Letter from the Editor

An October Letter from the Editor: Must-Make Warm & Cozy Fall Recipes

published Oct 5, 2021
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Credit: Bijou Karman

Happy October! I’m so relieved that fall is here; the past summer felt especially long and steamy, and I’m enjoying the outdoors so much more now that the air has crisped up. But my fall so far also feels extra-busy, with kids in school, full days at work, and the heightened mental energy required to navigate this still-continuing pandemic. So the plan for fall? Enjoy it, but keep it easy. This month at Kitchn we’re getting real about the fall rush, and leaning into the easiest fall recipes and cooking ideas. 

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When I want to hit the easy button in fall, here’s what I cook. 

  • Make-ahead chicken and bacon ragu: This saucy chicken is somehow more than the sum of its parts: chicken, bacon, and fennel. It has a rich depth of flavor that is exactly what I want in fall, and is so good served on pasta or over roasted veggies. 
  • Rosemary and lemon chicken minestrone: Praise be; it’s soup season! This simple chicken and pasta soup is brightened up with rosemary and lemon. A great make-ahead lunch. 
  • The apple cookie that can be breakfast or after-school snack: I love these oatmeal-apple-Gouda cookies that have a hit of protein and are so satisfying; they make a great breakfast and an excellent snack. 
  • Sheet pan caprese gnocchi: I’ve been making sheet pan gnocchi at least once a week lately; I love just throwing gnocchi into the oven until it’s crispy on the outside and chewy inside. 
  • Stir-fried chicken and cashews: When I’m in a cooking slump I often return to Grace Young’s simple and precise recipes. They take the guesswork out of cooking absolutely delicious stir-fries, like this chicken and cashew number. 

I’d love to hear about the easy-button recipes you rely on in the fall; do write back and tell me. 

And tune in all this month for recipes that hit the sweet spot of comfort and ease. I’m looking forward to Jesse’s Cookie Club recipe for October (it’s inspired by classic coffee cake) as well as to our guide to the ultimate fall comfort food: hot pot! (What’s your favorite hot pot ingredient? For me it’s a toss-up between pea sprouts and cuttlefish balls.) Our Best List equipment testing will cover some necessary fall equipment, like slow cookers and immersion blenders. Other recipes I can hardly wait for this month include Instant Pot congee, apple cider doughnut blondies, and jerk chicken rice bowls.

Credit: Rachel Barehl

Happy fall, and happy (easy) cooking!

Faith
Editor-in-Chief

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