Cook the Book: 'A Platter of Figs'
The central concept of David Tanis' new cookbook, A Platter of Figs, is best expressed in the vignette on page 42 describing his "parsnip epiphany." This is a book about cooking seasonal foods simply and skillfully. It's about supporting local farmers, preserving the environment, and maintaining a sustainable kitchen. But most importantly, it's about the pure pleasure of eating a perfectly crisp fall radish, or a concord grape bursting with sweet juice.
For six months a year, David Tanis acts as the head chef at Chez Panisse. Since the 1980s, he has worked closely with Alice Waters to help craft and shape the restaurant's illustrious style. The other half of the year David can be found in Paris, where he cooks casual meals for friends in an apartment that has "a less-than-adequate stove, a small sink, little counter space, and a half-dozen well-used pots and pans."
A Platter of Figs is divided into four seasons and 24 menus with themes ranging from an easy "Bean Soup Lunch" with pears and parmigiano to an impressive "Peasant Fare from a Parisian Kitchen" dinner which includes a pig's ear salad. The recipes are basic and unfussy, yet the dishes are anything but ordinary. To make the parsnips? Season them with salt and pepper, toss with olive oil, and bake at 375ºF for about 45 minutes. The first time David ate them he proclaimed "they were so crisp, brown, tender, and sweet, I thought they were the best thing I'd ever eaten."
Win 'A Platter of Figs'
We'll be excerpting a recipe from David Tanis' new book each day this week. In addition, you can enter to win one of five (5) copies for your very own. Just tell us in the comments section below: what is your favorite, seasonal fall ingredient, and how do you prepare it?
Five (5) people will be chosen at random from among eligible comments below. Comments will close Monday, September 15 at noon ET. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.
Comments are closed: 276 Comments:
Grapes are the fall favorite I wait for, they are very versatile; from raw, jellies, wine etc... I just used some wonderful champagne grapes in a fish recipe..fantastic.
HelloChris at 1:34PM on 09/08/08
Apples! Apples, Brats & onions braised with a nice Mocha Porter. Serve on top roasted brussel sprouts or roasted potatoes. MMM.
bitchincamero at 1:40PM on 09/08/08
There are tons of pumpkin about to ripen around here. My fave is a thick and moist pumpkin pie with a flakey crust, still slightly warm, served with real vanilla ice cream.
LunaPierCook at 1:42PM on 09/08/08
Apples! Already looking forward to making Cooks Illustrated's Dutch Apple Pie again (and again).
bobcatsteph3 at 1:49PM on 09/08/08
I love any variety of fall squash -- butternut, acorn, delicata, pumpkin. Just roast and serve (or make a soup)!!
suthungirl at 1:49PM on 09/08/08
Winter squash. My favor way to prepare it is to halve and roast until tender, then smother with a cheese sauce made with tons of Parmesan and a splash of marsala or sherry. Sometimes I then broil it until the sauce forms a bit of a brown crust on top.
Nicholas H at 1:57PM on 09/08/08
Persimmons! I usually eat them raw (my favorite is the date-plum variety), but they're delicious preserved, made into jams, added to breads, and dried into fruit leathers too.
yogurtsoda at 1:58PM on 09/08/08
Pumpkins and butternut squash - I find them almost interchangeable. Roasted, pie, curried soup, cheescake... why do I only have to pick one method??
sarahdlr at 1:59PM on 09/08/08
pomegranates. i can't be a strict locavore while they're in season. i have one almost every day. i just pop all the seeds out into a bowl, and eat them with a spoon.
cybercita at 1:59PM on 09/08/08
Pumpkins have become my favorite fall ingredient ever since one of my best friends made me a pie with his own home grown pumpkin. I never liked pumpkin pie prior to this experience and I still don't care for canned pies. The best thing is that they do freeze well so you can have pumpkin treats outside of fall (does that still count).
We usually head to Iron Kettle Farm in Owego/Candor, NY and grab some pumpkins for Jack-o-Lanterns and for baking. We scoop out the seeds for roasting and then roast the pumpkins for immediate use or freeze for later. We make pumpkin bread, pies, cookies and cakes. We have even made a pumpkin soup.
pmagnus at 2:02PM on 09/08/08
Really a late summer vegetable as they are just arriving in our Nor Cal markets: fresh shell beans. Black eyes, crowder, purple hull et al. Stewed very simply with a sofrito of pancetta and / or prosciutto ends, mirepoix and a tomato and a light chicken or pork broth. Finish and serve with a quick salsa of chopped tomato, red onion, garlic, parsley and chives.
jdmcdonald at 2:02PM on 09/08/08
Are brussel sprouts in season? I could eat those roasted with garlic every single day.
threedogkitchen at 2:04PM on 09/08/08
persimmons, straight up!
chlamers at 2:06PM on 09/08/08
Mashed butternut squash, roasted brussels sprouts, roasted beets, and apple pie....a lot of apple pie...
einscheusal at 2:07PM on 09/08/08
Butternut squash - roasted.
kimz0519 at 2:09PM on 09/08/08
PUMPKIN. I layer it with onions, yukon golds, olive oil, nutmeg, and salt and pepper and bake it until the house smells like everything I love in the world. love love love pumpkin.
sakuraa at 2:17PM on 09/08/08
I cannot wait for NY apples! They really are the best apples you will ever find!! This year I'm planning to bake several apple pies and apple crisp and also apple butter!!
Recently my mom gave me some zucchini and squash from her garden and I just sauteed that in a cast iron skillet with a little olive oil, kosher salt and cracked pepper. YUM!!!
joelleee31 at 2:24PM on 09/08/08
It's a tie between apples and pumpkin.
MegB at 2:25PM on 09/08/08
Florida seminole pumpkin - roasted with crunchy brown edges.
sharlynn at 2:25PM on 09/08/08
Pumpkins are mine, in pie, bread, soup...
catalu at 2:26PM on 09/08/08
Chestnuts! Specifically, chestnut soup! Oven roasted and peeled from the shell and skin. Saute some leeks in butter, pour in a good homemade broth, and toss in the chesnuts. Season with salt and pepper and sherry, and cook until your happy. Whir with a stick blender until smooth, and add some cream.
