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September Meal Plan

September is a month that feels like it’s bursting with activity. For sure, in these still-pcomplicated times, it’s not a fully “normal” September. But, schools are starting, ever more businesses are opening, the weather will be changing, and life will be moving forward, as it does, no matter what.

Pork Chops with Apples and Black Eyed Pea Salad

What to Cook in Early Fall

I am one of the folks who love fall and spring more than winter or summer. I love the in between weather, at its most appealing when the days are warm and the nights are cool. In the autumn I try to spend as much time outside as I can, soaking in the changing colors and picking as many apples as humanly possible. I feel greedy about holding on to the opportunities to take endless walks and become a bit sappy and wistful as the days get shorter (well, of course they don’t get shorter, actually. I’m not a total boob. But damn, I do love me some daylight).

Late Summer Cooking

And of course I lean hard into the bridge between summer cooking and fall cooking. I think one of the reasons I love living in a temperate area is because of the evolution of the seasonal foods and cooking styles during the year. And September just plain rocks. You can still fall head first into a pile of tomatoes, but it’s also time to start thinking about braising some lamb chops, peeling and roasting butternut squash, and making an apple crisp or two or three.

Another Apple Crisp / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

As I write this I’m on a much needed vacation in Cape Cod for a week with my husband and two sons…who are heading off to California and Spain for college shortly. I will spare you the angst and focus on the food. When we get home, I’ll have less than a week to cook up some of the fall favorites before they hit the road, and then I will continue on my never-ending cooking jag, but the seats at the table will have to be filled by hungry friends and other family members, since cooking for two is not my metier. Maybe it will be someday, but for now, I’m still in a “the more the merrier” state of mind.

What to Cook This September: You can still fall head first into a pile of tomatoes, but it’s also time to start thinking about braising some lamb chops, peeling and roasting butternut squash, and making an apple crisp or two or three.

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21 Seasonal Recipes to Make This September

Here’s what’s top of mind for September. 

Prosciutto, Asian Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Prosciutto, Asian Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini

It’s always so nice when something this delicious and pretty is so easy to pull together.

Endive Salad with Pear and Creamy Herb Dressing / Mia / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Endive Salad with Pear and Creamy Herb Dressing

A bracing salad, with a bit of sweetness from the pear – a perfect companion to a rich meal.

Grilled Pork Tacos with Salsa Ranchera

Grilled Pork Tacos with Salsa Ranchera

Juicy pork chops are sliced for soft tacos and topped with a zingy smoky salsa.

Penne alla Vodka

Penne alla Vodka

Vodka sauce has additional layer of lushness and richness thanks to the addition of cream and deepened flavor thanks to a bit of vodka.

Sauteed Shrimp with Vegetables topped with prosciutto in a skillet.

Sauteed Shrimp with Vegetables

This dish is bursting with color and flavor, and easy enough to make on a weeknight.

Chicken Marsala in a handled serving dish.

Chicken Marsala

This chicken dish, with its rich sauce, sauteed mushrooms, and bits of crispy pancetta, is just the thing on a cool evening.

Bagel Breakfast Sandwich

Breakfast Bagel Sandwich

A perfect breakfast sandwich is the ultimate way to start your day, and also will carry you through to lunch without feeling snacky.  

Chinese Chicken Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad

The colorful, classic restaurant salad is yours to make at home, savory and sweet, with lots of crunch.

Slow Cooker Fall-Apart Braised Pork with Cabbage and Apples

Slow Cooker Fall-Apart Braised Pork with Cabbage and Apples

This is delicious and it’s cheap and that’s just the facts.

Pasta with Broccoli Rabe

Pasta with Broccoli Rabe

An easy and clean but flavorful pasta dish featuring the singular pleasure of broccoli rabe.

Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

Juicy, tender dark meat seared, drizzled with garlic butter, and roasted in the oven is one of the easiest ways possible to create a simple dinner.

Apple Cider Beef Stew / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

Apple Cider Beef Stew

Apple cider makes a nice change of pace from a more classic-tomato based stew.

Pork Chops with Apples and Black Eyed Pea Salad

Pork Chops with Apples

One of the best things that could happen to a pork chop. This simple black eyed pea salad is just terrific, and you may want to make it even when you aren't cooking these pork chops.

Dutch Baby Pancake with Sauteed Apples topped with powdered sugar.

Dutch Baby Pancake with Sauteed Apples

You will not believe how ridiculously easy this beautiful puffed pancake is to make.

Another Apple Crisp / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

If you want to make people instantly happy to be walking into your house, plan to have one of these babies finishing up in the oven.

Pear Tart Tatin / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Pear Tart Tatin

This Pear Tart Tatin dessert looks fancy and difficult, but you can pull it off easily with the shortcut of premade puff pastry.

Greek Lamb Kabobs

Greek Lamb Kabobs

This marinade for this skewered lamb is jammed with classic flavors like lemon, oregano, and garlic that pair perfectly with flavorful, rich meat.

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Lemon Pepper Chicken

The classic spice blend mixed with a bit of butter, brown sugar, garlic powder and cayenne makes a great seasoning for chicken breasts.

Brown Butter Apple Streusel Muffins

Brown Butter Apple Streusel Muffins

Tender apple studded muffins are topped with crunchy, sweet topping for a perfect snack or breakfast treat.

Two Iced Pumpkin Spice Lattes in tall glasses.

Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte

Frothy and creamy and sweet and the quintessential drink of early fall. After a homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte, you'll say, "See ya later, Starbucks!"

Two glass mugs of Mulled Cider.

Mulled Cider

The smell and taste of tart-sweet apple cider mixed with cinnamon, orange, cloves and allspice simply cannot be beat.

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