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.

As fantastic as September can be, it signifies the start of a busy fall schedule, especially as the days start to inch toward the holiday season. It can be even busier if you have kids, and your schedule is jam-packed with getting them to and from school, working on homework, handling projects, meeting with teachers, attending school events, and more. Also, if your family is anything like mine, you’ve been living on fresh peaches and grilled chicken for months, and that’s left your pantry virtually untouched. Now’s the perfect time to clean it out. 

Fall is in the air!! And that means it is tailgate party season. From your favorite high school team to your favorite college and pro teams, gathering with like-minded fans for some pre-game revelry is a great way to get psyched up for a game. But let’s be honest here; it’s the food that really brings us all together. And these easy Bellisari’s recipes are perfect for the event. 

No matter which team you're rooting for this year, there's one thing about game day that I think we can all agree on - an abundance of good food is almost as important as the game itself! And, if you’re like me, when you make a big game-day feast, you’d always rather have too much than run out of something. I always end up making way more than is needed for the game. I used to have a lot left over unintentionally, but these days I often make extra on purpose. After the last fan heads home, those leftovers become ingredients for some delicious meals over the next couple of days. With a little creative thinking and some Bellisari’s recipes, you can put all those leftovers to good use.

With school back in session, recreational sports and other after-school activities are back in full swing too. As a mom, one of the biggest challenges I face is figuring out when to eat dinner and what to serve, because several nights a week, we’re going straight from school to the soccer fields for hours worth of practices that don’t end until 7:30 pm. With active, growing children, it’s not realistic to think the kids can get by on snacking all evening, but if we have any chance of getting them showered and to bed at a decent hour (OMG! When do they have time for homework?!?) eating dinner when we get home at 8 pm is not a good option. And while fast food can be super convenient, it’s definitely not the healthiest! Fortunately, with a little bit of planning, you can still provide a healthy meal even when time is short. Skip the drive-through with these tips and recipes that can help make the long nights at the field, or court, more manageable.