It’s September! What’s in season this month?

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.