The answer even here in Phoenix is YES!  Not some huge decrease in temperature (although this morning at 6 a.m. is was a mere 75)but by the foods in the markets.

Yes, we‘re seeing apples and pears on sale!  Fresh brussel sprouts and a huge display of pumpkins are taking over the produce section.

Plus, I did receive a memo from the local “Market on the Move” telling me to expect the first of the season showing the first week of November!  Woo Hoo!

Being a summer person-I feel as if I’m trying to hold onto the season by buying way too many peaches, nectarines and berries, but that’s okay!  I’ve just sliced the stone fruits and rinsed the berries and put them into the freezer.  I know they won’t taste the same, but they’ll be great warmed up over some homemade waffles or to make some great crumbles and cobblers during the last months of the year!

This week, dh and I decided it was time to stop wincing at brussel sprouts and give them another try.  I’m not sure why we wince-after all, we like cabbage in a slaw, stir-fry and in tacos and Kale salad in various ways is part of our weekly line-up of side dishes.  In fact, I’m making some tonight and serving some grilled salmon over it.

We bought a pretty good size bag at Costco.  

Since we’d rather eat our “cooked” veggies roasted, I halved them up, tossed them with the usual S & P (I used some smoked salt), garlic and threw in some turmeric.  We actually liked them.

Other favorites during the fall?  Butternut squash roasted with pears and pureed with cinnamon, ginger and honey.  Butternut squash tossed with evoo, agave, cloves and some crushed pretzels and roasted.  Spaghetti squash served with a turkey meat sauce.  Acorn squash stuffed with a brown and wild rice filling.  I like to use some onions, bell peppers and hot sauce in it.

As for our “meatless” Monday meals?  Fall is always a time when many of us think of stews and chilis. And these dishes are very easy to adapt to a meat-free dish!

Use yams, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, rutabagas and turnips!  Toss in some of your favorite beans and let them go in your favorite sauce in the crockpot.

Root vegetables are so hearty, no one will miss any of the animal proteins.

The point is-we all need to get into our local produce departments and make a commitment to trying some fall veggies we’ve forgotten about-or never tried to begin with and enjoy!