Autumn Soup

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups | Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Dressing:

  • 1 butternut squash (about 4 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon oil (canola, olive, vegetable)
  • 1 onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 apples (peeled, cored, and sliced; about 2 cups)
  • 4 cups reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 4 ounces low fat cream cheese, cubed

Directions:

  1. Wash squash and pat dry with paper towel. Prick skin 6–8 times with a knife or fork. Place on a microwave safe plate and microwave for 5 minutes.
  2. Cool squash enough to touch it, then cut off top and bottom of squash. Cut off peel and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Cut squash into cubes.
  3. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium high heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes.
  4. Add squash, apples, and broth. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium low. Cover and cook for 25 minutes until squash and apples are tender.
  5. Blend soup until smooth using a blender or food processor.
  6. Return soup to saucepan and add cream cheese. Cook and stir with a whisk until cheese is smooth.

Nutrition information per serving:
210 calories, 7g total fat, 2.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 440mg sodium, 35g total carbohydrates, 6g fiber, 12g sugar, 6g protein. This recipe is courtesy of ISU Extension and Outreach’s SpendSmart. EatSmart. website. For more information, recipes, and videos, visit spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu

Baked Apples

baked apples

Serving Size: 1/2 apple | Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium tart apples (Granny Smith, Braeburn, Cortland, Jonathan, Fuji)
  • 1 teaspoon white or brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons oatmeal
  • 2 tablespoons (total) raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, chopped walnuts or other nuts
  • 6 ounces low fat vanilla yogurt

Directions:

  1. Cut apples in half lengthwise. Use spoon to remove cores and hollow out a space 1” or more deep. Arrange apple halves, cut sides up, in microwavable dish. Cut thin slices off bottoms to keep from tipping.
  2. Combine sugar, cinnamon, oatmeal, raisins, cranberries, and nuts. Fill each apple half with sugar mixture.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap. Fold back one edge 1/4” to vent steam.
  4. Microwave 3–3 1/2 minutes or until apples can be easily cut. Remove from microwave. Let sit a few minutes.
  5. Spoon yogurt over the top.

Nutrition information per serving:
110 calories, 1.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 0mg cholesterol, 20mg sodium, 25g total carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 15g sugar, 2g protein

This recipe is courtesy of ISU Extension and Outreach’s Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website. For more information, recipes, and videos, visit spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu

Fall Home Food Preservation

Apples, winter squash, and pumpkin may still be on your home food preservation to-do list.

Jar of canned vegetables
  • Always use tested recipes and procedures. Use publications from the National Center for Home Food Preservation, nchfp.uga.edu/,and ISU Extension and Outreach’s Preserve the Taste of Summer, store.extension.iastate.edu/.
  • Canning apple pie filling requires Clear-Jel. This is the only thickener that holds up to canning. It is not available in stores but you can purchase it online. Do not substitute Instant Clear-Jel or any other thickener for home-canned pie filling.
  • You can pressure-can squash and pumpkin safely if you cut them in cubes. However, you cannot safely puree squash and pumpkin. The density of the pureed squash/pumpkin can prevent adequate heat processing, even in a pressure canner.
  • There are no tested recipes for home-canned pumpkin butter. You can freeze pumpkin butter or store it in the refrigerator.

Apple Cinnamon Bread

Serving Size: 1 slice | Serves: 16

slices of apple cinnamon bread

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup all-purpose white flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 apple, unpeeled, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, stir together white sugar, applesauce, oil, and eggs until well combined.
  3. In a large bowl, stir together flours, baking powder, and the 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
  4. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients. Stir together just until combined.
  5. Gently stir in diced apple.
  6. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Spread batter evenly through the pan.
  7. In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and the 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top of the batter.
  8. Bake for 45–50 minutes until a tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Nutrition information per serving:
150 calories, 2.5 total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 25mg cholesterol, 40mg sodium, 24g total carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 12g sugar, 3g protein

Recipe is courtesy of ISU Extension and Outreach’s Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website (spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/)

Home Food Preservation: Apples and Tomatoes

The gardening and preserving season is winding down, but it is never too late to learn about safe home food preservation. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering two online food preservation classes in October.

  • Preserve the Taste of Summer: Totally Tomatoes – Learn about canning and freezing tomatoes, salsa, and other tomato products. Canning includes both water bath and pressure canning.
    – Thursday, October 8, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
    – Monday, October 12, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
  • Preserve the Taste of Summer: All About Apples – Learn about canning applesauce and apple pie filling, as well as freezing and drying apples.
    – Thursday, October 22, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
    – Wednesday, October 28, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

These fun and interactive classes will benefit both newbies and experienced home preservers. All sessions are one hour and free of charge. Register on the Preserve the Taste of Summer website (extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/preserve-taste-summer).

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