“Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits…” Samuel Butler

When the sun gets a little cooler and the air gets a little crisper I get a feeling of cosiness and contentment. The Swedish call this Hygge and I can’t get enough of it.

I enjoy the transition into warmer clothes and lighting heady candles that evoke the season – warming vanilla, smokey tobacco and fig and having an excuse to light the fire.

Food is equally as exciting – that transition from the light, fresh dishes of Summer to dishes that are warmer, richer and more comforting. Squashes, root vegetables, game and then there’s the fruit – blackberries, apples, plums and pears….delicious!

To compliment this blog I have added some of my favourite October seasonal dishes to my Recipe page – click now for comforting butternut squash, pepper & chilli soup, roast duck with blackberries, Wild Mushroom Risotto with Thyme Baked Chicken Breast and apple crumble – a great selection of Sunday lunch alternatives.

If you’re not quite ready for that full comfort-food transition then check out my lighter take on October’s bounty with a shellfish delight – mussels in cider with bacon and for vegetarians and salad lovers alike a warm root veg salad with squash and goats cheese. Recipes