Fresh and Fantastic Fall Food

fall produce recipe
Fresh, sweet Washington Bartlett pears are plentiful at Bayview Thriftway.
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By Katie Hurley

kale salad recipe
Crunchy, lemony Tuscan Kale Salad is a delicious Fall side dish.

Fall sort of snuck up on me this year. We took a late summer vacation, and after we returned I walked into Bayview Thriftway to replenish my grocery supplies. I was met with pots of mums outside the door and found the produce department loaded with gigantic Washington apples, peaches, and pears and gorgeous bunches of locally grown leafy organic greens. I was giddy when I realized my favorite food season is here!

I love Fall and all of the delicious opportunities to incorporate the seasonal produce into my family’s menus.

The produce departments at Bayview and Ralph’s Thriftway are bursting with signs of early fall… giant juicy peaches and Fuji apples from Martin Family Orchards, Washington grown Bartlett pears, leeks and gorgeous bunches different varieties of kale. While the early weeks in September were sunny and gorgeous, those warm days are soon to be few and far between. But while it is still warm, my favorite Tuscan Kale Salad is on the menu at our house. I always make extra, because it tastes even better the second day.

When the weather calls for comfort food, my favorite Bean, Kale and Chevre Soup is frequently in our dinner lineup. Start it a day ahead so the dried beans can soften. The soaking liquid from the beans forms the rich broth for this soup. Paired with a green salad, it makes a great Sunday dinner and leftovers for lunch. Both Bayview and Ralph’s have a good selection of dried beans in their bulk foods section.

fall produce recipes
Spencer is excited to show off all of the varieties of organic kale available this fall at Bayview Thriftway.

Leeks are another fall favorite of ours, and there are many ways to use them in addition to the standard Potato Leek Soup. Grain-free, dairy-free Cauliflower, Leek and Bacon Soup is thick, creamy and satisfying. Leeks are a great way to flavor quiches, soups, stews, roasted meat or vegetables, and can be sautéed and used as a pizza topping or a garnish for grilled steak or fish. Leeks are a key ingredient in my husband’s very favorite recipe, Smoked Sausage Cassoulet. Here are some other great uses for leeks.

Those big, juicy Martin Family Orchards peaches and apples I mentioned earlier are too good to pass up. The Fuji apples, thinly sliced, pair perfectly with Beecher’s Flagship cheese, or any other sharp white cheddar.

Try adding thin apple slices to a grilled sharp cheddar sandwich for a sweet crunch that contrasts nicely with the sharp, melted cheese. The peaches are almost a meal by themselves, and are so sweet they will satisfy almost any sweet tooth. Grilled Pork Chops with Peaches and Pole Beans is a great dish for those nice fall days when you still want to be outside grilling.

For all of the great Fall produce mentioned here and more of what this season has to offer, stop by locally owned Ralph’s or Bayview Thriftway.

fall produce recipe
Delicious crispy Fuji apples from Martin Family Orchards are a Fall favorite.

Bayview Thriftway

516 W. 4th Ave., Olympia

360-352-4897

 

Ralph’s Thriftway

1908 E. 4th Ave., Olympia

360-357-8011

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