Fall is an earthier time of year, where root vegetables and colorful leaves take the place of pools and lemonade stands. Cook wonderful, healthy meals for your family by taking advantage of fall’s bounty and healthy fall vegetables.

Beets are deep colored root vegetables that are great in salads and stir-fry, as well as pickled. Beets are high in folate and Vitamin C, making them a great choice for a healthy diet. Also in season during early fall is cauliflower. Cauliflower has a bad reputation because of its strong smell, but is great roasted and served over pasta, or breaded and fried! Cauliflower is also a great source of folate and Vitamin C, as well as fiber. Apples and pears are great fall harvests, and great fruits to bake with. Both are great raw, and both are known for their abundance of fiber and Vitamin C. Don’t forget the pumpkin! Pumpkin can also be roasted and served for a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Take care to feed your family the best nutrition this fall season. As the colder months approach, cook warm and hearty meals with these great fall fruits and vegetables.

If you’ve planted several types of hot peppers, you most likely have an abundance of scorching hot vegetables and are unsure what to do with them. It’s easy to dry your hot peppers and crush them for year round usage in all your favorite meals.

Invest in some simple fishing twine, or string that is thin, but very sturdy. Then, thread the line or string onto a thick needle. Wear gloves, or be sure to wash your hands afterwards to avoid getting oil from the hot peppers onto your face or in your eyes. Next, thread the fishing line or string through the stem of each pepper. Don’t overload the line, so the hot peppers have enough space to dry, and hang the line or string up in your kitchen. Choose a cool, dry place and don’t place them over the stove (it’s too hot and the peppers won’t dry). Enjoy your hot peppers in chili, stew, pastas and more once they dry – just pick a pepper off the line and crush it in your favorite dish!

Fall is in the air, and beautiful, bold fall flowers are now in season! Expand your garden into the fall months and make use of the wonderful and hearty fall flowers available now. Now is a great time to plant mums, which have small blooms and come in a variety of fall colors. Orange, red, and yellow mums are a beautiful option for planting fall flowers. Mums are known for being strong fall plants that are easy to grow, making them very popular in September and October.

Pansies are also a great option for fall, because they are hearty. Pansies will bloom in the fall, survive through the winter and bloom again in beautiful spring, but remember, many varieties are annuals, so you will need to plant them each fall. Foxgloves are another beautiful fall option, as they become dormant in the hotter summer months, and bloom once the cooler fall months approach. Many varieties of lilies are also partial to fall months and prefer cooler, wetter weather. Ask around at your local nursery for more tips on planting fall flowers and enjoy a beautiful flower garden long into the fall months.