So good.
MerMade07 at 2:27PM on 09/08/08
Pears. Juicy and sweet with some nice blue cheese on the side.
rebseg at 2:31PM on 09/08/08
late season heirloom tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers--a big pot of ratatouille!
sugarandspice at 2:33PM on 09/08/08
I'm going to have to say pumpkins...homemade pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. I think it's just the association with the season and the crispness in the air. And smelling all of the warm spices that go into most pumpkin recipes...yum!
amaLosAngeles at 2:34PM on 09/08/08
Butternut squash: Split in half and stuff with a mixture of barley, diced turkey breast, onions, green bell pepper, sage, and dried cranberries that has been cooked up in chicken broth. Top with crumbled feta and bake in the oven until the cheese is nicely browned. It's like Thanksgiving in your hand.
mrs_black at 2:34PM on 09/08/08
any type of squash
mrw1osi at 2:36PM on 09/08/08
Definitely pumpkins! I would make some pumpkin bread.
cochon at 2:52PM on 09/08/08
I am a huge fan of pumpkin. I like to make it into pies, muffins, breads, and use it in savoy dishes too (pasta, etc.).
rffoodie at 2:53PM on 09/08/08
I love cooking with squash. I'm on my 3rd batch of zucchini bread and can't wait to roast up some butternut squash, just dressed simply with olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and brown sugar.
arbela at 2:54PM on 09/08/08
A simple apple pie with a flaky buttery crust and some freshly scooped vanilla ice cream.
jh70095 at 2:57PM on 09/08/08
Oh I have a lot of fall favorites but probably butternut squash. I half it; scoop out the middles; fill it with brown sugar, butter, and maple syrup (real maple syrup); and then roast it in the oven. Yum! I can't wait for the cooler weather and fall foods. (A second favorite would probably be brie with cranberries, apples, and almonds.)
Megs915 at 2:58PM on 09/08/08
Apples for sure, in a crisp with a sugary, flaky crumble top and a scoop of warm ice cream.
krissyc at 3:01PM on 09/08/08
I make pies, pies, pies, oh, and tarts too.... apple, pumpkin, onion, whatever
linda at 3:02PM on 09/08/08
BUTTERNUT SQUASH! I love to make it in soup and also as a filling for raviolis! YUM!
BaguettenBrie at 3:07PM on 09/08/08
As the weather gets colder, I look forward to any chunks of beef/lamb that I can put into a stew
BostonDiner at 3:07PM on 09/08/08
roasted turnips.
also dig on some Brussels sprouts cooked any which way.
intheyearofthepig at 3:12PM on 09/08/08
id ahve to say its butternut squash. and you cant go wrong spiltting it open and roasting it with butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar now can you :D
hoff_83 at 3:12PM on 09/08/08
Butternut squash pasta with fried sage leaves and brown butter.
kdjmom3 at 3:15PM on 09/08/08
Apples for deep dish apple cinnamon pie.
LindaY at 3:17PM on 09/08/08
Shell beans show up in late summer, and if I'm lucky, last through fall. I love them all, but am particularly partial to cranberry beans and lima beans. I add them to soups alot, after cooking them in a 350 degree oven in a covered dish with water, smashed garlic and bay leaf. I also like to add them to bitter greens that have been been sauted in olive oil, or with pancetta. Sometimes I will add a poached egg.
suziq at 3:17PM on 09/08/08
Apples are magnificent and I love the lowly cabbage; stewed or fresh in a crisp slaw. Cauliflower and broccoli, are wonderous treats too but I'm going to cast my vote for the leftover gems of summer; The Green Tomato. How's it best prepared? Breaded and fried, of course, and then assembled inside a traditional BLT, ...just like it belonged!
czken at 3:19PM on 09/08/08
Apple pie! It's hard to get good local apples where I currently live so I have my mom bring some down from New England when she visits in the fall. Then I make apple pie with my dad's recipe that he's perfected over the years. Perfect crust and three or four varieties in each enormous pie. Yum!
Risha at 3:20PM on 09/08/08
It's so hard to pick! The crossover from summer to fall -- which we're just coming into in central Ohio -- is SO exciting. You get the late tomatoes, peppers, etc, but you also start seeing root vegetables and it's finally cool enough for really flavorful kale and other greens... I'm so excited just thinking about going to the market tomorrow.
Yrmencyn at 3:23PM on 09/08/08
Honeycrisp apples, sliced thin & served with room temperature brie, walnuts, and honey. (It's good baked, too, but nothing can beat the crunch of a cool Honeycrisp.)
amburke1978 at 3:24PM on 09/08/08
pumpkin and in a pie. i would love it in ice cream but i don't have an ice cream maker. poopy pants.
foodinmouth at 3:24PM on 09/08/08
Apples! In pies, crumbles, cakes, puree, baked apples, and simply stewed with sugar, raisins, and cinnamon for a breakfast compote. Also I eat large numbers of them plain, or with cheddar cheese.
PeanutButter at 3:28PM on 09/08/08
Acorn squash - roast in the oven with olive oil, salt, pepper and a little brown sugar and red chilis. DELISH
bianca34dw at 3:31PM on 09/08/08
Butternut squash, stuffed in ravioli and sauteed with browned butter and sage.
drew13000 at 3:32PM on 09/08/08
chanterelles, sauted in butter
arbeck at 3:34PM on 09/08/08
Pumpkins, in pancakes, soups, sandwiches and desserts.
practicallydone at 3:41PM on 09/08/08
My favorites are apple crumble and a stew of chicken and butternut squash with madras curry.
ScienceandtheCity at 3:43PM on 09/08/08
Apples. I particularly love them in the crisp form.
zekks at 3:47PM on 09/08/08
Winter squashes, made into soups or mixed into a risotto. Or topping a flatbread. Or simply baked with a little butter. Yum.
karen r at 3:49PM on 09/08/08
Honeycrisp apples, sliced thin & served with room temperature brie, walnuts, and honey. (It's good baked, too, but nothing can beat the crunch of a cool Honeycrisp.)
amburke1978 at 3:49PM on 09/08/08
pumpkin soup... served in a hollowed out small pumpkin!
