That transition from hot, sunny, vibrant summer days to cool, crisp fall can be hard for some. I totally get it! It’s hard to give up the longer days, sunshine, blue skies and more importantly the warm weather! But, I have three perfect recipes that will help you get through this tough transition and give fall the warm welcome it deserves.

Whether you like it or not fall is nearing with each day that passes by. *Insert: crying emojI* Trust me, I already miss summer. The longer days full of sunlight and the warm air. Just like you, I don’t want to accept the fact that patio season might be over. So, to make this transition a little more bearable, I created the perfect soup and salad duo and included ingredients that remind me of both summer and fall. Ingredients include: apples, corn, dried cherries, cabbage and a warm soup with vibrant fall colors, spinach tomatoes, and cheese tortellini.

So first, lets chat soup. This Italian Tortellini and Spinach soup with Chicken Sausage is so warm, light and flavorful. Its packed with The perfect mixture of: vegetables, seasonings, protein and carbs. You can get that satisfaction of consuming a ”pasta dish” without all of the heavy creams and sauces. It is cooked to perfection in a warm broth that truly just warms your heart with each bite.

I paired this soup with a homemade triple herb butter log that gets spread on a warm soft pretzel loaf. I love eating this soup nicely presented for dinner or lunch. But, I also love eating this in my favorite large mug, while I am curled up on the couch watching my favorite show or my favorite football team. This soup will be sure to help you get through these upcoming fall and winter days.

Now, let‘s talk about the salad. This Napa salad is hands down one of my all time favorite salads I’ve ever made. This also happens to be my moms favorite salad as well. It Is honestly addicting. Once you start, you cant stop! I find myself refilling my plate 2 to 3 to even 4 times if I have room in my tummy! Trust me, I can’t believe it either.

The reason I love this salad so much is because there are so many flavors of sweet, savory and salty mixed in with textures of crunchy, chewy and soft. You get everything you’ve ever wanted within this one salad. It is contains the good kind of fat with the avocado, the good kind of carbs with the apples and dried cherries, protein with the marcona almonds, corn, cheese and crunchy green vegetables.

This salad reminds me of both the summer season and the fall season in one which is another reason why I love this salad so much. Apples, corn on the cob, nuts, avocado and dried cherries give me both summer and fall vibes. They are ingredients that once combined, you might think that fall flavors plus the season itself isn’t so bad after all. It will get you excited for all of those other fall dishes that also include those items.

One last thing about this salad that is so great is that since the flavors are so great on their own, you can dress this salad up with any type of vinaigrette and it will taste amazing. My recommendations for the dressing would be a balsamic vinaigrette, an Italian vinaigrette or a red wine vinaigrette.

Get ready to get in that fall spirit with my Italian Tortellini and Spinach Soup with Chicken Sausage paired with my Napa Salad. Once you try this you will be happily sipping your way through the rest of this fall and winter season.

Did you make this? If so, make sure to tag and follow @prettyplatebymichelle on instagram or leave a comment below and let me know what you thought! I would love to see your Pretty Plate and hear from you!