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October means cooler nights, cornstalks, and carving pumpkins.  It also means that you will find new in-season locally grown produce, dairy, and meat products at the grocery store and farmer’s market.  Using locally grown in-season foods to make your monthly menu means you are supporting local farmers and ranchers while staying more closely aligned with the natural rhythms around you.  This month, that means the focus is shifting away from the sweet fruits of summer and onto the comforting root vegetables and dark leafy greens of fall.  Here are some great ways to fill your menu and your plate with what’s in season in October.

Arugula

• Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad
• Mediterranean Lamb Burgers

Basil

• Basil Butter Sweet Potato Patties
• Armenian Tomato Cucumber Salad

Bok Choy

• Stir Fried Bok Choy with Ginger and Garlic
• Chicken Adobo Soup with Bok Choy

Broccoli

• Fresh Broccoli Salad
• Broccoli Crawfish Cheese Soup

Carrots

• Carrot Ginger Soup
• Carrot Bread 

Corn

• Baked Corn Dish
• Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Dates

• Chopped Medjool Date Salad
• Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Bleu Cheese

Figs

• Figs with Goat Cheese Pecans and Bacon
• Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza

Green Beans

• Brent’s Honey Bacon Green Bean Bundles
• Balsamic Green Beans with Pine Nuts

Green Onions/Scallions

• Artichoke Chicken Salad
• Meal in One Potatoes

Key Limes

• Easy Key Lime Pie
• Honey Key Lime Grilled Chicken

Lettuce

• Asian Lettuce Wraps
• Tostados

Potatoes

• Deanna’s Potatoes Deluxe
• Ham and Potato Casserole

Pumpkins

• Grandma Gertie’s Pumpkin Pie
• Harvest Pumpkin Bars with Icing

Radishes

• Join the Party Salad
• Potato Salad with Bacon, Olives, and Radishes

Spinach

• Fennel Spinach Pasta
• Lemon Spinach

Sweet Peppers

• Julie’s  Oven Roasted Red Potatoes and Asparagus
• Sharla’s Arizona Beef and Veggie Stir Fry

Tomatoes

• Avocado and Tomato Salad
• Tomato and Basil Salad

Turnips

• Mashed Turnips
• Steamed Sausage Dinner

Winter Squash

• Glazed Acorn Squash
• Butternut and Apple Harvest Soup

Related articles

• What’s in Season in September (fillyourplate.org)
• What’s in Season in August (fillyourplate.org)
• What’s in Season in July (fillyourplate.org)