🍂 October is here, and as autumn settles in it comes crunchy leaves underfoot, the scent of cinnamon in the air, and kitchens warming up with roasts, bakes, and cosy slow cooked casseroles and stews.

Make the most of October’s seasonal fruit and vegetables, here I’m highlighting some of the best of easy autumn cooking with ingredients which are perfect for stews, roasts, puddings, soups, and Halloween-inspired bakes.

🍎 Fruits

• Apples (Bramley, Cox, Russet), pears (Conference, Comice)
• Figs, blackberries, plums, quince, grapes, elderberries
• Crabapples, damsons, sloes (great for preserves and infusions)

🥬 Vegetables

• Roots: Beetroot, carrots, parsnips, swedes, turnips, celeriac, Jerusalem artichokes
• Brassicas: Kale, cabbage (red, Savoy), Brussels sprouts, broccoli
• Others: Leeks, fennel, celery, chicory, chard, spinach, lettuce, pak choi
• Squashes: Pumpkin, butternut, acorn, marrow
• Beans & greens: Runner beans, French beans, watercress, rocket

🌿 Herbs & Foraged Finds

• Fresh herbs: Rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley, chives, mint, marjoram
• Wild mushrooms: Chanterelles, ceps, puffballs, black trumpets
• Other wild treats: Elderberries, sloes, crabapples

🍽️ Mains & Savoury Dishes

• Sausage and cider casserole – rich and warming with apples, onions, and mustard
• Venison pie with chestnuts and mushrooms – gamey and indulgent, perfect for chilly evenings
• Pumpkin and sage risotto – creamy, aromatic, and full of autumn colour

🥗 Starters & Lighter Plates

• Salt-baked celeriac wedges with crispy capers – earthy and crisp
• Wild mushroom and taleggio polenta – creamy and comforting with a deep umami hit
• Pear and Roquefort tarte tatin – sweet and savoury starter with a French twist

🍰 Desserts & Bakes

• Apple and blackberry crumble with macadamia topping – classic with a nutty crunch
• Brûléed rice pudding cake with pear compote – nostalgic with a caramelised twist
• Fig chutney with orange and cinnamon – perfect for cheeseboards or toasties

🐟 Seafood Specials

• Steamed mussels with cider, leeks and chorizo – briny and bold
• Steamed cod with curried mussels and carrots – aromatic and elegant
• Squid stew with butter beans – hearty and Mediterranean-inspired

We’ll be back in November with cozy classics and holiday inspiration.

September is that in-between month — there are still some warm summer days, but there’s a crispness in the air that hints at autumn is just around the corner. It’s the season of back-to-school so starting to think about those lunches and then you never really know if you should have a salad or something warmer and comforting for dinner, but generally you still get those odd warm days.

So, as we head back to work after our summer holiday and children are going back to school, getting back into those routines of what to have for dinner can sometimes get a little stressed, so having some easy dinners is just what’s needed.

Back-to-School, Back-to-Lunch ideas

Whether you’re packing for kids or yourself, here are some fresh lunchbox ideas:

• One of our favourites is a pesto pasta salad, with some croutons or toasted ciabatta
• Hummus & veggie wrap with feta
• Pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella & basil
• Apple slices with peanut butter
• Mini frittatas with spinach and cheddar
• Toast baguette slices, spread with cheese (goats or feta cheese go very well), top with sliced figs, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of sea salt
• Soups – Use a thermal flask to keep soups and warm grains cozy until lunchtime.

🍂 September in the UK is a glorious overlap of late summer and early autumn produce—think orchard fruits and earthy veg and these ingredients are just perfect for crumbles, roasts, chutneys, and warming stews.

🍎 Fruits

• Apples (Bramley, Cox, Russet), pears (Conference, Comice)
• Plums, damson, figs
• Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, loganberries
• Grapes, melons, crab apples

🥬 Vegetables

• Root vegetables: carrots, beetroot, parsnips, turnips, swedes
• Brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts (early)
• Others: courgettes, aubergines, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, fennel, leeks, celery and chicory
• Beans & greens: French beans, runner beans, spinach, chard, lettuce, rocket, watercress
• Squashes: butternut, pumpkin, summer squash

🎉 September Foodie Dates to Celebrate

• September 5 – World Samosa Day: These pyramid-shaped fried snacks are filled with onions, potatoes, cheese, peas and several other fillings. The are very popular in India served alongside a curry, and also in Egypt, South Africa and the Middle East, perfect little appetizers
• September 7 – National Salami Day: A day when salami lovers all around the world encourages people to explore salami! So why not pop it in a sandwich, scatter some on top of a pizza, or chopped up in a pasta dish? Be adventurous and explore the different types of salami
• September 13 – International Chocolate Day: Treat yourself whether it’s enjoying your favourite chocolate, baking or visiting your local chocolatiers! One think I learn when I googled this date is that it’s also Milton S. Hershey, the founder of Hershey Chocolate Company’s birthday, what a coincidence
• September 22 – First day of Autumn: This marks the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning our days become shorter and the nights are longer. This is definitely when comfort food and mugs of hot chocolate will be needed

I’ll be back in October with more autumn cooking ideas and spookily good treats.

I always feel September can be an inbetweener month as we approach the end of summer and autumn is just around the corner, you never really know if you should have a salad or something warmer and comforting, but generally you still get those odd warm days.

So, as we head back to work after our summer holiday and children are going back to school, getting back into those routines of what to have for dinner can sometimes get a little stressed, so having some easy dinners is just what’s needed. Don’t forget some easy lunch box ideas, simple pasta salads are always great to have and can be made the day before, one of our favourites is pesto pasta salad.

To make the most of September’s fruit and vegetables, which are currently in season, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

• Apples
• Aubergine
• Blackberries
• Carrots
• Cranberries
• Figs
• Grapes
• Green beans
• Peppers
• Plums
• Pomegranates
• Sweetcorn
• Tomatoes

Spring is just around the corner, where the days start to get longer but it can still be chilly so can be tricky to prepare for.  Here are a few suggestions to get you started this month.

There are plenty of celebrations this month, with Mother’s day in the UK on the 10^th March 2024, how about treating your mum to a homemade cake, buttercream cupcake or some tasty shortbread biscuits