Friday Finds: Five Fave Fall Foods

It’s Friday, so I am linking up with Courtney at Eat, Pray, Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What and Mar at Mar on the Run for their weekly linkup. Each Friday, they host a link up — a “Friday Five.” This week’s five is “Five Favorite Fall Foods.” It’s no secret that I love fall and I love the foods that come with it.

In Chicago, we have terrific farmer’s markets and most of my fall faves can be found there! In no specific order, here are my faves:

My fave Butternut Squash and Quinoa recipe from Food 52
My fave Butternut Squash and Quinoa recipe from Food 52 (photo source: Food 52)

1. Winter Squashes (especially Butternut!) Some of my friends are snickering now. I LOVE butternut squash. I eat it so much that I should be orange. I eat it for (or as a part of) breakfast many times per week all year long, but it is best when local from the farmer’s market. I am also a fan of acorn, delicata, spaghetti and many other squashes that appear in abundance at the farmer’s market in fall. Here is a link to my fave recipe with butternut squash and quinoa from Food 52.

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Nature’s candy!

2. Root Veggies. Another farmer’s market fave – root vegetables. I love to roast parsnips, beets, radishes and turnips. I roast them up and eat them like candy. And if you know me, you know I can eat A LOT of candy.

New Pumpkin Finds!
New Pumpkin Finds!

3. Pumpkin Everything. I love pumpkin. So does everyone else – apparently there is a shortage! While I am not a Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte fan, I did used to love their Pumpkin Scone. Nutrition information be damned! I have three new Pumpkin Spice finds that I am loving this year: Peanut Butter & Co Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter, RxBar’s new Pumpkin Spice protein bar and Trader Joe’s “This Pumpkin Walks Into a Bar” Cereal Bar. (FWIW, I think TJ’s went a bit overboard with pumpkin items. No one needs Pumpkin Pie Spice Cookie Butter. No good can come of that!) Have you found any new pumpkin faves?

My "Show Us Your Soup" entry - Riboletta
My “Show Us Your Soup” entry – Riboletta

4. Soup. I know soup is not seasonal but fall is when I want to make and eat soup, chili and other warm comfort food. Here are 20 great fall soup recipes from Serious Eats. You can also make my delicious Riboletta (pictured above).

Apple picking in Indiana a few years ago.
Apple picking in Indiana a few years ago.

5. Apple Everything. We didn’t make it apple picking this year, but we can get great apples, cider and apple goodies at our farmer’s market. I love when I see crisp apples in salads and sandwiches all over the city, too!

Candy corn - original for me, please!
Candy corn – original for me, please!

First Runner Up: my true fave … candy corn! Original flavor for me please. I have been good and have not purchased any this year. I had a few “kernels” in Healdsburg (a mix of original and pumpkin spice).

What are your favorite foods of fall?

PS. Don’t forget my great giveaways and the Giveaway Round Up!