It’s getting cold, damp, and dark, and you need to cheer yourself and celebrate the autumn harvest with slow-cooked, rich, and warming dishes that provide comfort and nourishment.
Think of roasted squash with chili and garlic, or a stew of succulent, slow-cooked shin of beef or full-flavored mutton.
Wild mushrooms are the ultimate signifier of autumn, with most of the UK’s 15,000 species appearing at this time of year, when rain and humidity provide the perfect conditions for them to grow. Their umami flavour provides a rich, nutty addition to dishes, while being nutrient-dense and low in calories, helping your immune system as a source of vitamin D. We have wild hedgehog mushrooms and the black, but delicious Horn of Plenty, a close relative of the chanterelle, as well as oyster mushrooms, our New Forest mixed mushrooms, Portobello, and chestnut.
Locally grown veg includes hispi and savoy cabbage, the spectacular romanesco, the showy cousin of cauliflower, and some early-season purple sprouting broccoli from Foot’s Farm.
Blackmoor Orchards have delivered a selection of apples and pears, alongside their juice and ciders, so you can enjoy the different, locally grown varieties. It’s crucial to support local orchards as they are so important for providing great wildlife habitats, and the more variety you eat, the better. We have local quince that goes so well with cheese, from 18-month-old Comté to creamy Stilton, ideal on their own, or as an ingredient.
From the butchery, we have aged mutton, beef shin, rabbit, and partridge, as well as local wild venison. Game is lean and extremely healthy for you, while mutton is more flavourful, but not as tender as lamb (it’s over 2 years old), but is better value, and when slow-cooked, has a deep, gamey flavour that should be cherished.
So celebrate this season with strong, rich flavours that will keep you happy and healthy.
