Baked Sweet Potato Chips with Cool and Creamy Chili Dip

These Baked Sweet Potato Chips and I go way, way back. Many, many years ago, I used to order these as an appetizer at a now-closed restaurant in Indiana. Once a year, my four closest friends from high school and I would meet up for a girls' night at this particular place. The spot was over an hour from my house, so that yearly occasion was about the only time I ever went there. I would crave these during the months in between each visit, so I started making them at home.

It's actually a very simple recipe that requires just sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper for the
chips component. The key is getting the chips as thin as possible - either by using a spiralizer or kitchen mandolin, or by using a thin-bladed, sharp knife.

And, as amaze-balls as the chips are, please hear me when I say that the dip is essential. After a good deal of trial and error, I was able to recreate the dip from the restaurant just as I remembered it. And, it must not be skipped. {Did that sound too demanding? Sorry. I'm just really passionate about the dip, people.}

I often whip these up for us on movie or t.v. night just as a snack. But, they are great to serve alongside sandwiches or burgers, too.

Serves 2

Autumn-Spiced Roasted Acorn Squash

One of the ingredients during fall that I cherish most is acorn squash. Of course, I relish all things pumpkin and apples during these autumn months. But, I find the simplicity of roasting acorn - or even butternut - squash this time of year to be something quite special.

One of my family's favorite ways to prepare acorn squash is to cut it in half and roast it with a little butter, nutmeg, salt, pepper and maple syrup. My Sweet Roasted Acorn Squash is always a hit and everyone loves grabbing a spoon and diving in to their own personal serving.

But, we, also, love it cut into slivers and roasted with various spice combinations and toppings. For this recipe, pumpkin pie-style spices get sprinkled onto olive oil-coated acorn squash wedges that get roasted to perfection and drizzled with a little real maple syrup. The crunch of a few toasted pumpkin seeds as garnish add a nice textural component.

This would be a beautiful and delicious addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table. The squash gets tender on the inside while taking on a slight char around the outer edges (my favorite part). The spices add a touch of warmth that definitely are reminiscent of the flavors associated with fall. And, the slightly-reduced pure maple syrup contributes just the perfect amount of sweetness.

My Top Twelve Cooler Weather Recipes

It's that time of year again - the time when most of us around the country are craving food that evokes feelings of warmth, sustenance and comfort. We're embracing life beyond refreshing salads, grilling out and sipping lemonade by the pool. We're seeking out new soup recipes to try, inspiration for incorporating pumpkin into our desserts, heartier breakfasts that'll really "stick to our ribs" and maybe some ideas for dinner that'll require us to get those ovens heated up.

Today I am sharing twelve of my personal favorite fall recipes from here on Joyously Domestic. There's a little something for everyone here - desserts, soups, pasta, slow cooker meals and a real favorite here on JD - Oven-Roasted Chicken and Potatoes.

Just click on the orange-colored title for each recipe and you'll be taken to the corresponding post.