Fall Dinner Recipe Favorites

Kielbasa Stew – TheCornerSliceBlog.com

Hi, Momma Bloggers! My name is Laurie, and I share my adventures at TheCornerSliceBlog.com. I’m a book publicist, writer, and foodie living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with my husband and daughter, Allie Brooke, who just turned one.

As you know, Saturday was the first day of fall, which is a cause for major celebration in our household. Falls in Oklahoma mean beautiful red and orange leaves, a relief from 100-degree heat, football season, and the return of rich flavors and warm, comforting meals. I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite fall dinner recipes with you today — recipes I’ve tried and know to be delicious!

Quick dinner ideas:

As moms, our lives are nonstop busy, no matter how many children we have or whether we work outside the home. Here are some quick dinner ideas and recipes to add to your line-up:

Roasted vegetables: Okay, so this isn’t exactly a recipe, but it’s the cornerstone of almost every fall dinner in my home. The flavors of pumpkin, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, red potatoes, beets, turnips, and even apples are transformed completely when the oven caramelizes them. They can be served as a quick side dish with a rotisserie chicken and a salad, pureed into soups with some chicken broth, or mashed and added to pasta or grains for a simple sauce.

Giada’s Roasted Potatoes and Cipolini Onions: A versatile side dish that allows the oven to do the heavy lifting.

Williams & Sonoma Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Cider Cream: This soup is hearty and creamy, perfect with a tangy side salad.

Bon Appetit’s Moroccan Carrot Soup: Warm cumin and allspice complement the flavor of the carrots, topped with a tangy dollop of goat cheese.

Real Simple’s Butternut Squash Couscous: This tasty couscous dish is a cinch to whip up, and my favorite part is the burst of golden raisins. I bet it would be fantastic if you subbed quinoa for the couscous, too.

Kelsey Nixon’s Broiled Flank Steak Salad with Grilled Grapes, Bitter Greens, and Blue Cheese: So technically, this should be made during the transition between summer and fall when the grapes are in their peak season at the farmers market. But you still have time. Hearty steak, tart greens, and creamy blue cheese are the perfect bed for the pop of grilled grapes.

Eating Well’s Cranberry & Herb Turkey Burger: I call this recipe Thanksgiving between a bun, ground turkey dressed up with thyme, bound by couscous, and bursting with dried cranberries. It’s best served with sweet potato fries, homemade or straight from the freezer aisle to save time!

Company-worthy main dishes:

More time-consuming, but worth the extra effort. Prepare during naptime, or give baby a front row seat with a mixing bowl and some spoons. Or, if the kids are old enough, ask them to help! These recipes are wonderful ways to show husbands, friends, and family members how much you love them

Julia Child’s Beef Bourguinon: I discovered this quintessential beef stew while watching the movie Julie and Julia. It’s delicious, and making anything French is a sure way to impress your friends.

The Noshery’s Shrimp & Andouille Pot Pie: This is not only my all-time favorite pot pie, but it ranks up there with my very favorite meals of all time. It’s not hard to put together at all, and every bite is an explosion of flavor.

Giada’s Short Ribs with Tagliatelle: My husband JT says this is his favorite meal I make. Tender short ribs braised in an aromatic sauce (with red wine!) and then shredded form a melt-in-your-mouth sauce that is well worth the time it takes. Tip: after you give the sauce a little drink, make sure to pour one for yourself, too!

Sunny Anderson’s Beefy Butternut Squash Chili: When you need to give your traditional chili a makeover, this recipe stirs things up with fall spices, tender bites of butternut squash, and the addition of stew meat for a fantastic texture.

EatingWell’s Chicken Potpie with Biscuits: This rendition of comforting chicken potpie is easier to prepare for a crowd. Plus, the oven does most of the work!

Giada’s Butternut Squash Tortellini with Brown Butter Sauce: There’s something magical about the combination of brown butter, sage, and cranberries. PS: When I made it, I couldn’t find amaretti cookies, so I subbed what I had on hand — animal crackers!

As a bonus, here are two of my favorite fall desserts:

EatLiveRun’s Chewy Caramel Apple Chip Cookies: Jenna has created a unique twist on classic fall caramel apples. Buttery cookie dough makes everything delicious!

Joyful Abode’s Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins: I think the title of this recipe says it all; pumpkin and cream cheese are quite the dynamic duo. Eat these for dessert — or breakfast, or lunch, or dinner.

Thanks for the opportunity to share some of my favorite fall dinners with you! I think this community is full of brilliant and talented moms, and I hope these new ideas will help you on your way to a delicious and gratifying autumn season!