Autumn leaves

I think that we can well and truly say that summer has come and gone (and was barely noticed). Soon the leaves will turn their beautiful shades of russet and gold and the days will become shorter and the morning colder. Soon we will see our breath steaming and want to come running in to the cosy house to drink hot chocolate.

I love Autumn. I love all the seasons, but Autumn is when the world is at it's most picturesque and I feel most close to nature. The countryside begins to slow down and move towards hibernation, some plants are disappearing underground and the fields are empty. It is a time we are supposed to give thanks for the abundant crops and find ways to preserve them - sadly this year, there were no abundant crops to give thanks for and very little to preserve.

Autumn and winter are my favourite times of the year for eating. Over summer I eat a lot of salads, tend to snack on lighter meals more and often eat things that didn't really need any cooking or at least very little.

But in Autumn I can blow the dust off my casserole dishes and slow cooker and eat hearty stews and steaming pumpkin soups, cottage pies and lancashire hotpot. Drink hot chocolate with a dash of brandy in after a day clearing all the dying leaves from the garden into bin bags for future mulch. It is a time of warming, traditional food, made on a shoestring, with cheap cuts of meat or lots of pulses and beans. It is a time to sit in front of a roaring wood burning stove (oh, if only I had one already) with a good book, whilst being aware of the elements outdoors and being thankful for the warmth. It is a time to light candles and wrap up in throws on the sofa.


Yes, Autumn is a wonderful time of year.