Its November! Already?! October just sped past and now its time for one of my least favourite months. Why? Because its colder, darker, rainier and more depressing. BUT November is also leading the way to December and the holiday season, so I have learned that if I light as many candles as possible and concentrate on everything cosy and Christmassy then November isnt quite so bad.
And another good way of making November more bearable is through food. Warm hearty soups, some nice stews and a few sweets and it suddenly feels a lot better.
So lets start with the soups. A must in pumpkin season is of course this butternut squash soup with roasted garlic.
Another lovely soup for this time of year is a real British classic; broccoli and stilton soup. So comforting!
Obviously had to include my favourite soup; my best version of Jerusalem artichoke soup. Its earthy, creamy and perfect for dinner parties and weeknights alike.
Sweet potato soup with lemon grass is another lovely and warming soup you must try!
And lastly we have the soup that is like a big warm hug in a bowl. Yes, it contains lots of melted cheese, but also healthy broccoli for balance. And its heaven!
But we cant survive November on soup alone. How about some pillowy gnocchi with the creamiest butternut sauce?! Delicious!
And these venison patties with dauphinois potatoes and creamy mushroom sauce is the perfect Sunday dinner to impress your friends with, in a warming un-fussy way.
Or make this slow-cooked lamb shank with herb polenta for ultimate comfort. Also perfect for a dinner party!
And then we have the ultimate stew; Julia Childs excellent boeuf bourguignon. So dreamy!
For pudding whats better than a Thanksgiving inspired pecan pie or pecan cheesecake?! Because nuts and caramel are the antidotes to dark November!