Tag: Fall

How to Experience the Best of Woodstock, Vermont in Autumn

Nestled in the heart of the Green Mountains, the town of Woodstock, Vermont is a quintessential New England destination that truly shines in the autumn months. Just thirty minutes west of Lebanon, New Hampshire, Woodstock is celebrated for its vibrant fall foliage, crisp mountain air, and charming village atmosphere. According to this travel blog from Travel + Leisure, Vermont ranks as one of the most sought-after destinations in the United States for autumn scenery, making Woodstock an ideal place to experience the beauty of the season firsthand.

While Woodstock offers year-round activities—from skiing in the winter to swimming in the summer—fall remains the most magical season to explore the town. Visitors planning a trip between October and December will find Woodstock brimming with seasonal festivals and traditions. Notable events include the Apples and Crafts and Food Truck Festival, which brings together over 100 vendors showcasing local produce, handmade goods, and flavorful dishes. December ushers in the beloved Wassail Weekend, when historic homes glow with twinkling lights, horse-drawn wagons parade through the village, and the sounds of holiday music fill the crisp air.

Woodstock has become a vibrant culinary hub with both new and established eateries offering seasonal menus and locally sourced ingredients. One of the newest additions is Oakes & Evelyn, located inside The Jackson hotel. This bright and modern space features hearty breakfasts and inspired dinners, highlighted by unique dishes such as bao buns filled with locally grown mushrooms.

For a more casual yet equally delightful stop, the Woodstock Farmers’ Market along Route 4 offers fresh produce, prepared meals, and a pastry case famous for its pumpkin cheesecakes. Coffee enthusiasts will enjoy Dreamscape Coffee, where creative drinks like the Pumpkin King latte or the pecan pie-inspired Harvestide pair perfectly with maple cinnamon pastries. Those in search of vibrant, flavorful meals can head to Ranch Camp, a new burrito and taco spot that doubles as a bike shop, offering gluten-free and vegan-friendly options alongside heartier meat-based dishes.

Another Woodstock staple is Mon Vert Café, a beloved local favorite known for its commitment to fresh, regional ingredients. Whether savoring the Coffeehouse Brisket sandwich or enjoying a lox-and-bagel creation, visitors will find the wait well worth the experience.

Fall in Woodstock is synonymous with vibrant landscapes and refreshing hikes. A climb up Mount Tom offers panoramic views of the village, surrounded by fiery red, orange, and golden foliage. The mountain is also home to a shining star installation, originally placed in 1942 to welcome soldiers returning from World War II, which still lights up the night sky between November and April.

Just outside the village, Kelly Way Gardens offers the perfect farm-to-table experience through their Red Barn Dinners. Here, guests enjoy meals created with produce grown on-site, highlighting both the agricultural heritage and culinary creativity of the region. For those who love to combine history with outdoor experiences, the Billings Farm and Museum provides an opportunity to learn about Vermont’s farming traditions. Seasonal celebrations, such as the Harvest Festival, include cider pressing, dancing in autumn leaves, and pumpkin bowling, making it an interactive way to appreciate the season.

No trip to Woodstock would be complete without a visit to Sugar Bush Farm. Celebrating 80 years of operation, this 550-acre property showcases the time-honored craft of maple syrup production alongside award-winning Vermont cheddar. Beyond sampling cheeses and syrups, visitors can explore rolling hills, greet farm animals, and even discover a quaint one-room chapel tucked into the woods.

Woodstock embodies the charm and hospitality of Vermont’s countryside, with each street and hillside offering something memorable. From seasonal festivals and historic landmarks to innovative dining and breathtaking natural scenery, the town captures the essence of fall in New England. Whether wandering through village streets, hiking wooded trails, or savoring locally inspired cuisine, Woodstock is a destination that promises both relaxation and inspiration.

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A Fall Favorite: Apple Crisp with Cane Syrup

As the cool breeze of autumn settles in, there’s nothing quite like the smell of a warm apple crisp wafting through the kitchen to bring comfort and coziness to your home. Apple crisp, with its mix of tart apples, crunchy pecans, and a perfectly spiced crumb topping, is a classic dessert that embodies all the flavors of fall. This recipe takes it a step further by adding cane syrup—a rich and flavorful Louisiana staple—making this dish from Louisiana Cookin even more decadent. Whether you’re preparing a dessert for a family gathering or simply indulging in a treat on a chilly evening, this apple crisp will leave everyone craving for more.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F, ensuring it’s hot and ready to go when you finish preparing the apple crisp.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, toss together the chopped apples (both Honeycrisp and Granny Smith) with flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla bean paste, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Stir everything together until the apples are well coated, then let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes. This will allow the apples to release some of their juices, which will help create a flavorful filling.
  3. Melt butter in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the apple mixture and cook it for about 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. The apples should begin to soften, and the juices will start to thicken into a syrup-like consistency. After that, stir in the reserved two cups of apples, which will add some extra texture to the filling.
  4. While the apple mixture is cooking, prepare the topping. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, pecans, oats, vanilla bean paste, salt, and cinnamon. Use your fingertips to work in the cold, cubed butter until the mixture forms small clumps. Squeeze the mixture into small and large chunks and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it.
  5. Pour the apple mixture into the skillet and sprinkle the Pecan Crisp Topping evenly over the top. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling. Allow the crisp to rest for 15 minutes before serving.
  6. Before serving, drizzle the warm apple crisp with a generous amount of cane syrup. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgence.

