When you wake up and realise (as I did this morning) that it’s strangely quiet outside.. when you can hardly see the roof of the house opposite, then you realise that it is indeed Autumn.
The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness has arrived. The vital clue was all the local apples, pears and plums in the market, or being pressed on you by a desperate friend, eager to spread some of nature’s bounty before their own family stages a revolution at the thought of yet another apple pie or Crumble!
Personally, I can never have too many Apple Pies or Crumbles, but perhaps if I ate some every day for weeks on end, then even I might get a little jaded! Or, you know, maybe not… 😉 Here’s my easy short-crust pastry recipe: https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/my-easy-short-crust-pastry/
Speaking of apples – don’t forget to try my delicious new French Apple and Rum Cake too – I’ve made this several times recently, and it’s gone down a treat! https://eatingforireland.com/recipe/french-apple-cake/
The other wonderful arrival at this time of year is the many different varieties of Pumpkin and Squash – we’ve already had some delicious squash from our friend Julie, which I roasted – here’s the recipe for that: https://eatingforireland.com/review/oven-roasted-squash-and-peppers/
Some of you will have seen my recent post on Instagram about the arrival of – ahem – ‘Festive’ products in the supermarkets.. So just when you’d found good homes for all those apples, the advent (pardon the pun 😉 ) of all things twinkly, sparkly and expensive is almost upon us!
Never fear, Eating-for-Ireland has a plan for that, so let’s just enjoy the glories of Autumn; Halloween comes first, by the way – but on 1st November the gloves come off for the aforementioned sparkly stuff!
So, put on an extra layer, some stout boots, your favourite woolly hat, and get outside to enjoy all that Autumn has to offer – it really is the most beautiful time of year, especially in Ireland – I always say that, but I’m biased!
With the clocks going back an hour at the end of October, listen out for someone saying wisely ‘the nights are fair drawing in..’; wait for the first scent of a wood fire from a house on your street, and dig out those casserole dishes – you’re going to need them!!