I absolutely love to cook with friends. Without thinking about it, a rhythm of sorts just naturally develops in the kitchen. The exchange of knowledge, techniques, and the telling of one’s family food stories, all serve to help us know each other better. Sharing recipes with friends isn’t exactly the same, but in some ways it accomplishes the same thing. When a friend prepares a dish from a recipe I gave them, I get to hear the feedback their family gave, and I feel that in a small way I’m sharing my cooking knowledge. In discussing how it went over with their family, I get to know that person a little bit better. With the changing of the seasons, friends and family often ask for recipes using fall produce or recipes for fall comfort foods that are best enjoyed with a slight chill in the air. Fall is an excellent season for recipe sharing, and here are some of my favorite fall recipes to share with friends.
When I think of comfort foods, I think of creamy soups. Piping hot with a hunk of crusty bread or a soft yeast roll slathered in butter on the side -- is there anything better? Butternut Squash Soup with a Balsamic Drizzle (https://bellisaris.com/blogs/thursday-recipes/butternut-squash-soup-with-balsamic-drizzle) is one fall recipe I like to share with friends and loved ones. This recipe uses 2 kinds of common fall produce -- butternut squash and apples. If you’re not familiar, butternuts are a type of winter squash, and they’re readily available in super markets and farm stands at this time of year. Choose butternuts that are heavy and not bruised or dented. This recipe also calls for McIntosh apples, but don’t worry if you have a different kind. I like the McIntosh for this recipe because the flesh of the McIntosh apple is delicate and breaks down easily when cooked, which is perfect for pureeing into a creamy, rich fall soup.
People in this country have gone crazy for the whole “Pumpkin Spice” trend. From coffee shops to bakeries, the closer we get to Thanksgiving, the more we’ll hear about pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin! I follow the delicious trend and share this pumpkin popover recipe (https://bellisaris.com/pages/pumpkin-popovers) with everyone I can. An American variation on the British Yorkshire pudding, popovers are a light, buttery pastry made with flour, salt, eggs, milk and butter. Inside the crisp, golden-brown exterior of the popover, you'll find amazingly moist ribbons of custard with a buttery, slightly eggy flavor. Served with Bellisari’s Blistered Jalapeno & Fig spread, this fall comfort food will have everyone who tries one wanting the recipe.
Finally, when it’s adult-only time, a fun, fall cocktail will certainly warm us up. Autumn Sangria with Apples, Pomegranate and Fig (https://bellisaris.com/pages/autumn-sangria-with-apples-pomegranate-and-fig) puts fall fruit forward in a prosecco and brandy drink that will warm you from the inside out. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy with friends when it starts to feel a little chilly outside.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, I love to cook and share recipes with friends, but I’ll let you, dear friends, in on my secret. You can find these and many more fall recipes on our website: https://bellisaris.com/. Happy fall from all of us at Bellisari’s!
