Cozy Fall Cooking Day: 3 Delicious Autumn Recipes
Fall is the perfect time to cozy up in the kitchen, and on this particular day, I had company coming over, which made it the ideal opportunity to whip up something delicious.
I wanted to serve a warm and comforting meal, so I decided to make a big pot of lasagna soup, cheesy garlic breadsticks, and a caramel apple snack tray for a fun treat during our movie night.
1. Starting with the dough for cheesy garlic breadsticks
I always start with my favorite bread dough recipe. It's versatile and has been a go-to for years.
I use it for everything—loaf bread, rolls, pizza dough, cinnamon rolls, and of course, cheesy garlic breadsticks. This dough needs about an hour and a half to rise, so I set it in my bread machine and let it do its thing.
While the dough was rising, I had time to move on to other tasks, but knowing the cheesy garlic breadsticks were coming made me excited for later.
2. A fun fall treat: caramel apple snack tray
Next, I decided to make a caramel apple snack tray for us to enjoy while watching a movie. This treat was a hit last year, and I knew it would be a big hit again. It’s a simple and customizable snack where everyone can make their own caramel apple bites.
For the toppings, I included mini chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, M&Ms, and chopped salted peanuts. My favorite combination this time was dipping the apple in caramel and adding some chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds. The sweet and salty combo was perfect!
The best part about this snack tray is its versatility. You can switch up the toppings based on your preferences, making it a fun and interactive treat for guests.
I love using a divided container for this—it keeps everything neat, and when you're done, just pop the lid on and store it in the fridge for later.
3. Tidying up the kitchen
Before diving into the soup prep, I had some downtime while waiting for the bread dough to rise, so I tidied up the kitchen. In small spaces, staying on top of the mess is essential to keep things running smoothly.
4. Prepping and baking the cheesy garlic breadsticks
Once the dough was ready, I divided it in half—one half for the cheesy garlic breadsticks and the other half to bake into a loaf of bread. After adding the cheese and seasoning to the dough, I let it rise again for about 30 minutes before baking it.
For the garlic breadsticks, I melted some butter, added garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, and then poured it over the dough. I loaded it up with cheese and cut the dough into breadsticks before the final rise.
When you pre-cut the dough, it bakes into easy pull-apart breadsticks, which are super convenient when serving.
5. Cooking the lasagna soup
Now, it was time to move on to the star of the meal: lasagna soup. If you’ve never made lasagna soup, you’re in for a treat. It has all the delicious flavors of lasagna, but it's much easier to make, especially when you're cooking in a small kitchen.
I started by cooking down some onions and carrots in a pot with avocado oil. Then, I added a combination of turkey and ground beef, seasoning it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
After draining the grease, I added two jars of spaghetti sauce and some turkey stock (though beef stock would work great too).
Next, I chopped up a few lasagna noodles and added them to the pot, along with some spinach.
The soup simmered on low until the noodles were tender. I love how much easier this is than making a traditional lasagna, especially when you're working with limited space.
6. Putting it all together
Once the lasagna soup was done, I added a topping of shredded cheese mixed with Italian seasoning and garlic powder. The cheesy garlic breadsticks were golden and bubbly, and everything smelled amazing.
It was time to sit down and enjoy this hearty fall meal, and let me tell you — it did not disappoint.
The soup was rich and flavorful, and paired with the cheesy garlic breadsticks, it was the ultimate comfort food.
The caramel apple tray was a fun and tasty way to finish the evening, with everyone enjoying their custom apple creations.
Cozy fall cooking
This fall day in the kitchen was a perfect way to celebrate the season. From the lasagna soup to the cheesy garlic breadsticks and the caramel apple snack tray, each dish brought warmth and comfort.
I hope these recipes inspire you to spend some time in your kitchen this fall, whipping up some delicious homemade treats for yourself and your loved ones.
Next, check out these 2 Quick and Easy Dry Mix Recipes for Your Pantry.
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