As the seasons change, so do our cravings. Enjoy the first fall flavors in this colorful, healthy salad.
Autumn Apple & Squash Salad
Photo Credit : Krissy O'SheaMy watch over the sugar maples has begun. At the bottom edge of the field is a stand of twiggy trees, a dozen or so thick, whose leaves always display the first few streaks of red and gold. There isn’t much color yet, but this morning I saw a few ruddy orbs hanging beneath the leaves of our old apple trees.
The garden, still producing in abundance, shows fewer signs of fall. I still fill my picking basket with lettuces, tomatoes, and beans, along with a few cold-hardy squash, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. In these fleeting weeks, when crisp mornings unfold into warm afternoons and I alternate between sweaters and rolled shirtsleeves, I can feel summer slowly releasing its grasp. Soon, it will be time for leaf peeping and apple picking in the autumn sunshine.
I’m beginning to crave fall flavors—especially apples, which are a perfect excuse to get to your local farmers’ market or pick-your-own orchard. Try seeking out tart varieties such as Cortland, Suncrisp, and Empire, which don’t brown as quickly when cut. Granny Smiths also do the job nicely.