What's Your Favorite Autumn Recipe?

What Does Autumn Taste Like?
Photo from amomamok

When I think of autumn I think of the harvest of apples, pumpkins, cranberries, and corn. Just think of Thanksgiving dinner, and what American doesn't love Thanksgiving?

I love to cut up a red and green apples and have the kids close their eyes and have a taste test. See if they can tell which tastes is the red apple and which is the green apple. You can do this all year round to get kids to eat healthy fruits and vegetables. We do this with green and red grapes, broccoli and cauliflower, and different types of lettuce as well. Below is a recipe and some children's books to help your charges enjoy the tastes of autumn.

Easy Apple Cranberry Crumble from Family Fun Magazine
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
6 cups peeled and sliced (about 1/2 inch thick) apples (such as Braeburn or Granny Smith)
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Heat the oven to 375°. Combine the flour, 1/4 cup of the sugar, the brown sugar, and the butter in a bowl. Mix the ingredients with your fingertips to create pea-size crumbs. (Alternatively, pulse the mixture in a food processor 10 times or so).

Combine the apple slices and cranberries in a large bowl. Mix the juice, remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and cornstarch in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the fruit and toss well.

Spoon the fruit into a 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle on the flour mixture. Bake the crumble until bubbly and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

Children's Books About the Flavors of Autumn:

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
A squirrel, a duck, and a cat happily cook and coexist deep in the woods in an old white cabin until the duck starts to question things. He questions things like why does he always have to add the salt to the soup, but he never gets to stir. Beautiful illustrations add to this original tale of friendship, sharing, and pumpkin soup. There is a great recipe in the back of the book.



Applesauce by Shirley Kurtz
Have you ever wanted to make your own applesauce? This is the book for you! Directions for applesauce making and canning follow the story. This is a great fall story-time read-a-loud- all about a family making applesauce.



Apple Cider-Making Days by Ann Purnell
Alex and Abigail join the whole family in processing and selling apples and apple cider at their grandfather's farm.



Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
Visit Comstock Farm with a little girl and her parents to pick apples, pumpkins, and enjoy some delicious apple cider. A perfect choice for a Fall story-time.



What is your favorite Autumn recipe?