Food and Recipes

COURTESY OF FFE

ACHANGE in season is finally here - Welcome Fall! Just the sound of the word autumn conjures up thoughts of orange pumpkins, chunky throws, comfy sweaters, falling leaves and, of course, the season’s unique scents. The comforting smells of cinnamon, baked apples, and pumpkin spice are reminders of the coziness that cooler weather brings. So whether you are an “all out fall decorator” with autumnal wreaths, colored leaves and a pumpkin in every corner or more of a “one mum on the porch” kind of seasonal celebrator, these recipes will create the scents of the season that everyone in your family will appreciate! Chilly mornings - especially on a weekend where a little sleeping in is just the ticket on an overcast day - are perfect for a delicious breakfast (or brunch!) of Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole. Prepared the day before and chilled overnight, this casserole is ready to throw in the oven once you’re up. It’s gooey on the inside and baked to a perfect crisp on the outside, plus it’s filled with mouthwatering apples and ground cinnamon, not to mention the sweet glaze drizzled on top at the end. Yummy!

From tailgate parties to an after dinner treat, who can resist Fresh Ginger Cookies. Baked until golden brown, these cookies are a showstopper for family events and celebrations alike. With the delightfully intense flavor of ginger and warm cinnamon, it’s practically autumn in a crunchy mouthful! They are simple to make, don’t take much time to bake and are unique enough to bring along to be a hit at any occasion. With ground and fresh ginger, these cookies are equally as appetizing as they are satisfying - the scent of them baking gives any home the pleasant smell of fall.

Pumpkin Spice may be the go-to flavor of the season but when it is time to cozy up with steaming mugs and crackling fires, be sure to add to welcoming home ambience with the scents of the warm season that will add to any autumn day or evening!

Find more delicious recipes for every season, visit Culinary.net.

Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole

Servings: 12

Nonstick cooking spray 1 package (20 oz.) French bread, cubed, divided 1 can (20 oz.) apple pie filling 9 eggs 1 cup half-and-half 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 cup powdered sugar, plus additional (optional) 2 tablespoons milk, plus additional (optional)

Spray 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In baking dish, add 10 ozs. cubed French bread in bottom of dish. Pour apple filling over bread. Top with remaining cubed French bread. Set aside.

In medium bowl, whisk eggs, half-and-half and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread.

Cover with aluminum foil and chill overnight. Heat oven to 325º F. Remove foil and bake 50-60 minutes. Let cool 10-15 minutes.

In small bowl, whisk powdered sugar and milk. Add additional, if needed, until pourable glaze is reached. Drizzle over casserole before serving.

Fresh Ginger Cookies

Servings: 24

2 cups flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup salted butter, softened 1 cup, plus 3 tablespoons, sugar, divided 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1/4 cup grated fresh ginger

Heat oven to 350º F. In medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

In stand mixer, beat butter, 1 cup sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Add egg and fresh ginger; beat until combined. Gradually add dry ingredients to mixer until combined.

In small bowl, add remaining sugar. Using spoon, portion out dough, roll into balls then roll in sugar. Arrange balls on baking sheet at least 1 inch apart.

Bake 14 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Transfer cookies to cooling rack and cool completely.

Healthy, Quick & Convenient!

Looking for a healthy alternative for lunch? How about a convenient, quiet spot for a small group or client meeting? Need dinner for six tomorrow night?

THE LUNCHBOX is your one-stop shop for delicious homestyle, quality lunches and catering options. Gather for breakfast, lunch, or snacks in their comfortable markets, then take home dinner ready to heat and serve.

We are celebrating 40 years serving Knoxville, and what keeps customers coming back is simple –

“The formula hasn’t changed.” We stay true to founder Karen Sproles recipes, which continue to be the heartbeat and foundation of The Lunchbox. The signature chicken salad, soups, fresh sandwiches, and ready-to-go desserts have always been a major draw. Our downtown Market Manager, Josephine, has been with The Lunchbox for too many years to count and has been making these “tried and true” recipes from scratch for more than 20 years. Rhonda, our Market Manager at The Atrium, has taken customer service to the next level, greeting customers daily with smiles and gratitude. We continue to offer homestyle, quality foods that people keep coming back, and our mission is to stay consistent in honoring The Lunchbox legacy.

