maybe it’s the eastern European in me, but any dish calling for smoked sausage automatically belongs in the comfort food category. Smoked Sausage, Kale and Cider Quinoa Skillet is further fall-ified by the addition of kale and apple cider – so delicious, and definitely not sweet-tasting. Click here for the recipe >
Brown Butter and Crispy Sage Popcorn
I feel like Brown Butter and Crispy Sage Popcorn never got the love it deserved after I posted it a couple years ago. There is nothing more comforting than sitting down with a huge bowl of buttery popcorn and this irresistible fall-themed version is OFF THE CHAIN. You can make it with vegetable, extra virgin, or coconut oil, too. Click here for the recipe >
Gluten-Free Homestyle Chicken and Noodles
Once the temperatures start to cool down, I make Gluten-Free Homestyle Chicken and Noodles pretty much every week. Rolling then cutting fat and chewy homemade gluten-free noodles is not as intense as you think it is, and the payoff is completely worth it anyway. All three of us are obsessed with this ultra comforting dish! Click here for the recipe >
Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers
Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers is perfect to have bubbling away for college (or pro if that’s how you roll,) game day on crisp, fall weekends. Like, I legit can’t imagine a more perfect football-watching dish (<– whoops, forgot to include them in here!) Break out the crusty rolls if you’re not gluten-free, and if you are, cook up some pasta or honestly they’re so delicious all by themselves. Big bowl o’ comfort food, right here. Click here for the recipe >
Maple Sweet Potato Hash
Speaking of fall weekends, enjoy a big plate of Maple Sweet Potato Hash and eggs in your PJs sometime soon. Drizzled with a touch of maple syrup, which pairs beautifully with savory breakfast sausage, this fall-flavored hash is quick-cooking and oh so irresistible. Click here for the recipe >
Perfect Broccoli Cheese Soup
Want Broccoli Cheese Soup like you’d get at a restaurant? Perfect Broccoli Cheese Soup is your recipe. It truly is the most perfect comfort food and it breaks my heart that I can’t serve it to Lincoln, who has a dairy allergy, because I know my soup-lovin’ little man would devour it! Click here for the recipe >
Chicken, Bacon, Date and Brussels Sprouts Quinoa Power Salad
Part stir fry, part salad, Chicken, Bacon, Date and Brussels Sprouts Quinoa Power Salad is filling and full of sweet and savory flavors. I love the fact that it’s not a cold leaf lettuce salad which makes it a perfect, healthier option for fall. Click here for the recipe >
Soft Batch Apple Cider Ginger Cookies
Be still my soft batch cookie-loving heart!! Thank the LORD these gluten-free Soft Batch Apple Cider Ginger Cookies are freezer friendly because they are totally irresistible aka I have zero willpower around them. Tip: make sure you refrigerate the dough for a minimum for two hours before scooping (overnight is best!) Click here for the recipe >
Roasted Tomato Soup
If you’re scarred from growing up with canned condensed tomato soup like I was, give it another shot with Roasted Tomato Soup. This soup recipe is so, so comforting, freezes beautifully and is great to use up sweet, late-season tomatoes. Cut grilled cheese into sticks or squares for fun and irresistible dippers! Click here for the recipe >
Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice
If you’ve already tried and loved my Wild Rice Harvest Bowls, you have to make it’s kissing cousin, Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice. This is an awesome, healthy fall dinner option and although it tastes cozy and decadent, each bite is packed with nutrition. Click here for the recipe >
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