TheDistrictDomestic at 3:50PM on 09/08/08
Butternut squash - in pie, of course!
mozart23 at 3:51PM on 09/08/08
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pie a la mode!
manali98 at 3:52PM on 09/08/08
Sweet potato & pumpkin pie, roasted butternut squash soup.
mochihead at 3:54PM on 09/08/08
Butternut Squash and Pumpkin for sure - pastas, roasted, pizzas!
italeffect at 4:00PM on 09/08/08
Pears.
simon at 4:10PM on 09/08/08
Figs! I use them to make yummy Fig Vanilla Jam or on top of a toasted baguette with fresh goat cheese.
sshirazi at 4:16PM on 09/08/08
Acorn squash with bourbon molasses and cinnamon.
bessfour at 4:17PM on 09/08/08
Butternut and acorn squash, pureed into a soup with some sunflower seeds sprinkled on top.
sarahinnewyork at 4:22PM on 09/08/08
Roasted root veggies.
Brettsy at 4:40PM on 09/08/08
Well, figs seem to be more a fall fruit around here. Our favorite is our homemade Prosciutto and Fig pizza. Bake a white pizza most of the way, then top with figs for the last few minutes. Then, drape on some top quality prosciutto. Yum.
OliverRanch at 4:48PM on 09/08/08
It's a tossup - Luscious persimmons baked into cardamom-spiced bread, served warm with a slightly sweet mascarpone spread....
Or the buttery spicy sweetness of rich pumpkin pie, made with fresh pumpkin, scratch crust and topped with homemade vanilla bean ice cream?
hmneilson at 5:09PM on 09/08/08
Pumpkins! I make pumpkin parfaits that my friends and family can not turn down. I layer pureed pumpkin folded into sweetened whipped cream with whipped cream and gingerbread cookies.
jymbrittain at 5:31PM on 09/08/08
carrots, peeled and chopped.
jenni at 5:38PM on 09/08/08
pumpkin--ravioli with brown butter and sage
lisal at 5:46PM on 09/08/08
Italian plums in a plum cake.
rockandroll at 5:51PM on 09/08/08
Squash is my favorite fall ingredient............I roast it in the oven with spices and some brown sugar.
laur_uic at 5:53PM on 09/08/08
It's a toss up between apples and tomatoes. There is nothing like fall and the holidays with apples, and nothing like the taste of a perfectly ripe tomato!
Jeana at 6:15PM on 09/08/08
Carmelized brussel sprouts with garlic.
arugulafiles at 6:41PM on 09/08/08
Apples and Bosc pears
I eat them on their own or make a compote for pancakes
Erinay77 at 6:43PM on 09/08/08
Squash made into soup
tracker at 6:47PM on 09/08/08
bosc pears - a tart with goat cheese and honey.
scaevola at 8:40PM on 09/08/08
winter squash to make my squash and kale soup with, mm!
carbonaria at 8:50PM on 09/08/08
APPLES. Cakes, pies, apple sauce. Nothing speaks fall to me more than apples.
kitchenetta at 9:29PM on 09/08/08
Acorn squash - roasted with some maple syrup, stuffed with sausage and mushrooms...
QueenHerm at 9:39PM on 09/08/08
apples, in my Dad's homemade pie
oneperfectegg at 9:51PM on 09/08/08
My co-op has zestar apples, which are one of my favorite varieties and the ultimate match for cheddar and ham.
thatgrrl at 9:57PM on 09/08/08
apples for apple crisp!
uninorth at 10:05PM on 09/08/08
persimmons, with basmati in grape leaves with cardamom
Traci7822 at 11:02PM on 09/08/08
Roasted brussels sprouts - I like The Barefoot Contessa's preparation which can be found here:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-brussels-sprouts-recipe/index.html
edinat at 11:40PM on 09/08/08
Butternut squash soup. With a dollop of creme fraiche. Yum!
Nellbie at 11:43PM on 09/08/08
Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions & parmigiano.
shandon at 11:47PM on 09/08/08
I'd say figs, but my trees' fruit ripens in August and September. So, I'm going with chestnuts.
madball911 at 11:50PM on 09/08/08
Brussel sprouts. I wouldn't eat them as a child because my father didn't like them (I admit to being a Daddy's girl). Then I had them as an adult, and never looked back. Favorite technique is to slice them in half, toss them with blood orange olive oil from Stonehouse, some rosemary, and some lavender sea salt, then cook them on a cookie sheet at 350 until crispy on the outside and tender inside. Usually mixed with potatoes and some kind of root vegetable.
Zostra at 12:53AM on 09/09/08
I prepare butternut squash mashed and baked with brown sugar and pumpkin spices as per one of the recipes for Christmas squash in Serious Eats.
SEFB9118 at 2:02AM on 09/09/08
squash squash and more squash! roast it saute it, any way I can get it. Or make it in a casserole. I never had it growing up my mom is a picky eater therefore not a very adventurous cook. So when I discovered it, I couldn't stop! Now I just figuring out all the ways to make it.
that is how most foods go for me besides the basics though!
kagey10 at 7:00AM on 09/09/08
Butternut squash - roasted and pureed into soup. And brussell sprouts, roasted with a bit of olive oil, garlic and salt, or braised with a little bacon. Mmmmm, can't wait!
capricornpig at 7:18AM on 09/09/08
apple cider. Warm, mulled with spices as nights start to get colder its the best thing ever. And occassionally with a bit of rum to keep things interesting.
pearltellszoe at 8:12AM on 09/09/08
sweet potatoes-I make pie, souffles, casserole, stews and just plain baked sweets/yams all fall and winter. They are a great source of vitamins and that sweet taste makes them a special treat in the cold, dark fall and winter!
alycep06 at 8:45AM on 09/09/08
apples, straight up or in crisps
carusoc at 8:51AM on 09/09/08
Butternut Squash that I cut in half, scoop out the seeds, drizzle with butter, and bake. Yummy, with nutmeg!
cdziuba at 8:59AM on 09/09/08
Winter squashes, especially in soups and roasted.
Annek at 9:30AM on 09/09/08
apple pancake
hedgehog at 9:41AM on 09/09/08
Apple pies, apple crepes, apple "pita" (Bosnian recipe) with phillo dough.
