This fall, tantalize your taste buds with tasty recipes

Shorter fall days, with a bit of a chill in the air, serve to sharpen our appetites. We look for heartier dishes to satisfy our hunger. But they don’t have to be heavy or high in fat and sodium. We can still eat healthy with salads and vegetable-based casseroles. These dishes work well for family dinners or for feeding unexpected drop-in guests.

And, as the holidays approach, tantalizing aromas and savory flavors will be coming from the kitchen. It’s always good to have a little something on hand to satisfy the old sweet tooth.

Cauliflower Ham Bake

1 large head cauliflower

2 Tbs. butter or oleo

3 Tbs. flour

1½ cup milk

1½ cup grated cheese

2 cups cooked ham

1 4-oz. can mushrooms

¼ cup breadcrumbs

1 Tbs. butter, melted

Cook cauliflower in salted water (should have about 5 cups) until tender. Melt 2 Tbs. butter. Stir in flour. Add milk and cheese. Stir until melted. Stir in cooked cauliflower, ham, and mushrooms. Turn into 2-quart casserole. Combine crumbs and melted butter and sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees until heated through, about 30 to 35 minutes.

Serves 6

Sauerkraut Salad

5 cups sauerkraut

1 cup green pepper, chopped 1 cup celery, chopped

½ cup onions, chopped 1/3 cup cooking oil

1/3 cup vinegar

1 cup sugar

Combine oil, vinegar, and sugar and bring to a boil. Cool. Pour over cutup vegetables. Stir into sauerkraut.

Pumpkin Squares

1 No. 2. can pumpkin 1 13-oz. can evaporated milk 1½ cups sugar

4 large beaten eggs

1½ tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box yellow, white or spice cake mix

1¼ stick melted oleo or butter

½ cup chopped nuts Combine in large bowl pumpkin, milk, sugar, spice, salt, and vanilla. Mix well. Pour melted butter in 9 x 15-inch baking pan. Pour pumpkin mixture into pan. Cover with dry cake mix. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake in 325-degree oven (approx. time on cake mix box). Bars are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream or Cool Whip.

Photo by Randy Moll Fall colors provide photo opportunities in scenic places such as the old Springtown low-water bridge on the Flint Creek.

Photo by Randy Moll Cormorants perch in the trees in front of a colorful backdrop of fall foliage at the Eagle Watch Nature Area in Gentry.

Photo by Randy Moll Janie Parks places pumpkins out on straw outside of The Garden Gate flower shop in Gentry.

Photo by Randy Moll Leaves in the water, like these at Crystal Lake in Decatur, can provide a beautiful fall photo background.