Native American

In Native American lore, the three sisters refer to corn, squash, and beans, which were traditionally grown together. The cobbler filling can be made ahead and baked with the topping just before serving.

Elliott Prag, a cooking instructor at New York’s Natural Gourmet Institute, offers a culinary history lesson with this recipe. It calls for wild rice, dried cranberries, and maple syrup—all of them indigenous to North America.

You don't need a magic spell to turn a pumpkin into the edible serving dish for this satisfying autumn recipe. If you can't find a large pumpkin or squash, bake this stew in two smaller ones.