MajaMeza79 at 9:43AM on 09/09/08
Butternut squash in a nice pureed soup!
Cindy at 9:47AM on 09/09/08
My grandmother made the best banana squash in the world. She baked it until it was soft, then scooped out the pulp and mashed it, then dotted it with butter, a sprinkle of brown sugar, and covered with thinly sliced orange slices, then baked again---insanely comforting on a cold day!
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
5webs at 10:06AM on 09/09/08
Acorn squash. I cut it in half, bake open side down until almost done, turn over, add butter, maple syrup and some cinnamon and bake a little more til bubbly. Yum!
delilahhhhh at 10:14AM on 09/09/08
butternut squash + red thai curry soup
kylad at 10:17AM on 09/09/08
Militons ( also known as chayote). As soon as I see them in the market I begin planning Thansgiving dinner. They are delicious pickled.
NO_Pam at 10:39AM on 09/09/08
Fall brings the best apples to our area. Apple Pie, Baked Apples and Apple butter are all on my menu.
CarolHarrity at 11:04AM on 09/09/08
I love Sweet Potatoes:
Cube Sweet Potatoes and throw in a roasting pan with some chopped shallots. Pour melted butter (just to coat the potatoes & shallots) and season with salt & pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Roast unitl golden brown. YUM! :)
michelleloveslou at 11:05AM on 09/09/08
Apples! Cooked over the stove, and then mashed with potatoes and sauteed onions. If you want to go really nuts, put bacon on top - especially bacon prepared with maple. If you want to go really authentic, put weisswurst (white sausage) on top. This dish is called Himmel und Erde - Heaven and Earth.
greenstacie at 11:26AM on 09/09/08
In Santa Barbara, Fig season lasts through October. Although I always mean to try them in a recipe, I never have the self control - I've devoured them during the drive home from the Farmers Market.
marahochman at 11:45AM on 09/09/08
Pedestrian Apples:
Homemade pierogi stuffed with apples, cabbage, duck sausage and farmers' cheese, drizzled with butter, heavy cream and a few grates of nutmeg.
I like apple pie with cheddar cheese crust, too.
Boy am I coveting this book from afar!
HappyHoarfrost at 11:53AM on 09/09/08
Oven roasted beets!
Peasantwench at 12:42PM on 09/09/08
persimmons sliced on a delectable cheese plate with some honeycomb, no not the cereal.
passion4eating at 12:47PM on 09/09/08
Definitely apples, in pies, crisps, tarts, or just sliced with sharp Cheddar or spread with peanut butter!
goodlearner at 1:06PM on 09/09/08
This would be a toss up between spaghetti squash tossed with garlic butter, parmesan and, often pine nuts OR a nice butternut squash risotto with truffle oil.
They both seem to be available year round, though, so I'm not sure this is a valid entry.
beano at 1:16PM on 09/09/08
pears - poached in spiced wine
bisbee at 1:17PM on 09/09/08
honeycrisp apples, sliced thinly on wholegrain bread with sharp cheddar and turkey. yum!!!
carignane at 1:27PM on 09/09/08
Pears! Mostly just raw and whole, but they're great sliced up, tossed with lemon juice and salt, then served with toasted bread and goat cheese.
mamamia at 1:29PM on 09/09/08
apples - in a classic apple pie
mrsbao at 1:29PM on 09/09/08
Squtternut Bosh! I've been saving my harvest for lots of warm fall meals - straight up roasted, or pureed into soup.
cremarie1 at 1:31PM on 09/09/08
Cream of butternut squash soup (w Italian Sausage)
texasdeb at 1:32PM on 09/09/08
Hazelnuts, sauteed with green beans, ground hazelnuts in a spongey cake with chocolate layers
lnowlan at 1:39PM on 09/09/08
Here in Oregon I think tomatoes are going to be around through Oct this year, so I have to agree with the ratatouille idea.
For a more traditional "fall" idea, I really like pork with apples and apple cider, particularly new england apple cider.
michellelikestoeat at 1:44PM on 09/09/08
I feel like a parrot, but you really can't beat butternut squash with a bit of brown sugar
gastronomeg at 1:46PM on 09/09/08
Roasted squash, like caramelized, soft daylight to hoard and savor as the days get long and cold.
gogocroquette at 1:52PM on 09/09/08
It seems that here in western Pa., leeks are a very late summer/early fall veg. And, once they start showing up, I pick them every week from my CSA and find some way to use them, either in a frittata or just slowly braised in some butter and olive oil to serve as a bed for a grass-fed steak or pieces of roasted chicken.
But my favorite thing is to use it in various soups, particularly in the old standby, potato and leek soup. Usually top it with some snipped chives or some tarragon. THAT is fall to me.
Fillippelli the Cook at 1:53PM on 09/09/08
Pumpkin, we make pumpkin smoothies
agordon10 at 2:04PM on 09/09/08
Oh my - I am soooo waiting for Fall. Roasted root veggies (carrots, beets, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and red onions) with simply olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme.
Celery root - mashed with or without potatoes - so simple and elegant. Turnips raw or cooked, mashed or whole with just butter and salt & pepper.
Sweet potatoes cut in large chunks, tossed with a bit of olive oil, Ras el Hanout, and real maple syrup then roasted. Just the aroma drives me nuts. Butternut squash steamed with Chai teabags.
Pumpkin coconut soup with Thai red curry paste, garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds.
Prickly pears - nasty little stickers be d@mned - a prickly pear jalapeno dipping sauce is perfect with sweet potato won tons, or a beautiful prickly pear margarita!
Brussels sprouts cooked any way at all.
The lovely fresh fall apples on a cheese plate with Cabrales bleu cheese, or baked into a divine Jalapeno Apple Pie. Pears poached in Port or Riesling with Gorgonzola, pistachios, and dried cranberries
I want to put away the shorts, grab my snuggly clothes and spend my days cooking all the wonderful Fall fruits and veggies. I just can't pick one favorite.
