Hyperfocus of the Week: Fall Food

It’s the most glorious food season of the year! 

I love soup. The apples are ripening. Friends are handing me bags of plums. When it hits 55 degrees on the regular, I am ready to add cardamom to everything. 

As I am knee deep in Safety Fair preparation and kicking off 4H, this week I am offering you some recipes instead of coherent word blobs.

Sally’s Chili:

Meat of some sort, browned in animal fat

Green peppers, diced

Onion, diced

Sauté together as much as you like, but not until wilted.

A can or two of tomatoes, diced or bulky with juices

Beans of some sort (currently I use the bulk chili bean mix from Sunny Farms): if canned, rinse and drain, if dry, soak overnight, rinse and drain.

Dump over the meat and veg then cover with water enough and add Better than bullion beef to taste (usually a couple dollops)

Spices are up to you, but I generally go with a couple of packets of packaged chili seasoning then add more cumin and whatever red chili paste I have on hand as well as salt and more bullion as needed. 

Cook until done, adding more water and spices as needed. 

A pound of meat, and beans, and one of everything else will make a nice pot with leftovers. 

One of John’s favorite things is my Apfel Kuchen (a less sweet European apple cake)

Four medium apples peeled and diced (off the tree is best, but anything crisp and flavorful) toss with lemon juice and set aside

Whisk 2 eggs and 110 g of sugar of your choice, then add 60 g of dairy free butter or coconut oil.

In a separate bowl sift together 200 g of GF flour mix (I like Bob’s Red Mill 1:1), 7 g baking powder then add to the wet mix. Add in 80 g of water. Don’t over mix.

Fold in apples and dump into well greased and lined pan (I like to grease with tallow or lard as it releases beautifully). Bake at 350 until done, usually around 35-50 minutes depending on your pan size and if you double the recipe. 

Feel free to add a streusel topping if you like, though in our house I wait until the cake has cooled and shake on a dusting of powdered sugar. 

I hope you all enjoy the beginnings of fall! gutes Essen!