Seasonal Meal Planning: Fall 2020

Photos of kids posing on the front porch with their new backpacks (and masks!) are all over my social media feeds, so even if the weather doesn't feel the slightest bit like fall, I know it's coming. Fall meal planning can be tricky! You can have schedules change quite a bit once you get into the swing of things, the weather can be anywhere from mid-90s to low-40s, and once the time change comes my cravings switch pretty fast to soups and stews and the always-favorite casseroles.

Much like I did for Summer 2020, I'll work from a number of categories for my meal planning each week to help keep things simple and avoid getting into too much of a rut. In the school months, I tend to make more simple and 30-minute dinners and I also tend to only plan about 5 meals each week. One night can be a catch all (sandwiches, leftovers, popcorn for dinner?) and the other night is reserved for a dinner out or take-away from a favorite place.

Here are the categories and recipes I'll be working from this fall (please send me any links to recipes you think we need to try!). I've added a load of links to the recipes I use, and I've tried to add notes if I tend to modify the recipe. You'll also get a sneak peak into the recipes I'm planning to post in the coming months!

Soups: Who doesn't want a big bowl of soup after a day spent raking leaves? I usually serve soup with some crusty bread, a side salad, or just some fruit and vegetable crudites.

• Chicken Chili
• Cincinnati Chili
• Pressure Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup - Recipe post in progress!
• Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup
• Winter Vegetable and White Bean Soup (Epicurious)
• Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup (Sweet Peas and Saffron)

Pressure Cooker or Slow Cooker Meals: I like these for days when we will be busy in the evenings after school and I'll need something all ready for us or that cooks up really quickly.

• Louisiana Red Beans with Rice
• Cheater Paella with Sausage or Shrimp - Recipe post in progress!
• Meatball Stroganoff - Recipe post in progress!
• Pressure Cooker Macaroni and Cheese (Pinch of Yum) - I usually sub canned evaporated milk into this recipe for the whole milk.

Stove Top Meals for Speedy Dinners: These meals come together quickly and are generally kid-approved.

• Pasta con Ceci (Dinner: A Love Story)
• Chili Mac (My Recipes)
• 4P + tofu or chicken stir fry
• Cashew Nut Mango stir fry with chicken or tofu - Recipe post in progress!
• Spanish Spiced Shrimp (Serious Eats) - This is the inspiration for the recipe I make these days. My version is done entirely on the stove top and includes a good quantity of lemon juice and zest.
• Coconut Rice with Brussels Sprouts, Eggplant, and Avocado (Love and Lemons, via Cookie and Kate) - I add eggplant to this recipe.

Low-and-Slow Stove Top Meals: Meals like this are perfect for weekend days when you can start early and savor the kitchen smells as you watch the blustery cold weather outside.

• Chicken Mole - Recipe post in progress!
• Pork and Mushroom Paprikash
• Kidney Bean Curry with Rice Pilaf (The Curious Chickpea)
• Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs with Polenta (My Recipes)
• Very Veggie Bolognese

Meal-Sized Salads: We can't eat all season long without a salad, right?

• Roasted Carrot, Garbanzo Bean, and Farro Salad with Yogurt Dressing
• Lentil and Halloumi Salad with Pomegranate and Red Pepper Dressing - Recipe post in progress!
• Harvest Cobb Salad (Damn Delicious)
• Mexican Caesar Salad - Recipe post in progress!

Sheet Pan Meals and Casserole Magic: Some of these take very little prep but yield great flavor.

• Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese (Cooking Light)
• Chicken, Garbanzo, and Tomato Bake (Epicurious) - I add more tomatoes and sometimes double the garbanzo beans and omit the chicken.
• Sausage, Sweet Potato, and Pepper Sheet Pan Meal
• Thai Peanut Chicken with Broccoli and Green Beans
• Curried Broccoli, Cheese, and Chicken Casserole - Recipe post in progress!
• Sweet Potato and Black Bean Bowls with Chicken and Citrus Herb Sauce
• Turkey Bacon Meatloaf (Joy the Baker) - I omit the mustard.
• Enchiladas (I make a few versions, but my Chiles Rellenos Enchiladas recipe post is in progress!)

Sides and Sauces: If we decide to roast or smoke something, I like to have a list of sides, vegetables, and sauces that I pull from.

• Baked Potatoes/Mashed Potatoes
• Tater Tots or French Fries
• Parsley Butter Carrot Coins
• Roast Broccoli or Carrots
• Green Beans with Butter
• Brown or White Coconut Lime Rice
• Cashew Queso (Pinch of Yum)
• Chimichurri
• Kale Pesto (Pinch of Yum)

All-Season Basics: The meals that keep the kids happy and basically require no recipe at all make it to every seasonal planning list.

• Fish Tacos or Dragon Tacos
• Hummus and Veggie Platter
• Pizza Night
• Burrito Bowls
• Bean Quesadillas

Phew! That's a lot of cooking, but I love to have this action plan ready and waiting for when inspiration is lacking. Let me know what you are excited to see and cook this coming Fall!