Fanciesmom at 2:05PM on 09/09/08
Chestnuts. I'm already salivating thinking of braised pork with wine, thyme and chestnuts.
poodle at 2:09PM on 09/09/08
Butternut squash is my favorite fall ingredient becuase it is so very versatile and strikes a unique balance between being satisfyingly starchy and yet lighter, more vegetal, and more flavorful at the same time. My two favorite ways of preparing it are curried butternut squash soup, and roasted cubes of butternut tossed with some homemade sage-walnut pesto.
lorrior at 2:12PM on 09/09/08
Winter squash. I buy few pounds of whatever the farmer convinces me is the best, halve them, and roast them with a honey, butter, and chipotle glaze. Some get eaten right away. The rest get scooped out and pureed. Some of the puree ends up as ravioli filling, and the rest is thinned out for soup. But whichever way I eat it, the sweet nutty squash flavor with the smokey, spice chipotle and just a hint of honey is perfect in the fall when the air is just starting to get crisp.
bex109 at 2:32PM on 09/09/08
Apples... baked apples with cinnamon, apple pie, and apple cobbler.
fangirl at 2:57PM on 09/09/08
Pumpkin for pumpkin rolls and pumpkin bread.
toastworthy at 3:22PM on 09/09/08
I love squash - oven-roasted, lightly seasoned boats or in a yummy soup!
amwhiteh at 3:23PM on 09/09/08
Sauteed brussel sprouts with bacon and hazelnuts. Great as a side dish but also great with pasta!
Pumpkinette at 3:25PM on 09/09/08
Roasted Root Vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, onions & garlic cloves) with herbs and Balsamic - a virtual on "pot" meal
oishi at 3:29PM on 09/09/08
Pumpkin!
Pumpkin Cheesecake with a molasses cookie crust
Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream
Pumpkin Pound Cake
Pumpkin Raisin Muffins
Pumpkin Nut Bread
Did I say Pumpkin?
cruisingkitty at 3:49PM on 09/09/08
Pumpkin! I love pumpkin rolls w/cream cheese.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
gkstratos at 4:15PM on 09/09/08
hmph -- david tanis stole mine! it's parsnips, cooked exactly that way with salt, pepper, and olive oil. my british roommate introduced me to parsnips a couple of years ago (pathetically i didn't know what they were) and i was immediately hooked. jamie oliver has a parsnip and pancetta linguine dish that's delicious, but for pure fall flavor it has to be parsnips roasted right on their own.
megannesta at 4:55PM on 09/09/08
Apples, eaten out of my hand.
junipie at 5:02PM on 09/09/08
How can I choose? I adore pumpkin and will eat it all winter long, but I really do crave an apple (or more) a day. And figs! Quince! Parsnips! So ... everything?
KarynMC at 5:15PM on 09/09/08
Acorn squash... why does butternut always get all the fame?
Tactful_Cactus at 5:17PM on 09/09/08
mm definitely apple crisp
missmicker at 5:27PM on 09/09/08
I love making sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and chopped pecans, that's fall. Thank you!
Tina12312 at 5:50PM on 09/09/08
Apple cider maybe. Warmed, cold, in donuts, as a glaze for chicken.... can't go wrong. I've also mixed cider with red zinger tea with interesting results. If you pour the ingredients in correctly, you can get a neat layering effect, like a cider-tea sunrise.
shale at 5:54PM on 09/09/08
fennel. I usually roast it, but we recently tried grilling it. Oh man. brilliant.
ironstef at 6:37PM on 09/09/08
carnival squash... i roast it, mash it, and make squash griddle cakes with it. it comes out, sweet, comforting and delicious!
Joyous2003 at 6:41PM on 09/09/08
butternut squash. I can't decide if I prefer a creamy soup or a butternut squash pie. Imagine a whole meal of butternut squash in every entry! Iron Chef style!! hmmm.... we can start with the creamy soup and move onto rissotto....maybe a squash gratin, and then we will end with a pie and some butternut ice cream on the side. Maybe with a chocolate butternut milkshake to drink. so perfect.
mercuryhime at 6:54PM on 09/09/08
I just discovered Delicata squash last year and it is fantastic simply roasted and doused with butter.
ricohope at 7:02PM on 09/09/08
squash, sweet potatoes and apples
sandy89 at 7:54PM on 09/09/08
Squash, squash, squaaaaaaaash! in pretty much any shape or form, for any meal (counting dessert). I especially love simple butternut squash soup with a tad of fresh ginger.
amandafetters at 7:55PM on 09/09/08
apples, out of hand. with any left over (right) shredded and baked into sauerkraut with caraway seeds and sausages.
hbl203 at 8:09PM on 09/09/08
Pumpkin! I love it in black bean soup, pie, bread, cookies... Pretty much anything.
blgrimes at 8:11PM on 09/09/08
I love squash too, especially Kabocha. Roasted, in soup. Yum!
alixwall at 8:58PM on 09/09/08
Definitely squash. I'm a big fan of butternut squash and sausage soup with sage... mmmmm.
skeeball at 9:14PM on 09/09/08
Squash and sweet potatoes., especially roasted with salt, pepper and herbs.
I also adore apples. They are so versatile.
yankeesgal at 9:17PM on 09/09/08
Pumpkin. I always make a pumpkin bread recipe that has been in my family for 30 years. I can't wait for fall to make several batches every year. It freezes well!
drala625 at 9:28PM on 09/09/08
YUMMY! I really love butternut squash. I've always simply cut it in half lengthwise and baked in the over with butter and maple syrup!!
christinaalmond at 9:45PM on 09/09/08
roasted squash, peppers, onions
baked apples, too! and sweet potatoes, roasted, baked or mashed!
autumn!
gorzd at 9:59PM on 09/09/08
The many types of winter squash roasted
SusanP at 10:06PM on 09/09/08
Persimmons! I have a tree and love to eat them cut up with cottage cheese and pecans. Also bake persimmon pudding, cookies, bread. This year want to try bread pudding, cheesecake - the possibilities are endless!
lucylucy at 10:17PM on 09/09/08
Apples--chunky apple jam, apple galette, apple pie, apples and onions, apples and cheese...I can't wait.
