A change in the seasons means making changes to the menu. Hot weather days are out (generally) and cool days are back in style. Our tastebuds yearn for comfort food and flavors full of autumn spices. These three recipes are easy to make at the campsite after completing your fall hikes (speaking of which, here are some ideas).

 

Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Courtesy of Fresh Off the Grid

This hearty soup is a whole meal, complete with plenty of vegetables, pasta, and meat. Picking up fresh tortellini saves on cooking time as well as adds better taste. It’s an easy one-pot meal you can cook anywhere – and it’ll definitely warm you up on cool autumn evenings. Just add some crusty bread or biscuits so that you can soak up every drop.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 2 hot or mild Italian sausages (can use sweet to take down the heat)
  • 1 onion, yellow or brown, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 cup kale, (about 6 whole leaves), stems removed and chopped small
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1 pound fresh tortellini
  • 4 cups broth
  • Parmesan cheese to serve

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Crumble in the sausage and add the onions and garlic. Sauté until the sausage begins to brown and the onions are soft and beginning to take on some color. Add the kale until it wilts, then add the spices and stir. Add the tortellini and broth.
  2. Bring to a brisk simmer and cook until the tortellini is al dente (check the package instructions for estimated time).
  3. Remove from the heat and divide among bowls. Top with parmesan cheese and an extra drizzle of olive oil.

 

Spooky Halloween Snack Board

Courtesy of Your Home Made Healthy

From the article: “This Halloween snack board is quick and easy to throw together for last minute entertaining! Just take a bunch of sweet and salty, crunchy and creamy, fresh and store-bought, and big and small snacks for the best mix of textures and flavors, arrange them on a board, and in minutes you’ll have a cute idea worth serving to a hungry crowd. This spooky board can be as healthy or indulgent as you’d like. It’s the best balance for a fun Halloween snack or appetizer.”

Ingredients (this is a sample based on a black and orange scheme, but you can customize to fit your family’s preferences)

  • Nacho cheese tortilla chips
  • Blue corn tortilla chips
  • Oranges or clementines
  • Dark or milk chocolate pretzels
  • Dark or milk chocolate almonds
  • Caramels
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
  • Black or green grapes
  • Orange bell peppers
  • Baby carrots

Instructions

  1. Choose a board, platter, or tray that is large enough to hold all the snacks you want to add. Keep in mind the number of people you are serving and the size of the snacks.
  2. Arrange the snacks on the board. If using small bowls to hold smaller items, place those down first. Once the bowls are added, arrange larger items on the board and work your way down to adding the smallest items last. Fill the bowls with any small items that might get lost on the board.
  3. Try to fill the board as much as possible. An over-crowded board will look better than one with lots of empty space. Also, try to alternate colors and add the same snacks to different sides of the board so there is more of a flow between all the different options.
  4. If adding chips and vegetables to the board, serve with dips, cheeses, or homemade hummus.

 

Spider Donuts

Courtesy of Hunny I’m Home DIY

If you’re looking for something that’s cute and fun and a celebration of Spooky Season, look no further than these easy-to-assemble spider donuts. The recipe calls for melted chocolate chips to help place the eyes, but a drop of chocolate frosting might do the trick as well. This is the perfect crowd-pleaser to bring to a potluck or as a special treat for the kids as you sit around a campfire.

Ingredients

  • Chocolate covered mini donuts
  • Pretzels
  • Candy eyes
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips, melted

Instructions

  1. Break the pretzels apart to make the spider legs. You’ll need 8 pretzel pieces for each spider donut you plan to make.
  2. Attach four legs on each side of the donut.
  3. Pour the melted chocolate into a piping bag and cut the tip off the bag. Pipe two dots of melted chocolate on the top of the donut. Press two candy eyes into the melted chocolate.
  4. Allow the melted chocolate to harden before serving.