Written by Emily Guido, PNW Intern, Fall 2020
That cozy time of year is finally coming around. Get your oversized sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes because Fall is here!
I love everything about Fall: the colors, the weather, the clothes and especially the food! Lots of delicious veggies are in season right now like those of the cruciferous family (broccoli, cauliflower, kale), squash, sweet potato and the infamous pumpkin. For fruits there’s apples, bananas, kiwis, pears and raspberries. I’m going to share with you some recipes and treats using these seasonal foods that will make you want to relax and unwind by the fireplace in your fuzziest slippers.
Vegan Fall Recipes
Who doesn’t like a wam, cozy bowl of soup to snuggle up to when it’s chilly outside? I know I do! Check out this healthy broccoli cheese soup recipe from Brand New Vegan. This recipe is whole-food-plant-based, nut-free, soy-free and has no added fat. The base of it is actually cauliflower that’s blended with gold potatoes, carrot, onion, nutritional yeast and spices, giving it an extremely creamy texture and a cheesy taste.
If you’re craving something sweet, but still want to eat something nutritious, try a sweet potato! Okay, ’ll admit that probably sounds pretty boring...but just trust me! The key is to cook the perfect baked sweet potato that’s incredibly sweet and packed with flavor. You’ll want to scrub the outside clean and poke a couple of holes in with a fork. Then place it on a lined baking sheet and bake it in the oven at 400F for about an hour (time may vary based on the size of your sweet potato). You’ll know it’s done when it’s fork tender and the juices begin to bubble out and caramelize a bit on the baking sheet. Now you have a blank canvas for so many delicious recipes! One yummy way to use your tater is to split down the middle, line the inside with a sliced banana, drizzle almond butter and maple syrup on top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. This makes a really tasty and nutritious breakfast!
Are you hungry for something a little more comforting? Meaty without the meat? Well here’s a vegan meatloaf for you to try from Food with Feeling. It’s actually a very basic and probably familiar meatloaf recipe for a lot of people but it replaces the ground beef with a plant-based meat from the company Pure Farmland. When cooked, it’s got an extremely similar texture to an actual meatloaf! You can also substitute with your favorite raw meatless grounds if you can’t find that brand.
If you’re not into the faux meats here’s another meatloaf recipe to try. It uses brown lentils as the main protein, as well as other very simple and easy to find ingredients. This recipe is packed with fiber and several vitamins and minerals!
Vegan Fall Treats
Since everything is pumpkin spice flavor right now I need to talk about some vegan pumpkin spice treats!
Mostly everybody loves marshmallows. Especially in their hot chocolate, s’mores, and rice krispies treats. But did you know that marshmallows aren’t always vegan? Most contain gelatin which is made from ground up animal bones, hoofs and cartilage (gross!). But have no fear, there are actually several brands of vegan marshmallows, including my favorite, Dandies. Dandies are gelatin-free, gluten-free, corn syrup-free and contain no artificial flavors. They have plain ones, peppermint ones for the winter holidays and pumpkin-spice ones in the fall. Trader Joe’s also carries their own version of vegan marshmallows and many kosher brands are vegan too (always check the ingredients list). Can you picture pumpkin spice flavored rice crispy treats? My mouth is watering!
Another awesome pumpkin spice snack comes from the company Abe’s. They sell all vegan and allergen-friendly baked goods, so they make the perfect treats for kid birthday parties and school events! For the fall they have a pumpkin spice loaf and mini muffins. All of their products are incredibly moist and just the right amount of sweetness. You can also always make your own pumpkin treat, like these pumpkin cheesecake squares I’ve been eyeing over on Rabbit and Wolves.
Speaking of sweetness, have you ever thought about how much sugar is in a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks? Trust me, you don’t want to know...but I’m going to break it to you: 39g of sugar for a tall (12 fl oz). That’s more than the daily recommended amount of added sugar (25g) for the average woman according to the American Heart Association. Still want to have your latte without breaking the sugar bank? Well Califia Farms has got you covered with their almond milk based Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Brew Coffee. Per 12 fl oz, it contains 14g of added sugar, which is less than half of Starbucks’ latte. Your teeth and blood sugar will thank you.
Vegan Fall Activities (+ Another Easy Recipe!)
One of my favorite things about fall is enjoying the foliage and being outside while it’s still warm enough out to do so. Probably one of the most popular things to do in the fall is to go apple picking! It’s great to be outside with your loved ones and feel the crisp fall air while you walk through isles of gorgeous apple trees. After you’ve gathered your bushels of apples, then comes the next fun part: deciding what to do with all of them. Apple pie, hot apple cider, or apple and cranberry stuffing for your turkey-free thanksgiving day feast. Here’s a short fun breakfast recipe for Apple Pie Topping for Oatmeal and Beyond:
Ingredients
1 apple, peeled or unpeeled, chopped into small cubes
¼ tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp sweetener (I use maple syrup or coconut sugar)
½ tbsp lemon juice
Pinch of salt
½ tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
Directions:
Add everything except the cornstarch and water to a saucepan on medium heat and cook until the apples soften and release their juices. Then add the cornstarch mixture and cook until you see the liquid in the pan thicken. Now you have an easy apple pie topping that you can put on anything: oatmeal, yogurt, ice cream, or granola. You can also multiply this recipe and keep it in the fridge to have for multiple meals.
Another fall activity includes being outside but for a good cause. Do you love animals and want to support an amazing cause that helps them? Then you should visit an animal sanctuary. These differ from zoos and farms in that they house animals that are rescued from situations of abuse or neglect. If you are local to New York then you must try to visit the Catskill Animal Sanctuary where you can meet over 300 rescued farm animals. Their mission is dedicated to helping as many animals as they can and spreading awareness of animal exploitation and promoting a vegan lifestyle. You can take a guided group tour or buy a day pass so you can have free roam of the property for the whole day!
Enjoy the Fall!
We hope that you enjoy this wonderful time of year and make many vegan seasonal dinners and treats while also enjoying the outdoors. And, of course, have a great Halloween...which we’ll be writing about next!
What’s your favorite fall activity or meal?
