Fall is the time when we are back in the kitchen preparing the long-simmered stews and sauces. There is a nip in the air, and the relatively cold season brings a whole lot of seasonal goodies to cook and relish with your family.

Here are few recipes for the fall season:

Squash Gratin
An easy recipe to serve 8 people that only requires an hour to prepare.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 medium chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cut into half-inch cubes
• 1 small kabocha squash, peeled and cut into half-inch cubes
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup cream
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup grated gruyere cheese

Instructions to cook:
Cook onion and thyme in butter, till the butter softens. Cook the two squashes till they soften. Then add garlic, mace, salt, and pepper, and put this in the onion you prepared earlier. In a separate pot, add broth and cook for few minutes. Stir heavy cream and cook till it thickens. Toss remaining butter, breadcrumbs, parmesan, and parsley, add salt and pepper to taste. Pour this over the squash and top it up with gruyere. Bake till golden, for about 30 minutes.

Ree’s Green Beans and Tomatoes
An easy recipe for 10 servings.
Ingredients:

• 8 slices bacon cut into 1-inch piece
• 1 large chopped onion
• 2 pounds of fresh green trimmed beans
• Three whole tomatoes made into juice
• Salt and black pepper
• Cayenne pepper

Instructions to cook
In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon until it turns light golden. Drain the excess fat, add onions, and cook until it is golden brown. Transfer this into a put.  Add green beans and tomatoes into the pot and season it with salt and pepper. Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour.

Black Bean and Corn Salad
An easy nutritional salad for 4 servings.
Ingredients:

• 14 ounces of black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups of corn kernels
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• ½ red onion chopped
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions to cook:

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Let it stand for 15 minutes Toss and serve.

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
A Fall recipe for 8 servings.
Ingredients:

• 3 pound ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
• ¼ cup good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups yellow onion, chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 can plum tomato with juice
• 4 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1-quart chicken stock or water

Instructions to cook:
Toss tomatoes, half of olive oil, butter, salt and pepper and roast it for 45 minutes. In a stockpot over medium heat sauté olive oil, onion, garlic, then add red pepper flakes to it. Once the onion browns add canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, chicken stock, and the oven roasted tomatoes and boil it. Pass through a mill fitted with a coarse blade and serve.

Red Potato Salad
An easy recipe for 6 servings.
Ingredients:

• 2 pounds small red potato, scrubbed but not peeled
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 4 cups cold water
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 4 parsley stems
• 6 black peppercorns
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme

For Dressing:

• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• ¼ to 1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley or fresh mixed herbs
• 1/3 cup minced shallots or red onion
• Freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions to cook:
In a pot, add the potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, water, and wine. Tie parsley stems, peppercorns, and thyme in a cheesecloth and add it to the pot. Boil and then let it simmer. Cook for 12 minutes till potatoes are soft. For the dressing, whisk vinegar, parsley, shallots, salt, pepper, and gradually put oil in it. Toss potatoes in the dressing several times so that they are covered with the dressing. Let them sit for 1-hour. Serve at room temperature.