Winter Veggies

There is something about the temps starting to fall, the sun setting sooner, that signals fall is coming.  Here in AZ the fall season is short and sweet.  Back home in ABQ fall starts from late Sept/ early Oct to late November. (I miss this!).  I personally love the fall.  The slow darkening of life.. the gray skies.. I love them.. I love how each season leads and blends into each other.  To celebrate the last Autumn in AZ, here is a list of the vegetables that are plentiful in the fall and keep you warm in the cooler months.  The first day of autumn is September 23 and I am going to cook with each vegetable over the course of this fall and post the recipes and pictures.  

Here are the veggies!


Artichokes have a second crop in the fall (the first go-around is in the spring) that produces small to medium artichokes.

Arugula is a cool weather peppery green harvested in winter in warm climates, summer in cool ones, and grows in many places during autumn.

Beets are in season in temperate climates fall through spring, and available from storage most of the year everywhere else.

Broccoli is more sweet, less bitter and sharp when harvested in the cooler temperatures of fall in most climates.


Brussels sprouts grow on a stalk, and if you see them for sale that way snap them up - they'll last quite a bit longer than once they're cut.

Cabbage is bright and crisp when raw and mellows and sweetens the longer it's cooked. The cooler the weather when it's harvested, the sweeter it tends to taste (this effect is called "frost kissed").

Carrots are harvested year-round in temperate areas. Unusual varieties are harvested during the carrot's natural season, which is late summer and fall.

Cauliflower may be harvested year-round, but it is by nature a cool weather crop at its best from fall into early spring.


Celery is at its best in the fall, with its harvest continuing through winter in warm and temperate climates.

Chiles are best at the end of summer and into fall.

Happy Pre-Fall!


SOoo tomorrow I will start actually baking my first round of cookies for my cookie test.  I've spent the past week working on flavor and mixtures and picking peoples brains :)  The first three flavors are: Butter Pecan, Strawberry, and Snickerdoodle.  I'm excited to work on the cookies tomorrow and see what my testers think!