Daily menu specials include our fresh made sandwiches and wraps, pimento cheese, chicken enchiladas, pumpkin muffins, chicken gumbo, Italian cream cake, box lunches with a side and dessert, and Knoxville’s favorite chicken salad.

Our Bearden location also offers Take & Bake Meals - family meals made from scratch, served fresh from your oven. Call us 24 hours in advance and Sally will have your order ready to go!!

Expect friendly, efficient service and the favorites Knoxville has loved for 40 years without sacrificing time and nutrition. Come see us at The Lunchbox!

Bearden 5005 Kingston Pike 865.249.6010 The Lunchbox

Downtown 607 Market Street 865.409.4211

Atrium Office Park 1225 Weisgarber Road 865.602.2232

UT Gardens’ Plant of the Month Okra: A True Southern Beauty

BY HOLLY JONES AND CARSON BROWN, HORTICULTURISTS WITH THE UT GARDENS, KNOXVILLE, AND UT GARDENS, JACKSON, RESPECTIVELY

DRIVE DOWN ANY local country road in late June through early September and you will probably spot a long row of tall, green branching plants with palmate leaves, creamy yellow flowers, and seed pods shaped like thick, pointy fingers, thriving in the blazing summer sunshine. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a summertime staple for many Tennessee farmers and home gardeners. Likely originating from modern day Ethiopia, this close relative of hibiscus and hollyhocks prefers hot weather, high humidity, and a relatively long growing season, which makes it a perfect fit for our summertime climate.

The seeds can be sown directly in a prepared garden bed once all danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature has reached 65º F or more. This warmseason annual can also be transplanted after starting indoors, just be sure to hold off on planting outside until the air and soil are warm enough. Lean, dry soil conditions may be tolerated once plants are established, but providing a moist, welldrained, fertile growing medium will lead to a bigger harvest. Provide 6-8 hours of direct sunlight and good air circulation to ensure healthy growth and to help prevent powdery mildew, which is a common late season affliction.

Although delicious fried, roasted, grilled, sautéed, or pickled, the tender pods are also delicious raw, with hummus or other dip, and sliced in salads. To catch the pods before they become tough, check often and harvest them young. The exact size will vary depending on the variety, but they are generally best harvested when they are between 2-4 inches long. If they have become too mature, the seeds can be cooked like peas. During harvest season, it’s best to pick every other day because allowing the pods to mature on the plant will slow production. The plants can also be cut back midsummer to between 6-12 inches and side dressed with an all-purpose, balanced fertilizer to rejuvenate them for an extended harvest through fall.

Once you have had your fill of eating okra from these high-yielding plants, allow some pods to mature and dry completely on the plant to use as an art supply for elegant and seasonal decorations or cute crafts for your kids. Imagine them as Santa Claus, an angel, a gnome, or an accent for wreaths or other creative decorations. The flowers are also attractive enough to be grown solely for their ornamental value. Varieties like the All-America Selections winner ‘Candle Fire’ can add beauty and interest to the garden with red stems that can reach to between 4-6 feet tall with abundant seed pods that are also an enticing red color. Although these cylindrical pods with smooth sides take longer than other varieties to become tough, they are best harvested at about 3-4 inches long and with a diameter of about half an inch. This year, ‘Candle Fire’ is on display at both the UT Gardens, Jackson, and the UT Gardens, Knoxville.

‘Jambalaya’ is a choice selection for the culinary garden due to disease resistance, a stocky growth habit, and tender green spineless pods. The pods begin appearing

‘Candle Fire’ okra can add beauty and interest to the garden with red stems that can reach to between 4-6 feet tall with abundant seed pods that are also an enticing red color.

Pod Angels available at www.SouthernNature.com.

Fall Wreath by Barbara H. Smith, Clemson University, www.HGIC.Clemson.edu.

a week or so earlier than other varieties at the Helping Hands Kitchen Garden at the UT Gardens, Knoxville. Compact cultivars suited for smaller spaces or raised beds are also available.

