7 recipes for every kind of fall cooking occasion
Marinated feta; go-to chocolate cake; a fresh way with Brussels: Autumn is not going to know what hit it
A final hurrah for late-summer vegetables; hearty, warming stews; the inklings of the holiday season: Fall has to do a lot of cooking work. A collection of recipes that comes at the season from many angles is like having a kitchen compass for every fork in the autumnal road.
Irish Lamb and Turnip Stew
A blanket in a comforting bowl
April Bloomfield has a way with both meat and vegetables. Fitting then that her Irish stew, with turnips and lamb, is rich and balanced. A monster glug of white wine adds a bright edge, and the comforting meal is finished with a touch of heavy cream.
Spicy Garlic Tofu
A simple braised tofu dish is a great meal
A first cousin once-removed of mapo tofu, this simple braised dish stars ground pork, hoisin sauce, spicy Sichuan bean sauce and, of course tofu. Make — or buy from a Chinese takeout joint — a bunch of rice and call it dinner.
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Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo and Almonds
The same-old Brussels, upended
You might likely need a Brussels sprouts dish during the final months of the year. Maybe for a potluck dinner party; maybe for a Thanksgiving you host. You want an incarnation that is familiar yet surprising. This recipe knows that the interplay of cured pork and Brussels, as with the prototypical addition of bacon, is winning. But a stopover on the Iberian peninsula loads this recipe with Spanish chorizo, toasted almonds and sherry vinegar.
Cocoa-Yogurt Snacking Cake
Finish this easy cake however strikes your fancy
A backpocket chocolate cake is a wise idea. Yossy Arefi's one-bowl cake features cocoa, yogurt and brown sugar, and, if you want to startle those chocolate lovers, the optional addition of chopped chocolate pieces. Frost it however you like; detonate a handful of sprinkle or nuts over the top. The cake-baking it so simple, wild out with the garnishing fillip.
Marinated Feta
A bowl of marinated feta is like money in the bank
Feta, with its briny acerbity and collapsing texture, is always welcome come mealtime. If you follow, though, the teachings of the chefs behind Los Angeles' Kismet, and marinate it in an oil warmed with lemon zest, garlic, black pepper, bay leaf and coriander seed, well, feta then becomes the guest you never want to leave.
Succotash
The effortless pleasures of a Southern staple
Catch the moment when summer careens into fall with a classic mixed-vegetable dish. Peas, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes and onion are barely cooked together, in order to ensure each sings of itself. This version of succotash features a touch of garam masala to warm and meld the varied produce.
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Blondies
The caramel delight of a blondie studded with chocolate and walnuts
Heed Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker's wisdom: "Don't think of blondies as brownies without the chocolate — these chewy little squares are sweet like butterscotch and studded with toasted walnuts and melty dark chocolate pockets." The charm of a blondie is indeed its flaxen essence. Finishing the blondie with a light dusting of flaky sea salt is brilliant. A bonus: These blondies freeze superbly. They need only defrost to be ready for insta-snacking.
Scott Hocker is an award-winning freelance writer and editor at The Week Digital. He has written food, travel, culture and lifestyle stories for local, national and international publications for more than 20 years. Scott also has more than 15 years of experience creating, implementing and managing content initiatives while working across departments to grow companies. His most recent editorial post was as editor-in-chief of Liquor.com. Previously, he was the editor-in-chief of Tasting Table and a senior editor at San Francisco magazine.
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