Welcome to Autumn

It’s official – today is the first day of fall. Of all the seasons, I think I love Autumn best. Spring is wonderful with all it’s colors. Summer is too hot, winter too cold. Autumn is just right. Colorful, warm during the day, crisp at night. It just makes me feel all cozy inside.

I’ve lived in California most of my life. But it wasn’t until we moved to Modesto that I learned to appreciate all the colors of fall that abound in the Central Valley. While we don’t hold a candle to New England, Modesto is quit stunning this time of year. We are surrounded by orchards. Walnut trees are beautiful in the fall, as the nights become cooler. Their Autumn leaves are varying shades of yellow and gold. And this is Modesto – nearly all the streets in the older sections of town are lined with Modesto Ash. Modesto Ash become as bright and beautiful in the fall as any maple tree.

In the past, Autumn meant elaborate menus to celebrate the changing of the season. We’ve celebrated with a Three Course Six Dish Autumn Supper and a Six Course Harvest Moon Extravaganza just to touch on a few. Who knows, we might just need go all out again simply because it’s fall. But honesty, these days I’d much rather serve up comfort foods that remind me of family and childhood and feeling good.

Happy Fall everyone!

Smoked Sausage and Seasoned Potato Bake
6 tablespoons Olive Oi, divided
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano, crushed
6 medium potatoes
2 (14 oz) Beef Smoked Sausages
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large rimmed baking sheet. Brush pan to coat in the oil, set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika. Crush dried oregano between fingertips, add to the seasoning. Set aside.

Scrub potatoes well. Cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes and place in a large mixing bowl. Slice the smoked sausage into 1/4-inch pieces on the bias. Add to the potatoes. Drizzle sausage-potato mixture with remaining olive oil. Toss to coat. Sprinkle seasoning over sausage-potato mixture. Toss to coat.

Spread mixture out on the prepared baking sheet. Season well to taste with salt and pepper.

Bake in heated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, turn mixture over. Return to oven and bake another 20 minutes or until sausage in browned and potatoes are tender.

Remove from oven, let cool for about 5 minutes in the pan, then serve and enjoy.

Great with a side of buttery corn.