Photo by Lis Parsons
There’s something about this time of year, when the air is crisp, the leaves are turning red and gold and the nights begin to draw in, that makes me relish the prospect of those cosy Autumnal days and nights. And for me, the best place to savour the season is in the kitchen. I’m falling over myself planning the comforting stews and warming puddings ahead. It’s hard to beat the rich, cocooning savouriness of a Carbonnade Flamande, that Belgian beer and ale stew which is traditionally served with French fries, but which I eat with buttery thick ribbons of egg noodles, or the exotic lushness of my Aromatic Lamb Shanks. And when it begins to be blustery outside, I’m happy to spend time in the kitchen at the weekend making home made pasta and meatballs. If you don’t fancy making your own pasta, 1) don’t feel bad about it, but 2) don’t buy the ready-made ‘fresh’ sort, but rather a packet of good egg tagliatelle.
And then, of course, there are the puddings! I could spend hours wittering away here on that sweet subject, but I will restrain myself and suggest just two glorious examples of the genre: a blissful Orange-Scented Brioche Pudding and a Sunday lunch stalwart, my Chocolate Pear Pudding. In short, while many are sorry to see the summer well and truly behind us, I most definitely am not!
