Autumn’s on the Horizon & Your Midweek Meals Are Covered!

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be scratching your head wondering where the year’s gone, but believe it or not, it’s officially autumn after the weekend (Monday, 23 September)!

Whether or not you’re a fan of the season, there’s no denying the changing weather brings with it lots to look forward to. Cosy nights in are just one thing to delight in – as well as a real excuse to indulge in comfort food. Well, you’ve got to keep those cockles warm and bulk up in time for the even colder snap during winter. That’s our excuse and we’re sticking to it!

So, now that autumn’s on the horizon, we thought we’d share with you some of our favourite mid-week meals and treats – and yes, they’re all ideal for autumn. Why ever not? Read on…

Pumpkin Soup

Be honest…are you someone who buys a pumpkin for decoration, before binning it? This autumn, try to use up the vegetable’s nutritious insides. You can turn it into that oh-so-American favourite, pumpkin pie, or you can throw together a delicious starter in the form of a hearty pumpkin soup.

The latter takes just 20 minutes to prepare and a mere 25 minutes to cook. So, when you’ve finished carving the pumpkins with the kids, make sure they understand the importance of not being wasteful. They’ll love creating not one but two things from their pumpkin – and they’ll have even more fun eating the literal fruits of their labour.

Steak Pie

So, you’ve prepared the starter…now what about the main course? Autumn is the perfect time of year for pies, when we’re all crying out for something deliciously filling to gorge on before we cosy up with the family with a good film. The kids will love coming home from school to a piping hot evening meal – and this steak pie from the BBC Good Food site is easy to prepare as well.

Complete with golden-brown flaky pastry and a rich filling, this pie takes just 15 minutes prep time before it’s ready to be cooked. Then all you need to worry about is tucking in!

Stuffed Pumpkin

Here’s an inventive mid-week or weekend meal – a baked, stuffed pumpkin. It’s a veggie favourite, as featured on Jamie Oliver’s site, with the recipe including a wealth of delicious ingredients, including garlic, red onion, black olives, chilli and plenty of seasoning. If you’re embarking on a plant-based diet, this is a great seasonal recipe to try out.

Beef Brisket Sandwiches

Now here’s an indulgent meal you’ll love – but only if you’re a meat-eater. Simple to prepare and perfect for this time of year, these brisket sandwiches with blue cheese feature Newcastle Brown Ale and sticky sweet onions. We’re salivating just thinking about them.

Autumn Puddings

Autumn wouldn’t be autumn without….er…some autumn puddings! These come direct from the Delicious magazine website and they’re wonderfully seasonal. ‘Who thought old white bread would make such a brilliant casing for juicy stewed fruit?’, asks the team at Delicious. Give this a try and let us know how you get on.

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Until next time…