6 comforting autumn recipes

There’s nothing better than using fresh, seasonal ingredients in your cooking, and all of the below fruits and vegetables are in season during the autumn months (September to November). And if you haven’t grown your own, or can’t get out to pick your own, you’ll find most, if not all of them, in your local supermarket.

FruitVegetables
Apples
Blackberries
Damsons
Elderberries
Pears
Plums
Quinces
Raspberries
Sloes
Butternut squash
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Field mushrooms
Kale
Leeks
Onions
Parsnips
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Spinach
Turnips

6 autumn recipes you’ll love making

Indulgent. Comforting. Warming. Delicious. That’s what autumn cooking is all about, and the easy autumn recipes below stir all those pots, plus you’ll find lots more inspiration on our blog.

Autumn Fruitfulness Lattice Pie

There’s a lovely mixture of autumn fruits in this glorious puff-topped pie, and the intricate lattice top is effortless thanks to our Lattice Pastry Rollers. And think how much more satisfying it will be if you fill it with fruit you’ve foraged from the hedgerows. We’ve stuffed ours with apples, plums and blackberries, but feel free to include your own fruity favourites.

Italian Sausage & Cannellini Stew

Italian Sausage & Cannellini Stew

Good quality Italian-style sausages are the key to success in this satisfying recipe, cooked in the Lakeland 3.5 Litre Digital Slow Cooker. Most supermarkets sell something similar to Italian sausages these days, but if you can’t find any, you can use your favourite kind and add some fennel seed to your stew to help the flavour along. Or swap for veggie sausages if you don’t eat meat.

Individual Berry & Apple Crumbles

Individual Berry & Apple Crumbles

Who doesn’t love a bit of crimble crumble? Made in our Traditional 16cm Enamel Pie Dish, this one is generously filled with apples, raspberries and blackberries and topped with crisp, golden crumble. It’s a bellyful of autumn that’s crying out to be topped with warm vanilla custard or a dollop of cream

Spiced Pumpkin Soup

Spiced Pumpkin Soup

Just thing to get the kids filled up and warmed up before they head out trick or treating, this lightly spiced soup is an easy dinner idea and can be made on the hob or in a soup maker. And make sure you buy an edible pumpkin. The ones you buy for carving, while edible, don’t tend to taste as good.

Lamb, Aubergine & Orzo Casserole

Lamb, Aubergine & Orzo Casserole

We made this gorgeous casserole in the Remoska Tria, adding the orzo towards the end of cooking to end up with a texture similar to risotto, but you could make it in the oven in a lidded casserole pan. Serve it simply with a crisp green salad or a pile of steamed green beans.

Lamb, Aubergine & Orzo Casserole

Chicken, Lentil & Pumpkin Curry

There are few meals more warming and comforting than a delicious curry. And this slow cooker version couldn’t be simpler to make. Swap the chicken for extra veg if you like, or make it hotter by adding extra chilli. Either way, it will get your taste buds dancing.

Is it worth buying a slow cooker?

In short – yes. Stews, casseroles, curries and so much more are easy to make in a slow cooker. And we love the simplicity of slow cooking – just throw all the ingredients in before you set off for work and leave them to cook to delicious tenderness so you can come home to a hearty and warming home-cooked meal. They’re great for making use of cheaper cuts of meat too, and simply splendid for cooking vegetables, lentils, beans and pulses. Even better, they’re really economical compared to using your main oven. You can read all about the benefits of slow cooking on our blog. Did you know, you can even make mulled wine in a slow cooker? You do now – what are you waiting for?

Why autumn is the perfect time to start preserving

Is there a better way to make the most of nature’s bounty than preserving it in the form of jams, chutneys, pickles and relishes to enjoy later? We don’t think so. And whether the fruit and veg comes from your garden or allotment, is foraged from hedgerows, or simply bought from the supermarket or local greengrocer, the results will be equally tasty. And bottled preserves will make thoughtful and charming gifts for birthdays and Christmas too.

If you’re not sure where to start, have a read of our blog, which will tell you all you need to know. If you have a particular hankering to pickle beetroot, and why wouldn’t you – you can read all about that here. You can find all the equipment you’ll need to get preserving on our website – everything from electric jam makers and maslin pans to bottles and jars for presenting your wares in. It’s such a rewarding activity and will help prevent waste when you’ve got a glut of produce to make use of.

So there you have it. A few comforting recipes and ideas to get you inspired for the cooling nights – when salads give way to stews and you’re thinking about when to light the first fire of the year. Autumn is a time to linger in the kitchen and spend longer at the dinner table, enjoying healthy and home-made autumn recipes with the family. Enjoy!