Written by: Jeninaah Hamilton
The autumn season is here and that also means nutritious, bright-coloured vegetables will spring from our soils! Here are some vegetables that specifically grow in the fall season and some potential dishes you could make this fall or Halloween season!
Pumpkins:
This would not be a good blog post if I did not mention pumpkins! These orange hunks come in many different sizes and colours and can be found anywhere during our fall season! Pumpkins are best grown in an area where they have room to roam, as they can cover an outstanding length of 30 feet in any direction so, growing them on trellises is recommended! They can be used for more than just scaring off all of the bad guys during Halloween! Many people would roast the seeds after carving out the pumpkin and season them with a variety of different spices, but, if you want to play it safe, salt and pepper work great as well! A more complicated dish but an absolutely delicious dish can be mummy pumpkin hand pies! These are amazing if you have a sweet tooth and are feeling a little creative. Give it a try, you won’t regret it!
Winter Squash:
Next up, we have the winter squash! There are many different kinds and can be very rich in vitamins if stored properly. They are best started indoors and can be brought out mid-summer, they usually take up a lot of space so growing them on trellises is best as well! With plenty of different variations of winter squashes, the dish choices are endless. They can be eaten alone or even eaten alongside another dish to complement it. Some of my own favourites are roasted butternut squash with cider vinaigrette which is amazing because of the strong and savoury flavours. Another dish is a simple winter squash soup which is perfect for dinner on a nice chilly night.
Beets:
When growing beets, they need shade in order to sprout properly, so the cooler soil temperatures in autumn are when beets mature and produce some of the sweetest-tasting produce. It is best to keep them refrigerated or canned for better-tasting dishes. One of my favourite delicious dishes that include beets is roasted beet salad. This dish has a nice pop and savoury flavouring from the tangy feta and balsamic dressing. This meal is perfect for family dinners, or a school/work lunch! The ingredients for this dish can be bought at your local farmer’s market such as ripening pears to add some sweet as well as feta cheese and roasted walnuts to include a crunchy texture. This is for sure one of the healthier dishes on the list!
Carrots
Lastly, we have carrots! Like beets, carrots that grow in the cooler fall soil will be much sweeter as many say, with orange types being the sweetest! Carrots have an amazing life span and can be stored up to 3 months in a refrigerator, so a good solid harvest can last you the whole season till winter. Many pull them too early and rush the process, but like all good things in life, it takes time – don’t rush them! Now, let’s talk about some delicious dishes. One of my favourites is the ginger carrot pineapple cake, this amazing tropical-looking cake is a perfect dessert for any dinner party. It’s super low in calories and contains a handful of healthy baking recipe variations. This will for sure have family members and friends asking for the recipe!
Conclusion:
With proper care and knowledge growing these vegetables can create these amazing delicious dishes that are perfect for many different occasions. Such as the iconic roasted pumpkin seeds if you want a quick little snack or the delicious ginger carrot pineapple cake if you want to impress some family and friends at a dinner party. Now go, allow your creativity and taste for amazing fall dishes. Take control and create!
Sources:
https://www.gardendesign.com/vegetables/fall.html
https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g4695/winter-squash-recipes/