Ease into autumn with these three recipes
Dust off your scarves, hats, and jackets – autumn is officially here!
The start of the season brings golden leaves, cosy evenings, and, if we’re being honest, a fair amount of rain here in the North West! With that in mind, it’s also the perfect time for delicious, warming, and hearty food to help us embrace the chill.
Overnight oats with cinnamon
Overnight oats are a craze on social media – and it’s no wonder why! They’re a quick, easy, and nutritious way to start your day, and the addition of cinnamon brings those comforting autumnal flavours we all love.
Making them couldn’t be easier – just prepare them the night before and wake up to a satisfying breakfast that tastes like a hug in a bowl.
Instructions:
- In a jar or bowl, combine oats, chia seeds (if using), ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
- Stir in milk and vanilla extract, and honey if you like it a bit sweeter… Mix everything together well, cover, and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours).
- In the morning, give the oats a good stir and add your favourite toppings like fresh fruit and chopped nuts.
Enjoy your cinnamon-spiced oats cold or warm them up for an extra cosy breakfast.
Warming tomato soup
Nothing beats a steaming bowl of tomato soup when the weather starts to cool. Whether you’re enjoying it as a quick lunch or a cosy dinner, it’s the ultimate comfort food for those rainy autumn days.
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
- Stir in chopped tomatoes, stock, sugar (if using), and fresh herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavours to blend.
- Use a blender to purée the soup until smooth (or leave it chunky if you prefer a rustic texture).
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you like a creamier soup, stir in a splash of cream at this point.
- Finish off by garnishing with fresh basil.
Serve it up with crusty bread and butter for the perfect autumnal pairing.
Chunky beef, vegetable, and sweet potato hotpot
Nothing says autumn quite like a warming hotpot. This chunky beef, vegetable, and sweet potato hotpot is hearty, flavourful, and ideal for those chilly evenings.
Instructions:
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large pan and brown your beef.
- Once browned, remove the meat from the pan and set aside.
- Pour 1 more tbsp of oil into the pan and add sliced onion, chopped carrots and parsnip. Cook for 10-15 minutes, until the veg is softened and golden in colour.
- Return the beef to the pan and stir in flour, beef stock or water and pomodoro basilico tomato and basil sauce.
- Simmer gently for 30 minutes then carefully pour the mixture into a 1.5lt casserole dish.
- Preheat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C.
- Top the hotpot off with an even layer of sweet potato slices, brush with a little oil and cover with a lid.
- Cook in the oven for 1 hour 15 minutes, until the beef is tender.
Serve your hotpot straight from the oven, topped with crispy golden sweet potatoes, and enjoy with family around the table on those cool autumn nights. Why not check out our full recipe.
Whether you're starting your day with spiced oats, warming up with a hearty soup, or tucking into a comforting hotpot, these recipes are perfect for easing into the autumn season. Enjoy the flavours of autumn, and make the most of cosy evenings in!