While apple crisp is undoubtedly the star of the show, you can serve it with a variety of side dishes to create a well-rounded meal. Consider pairing it with a simple green salad dressed with vinaigrette to balance out the sweetness of the dessert. If you’re serving it as part of a brunch spread, cinnamon rolls or buttermilk biscuits would be a great accompaniment. For a heartier meal, you could offer roasted chicken or pork as the main dish, with the apple crisp acting as a sweet finish.

This apple crisp with cane syrup is a delicious way to celebrate the flavors of fall. The combination of tart apples, warm spices, and a crunchy topping makes it the perfect comfort food for cooler weather. The addition of cane syrup elevates this classic dessert, giving it a Southern twist that will leave your taste buds wanting more. Whether served alone or paired with a scoop of ice cream, this apple crisp is sure to become a staple in your autumn recipe rotation.

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Seasonal Soups to Warm You Up This Fall

Soup is the optimal dish at any time of year, but it shines brightly in the autumnal months as the weather gets brisker and a bit more biting.  A bowl of warm, fresh seasonal soup is always met with an appreciative glance as the temperatures start and continue to drop, so try out a recipe from SpruceEats’ collection of soup recipes that will warm the coldest of palettes.

Minestrone Soup

The Italian minestrone soup is known as a great kitchen sink soup, as it’s easily adapted to accommodate any vegetable in your fridge.  The base of the soup is made of tomatoes, and you are to add carrots, celery, green beans, zucchini, garlic, fresh basil, and seasonings. Toward the end of cooking, you can add in pasta shells to make it more filling. Alternatively, for those not necessarily vegetarian, a traditional minestrone can be obtained with the traditional ingredients of carrots, celery, beans, spinach, and pasta simmering in the tomato broth base. Add in some browned italian sausage or ground beef for a meaty flavor that is heart and made ever-more easy when it’s made in an instant pot.

Instant Pot Potato Soup

Okay sometimes one member of the family is genuinely craving soup, and sometimes soup is the cooking option that requires less effort on the part of the chef. If that is the case, and the preparer of dinner is busy in all other areas of their life, then this quick recipe is a godsend. The instant pot potato soup is a creamy, hearty collection that is flavored with shallots, thyme, and garlic. It can be ready in just 30 minutes, but as you can imagine, the flavor is made ever-better by allowing a longer cooking time. Be sure to top off every bowl just as you would a baked potato on a cheat day by adding bacon, sour cream, chives, and cheddar cheese.

Easy Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup

No single vegetable is associated with the autumnal weather, decor, and general season than the pumpkin, as is evidenced by every supermarket produce display, front porch, and corporate coffee drink. Though, just because it’s a popular fall recipe go-to doesn’t mean there’s not something to be gained from it; enter: the vegetarian pumpkin seasonal soup- perfect for any vegan or vegetarian. This recipe is not only healthy, but it’s quick and simple to make, as it only takes approximately fifteen minutes by using canned pumpkin puree, vegetable broth, soy, milk, and spices to make your kitchen smell like a great harvest.

Low-Fat Broccoli Soup

This broccoli soup may be healthy and low in fat, but it’s just as creamy and rich-tasting as its high-fat-concentrated counterpart. The body of the soup is made by the additions of low-fat milk and potatoes, but the broccoli shines through. This dish is best served as a dinner’s first course, especially when it’s topped with toasted pumpkin seeds or garlic croutons for those looking for a crunch-heavy texture.

Beet and Cabbage Borscht

Hailing from Russia is the powerful beet-laden borscht, and it’s perfect to take in during the gentle cold months of Fall. This bright red borscht seasonal soup is chock full of roasted beets, onions, cabbage, and white beans. Aside from warming up anyone on a cold evening, a pot of this hearty red soup can be frozen easily for reheating later in the season. To make your dish shine brighters, be sure to ass freshly chopped dill and a spoonful of Greek yogurt, crème fraîche, or sour cream.

Celeriac and Parsnip Soup

This Fall recipe classic is immensely tastier than the sum of its parts. Begin by roasting the vegetables to give a deeper caramelized flavor, and then blend until the texture is silky smooth for an elegant presentation when topped with croutons and a dollop of pesto or sour cream.

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