It’s official. My favorite season has begun. And to commemorate, I’d like to share with you some of my favorite Fall recipes. These are all recipes originally shared on Kitchen Illiterate, my other blog.

I’m definitely a cold-weather cook. I’d much rather serve up hearty stews, hot casseroles, and roasts than light and crisp summery salads. I think it’s the midwesterner in me. When I think of the coziest thing I can imagine, it’s being in a warm house while the rain drips outside, a baked good and a cup of tea at my side. Preferably, a pot of something delicious would be simmering on the stove at the same time. I have my fingers crossed for lots of cozy days in the coming months. And here are some of the things I’ll probably be making:

Who doesn’t love Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese sandwiches? This pairing is like a universal truth.

When I was a kid, vegetable beef soup was my preferred Campbell’s choice. This Beef Stew is a big, giant step up from that, and it still has the power to make me feel safe and satisfied.

If you’re looking for something a little bit lighter, but still classic comfort food, this not-so-meaty meatloaf is just right. It’s a combination of bulgur, vegetables, and ground turkey, and it will make even the meatloaf-averse among you happy.

Hearty beans, tender chicken, and vegetables, loaded with an insane amount of flavor. And all achieved with very little effort? Yes, please. This Braised Chicken with Scarlet Runner Beans has become one of my all-time favorite recipes I’ve ever written.

Fall and Winter foods can be heavy on the meat. If you feel the need to lighten up, these Moroccan-spiced Braised Root Vegetables are just the thing. Rich and flavorful, but healthy enough that you won’t feel like you’re putting weight on for hibernatin’ time.

That being said, I LOOOVE casseroles and I can’t wait to start making them again. Sure, Oakland doesn’t get hot enough in summer to really prevent casseroles from being made, but still, they feel kind of wrong in the summer. Now that it’s officially fall, it’s on. I’m looking forward to making this Johnny Machete casserole again. I’m even going to revel in its canned soup character. Cream of mushroom soup is my jam.

What are you looking forward to making now that summer is officially over? Are there cold-weather recipes that you yearn for in the hotter months?