Comforting Fall Recipes That'll Get You Excited for the Season

Fall is in full swing, and we're packing in as much autumnal flavor as our farmers' markets and pumpkin patches can give. We're thinking beyond the predictable pie and exploring the savory side of pumpkin. Celebrate the seasonal star with seven delicious fall dishes inspired by the colorful gourd, from cheesy soup to chicken stew. Since October is made for comfort food cooking, we're saying "More cheese, please!" The whole family will melt over our five simple and delicious (and cheesy) meals, including gooey gnocchi gratin and fontina-stuffed pork chops.Doing a little last-minute hosting? We threw in adorably sized, incredibly savory miniature muffin pan pot pies packed with mushroom and goat cheese that will rise to the occasion. Bring in a main course of our low-and-slow cooked pork braised in a cider-infused gravy, and you'll be wheeling your guests out in a blissful wheelbarrow. We're getting a little nostalgic, too. Round out the month with our take on fall layers. Cake layers, that is. As with most great Southern recipes, these three cakes come with memorable stories and sweet reminders of home. Which will you try first, the Blackberry Jam Cake or Apple Stack Cake? Or maybe the lemony, chocolately Doberge Cake? One thing's for sure: You can't go wrong. Enjoy these 17 recipes that make enjoying October an easy feat.