Chagrined at 11:08PM on 09/09/08
Apples in an Apple Cranberry Pie a'la SimplyRecipes. :)
Josh Baugher at 11:29PM on 09/09/08
pan roasted brussels sprouts with caramelized shallots and balsamic vinegar. also, butternut squash soup, mmmm.
mightypow at 11:29PM on 09/09/08
My favorite fall produce is pumpkin for use in breads, pies and cookies.
pintolinda at 11:38PM on 09/09/08
Fried green tomatoes. Okay, I'll admit that they're available before fall, but when I was a kid, my dad refused to pick tomatoes until they were ripe. In the fall, he'd watch the weather forecasts and the thermometer, and at the very last moment before frost, we'd be out in the garden picking all the tomatoes, by the light of his car headlights.
That would be the first time we'd have green tomatoes for cooking. We'd pickle some, we'd wrap some in newspaper and store for ripening, and mom would cook some. So fried green tomatoes, to me, mean that the first frost has arrived, and it's fall for sure.
dbcurrie at 11:53PM on 09/09/08
My favorite seasonal fall ingredient is... butternut squash! Best made as the filling for tortellini, served with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and shavings of parmiggiano! Mmmm...
hungry_united at 12:41AM on 09/10/08
Unoriginal, but... Butternut squash, especially when paired with bitter greens and chestnuts. I use that combination in a frittata, a warm salad, a strudel - all sorts of things.
piccola at 1:01AM on 09/10/08
Squash-buttercup.
tcjanes at 1:46AM on 09/10/08
Pumpkin, I make a few different soups!
anyang at 6:21AM on 09/10/08
Apples - the local Honeycrisp are my favorite. I'm eating fresh and making crisps.
clc408 at 6:28AM on 09/10/08
Apples - Love to make apple oatmeal cookies.
idahomom at 8:16AM on 09/10/08
I like acorn squash, baked with butter and brown sugar or butter and salt and pepper!
susanchester at 9:14AM on 09/10/08
I love roasted figs with goat cheese and agave nectar topped with a touch of mint
gervitsd at 9:22AM on 09/10/08
Butternut Squash ravioli with a sage butter sauce
spanklin at 9:34AM on 09/10/08
I love love love apples. They're so versatile and yummy. My apple brown sugar muffins are a fall favorite, but apples are great roasted with pork loin as well.
myfirstkitchen at 10:03AM on 09/10/08
Chestnuts! I have a chestnut tree and I clean them, roast them, chop them and add in a pan with butter and sage, and serve over butternut squash ravioli. Yum!
AsTheNight at 10:38AM on 09/10/08
Apples --
On Saturdays I buy several varieties at Union Square and make a big pot of applesauce, possibly the easiest recipe in the world. Leave the skins on, core and quarter the apples, and add the spices of your choice. Simmer for a couple of hours, adding some water or apple cider, if needed, to keep the applesauce from sticking. Mash them a bit if you want a smoother consistency.
A bowl of hot applesauce is manna from heaven. Plus your house will smell wonderful.
Mitzi at 10:46AM on 09/10/08
butternut squash!! filled with Italian sausage and baked with tomato sauce! mmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!
leah4hand at 11:25AM on 09/10/08
Apples! I go apple picking with my family and then make apple pie using my great grandmother's no-fail pie crust recipe!
saraann at 11:36AM on 09/10/08
Love persimmons in salad.
vibrantfun at 11:57AM on 09/10/08
Acorn squash with butter & brown sugar-Yum!
dove1960 at 12:11PM on 09/10/08
Apples, any way.
salty at 1:26PM on 09/10/08
Pumpkin! For pies, cookies, nut bread, etc.
Sunnyvale at 1:27PM on 09/10/08
Sweet pie pumpkins are my favorite. I usually grow my own. When they are ripe I pick them, quarter and clean them, brush with oil, roast in the oven, and then puree in the blender with whatever liquid is part of the recipe. So if I was making pie I would blend the pumpkin with evaporated milk.
Alyce at 1:33PM on 09/10/08
Apples in pie, of course.
Pupster at 1:40PM on 09/10/08
Pomegranate molasses!
AaronNova at 1:49PM on 09/10/08
Matsutake mushrooms, wild collected in VT (from my secret locations), made simply: matsutake rice or miso soup. Sublime!
dikaryon at 2:08PM on 09/10/08
Apples .... Apple Butter ...... Apple Cider ..... Apple Cider jelly
And chestnuts
Lemoyne at 2:11PM on 09/10/08
pumpkin, in pumpkin bread!
tortor at 2:15PM on 09/10/08
Apples! I bake Apple pie, Apple Galette, Apple Crisp; I make and can Apple Butter & Applesauce. I love apples!
amylou61 at 2:56PM on 09/10/08
I love picking apples and squash then using them in all sorts of things. Roasting them with pork...bring it on.
rubinow at 3:26PM on 09/10/08
Cranberries! I buy enough to freeze so we can have fresh cran-orange relish all year round. I also get very excited about delicata squash (try Laurie Colwin's squash tian with chopped garlic, olive oil and parmesan) AND Beaujolais Nouveau, which is just plain good fun.
whoizzit at 4:11PM on 09/10/08
pumpkin, as in pie and all other possible baked goods, and pears, raw.
deenarae0 at 5:07PM on 09/10/08
Butternut squash....risotto...MMMMMMMM
EmilySC at 5:11PM on 09/10/08
Autumn is the time for honeycrisp apples, and the only thing you need to do to prepare them is to wash them!
DaveFaris at 5:21PM on 09/10/08
Beets in a salad with some greens and goat cheese. Save the beet leaves for soup.
jsalern at 5:40PM on 09/10/08
apple pie
leegwebb at 5:41PM on 09/10/08
Apples from my tree, sliced thin, baked on a round of puff pastry sprinkled with calvados and raw sugar. Served with a dollop of cream whipped with creme fraische.
CentralCoastContessa at 5:50PM on 09/10/08
All this talk is making me look forward to... QUINCE!
Whole roasted, then peeled, then roasted again with butter and sugar. Medieval and autumnal joy...
