During the summer we never want to think about it ending but foods are universal and seasonal when it comes to soups, stews, and apple recipes. Then without blinking pumpkin season is here. The weather seems to change the kind of foods we crave, and cooler sweater weather gives us the desire for all those comfort foods. We put together our favorite recipes to kick off the start of cooler days ahead to keep on hand.

Sausage and tortellini soup recipes via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Sausage Tortellini Soup

Shopping List:

• 1 pound of thin slices or loose mild Italian sausage
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 carton chicken broth (32 ounces) or use our homemade chicken broth version
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound of tortellini, gnocchi, or mini ravioli
• 3 cups packed fresh chopped spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

Heat the soup pot to medium heat then add the 2 teaspoons of oil and saute the sausage for 7 minutes or until all the pink is gone. Add the onion and garlic and stir this into the sausage saute for 2 minutes.

Stir in the chicken broth bringing it to a rapid boil, then add the pasta and spinach. Cook this until they are tender and float to the top for around 4 minutes or more. Add salt and pepper to taste then stir in the heavy cream just until heated then serve.

Beef Casserole with crescent rolls of biscuits via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Beef Crescent Roll and Potato Casserole

Shopping List:

• 1 pound ground beef cooked and drained (leftover hamburgers work great!)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 cup diced zucchini
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1-1/2 cups mashed potatoes (premade in the dairy case)
• 1 cup shredded Havarti cheese
• 1 refrigerated tube of crescent rolls (8 to a package) or buttermilk biscuits

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prepare a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray oil.
2. Brown the meat in the oil until the pink is gone and drain. Add the zucchini, onion, peppers, puree, oregano and just stir to heat through. Add the salt and pepper to taste.
3. Spread with mashed potatoes in the greased 3-quart rectangular casserole dish. then sprinkle with cheese. Top with the meat mixture.
4. Unroll the crescent rolls and add on top covering the meat ( if you have any left you can just make rolls with them).
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes until heated through and the top is browned.

Ravioli Casserole Via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Ravioli Layered Casserole

Shopping List:

• 1 package (20 ounces) frozen cheese ravioli cooked and drained to package instructions
• 1 bag of frozen Italian meatballs, thawed
• 3-1/2 cups jarred meat sauce
• 2 cups whole milk ricotta cheese
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Garnish: freshly chopped parsley

Directions:

1. Grease a 13 x 9 casserole dish and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Ladle a little sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish, and add a layer of ravioli to fit the bottom.
3. Add the meatballs on top of the ravioli to fit evenly on top.
4. Spoon more sauce over the meatballs then add more ravioli.
5. Spread with ricotta then mozzarella cheese.
6. Repeat ending with ravioli and mozzarella, with sauce on top.
7. The casserole can now be baked at 350 degrees for 25 minutes just until heated and cheese melts.

Note: there is no right or wrong amount of sauce or cheese just layer this will be fine with more or less. You can always add more warmed-up sauce after it is baked. This can also be frozen and uncooked for up to 3 months if you use an oven and freezer-safe casserole dish instead.

Chicken Casserole with Savory Stuffing via Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Chicken Topping with Stuffing Casserole

Shopping List:

• 2 cups of cooked shredded, cubed or sliced chicken chicken (we used rotisserie chicken and have also used frozen chicken breaded tenders cut up)
• 2 cans of cream of chicken soup (or make our homemade cream of chicken soup recipe)
• 1/4 cup of whole milk
• 1 - box chicken stuffing mix (prepared to package instructions)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or another cheese shredded you prefer

Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix the soup, milk, and chicken and pour this into a greased 10 x 10 inch baking casserole.
2. Top with half the cheese and the prepared stuffing and the remaining cheese on the stuffing mix.
3. Bake for 25 minutes until bubbling and cheese is melted.

• Mix-ins:
• Broccoli florets chopped
• Cauliflower chopped
• Chopped or sliced carrots
• Mushrooms sliced

Meatballs Submarine Sandwich

Shopping List:

• 4 submarine rolls or French bread cut into 6-inch loaves and sliced
• Meatballs (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Warm the meatballs in tomato sauce on the stovetop.
3. Split the sub-rolls lengthwise, leaving one edge attached to create a hinge.
4. Place meatballs in the sub rolls.
5. Spoon some additional sauce over the meatballs and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
6. Optionally, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
7. Place the subs on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.

Hearty Chili made quick and easy via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Slow Cooker Chili Ingredients:

Shopping List:

• 2 pounds of ground beef
• 1 package of mild chili seasoning (or use a blend of cumin, onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper around 1/2 teaspoon each)
• 2 14-ounce cans of stewed tomatoes diced
• 2 - 16-ounce cans of pinto beans or red kidney beans
• 1 28-ounce can of tomato sauce
• Optional: 1 bell or hot pepper diced

Directions:

1. In a medium-sized frying pan, brown the beef then drain the grease off or blot with a paper towel to remove it.
2. Place the beef into the slow cooker with all the ingredients. Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours.
3. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, chopped jalapeno peppers, sliced olives or whatever other toppings you prefer.
4. Note: cubed-cooked chicken can be substituted for beef or ground turkey and chicken.

Hearty stew in a delicious sauce made easy via @Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine.comPhoto byClaudia Lamascolo

Easy Recipe for Beef Stew:

Shopping List:

• 1 1/4 pounds of any rump or round beef roast, cubed (boneless pork, chicken, venison or lamb can be used as substitutions.)
• 2 large potatoes, cubed
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 3 cans (16 ounces) of beef broth
• Optional: 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms, 1 cup of sliced green beans, 1 cup of peas, 2 sliced bell peppers seeded and cored

Directions:

1. Shake the meat in the flour.
2. Heat a Dutch oven with 3 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil and saute the beef until browned on both sides.
3. Add all the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine.
4. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are soft around 1 1/2 hours on low heat.
5. Slow Cooker: brown the meat first tossed in flour. Pour all the rest of the ingredients using only 2 cups of broth. Slow cooker on low 6 to 8 hours or until meat is fork tender.

Simple Apple Cake

Shopping List:

• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 2 cups of sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 3 cups apples peeled, cored & diced
• 3 cups flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Directions

• Grease a square 9 x 9 pan or line with parchment paper.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Add all the ingredients by hand in a bowl except the apples.
• Mix until evenly blended.
• Fold in the apples.
• Spread the batter into a greased pan and bake this at 325 degrees until the middle is set around 50 minutes.
• Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on top after cooling.

More Recipes to Try:

Best Soup Recipe Roundup

25 Italian Best Recipes We Love

20 Beans Recipes We Love

15 One Pan Recipes

15 Easy Pasta Recipes