Stephen George, Editor

What Steve's Eating Chicken Casserole Supreme Chicken casserole is a childhood favorite, but this one won't overextend my grown-up waistline! Get recipe»

Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

##\keycode.IntroCopyContentHTML####\keycode.DonorContentGiftSubHTML##

It's a good thing I love brisk fall evenings, because I'm sure out in them a lot. Dashing to school meetings. Ferrying kids to and from practice. Making last-minute trips to the store to buy art supplies for the homework project due tomorrow.

I don't mind being busy, but I have to remind myself that the more stuff my family has on the calendar, the harder it is to stick to a healthy diet. I'm not alone. We are a nation of overscheduled people. And when we're crunched for time, convenience foods and drive-thru fare are temptations that are tough to resist.

Which is why my wife and I are making more of an effort to plan ahead. With a modest investment of time on Sunday evening, we've managed to stock the freezer with healthy make-ahead meals and casserole dishes that are easy to heat and eat, and never likely to knock the bulb out of the fat meter.

Meanwhile, the slow cooker, sitting humbly in its corner of the kitchen, has been a salvation—when it comes to the simple joys of life, few things are more satisfying than walking in the door after a long day and basking in the aroma of a hearty, healthy supper, ready to dish up. You couldn't ask for a more perfect balance to the crisp coolness of a gorgeous autumn evening.

Happy fall!

Steve

	• p. 23 Thanksgiving Recipes • p. 25 Chili Recipes • p. 57 Potato Recipes • New Contest: Everything but the Turkey

Apple Recipes Fall is the perfect time for picking apples. Get recipes for apple pie, apple crisp and other apple favorites. Get Recipes»

New! Taste of Home Baking This ALL-NEW edition features 780+ scrumptious recipes for all kinds of baking! Learn More»

Taste of Home Culinary Vacation Join Funjet Vacations and the Taste of Home Cooking School in the beautiful Riviera Maya, Mexico. Get Recipes»

Community Supported Agriculture Blogger Danielle Calkins describes how to prepare produce she receives in her weekly crop share. This week's recipe: Garden Salsa. Read More»

How to Prepare and Cook Squash Learn how to prepare, bake, boil and microwave a variety of winter squash including butternut squash, acorn squash and spaghetti squash. Watch Video»

Ask Peggy Registered dietitian and food editor Peggy Woodward answers questions on cooking and nutrition. Is spaghetti squash low carb? What are good late night snacks?

LIGHT DESSERT: Spiced Cocoa-Apple Cake I love this recipe. The healthier version tastes even more delicious than the original. —Wendy Keys, Reno, Nevada Get Recipe»