Pointy at 6:13PM on 09/10/08
I like pumpkin and usually will make an assortment of baked goods
sln123 at 6:15PM on 09/10/08
Persimmons! muffins, bread and pancake and juicy from the hand when I'm lucky enough to beat the birds and possums to them
Renkaye at 6:31PM on 09/10/08
acorn squash, roasted with maple syrup
chromiumman at 7:08PM on 09/10/08
apples! sauced, baked in a million different ways, sauteed and best of all, just the way they are while reading a good book!
mommamia at 8:00PM on 09/10/08
Tomatoes... In so many ways. But since everyone seems to be leaning to fall... Tomatoes. In the fall when the weather is getting colder and I have all those green tomatoes about to succumb to a killing frost, this is the recipe. Thick slices of green tomato placed in a baking dish, sprinkled with kosher salt and coarse pepper. Crumble feta cheese over the tomatoes and then drizzle with olive oil and a little lemon juice. A fresh herb like basil or marjoram or both makes it that much better.
Preheat the broiler.
Cook under the broiler for 5 minutes or so, till the cheese is melting but the tomatoes are still firm. This is a great companion for lamb, by the way.
MrMouse at 8:21PM on 09/10/08
My favorite fall food is the apple in an old apple cake recipie ive had for years. normaly im not much of an apple eater, but when the temps first hit the 50's a swich in me turns on and its apples and especially this cake I crave
Colengal at 8:41PM on 09/10/08
Apples done up in grandma's Apple Crisp---hot out of the oven and topped with a nice big scoop of cold vanilla ice cream!
raspberrypicker at 10:09PM on 09/10/08
Butternut squash - a base with cream for a soup with broccoli florets and bits of tomato. I can't wait!
tereza at 12:41AM on 09/11/08
butternut squash, for sure! i like roasting it then making soup with a hint of curry.
riceandwheat at 1:42AM on 09/11/08
Apple pie served with a slice of cheese on top.
LindaA at 3:48AM on 09/11/08
Apples...hot apple pie with a big scoop of vanilla icecream on top!
mama43 at 6:10AM on 09/11/08
Pumpkin seeds. Slow roasted over a low flame with sea salt until crunchy. Delicious.
slowdownandeat at 8:40AM on 09/11/08
Apples!! Ida Reds to be more specific! I love to make deep dish apple pie! Yum! Thanks for the chance to win!
Teresa690 at 10:05AM on 09/11/08
Roasted butternut squash is my fall favourite
nancy1 at 12:13PM on 09/11/08
Duck confit and a simplified cassoulet.
cottonmatt at 12:15PM on 09/11/08
I like spiced apple cider...I just go over to my Aunt's and drink it! I have never made it.
bfox74 at 1:26PM on 09/11/08
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. always a hit for the holidays. moist, soft and a hint of sweet with the chocolate chips.
janiceeats at 2:12PM on 09/11/08
I can't decide between pumpkins and apples! Besides the cooking possibilities (sweet and savory) both have the added experience of being able to pick-your-own, complete with hayrides and field frolicking. Almost beats the cooking and eating (but not quite). Apple hand pies are my favorite apple preparation. Pumpkin soup with toasted pumpkin seeds for the pumpkins.
cavorter at 2:32PM on 09/11/08
pumpkin.. pumpkin brownies. yummm
cdcdcd at 2:42PM on 09/11/08
pumpkin pie COVERED in whipped cream
roasted acorn squash
onepercent99 at 2:46PM on 09/11/08
Apples! and making Apple Butter of course.
TodayIsTomorrow at 2:51PM on 09/11/08
Apples.... in apple tart.
LeanGoose at 2:52PM on 09/11/08
i always crave kabocha as a soup or pie. Recently had it a restaurant where they cooked it with ground beef, soysauce, mirin and maybe some sugar. Delicious!
jumama at 3:14PM on 09/11/08
Butternut squash -- in chunks, drizzled with olive oil, and seasoned well with salt and pepper, and roasted until all carmelized on the outside and soft as silk on the inside. It's like candy this way!
Brownie at 3:50PM on 09/11/08
Acorn Squash baked with butter, honey, and cinnamon.
elysek at 5:00PM on 09/11/08
Apples. I try to prepare them as little as possible. I love them five seconds from the tree.
www.breadbabies.blogspot.com
rosasharne at 5:13PM on 09/11/08
Butternut squash, cooked with pears, fennel and sage, plus a few other spices. Its a Christine Cushing recipe and it is yummy!
ssommerville at 5:24PM on 09/11/08
butternut squash with nutmeg and brown sugar!
AlbinoRockstar at 6:36PM on 09/11/08
Fresh Corn on the Cob.
slcrose at 11:04PM on 09/11/08
kabocha pumpkin scones and anything with chestnuts
go4broke at 2:36AM on 09/12/08
roasted butternut squash
PoignantTuna at 7:33AM on 09/12/08
Butternut squash in a soup with apples, pears and caramelized onions.
chowbella at 8:46AM on 09/12/08
All squash, grilled, in soup, as a main dish.
nicnac at 8:54AM on 09/12/08
Figs. The best are to take white figs, fill with blue cheese and wrap in prosciutto, and heat thru. They are so sweet and yummy, they taste like candy. I also enjoy roasted pumpkin seeds at Halloween (brings back childhood memories).
mkboldin at 11:28AM on 09/12/08
Apples. I love to make apple crisp using oatmeal, honey and lots of cinnamon.
Mama Beckala at 1:47PM on 09/12/08
Pumpkins! Pie, bread, soup, scones, you name it.
AsthmaMom at 1:49PM on 09/12/08
Butternut squash roasted with butter and maple syrup.
sfgoo at 1:49PM on 09/12/08
Mmmm... I love fresh butternut squash. I like to roast the squash in the oven until tender and then add a little butter and maple syrup on top!
megholly at 1:52PM on 09/12/08
There is nothing better than Spiced Apple Cake with Cream Cheese frosting. I make a homemade apple sauce with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg (best apples are Macs or Cortlands, picked fresh from the orchard). That gets mixed into a spice cake batter, wish a dash of AppleJack. To smell that cooking makes me so, so happy! Then the cream cheese frosting on top is just the best!
juliebugsmama at 1:54PM on 09/12/08
Pear Tarte Tatin
izzy's mama at 2:09PM on 09/12/08
Pumpkins...served anyway.
