My Fall Food Favorites

It's Fall Y'all <-- haha, I think it is sooo funny to say that.

Anyway, with the changing of the seasons, there are always new seasonal foods to try out! Here are a few of my new favorites! I am including the recipes of a few, here! Try them out and let me know what you think!

1. Oktoberfest stew - tastes like all of the best German foods, in one dish *recipe below
2. Homemade sparkling apple cider - so deliciously delightful *recipe below
3. Pumpkin cake with cinnamon cream cheese icing - double yum
4. Apple Cider Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Icing
5. Salty Addictive Nuts - y'all you cannot stop eating these!!! And let me just note, these are not just for the fall but I just happened to try them this fall :) *recipe below
6. Pumpkin snickerdoodles - like a pumpkiny version of a chewy spice cookie
7. Chicken Pot Pie - comforting flavors without the heaviness; this one is light and full of flavor

Oktoberfest Stew

1 T olive oil

1 package of smoked sausage, sliced into bite size pieces (we used Oscar Mayer uncured turkey sausage)

1 large onion, cut in 1/2 and sliced thin

1/2 of a cabbage, cored and sliced thin

1/2 t fresh ground pepper

1/4 t caraway seeds

2 garlic cloves

1 c Oktoberfest lager

2 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed to bite size pieces

2 1/2 c hot chicken broth

1 1/2 T apple cider vinegar (use 2 T if you like more vinegar like me)

• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot; once the oil is hot, add in the sliced smoked sausage, and allow the slices to caramelize and brown in the oil, for about 4-5 minutes.
• Add in the sliced onions, stir, and allow the onions to caramelize with the sausage for another few minutes, until the onions are golden-brown and softened.
• Add in the sliced cabbage, stir to combine, and allow the cabbage to soften and take on the flavors of the sausage and onions for a few minutes.
• Add in the black pepper, ground caraway seeds and the pinch of salt, and stir to combine; next, stir in the garlic.
• When the garlic becomes aromatic, add in the cup of lager, and stir the mixture to combine; allow the beer to slightly reduce for about 3 minutes or so.
• Add in the cubed potatoes and the hot chicken stock, stir, and allow the mixture to come to the boil.
• Place a lid, slightly askew to allow just a little steam to escape, and reduce the heat to low to gently simmer the stew for about 40 minutes.
• Turn the heat off, and finish the stew by stirring in the apple cider vinegar.

Homemade Sparkling Cider Recipe

1 Liter of sparkling water per

1 can frozen apple juice/apple cider from concentrate

• Apple slices for pretty-ness (optional)
• Mix together and serve chilled or over ice in fun cups. 

Salty Addictive Nuts!

4 cups pecan halves

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 Tbsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (double of you like spicy!)

• Preheat oven to 325.
• Toss together melted butter & pecans. Spread in thin layer on jelly roll pan. Toast about 25 min, or until fragrant and toasted, stirring halfway through (I really watch them in the last few minutes, as they go from toasted to burnt very quickly.)
• Remove from oven, sprinkle with salt and cayenne, tossing to coat. Cool completely. Will keep for up to 1 week.