As the wind blows faster and fall arrives, we must begin treating ourselves to comforting seasonal foods. These three recipes are made on loop in my household. There is no doubt that they all accord with the season. Try at least one of them and you will certainly find yourself craving it countless more times in the future! My favorite is the gulab jamun; its softness along with the sugar syrup overload reminds me of my childhood.

Gulab Jamun

Ingredients:
2 cups milk powder
1/2 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup milk
1/2 tbsp clarified butter

For the sugar syrup:
3 cups sugar
3 cups water
4 to 5 crushed cardamom
1 tbsp rose water
Few strands of saffron

1 or 2 tbsp oil to 2 1/2 cup oil

Directions:
1. Mix milk powder, plain flour, semolina and baking soda in a large bowl. Pour milk and knead it into a sticky dough.
2. Pour 1/2 tbsp of clarified butter and spread all over the mixture. Rest the dough for a minute.
3. Boil sugar, water, crushed cardamom, rose water and a few strands of saffron for 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. This is the sugar syrup.
4. Divide and shape the dough into small sized balls, make sure there are no cracks.
5. Melt 1 tbsp of clarified butter in hot oil. Fry the balls (jamuns) in it for 5 to 6 minutes on medium heat until golden.
6. Once removed from the oil, transfer the jamuns into the warm sugar syrup and gently give them a mix. Cover them and let them get soaked for 2 hours.

This pillowy, round confection is a traditional ‘mithai’ that has been made for years in the Indian subcontinent. It is usually served on special occasions and is in its best form when served warm. Feel free to douse the gulab jamuns in sugar syrup and eat as many as you want; these are so lightweight and refreshing that your stomach won’t even feel full!

Sweet Almond Pastry

Ingredients:
1 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp almond extract
2 sheet puff pastry
1/4 cup sliced almonds
icing sugar

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the ground almonds, powdered sugar and salt.
2. Beat the egg lightly and add it to the dry ingredients along with the softened butter and almond extract. Stir until a thick, cohesive paste forms. Set aside.
3. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk an egg for the egg wash. Set aside.
4. Unroll one sheet of puff pastry onto the prepared baking sheet. Make parallel cuts along the longer sides of the pastry.
5. Spread the almond paste evenly down the center of the pastry, leaving the borders clear. Remove the top and bottom corner strips of pastry. Fold the top and bottom strips of pastry over the almond filling to enclose it.
6. Braid the pastry by folding the first strip from one side diagonally over the filling. Alternate sides, folding strips over each other to create a braided pattern. Brush the top of the braided pastry with the egg wash and sprinkle sliced almonds.
7. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed up. Let the pastry cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before slicing.
8. Dust with icing sugar and serve.

The combination of almonds and pastry can never go wrong. The process of making the dessert itself is fairly simple and this recipe is barely time consuming. The comforting dough perfectly accords with the cozy season–you will definitely find yourself making this over and over again.

Fall Salad

Ingredients:
6 cups spring mix lettuce
1 red apple
1 pear
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup crumbled feta
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

Apple cider dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper

Directions:
1. Add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl. Mix the dressing’s ingredients in a small bowl separately and then drizzle your dressing into the medium bowl.
2. Toss and mix the salad.

This salad is easily enjoyable and might be preferable to you if you don’t like spending too much time on making home-made food. It’s simple to put together and is still delectable!