One of my favoirtes it to make frozen raviolis and toss them with roasted pumpkin and butter. Mmmmm!
jermama at 2:24PM on 09/12/08
Oh, pears - juicy, mellow, crisp, bright... I'll eat them off the core, gladly, or sliced with aged cheese, or bake them into pies, but I like best to boil them with dark spices and rock sugar, into a sort of pear cider.
miso at 7:30PM on 09/12/08
Pumpkin - thai pumpkin soup. I make boatloads and freeze it. Yummy!
ky2here at 9:14PM on 09/12/08
roasted red kuri squash - it is unbelievably creamy, decadent and healthy
jpark107 at 11:33PM on 09/12/08
steamed tiny taro roots served during Mid Autumn Festival, along with mooncakes and tea, under lantern lights : ) or chestnuts, as kurigohan (japanese chestnut rice).
economyrice at 1:27AM on 09/13/08
Pumpkin! I love it in everything but especially pumpkin bread!
theamira at 12:14PM on 09/13/08
roasted butternut squash........add butter, sea salt and brown sugar.....it's the best!
starsmom at 12:59PM on 09/13/08
PUMPKIN i prepare it by opening the box and throwing it in the oven..hehe
just call me mrs.smith ;)
klp1965 at 5:21PM on 09/13/08
Apples and I prepare them by taking a ride to the cider mill and watching them smash them and making me some cider to take home. Its a lot of work but I don't mind.
kewpiedoll04 at 7:56PM on 09/13/08
I love pumpkin. I like to bake it into a cake that is topped with cream cheese frosting.
nesta67 at 12:45AM on 09/14/08
Without question, it's apples and I make homemade applesauce. My kids absolutely love it and can't get enough!
blueviolet at 3:57AM on 09/14/08
Pumpkins cookies with cream cheese froasting
kathy55439 at 8:39AM on 09/14/08
Anything with pumpkin or apple. We make apple and pumpkin pie, bars,etc.
wwe11 at 8:48AM on 09/14/08
butter nut squash I make a soup ouiut of it with butter and pepper
fancyfeet48 at 3:39PM on 09/14/08
Itialian-style rosted pork, aka porchetta.
gregsmom at 4:02PM on 09/14/08
Pumpkin. I make bread and a delicious pie!
yellowlabs at 4:44PM on 09/14/08
Pumpkin, as a bread or a pie!
saturdaynightfever at 5:37PM on 09/14/08
Pears are falling off my tree and I make a pear butter to store and relive fall all through the year on my toast.
pwhite98270 at 6:02PM on 09/14/08
Pumpkins in pumpkin pie of course!!
mariana at 6:20PM on 09/14/08
pears in a salad with gorgonzola cheese
tomie at 6:39PM on 09/14/08
buttercup squash out of my garden roasted with a little butter and S & P
bison61 at 6:43PM on 09/14/08
I love pumpkin! I roast them along with other autumnal vegetables and puree them into a soup.
atreau at 6:45PM on 09/14/08
Sweet Potato pie
dolls123 at 6:46PM on 09/14/08
Pumpkin. I use it in a pecan pumpkin butter recipe that's modified after the one sold by Williams Sonoma but uses less sugar.
missm at 11:35PM on 09/14/08
My favorite fall ingredient is apples. I love to make Apple Pie and Apple Crisp in the fall.
agsweeps at 11:59PM on 09/14/08
Caramel Apple Pie is a wonderful way to enjoy those fall apples! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
bndraldy at 12:38AM on 09/15/08
I like using acorn squash and apples in the fall. My favorite fall dish is meatloaf! Then I bake some acorn squash on the side and fry some apples. Yum, yum, yum!
laralin2266 at 1:10AM on 09/15/08
Pumpkin in bread, pies and cookies.
maggie0352 at 1:22AM on 09/15/08
I found a new favorite fall ingredient at the farmers market a while ago. They had the greatest eggplants there for dirt cheap so I decided to try my hand at making eggplant parmesan and it came out AWESOME!
elangomatt at 2:14AM on 09/15/08
I enjoy a sweetened chestnut puree desert dish popular in Hungary!
gabrielj1 at 3:37AM on 09/15/08
i love yams, you can do so much with them!
samanthapayntr at 3:55AM on 09/15/08
Apples...Love to make applesauce with cinnamon. garrettsambo@aol.com
garrettsambo at 8:10AM on 09/15/08
I love squash soup and am still looking for the perfect creamy recipe.
pancak at 8:36AM on 09/15/08
My favorite seasonal fall ingredient is pumpkin. I like to make ravioli with it.
lilyk at 10:30AM on 09/15/08
Apples! I love to make apple crisp with oatmeal-honey topping.
Mama Beckala at 10:59AM on 09/15/08
I love doing a variation on himmel und erde with squashes/pumpkin subbing for the potatoes.
I also roast chunks of winter squash with just a bit of oil and salt, maybe some herbs. It can be a side dish. You can mash it. I've added chunks of meat and taken it in a box for lunch. It can be part of a sandwich filling. All sorts of options. You can make it sweet as well, but I like the savory cooking method because the squash gets so sweet as it roasts.
morgancain at 11:29AM on 09/15/08
Apples, for sure. I eat them raw or bake them with sugar and cinnamon.
cowleyh at 11:41AM on 09/15/08
So many good ones listed... I adore pears with prosciutto... apple pie, tart tatin, chunky-spicy apple sauce, or fresh pressed apple cider... and what about pomegranates? Love the root vegs, like turnips and parsnips, too... those are all no-brainers for me! Chard sauteed with wild mushrooms and onions??? MMMmmmm...
But... I think I'm going to have to jump on the squash bandwagon. Whether it be pumpkin, acorn, butternut or whatever, so-called "winter squash" is just awesome! So yummy, so nutritious, so versatile... Pureed into soups, cooked with beans into hearty veg stews or casseroles, curried, roasted, whipped... season it savory, season it sweet... bake a custard or a pie or timbales... and let us not forget my famous "punkin" bread!
Squash is really one of earth's perfect foods!
LoCo at 12:00PM on 09/15/08
Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:
whoizzit
dove1960
ricohope
arbeck
yogurtsoda
Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.
Lucy Baker at 12:05PM on 09/15/08