by Shannon Lawrence

Created on: September 02, 2009   Last Updated: September 21, 2009

A Cornucopia of Fall Harvests

For many, autumn is a cherished time, bringing with it the change of seasons, stunningly colorful landscapes, the smell of wood smoke, and over thirty delicious fall crops. Some of the crops reaching their peak between the months of September and November include bok choy, apples, pumpkins, lettuces, cranberries, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, squashes and cabbages. Out of this fabulous array comes a collection of favorites, celebrated for their great taste, flexibility in usage, and their hardiness. These spotlighted fall crops are apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and winter squash.

While apples are enjoyed year-round, they are at their absolute best in fall. Now is an excellent time to look into pick-your-own farms, where you can personally harvest your own fresh apples. Check out www.pickyourown.org to find farms near you. What could beat the sweet, delicious crunch of a fresh apple plucked directly from the tree? Red and golden delicious apples tend to be ready sometime in September, as well as the revered honey crisp-a favorite for many! The picking season for these lasts approximately two months, depending upon when they reach harvesting stage. Apples, of course, are tasty as an easy snack with no preparation other than to wash them, but they also taste delightful in desserts, such as pies, tarts and cobblers. Apple butter and apple sauce are easy to make at home and can be frozen or jarred. What some may not realize is they are also excellent in various savory dishes, such as fall stews and cabbage recipes, not to mention fruit and green salads!

Also excellent in harvest stews are sweet potatoes; try them in a pork stew with carrots and apples. Many cooks and nutrition experts view them as the perfect food, as they are chock-full of fiber and nutrients. If you're trying to cut down on white potatoes or just want to try something different, try replacing potatoes with sweet potatoes. They can be sliced and cooked as fries, baked and served with butter, or mashed up with various tasty spices. Sweet potatoes have a long growing season, and can be found at their best during the months of November and December.

Pumpkins are available between apples and sweet potatoes, with a growing season from late September to late October. Though they are most popular as Halloween decorations and baked in pies, they make delicious pancakes, muffins and quick breads. Countless holiday pumpkin bread and cake recipes can be found, but pumpkin

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