The UT Gardens includes plant collections located in Knoxville, Crossville, and Jackson. Designated as the official botanical garden for the state of Tennessee, the collections are part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. The Gardens’ mission is to foster appreciation, education, and stewardship of plants through garden displays, educational programs, and research trials. The Gardens are open during all seasons and free to the public. For more information, visit utia.tennessee.edu/ state-botanical-garden.

October in the Garden

IT IS finally starting to feel like fall, which means we can talk about fall gardening!

Here in the South, fall is a great time to do some planting. The temperatures are cooling but the soil is still warm, and the plants are going into dormancy. This means that they can put all their effort into their roots. In fact, 85% of root growth for trees and shrubs occurs in the fall and winter! This also means that some of those plants you put in this spring (that may have struggled) will get a chance to catch up.

Mother Nature also tends to give us plenty of rain the next few months, so that takes a little of the work out for you. Please note that I said “tends.” Our weather has been as erratic as a wooden rollercoaster so don’t put that hose away. October can be dry. Our hose at home doesn’t go away until we start having hard freezes in the forecast, which is usually not until November. By the way, the average first frost is October 23rd, and the average first freeze is November 8th.

Let’s go on to things that you need to do in your yard this month: ✻ Do your walk-around and see what is going on. Remember to look up, down, and all around. Check all those nooks and crannies that you don’t typically notice; in the back corners and on the sides where you seldom go. ✻ Continue adding to your list of things that you want to do in your yard. Keep in mind that a garden is a living thing, and therefore is ever-changing. Plants grow, multiply, and die. Anticipate and adapt to change, because doing battle with Mother Nature is a fight you will always lose. ✻ Is your yard boring in the fall and winter? Sometimes we put so much effort into spring and summer color that we forget about the rest of the year. It is not unusual to see yards that are full of blooms until late fall, when they become barren. Now is the time to select some plants that will give you color all year long. Shrubs, such as Camellias, give blooms in fall and winter. Evergreens with bright foliage shine like a beacon during the grey months. Other shrubs can provide color with great fall foliage or berries. We have several to select from, so come on in! ✻ Don’t forget about trees - this is the best time of the year for planting them. They provide tremendous value to your home because they give shade and beauty. Whether it is a large Maple or Oak that will cool your home in the summer or a small tree that provides blooms, no home is complete without at least one tree in the yard. ✻ Perennials can also bring color into the later months. Many have evergreen foliage and also bloom. Check out Hellebores, Heuchera and Autumn Ferns for a shady garden. In the sun, Dianthus and some of the Sedums will stick around all year. For blooms, check out the coneflowers, anemones, Chelone and Rudbeckia. These and many other perennials are blooming their little hearts out right now in appreciation for the cooler temperatures that we are having. ✻ Asters and mums are the showstoppers of the fall garden, so try to get them in the ground as soon as possible if you want them to come back next year. They need time to get their roots down before we have a freeze. ✻ If your planters are frost tolerant, you can still plant them up. Check out Pinterest, gardening blogs, magazines, etc. to find some beautiful ideas for unusual arrangements. If you have been using the same soil for more than 3 years, it is time to dump it out and start fresh. It becomes depleted over time. ✻ Pansies are your winter garden bombshells. Their cheerful little faces will bloom from now until next May. They are available in an assortment of beautiful colors, so get them in the ground. ✻ Don’t forget the birds. Migration patterns will take many species through our yards, and a nice feeder and birdbath make for a great bed and breakfast. Please keep them scrupulously clean, as a dirty feeder is a dangerous feeder, and nobody wants to bathe in dirty water!

We will continue to get beautiful plants for your yard and gifts for your home, so stop by and get something pretty. We are happy to answer any questions you might have or help you create your perfect landscape. Come in for a visit!

BY LISA GRUGIN

Meadow View Greenhouses & Garden Center

9885 Highway 11E Lenoir City, TN 37772 865.986.7229 www.meadowviewgreenhouse.com

OPEN MON-THURS 9-5, FRI & SAT 9-6, SUN 1-5 9885 Highway 11E, Lenoir City, TN 37772 www.meadowviewgreenhouse.com • 865-986-7229