Fall's Favorite Things

Crunchy red leaves, fairytale pumpkin squash, big bulky scarves, Chai tea, knit blankets and of course, my Crock Pot!

Now that its gets dark so soon, I feel like my time to cook dinner has shortened.  The kids get home from school, play for an hour and then it's dark outside.  I know we have the same number of hours, but it doesn't feel that way especially since we all get tired earlier.

So I feel like the crock pot gives me extra time.  At around lunch time, I throw some ingredients into the crockpot and forget about it. (OK, so I follow a recipe - it sounds much better though when I say I just "throw in" the ingredients!) Then at dinner time, all I have to do is make a side of pasta or a veggie and set the table.   

I like to make cream based soups because I find them so much cozier and filling, but I don't like using actual cream.  Instead, I boil a whole cauliflower (minus the green part) until it's soft.  Then, drain it and throw it in the blender or food processor with a little skim milk or Earth Balance buttery spread.  I know it sounds weird, but what you get is rich cream that doesn't taste like cauliflower. 

I first got this idea from the South Beach Diet Book's mashed "potatoes" that was actually boiled and mashed cauliflower.  I add this rich cream to the soup and no one knows the difference.  I add it at the end though, right before I serve it.  I don't know why, but I feel like it might retain more nutrients if I don't let it sit in the crock pot for hours.  I know this doesn't make sense since I just boiled it to death! 

Yesterday, I made New England Clam Chowder with cauliflower instead of cream and everyone loved it - no one knew!  It tastes great and it's an easy way to slip in some extra nutrients like vitamin K and C, fiber, potassium, boran, phosphorus, and B vitamins. 

Please feel free to share some of your favorite Fall things and healthy tips.  Thanks for reading!