If you’ve been following me on Instagram for a bit, I probably don’t have to tell you that I am OBSESSED with persimmons. The obsession started in college when I bought a curious orange fruit thinking it would taste like a tomato, only to discover how delightfully wrong I was when I bit into it. Almost 10 years later, persimmons and I are still BFF, but I’ll never forget that initial honeymoon phase when I literally could NOT stop eating them. I made bi-weekly runs to the H-Mart in South Jersey to buy family sized crates of Fuyu persimmons, and returned to Philly with the crates buckled into the front seat. Yes, buckled. Safety first for my most precious cargo.
Speaking of things that you might already know: I am ALL about food that lives at the intersection of Fast and Fancy. My kitchen “style” is making things that taste complicated, but actually don’t require that much effort to make. Fun fact: the same applies to my cocktails!
We’re approaching the holidays, which means that not only is 2020 almost OVER (!!!), but it’s almost time for gift giving!
Even the smallest act of kindness has the potential to make someone’s day, and that rings especially true as we approach the weirdest holiday season in recent memory. Regardless of how we may be celebrating this year, a thoughtful gift is one of many ways we can let our loved ones know we’re thinking of them.
Here is a roundup of some of my favorite things (and wish list items!) from this year. I’ve divided them up into categories and tried to include as many small businesses as I could on this list. Remember – if you’re shopping small, shopearly! – to give small businesses the time they need to easily and effectively deliver your orders in time. All small businesses have been marked (**).
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And no, I don’t mean the holidays (they’re fine). I mean DUTCH OVEN season.
My enameled cast iron dutch oven is one of my most prized kitchen items, especially in the cold months. My reasons:
It lasts *forever.* I got mine five or six years ago and even though it looks worn in, it still functions just as well as the day I got it. And I use it A LOT.
It’s naturally non-stick, but still gets an incredible sear because of the heavy bottom.
It’s multi-purpose. I use it for soups, stews, braised meats, pastas, literally whatever. It also bakes bread beautifully.
There is nothing on this earth more convenient than a one-pot meal, and dutch ovens are one-pot meal royalty.
Nothing says “cozy” more than standing over a heavy pot, cooking up something piping hot and nourishing while your kitchen smells like heaven. Some of my favorite, most lasting food memories have been created around my dutch oven, or dutch ovens in general.
If you don’t have a dutch oven yet, I HIGHLY recommend you invest now or tell Santa (or whatever you call your aunt) to put it on your gift list, because it will be the real MVP when you’re staying at home this winter. I use a Lodge brand 6 qt., which at less than $100 (sometimes less than $75!) is an incredibly good value for its durability.
I digress. The moral of this very long introduction is… Get your hands on a dutch oven, and then make this soup.
Why? Because I’m SO on top of things. Because I intended to post this recipe as a 30 second Instagram reel, but it turns out I still don’t have the update that went out three weeks ago. *sarcastic chef’s kiss*
This Sweet and Savory Butternut Oatmeal is oatmeal’s cooler older sibling (who’s secretly also a nerd). It’s so creamy, rich, and flavorful you’d never guess how quick and easy it is to prepare. It kind of tastes like something you might find at a chic brunch spot in the West Village – except it won’t cost you $18 a bowl, it doesn’t involve leaving home, and you can make it yourself in fifteen minutes. Win/win.
This oatmeal gets its savory twist from herbs and spices like sage, thyme, and turmeric, and its sweetness from ingredients like butternut squash puree, cinnamon, and maple syrup. It’s also very customizable, and can easily be turned into the base of a savory oat bowl. If it’s not bragging for me to say this about one of my own recipes (even if it is, screw it!) – you need this recipe in your Sunday morning fall brunch lineup.
A luxurious, filling fall breakfast that only takes 15 minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
OATMEAL
1 cuprolled oats
2 cupsmilk of choice(I used oat)
1/3 cupcanned butternut squash puree
1/4 tspKosher salt
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground thyme
1/2 tsp. ground sage
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
TO SERVE
maple syrup or honey
a pinch of freshly ground black pepper
pumpkin seeds or nuts
Instructions
Combine all ingredients (except those for serving) in a saucepan over medium high heat. Stir well until evenly combined, and bring to a low boil.
Lower the heat to medium, or until the oats reach a steady simmer. Stir frequently, cooking until the oats reach the consistency you like. They will continue to congeal after cooking, so I like to take them off of the heat when they’re a little runnier than I’d like.
Add your toppings and serve!
Notes
This dish is best consumed fresh, but is still delicious reheated. To “revive” the texture, microwave for two minutes or reheat on the stovetop and then stir in a dash of milk.
Canned pumpkin or sweet potato puree may be used instead of butternut squash.
You can use a combination of milk and water. Using all water will yield a less creamy, less flavorful result.
To make this a savory oat bowl, increase the salt slightly, cut back on the syrup, and feel free to experiment with other toppings like fried eggs, sauteed onions or leafy greens, bacon, sausage, or avocado.
NOTE: As a member of The Kitchn Cabinet, I was given free products from Daiya Foods in exchange for a recipe post. All opinions and thoughts in this post/all related posts are my own, and were not influenced by the company and/or its affiliates.
Happy fall, y’all! The weather here in New York is cooling down, the trees have started to turn, and you’d better believe I have decorative gourds and cinnamon brooms ALL over the place. I don’t know a single person who doesn’t love this season, and even if I did, I wouldn’t believe them. We all know they secretly ask for pumpkin syrup at the Starbucks drive-thru. (Just own it.)
This year though, I will admit that the crisp air is bringing with it some conflicting feelings. The beautiful spring and summer weather really alleviated a lot of cabin fever during quarantine, and it’s going to be a different situation when the weather gets colder. The holidays will be different than usual too, but since food is exempt from social distancing protocol, I’m soothing my worries by developing ALL the holiday recipes and preparing my kitchen for the cold weather. (Just ask the 15 qts. of homemade stock I made yesterday.)
!!!), but it’s almost time for gift giving!
