As much as I enjoy the summer for the beach weather, lazy days with the kids, and moments to light the grill… my favourite season for food is the FALL. There’s nothing more incredible than when the leaves start to change, the morning air is crisp (along with the farm fresh apples) and the kitchen is full of pumpkin everything, hot soups, hearty stews, and spicy chili. 

Fall Decorations

School is still “new” and fresh for the kids and they haven’t lost their excitement… it’s like a whole new year has begun!

OH!!! We can’t forget about all the wonderful apples that become available in the fall. Where I live in Ontario we are truly blessed with fantastic local orchards. The farmer’s market fills up with bushels of the most incredible apples which make the best apple pie!!

my beautiful niece and her Dutch Apple Pie

Here’s a recipe for Dutch Apple Pie.

What you’ll need:

1 ready-to-use refrigerated pie crust (1/2 of 400-g pkg) or you can make your own crust
1 pkg. (250 g) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp flour, divided
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 Gala apples, peeled, thinly sliced
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup large flake rolled oats
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed

What you’ll do:

Heat oven to 375F

Prepare crust in a 9-inch pie plate as directed on package for one-crust filled pie. Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup granulated sugar with mixer until blended. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Spread onto bottom of crust.

Mix remaining granulated sugar, 2 Tbsp flour and cinnamon. Add to apples in large bowl; toss to evenly coat. Spoon over cream cheese layer. Mix remaining flour, brown sugar and oats in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; sprinkle over apple mixture. Cover.

Bake in bottom third of oven 50 mins or until apples are tender, uncovering after 20 minutes.

What do you love to make for your family in the fall??!