autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower

It’s the middle of fall, Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks, we’d like to make a start on Christmas shopping, and most of us are trapped in one sort of a lockdown or other.  But there is nothing to stop you going grocery shopping, and then honing your chef skills.

These recipes have a kind of mid-autumn, pre Thanksgiving flavour.  In one case I would strongly recommend serving a decent sherry or Madeira to go along with the cake.  In fact, why not treat yourself to a decent glass of something any way.  You deserve it, and you probably won’t be driving to work today.

(BTW for new readers, and if you just don’t know, if you click on the highlighted recipe name you will go right to that dish on the chef’s own website.)

First up this week, from Half Baked harvest we have this delicious looking 4 Cheese Sage Pesto Florentine Lasagna.  How great would this be to make ahead for your Thanksgiving parties?  (NB.  Women should be very careful of too much sage.)

4 Cheese Sage Pesto Florentine Lasagna

Another pasta dish from Diane at In Dianes Kitchen; a very warming Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole.  (Noodles are pasta too.)  This is a very easy dish, even most of my fellow single men could make, (and most single men cannot cook).

Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Now a really pretty midweek dinner from Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower; Honey Garlic Shrimp Farro Bowl with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette.  And how fabulous to serve this if you have friends over for a pre or post Thanksgiving lunch.

Honey Garlic Shrimp Farro Bowl with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Tiffany from Creme de la Crumb has a very seasonal dish in this Candied Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole, (with marshmallows).  Being English I’m not quite certain if this is an entree or a dessert.  No doubt someone will enlighten me.

Candied Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole

Joy Wilson at Joy the Baker has come up with what has to be the longest recipe name ever, (and that’s saying something here), Dad’s Perfect Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar-Free Sweet Potato Pie.  You have got to make this just so you can tell your guests what it’s called.

Dad’s Perfect Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar-Free Sweet Potato Pie

And finally for this week.  As you would expect from Heather Christo we have an extremely pretty dish, this time a Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake, which is both vegan and gluten free.  How brilliant for afternoon tea around thanksgiving, although I’d serve this with sherry and not tea.

Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake

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jack collier

jackcollier7@talktalk.net

if you have never tried a good Maderia wine, then you have no idea the heaven you’re missing out on