Sweet & savory apple sensations

The flavors of the season shine in these delicious dishes that are a breeze to whip up

Curried Squash & Apple Soup

For an extra dose of rich flavor, roast squash to caramelize natural sugars before stirring into the pot

• Heat oven to 400°F. Coat roasting pan or large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Place squash, cut side down, in pan. Roast until tender, 40-50 min. When cool enough to handle, scoop flesh from skin.

• In large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until softened, 5 min. Add apple, cook, stirring, 5 min. Stir in squash, broth and curry powder; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to mediumlow; cook until apple is tender, 15 min. Remove from heat; let cool slightly.

• In blender or food processor, in batches, process soup until smooth, then return to pot. In pot, mix soup, apple juice and half-and-half; over low heat, cook, stirring, until heated through, about 5 min. Transfer soup to bowls. Swirl in sour cream and sprinkle with parsley.

Seared Pork Chops

A sprinkling of cinnamon adds a warm note to this spiced-right dish

• Coat nonstick skillet with cooking spray; over medium heat, cook chops, flipping once, until slightly pink in centers, about 4 min. per side. Transfer to plate; reserve.

• In same skillet, combine apples, onion and thyme; over medium heat, cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 3 min. Add cider, vinegar, cranberries and cinnamon; cook 2 min.