The smell of fall: homemade applesauce cooking on the stove, butternut squash baking in the oven, and roasting the seeds too!

I easily managed to have all these side-dish recipes going at once. Make sure you click on the name of each side dish for the full recipe.

Baked Butternut Squash Puree
This is a fabulous recipe because of the addition of the baked apples. It’s easy and just so tasty. This made my home smell so amazing. I was a little worried when I saw the apple bust out of its skin, but it was like instant applesauce and the skin came off so easy.

Roasted butternut squash seeds
Keep the seeds and roast them. They are a fabulously tasty & healthy snack. There is also something cool about using the entire vegetable.

Homemade AppleSauce
Did you know applesauce could taste this amazing? I feel as if I’ve had the same epiphany I had when I realized I could make my own pasta sauce with tomatoes. Why would I ever buy applesauce again when I can make it so easy with my favourite apples? I also loved using real cinnamon sticks; from the smell of them cooking with the apples to grating them. I kept the skins on the apples and after it was all cooked and done I used my hand blender to purée the applesauce till smooth, but thick.

I love how the foods we eat change with the seasons, but fall really is my favourite time of year to eat! I paired these sides with a crispy skinned chicken and maple carrots.