Oh yes, I do adore this time of year. Berries seem to adorn every tree whilst natures palette shifts from the greens of Spring to a veritable feast of brilliant ambers and burnt oranges through to deeply regal purples and fiery reds.
The colours of the leaves are not the only changes afoot, the light itself seems more golden and the air offers up its smoky ways. Autumn is the swan-song of vitality and energy for the year, before Winter sets in, and I love it!
Who knew the Autumn sun could make my little treasure look even more beautiful
First up, we have the VEGETABLES
- artichokes - both globe and jerusalem
- aubergines - at it's best for another couple of weeks
- beetroot
- broccoli - coming to the end of it's peak, so go enjoy it now
- brussel sprouts
- cabbage - red, white and savoy
- carrots
- celeriac
- celery
- chard
- chillies
- endive
- fennel
- kale
- kohlrabi
- leek
- lettuce
- onion
- pak choi
- parsnip - apparently buy after the first frost for the really sweet stuff
- peas
- potato
- pumpkin
- raddichio
- runner bean
- salsify
- shallots
- spinach - yay, one of my favs!!
- spring onion
- squash - butternut, spagetti, gem, crown prince...the whole lot!
- swede
- sweet potato
- turnip
- wild mushrooms
My pumpkins may still be small but having grown them from seed I couldn't be prouder
- apples - note that bramley apples come into their own a bit later, Nov/Dec time
- blackberries - again, really good for another couple of weeks
- clementines
- cranberries - most other berries are good until November
- dates - just coming into season so if you have been waiting, now is the time to pop to the shops
- elderberries
- fig - alas, another one to gobble sooner rather than later, but still in season this month
- pears
- pomegranate
- quince
- tomatoes
Our little tree is still too early on in it's life to taste sweet but looking sweet, that it has perfected
HERBS & SUCH
- bay leaves
- chives
- chestnuts - most other nuts are also coming into their best right now but they are likely to be imported.
- lavender
- oregano
- rosemary
- sage
- thyme
We must remember that it isn't just produce that comes into its own; there are also changes further up the food chain to consider. Game is well known as a popular choice around October but if you aren't a big meat eater then check out what the sea offers in abundance over the coming months
FISH & SEAFOOD
- clams
- cod
- crab
- dover sole
- haddock
- hake
- lobster
- monkfish
- mussels
- plaice
- prawns
- sea bass
- squid
- winkles
MEAT & GAME
- chicken
- duck
- goose
- grouse
- guinea fowl
- lamb
- partridge
- pheasant
- pork
- rabbit
- turkey
- venison
- wood pigeon
I won't be eating my 3 girls any time soon, no matter what the season, their eggs are another matter...
I am a becoming a firm believer of eating seasonally for where you live, as it truly tastes the best. In addition to being tastier and leaving a lower carbon footprint, local food is more nutritious AND cheaper than food that has crossed continents to reach you. Lets face it, even if you were to cruise the ready made section of your supermarket, you wouldn't choose everything the day it 'goes off'. No, you pick the packs with the longest life left in them...consider that with produce. By selecting what is in season you are picking the freshest goods on natures shelf.
So I am not recommending that everyone starts growing their own, or invests in some hens (although they are brilliant little characters) but do try to be good to nature and let it serve you as it wishes to. If you let it, it may just be good back by being kinder to your health, waistline and pocket then its imported or ready made alternatives.
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