The fall season is one of our favorites. The air is crisp, the produce is new and there's nothing like throwing on a cozy sweater as we venture out to take on a new season of activities.
Here are some fun ideas to inspire you and your family to enjoy the season to it's fullest.
1. Bake a Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin is some of the best of the season. Bake a classic pumpkin pie with a homemade crust.
2. Craft Your Own Apple Cider
If you've never made Apple Cider, add it to your fall bucket list. Make your own apple cider from freshly picked apples.
3. Make Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
The chill in the air is a perfect time to whip up a new favorite soup. Prepare a comforting and creamy butternut squash soup and let the smells bring autumn inside.
4. Gather the Kids for Caramel Apples
Caramel apples are so fun to make with the kids. Make them from scratch, or pick up easy-to-wrap caramel sheets from your local market.
5. Bake Pumpkin Scones
Making scones is easy and using fall produce is a wonderful treat. Bake up a batch of spiced pumpkin scones and you'll thank us. The smell in the kitchen is amazing!
6. Craft Your Own Custom Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is one of the easiest dishes to make. Craft homemade cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving or simply to enjoy with sandwiches for lunch. Play with flavors adding citrus rind or produce to make the recipe a family keeper.
7. Go Apple Picking
Apples are brimming at orchards and there's not much that embraces autumn like heading to a local farm to pick your own
8. Roast a Turkey
Whether you live in a place that celebrates Thanksgiving, take on the tradition and prepare a turkey with all the trimmings.
9. Go Mushroom Foraging
Mushroom picking is at it's peak this time of the year. Find a local expert and head out to the forests to find local varieties. You'll be amazed at what you can find. Bring home your bounty and make a savory mushroom risotto. Read more about mushrooms >
10. Create Your Own Special Hot Chocolate
Making your own homemade hot chocolate is very easy and an activity both adults and kids will enjoy. Blend up a concoction of your choice (throw in a few extra marshmallows - we won't judge!) and make it a family tradition.
11. Enjoy a Chai Latte
Chai is a wonderful flavor this time of year. Rather than venturing out, challenge yourself to brew your own chai latte at home.
12. Host a Chili Competition
Perhaps only to be outdone by turkey, chili is the go-to meal for the fall season. With hundreds of varieties and interesting flavors, use weekends to play around with different proteins and flavors to create a special chili recipe this year. Invite friends to bring their own chili over and have a night rating what makes each chili great.
13. Bake an Acorn Squash
With so many varieties of squash at the store, this is the season to try them all. Acorn squash is easy to make and delicious simply baked with butter and brown sugar.
14. Bake Up a Skillet of Cornbread
Cornbread is a wonderful treat any time of year, but this season is when it shines. Whip up a batch using whole corn kernels and maybe some jalapeños the day before your chili-off.
15. Make S'mores by the Campfire
Campfires are fun any time of year, but something about a campfire on a chilly night is one we live for. Bring out the graham crackers and chocolate and give everyone a stick to roast their own marshmallow.
16. Play with Brussels Sprouts
Whether you roast these little cabbages with balsamic glaze or bacon and apples, autumn is a wonderful time to work with this healthy vegetable.
17. Find a Corn Maze
Get lost in a maze made with hay and corn! This fun fall activity is a playful way to spend a Sunday.
18. Indulge in Maple Treats
In Quebec, you'll find local vendors with maple stands. Grab a stick and head over to the area with crushed ice and roll up your own Maple stick.
19. Make Pecan Pralines
There isn't much we love more than pecan pralines. This southern speciality is fabulous all year round, but the flavors feel so comforting in this time of year.
20. Visit a Winery
Wineries are lovely in fall with grapes being crushed into next seasons buzzy beverages.
21. Spice Up Some Chicken Wings
Football season is here, and there isn't a better companion than spicy Buffalo wings. The secret to the original Buffalo chicken wing recipe is easy. The sauce is made with Frank's hot sauce and butter. That's it folks! More butter is a more mild flavor.
22. Mull Wine
While arguable a more winter activity, fall is the season to get started. Make it a Sunday Funday and mull some wine with cinnamon sticks and cloves to experiment with your favorite flavors.
23. Bake Apples
One of the simplest yet so delicious desserts that grace our tables every autumn are baked apples. Filled with cinnamon and nuts and sometimes raisins, baked apples are a healthy way to enjoy an autumn dessert.
24. Learn to work with game birds
Quail shine on autumn dinner tables, especially when stuffed with fall mushrooms and roasted nuts.
25. Plant Garlic
Garlic is so easy to grow. Planting it in October gives it the whole winter to grow. It does the work over winter and come early summer you have garlic scapes to enjoy followed by fresh garlic
26. Host your own Oktoberfest
The fall is full of fun activities, and beer festivals are among the best. Throw your own Oktoberfest, or find a beer celebration and join in on the fun. Note, this is best enjoyed with a giant soft pretzel.
27. Make Beef Stew
Bring together the best of autumn ingredients in a hearty and comforting beef stew. Carrots, potatoes, and root vegetables simmering on the stove will be a perfect way to enjoy a crisp autumn day.
28. Pickle Beets
Pickled beets are a staple in our pantry. These root vegetables in season in autumn. Now is the time to pickle and can them to be enjoyed on charcuterie boards for the rest of the year.
29. Bake a Batch of Granola
Homemade granola is a wonderful treat all year long. It's quite easy to make and fall is a nice time to make your own with the wonderful ingredients available this time of the year.
30. Make a Strudel from Scratch
Traditional strudel is a wonderful treat any time of the year, but the fall flavors make it shine. Traditional strudel can be filled with anything from the favorite of apples or walnuts, but it really shines when filled with poppyseeds or even duck. Learn how to make strudel with a chef video calling you live from the country of origin.
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