Fresh produce is usually of better quality and taste when in season bringing a greater variety to your diet.

Autumn vegetables such as beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and pumpkins are  delicious roasted and in wonderfully warming soups.

Beets are tremendously earthy and can be eaten fresh, cooked or roasted. Some (like the golden variety) are pretty sweet. Noteworthy beets recipes:

• Baked Rosemary Beet Chips by Minimalist Baker (featured above!)
• Beet Bourguignon by Green Kitchen Stories
• Penne Pasta in a Roasted Beet Sauce by Bev Cooks
• Warm Kale, Quinoa and Balsamic Beet Salad by The First Mess

 
Fruits like apples and  grapes, are perfect for snacking this time of year and make the most delicious desserts. During this time of year, the biggest, juiciest, most delicious apples are harvested during this time of the year. Crisp, chopped apples in salads with blue cheese and apple slices dipped into peanut or almond butter can be a great alternatives to be added to the lunch box for your kids as well.

Grapes are pretty perfect all on their own, or as a welcome, light option on cheese plates. I recently discovered the magic that is roasted grapes. Roasted grapes are sweet, jammy and delicious on goat cheese or brie crostini. Best of the Grape Recipes:

• Basic Roasted Grapes by The Vanilla Bean Blog
• Concord Grape Sorbet by Kimberley Hasselbrink
• Roasted Fall Vegetables with a Roasted Grape Sauce by Bev Cooks
• Roasted Grape and Walnut Rice Pilaf Recipe by Vintage Mixer

 

 

Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables for October

Apples Beets Blackberries Broccoli Brussels sprouts Butter lettuce Cabbage Cauliflower Chicory Collard greens

Dates Eggplant Figs Grapes Kale Melon Peaches Pears Peppers Persimmons

Plums Pomegranates Potatoes Pumpkins Raspberries Sweet potatoes Tangerines Tomatillos Tomatoes Watermelon Winter squash