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Top 10 Fall Favorites

By September 23, 2014July 30th, 201514 Comments

All right, guys, the open-toed shoes are getting packed away, the leaves are going all gold on us, and soccer season is starting to actually feel like soccer season. In other words, fall is here, which means we can justify a dive back into the archive to find some of my heartier favorites.

1. Pomegranate-Braised Pork Loin with Cabbage (pictured)
Good for: Entertaining (as long as it’s not Rosh Hashana dinner) and weeknights if you are working from home and the smell of pork wafting through the air increases your productivity the way it increases mine.

2.  Dinner: Red-Wine Braised Short Ribs
Good for: 
Rosh Hashana dinner (pair with this killer kale-apple-walnut salad, plus Ronnie’s challah and pomegranate molasses-glazed carrots) or entertaining families.

3. Roast Salmon with Brussels Sprouts and Ginger-Scallion Sauce
Good for: Fast weeknight dinner when you just. can’t. handle. another. big. clean-up.

4. Dinner: Spaghetti Carbonara
Good for:  Nights when you are thisclose to ordering take-out — it’s a five-star recipe that will save you bucks and taste better than anything you’ll order in a restaurant.

5. Dinner: Bittman’s Cornmeal-Crusted Chicken with Soy & Lime
Good for: Weeknights when you are staring at your raw chicken breasts for the hundredth time this week thinking “If only there was something new to do to these that doesn’t involve a lot of brainpower.”

6. Dinner: Butternut Squash Soup
Good for: Weeknights. Serve with a big chunk of crusty bread and topped with chopped walnuts, sour cream, and chives. (By the way, I think it’s illegal to do a fall food round-up and not include some version of this soup.)

7. Dinner: Arroz con Pollo (page 52 Dinner: A Love Story)
Good for: Friday or Saturday night family dinner, when the clock isn’t ticking. Book owners: This recipe has no photograph and is somewhat lost among its other much-regaled neighbors (it’s right next to Black Bean Burritos and Salmon Salad), but please do yourself a favor and make it soon. It’s one of my all-time favorites — the kind of meal I eat and think “Why don’t I make this once a week” — and it kills me to think it’s not getting the love it deserves.

8. Dinner: Soba Noodles with Greens and Crispy Tofu (page 186, Dinner: The Playbook)
Good for: Nights when you want substance without the meat.

9. Dinner: Minestrone
Good for: 
Sunday Dinner — I take the extra and freeze in single-serve portions to thaw as I need for late-coming soccer players, or mix into pasta for Ribollita.

10. Dinner: Cider-Braised Pork Meatballs
Good for: Putting your farmer’s market apple cider to good use.

Dinner #4, Carbonara, in all it’s artery-clogging glory.

14 Comments

  • Avatar Awads says:

    Just posted on the facebook link that I made the pork pomegranate on Sunday. Due to obligations outside the house, I seared it on the stovetop, sweated the onions and garlic, then tossed it all into the slow-cooker. Simmered the cabbage on the stove in the juices while the meat rested. Sooo good! We’ll get to eat the leftovers tonight, and I can’t wait! Thanks for the Arroz con Pollo reminder. I have the book but haven’t made that yet!

  • Millie | Add A Little says:

    Love all of these! They look so comforting on those cold fall nights we’re going to have!

  • A Life From Scratch says:

    I’m making your bolognese sauce today…! A family favorite of ours.

  • Avatar John says:

    There are so many reasons to purchase the book (books!) but IMO the best reason is to have access to the Arroz Con Pollo recipe (#7)! So delicious. Thanks DALS!

  • Jenny Jenny says:

    Very well said John!

  • Christina @ but i'm hungry says:

    I love when you do these lists… such great inspiration! Cider-braised pork meatballs? Yes, please!

  • Jan @ Family Bites says:

    That carbonara is calling my name, and the idea of cider-braised pork meatballs is brilliant!

  • Avatar Julie C says:

    That Pom pork loin is an all star in our kitchen (and on the stove top right now – smells like heaven). Love a list to cook my way through, thank you!

  • Sara says:

    This made me hungry. I love fall food.

  • Avatar sarah says:

    We made the pomegranate-braised pork loin for dinner last night and it was amazing, in true DALS fashion we deconstructed the dish, no sauce for the kids, although they did try it first! Thank you for all the wonderful meals you have added to our repertoire at home. I always tell my husband if it is a DALS recipe it is no fail!!

  • Avatar Marie says:

    Wow, the pomegranate braised pork loin really grabbed my attention! Must try soon once it gets cold. After being pretty indifferent for a long time, I am really into pomegranate seeds right now so am very intrigued. 🙂

  • Avatar Sarah says:

    I have never before e-mailed around a blog post, but just sent out the chicken with soy-lime sauce post because it was just so good and came together so quickly! Thank you!

  • Avatar Awads says:

    FINALLY made the arroz con pollo, and on a school night, no less! You are right, it deserves some love. The dish actually came together in just under an hour. My son balked at it initially b/c it was something he was unfamiliar with, had a mild tantrum over it, but eventually came around. he devoured it! Declared we should, indeed, put arroz con pollo in the rotation. thank you!

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