Freshen Up Meals with Fall Fruits and Vegetables

As the fall leaves change to yellow, orange, and brown, the choices of fruits and vegetables at the farmers' market change too.  Fall is a perfect time to visit the farmers' market with the whole family and enjoy time outdoors together.  There might even be a market you can walk to!  Check the list of farmer's markets here.  When you visit you can choose from the freshest fall fruits and vegetables, listen to live music, and visit the information booths to learn about local services and programs.


Here is what's in season in Maryland this fall:

 

Vegetables:

• Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and kale
• Sweet Potatoes, acorn and butternut squash, pumpkins
• Red and green cabbage

Fruits:

• Many varieties of apples
• Pears
• Raspberries

Try combining fall fruits and vegetables together in one recipes.  Here's one to try:

Baked Apples and Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients
5 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
4 Apples, cored and sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup margarine
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup hot water
2 tablespoons honey

Instructions:
1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2.  Boil sweet potatoes in water until they are almost tender.
3.  Grease the casserole dish with margarine.
4.  Put a layer of sweet potatoes on the bottom of the dish, kids can help too!
5.  Add a layer of apple slices.
6.  Add some sugar, salt, and tiny pieces of margarine to the apple layer.
7.  Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 to make more layers of sweet potatoes, apples, and sugar/salt.
8.  Sprink the rest of the brown sugar, margarine, and nutmeg on top.
9.  Mix the hot water and honey together and pour on top of the apples and sweet potatoes.
10.  Bake for about 30 minutes until apples are tender.



Source:  Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Program, Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network Website recipes