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Crisp fallen leaves, hot apple cider, pumpkins everywhere – yep, autumn has arrived, and with it comes the warm, earthy tastes of the season. But I’m not just talking about sage stuffing or pumpkin pies. By adding complementary flavors to fall’s produce, the possibilities for creating new seasonal favorites are endless.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few tips and perfect pairings to help you get on your way to a delicious harvest season.

Fresh Fruits

• Apples are a quintessential fall ingredient for desserts and breakfasts. Why not add a savory edge and pair it with cheese? Cheddar is a perfect match for apples – try adding diced cubes to our Apple Pie with Walnut Crumb Topping.
• Did you know raspberries are a fall fruit? They’re excellent with nuts, like in this Raspberry-Almond Crumble.
• Figs aren’t just for snack bars! Cured meats like prosciutto make for a sweet and salty flavor combo. Try stuffing half a fig with goat cheese and then wrapping it with a piece of prosciutto for an elegant appetizer.
• Shake up your salad routine by adding thinly sliced crisp pear and crumbled creamy blue cheese. This Endive, Pear and Walnut Salad just needs the cheese added!
• Crostini is a tempting snack in any season. Warm things up with our Roasted Pear and American Artisan Cheese Crostini.
• Sweet grapes and earthy nuts burst with flavor when paired up. Try an appetizer of Blue Cheese and Walnut Dusted Grapes, or an entrée of Quinoa Salad with Chicken, Grapes and Almonds.

Vegetables

• It’s not too late to enjoy fresh tomatoes, and pairing them with the sharp flavor of fennel makes for a new take on sauces. Check out this simple recipe for Tilapia with Fennel and Tomato.
• Sweet potatoes are more than just a Thanksgiving side dish! Their mildly sweet flavor makes them a great addition to both sweet and savory dishes, and when paired with ginger packs a flavor punch. Add freshly grated ginger to Quinoa and Sweet Potato Cakes, or mix up your pie rotation with Coconut-Gingersnap Sweet Potato Pie.
• Mushrooms and garlic go naturally together, as mushrooms infuse with the flavor of their cooking partners. These Garlic Mushrooms in Wine Sauce are excellent on their own or as a topper for steak or pasta.
• If you like spice, grab some cauliflower the next time you’ve got curry on the brain. Cooked cauliflower is creamy and mild, and can help temper any spicy recipe. Our Creamy Curried Cauliflower Soup is the perfect thing for warming up on autumn nights.
• We can’t forget about winter squash! From acorn to butternut to kabocha, sweet winter squashes are excellent in any recipe that would typically use potato. Nutty Parmesan cheese balances the sweetness – try a few shavings on top of Classic Butternut Squash Soup or Golden Glazed Acorn Squash.

Are you inspired to try new twists on autumn flavors? How do you turn the fall harvest into something special? I’d love to hear your recipe suggestions for perfect pairings in the comments.