Foodie Friday: Six Seasonal Flavors Beyond Pumpkin Spice
September 25, 2015
As the leaves begin to change color and the summer nights begin to fade, things seem to slow down as one pot meals simmer in the slow cooker and warm, rich flavors are infused into every meal.
This fall, look beyond pumpkin spice to embrace these delicious, warm seasonal flavors that can be incorporated into both savory and sweet dishes.
1. Chai
Chai, the original pumpkin spice, offers the intoxicating trifecta of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves without any artificial coloring or additives.
2. Maple Syrup
During the pioneer days, settlers would collect maple sap for making maple syrup and despite its sweetness, it can be used to add depths of flavor to root vegetables.
Fall Roasted Veggie Salad with Maple Orange Cinnamon Dressing
Apple Pie Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Syrup
3. Brown Butter
Brown butter has the perfect rich, nutty flavor for fall. And it’s incredibly versatile, with equally delectable sweet and savory uses. You can cook up a delicious brown butter sauce, or bake chewy brown butter chocolate chip cookies.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Butternut Squash Noodle in Sage Brown Butter
4. Pecans
Pecans are the nuts that epitomize the flavors of fall and few other ingredients enhance a wider range of foods. Their incredible versatility lends them to be used as a delicious crusty coating for hearty main dishes, toasted and topped on scrumptious baked goods or simply eaten out of hand.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Pecan Streusel
Sweet Potato Bread with Caramel and Aleppo-Spiced Pecans
5. Snickerdoodle
The rich cinnamon flavors are great for cozying up on those chilly days or anytime you want a tasty treat. Infuse fall flavors into your breakfast routine with a warm bowl of snickerdoodle oatmeal or with a batch of freshly baked snickerdoodle scones.
6. Caramel
Caramel has an incredible richness that instantly adds warmth to any dish. The sugar can be balanced out by ingredients such as soy sauce to make hearty dishes such as caramel chicken or can be used for sweet snacks such as crunchy caramel popcorn, which is perfect for cozying up on the couch.
