4 deliciously comforting meals, perfect for autumn, plus the linkup for week 42 of #CookBlogShare.
So this weekend has been a rather exciting one for me. Instead of the usual routine of ferrying the kids to their various clubs and activities, supervising homework and the odd game of Monopoly, I spent the weekend in the company of 8 keen food writers and Karen Barnes, Editor of delicious magazine, on a food writing weekend at All Hallows – a gorgeous Georgian farmhouse set deep in the Dorset countryside, run by the lovely Lisa Osman, which specialises in foodie courses, luxury B&B accommodation and the most fantastic food straight from Lisa’s enormous green aga (serious cooker envy!).
The day before I set off for my fabulous foodie weekend was my birthday and so to celebrate my husband took me to Wahaca in Brighton for a very exciting birthday lunch – a feast of Mexican street food, not to mention the most incredible churros.
I will of course be sharing more about my foodie adventures in Dorset in the coming weeks and no doubts some recipes inspired by my visit to Wahaca too, but first I must to turn my attention to this week’s #CookBlogShare Roundup. I am so excited to share with you my picks this week, as they are all so scrumptious and remind me of my favourite season: autumn.
I just love every aspect of autumn, from the first moment when the leaves begin to turn brown on the trees, through the bonfires and fireworks, to the pretty lights and excited anticipation of Christmas. The fact my birthday is in autumn helps too! But the thing I love most about autumn is the food. Summer’s picnics and salads give way to warming stews, comforting pies and lashings of mashed potatoes, not to mention delicious autumnal produce: pumpkins, squashes, mushrooms, apples, parsnips and more. So it is these wonderful autumnal comfort food dishes and seasonal flavours that I have chosen to showcase this week.
Just in case you are not a #CookBlogShare regular and are wondering what an earth I am going on about, #CookBlogShare is a place for bloggers to share their recipes. If you are a blogger and have a recipe to share, you can link up your post by following the instructions below. If you are not a blogger, but love food and cooking, do check out the recipes that will be appearing below. If this week is as good as they usually are you will find some awesome recipes – the #CookBlogShare bloggers are very good at what they do!
4 Comforting Autumn Meals
So, first up I have chosen this total comfort food classic by Nico of Yumsome: Vegan Mushroom and Buckwheat Shepherd’s Pie. I love how she has taken this autumnal classic and transformed it into a delicious vegetarian and vegan friendly dish. But, what particularly caught my eye was that instead of using Quorn or lentils as a vegetarian alternative to meat, she chose to use buckwheat groats – something I have recently discovered and come to love, but have never seen in a shepherd’s pie before.
As the weather becomes steadily more cold and rainy, what better way to warm up than with a spicy curry? So next up we have this delicious Chicken & Lime Curry from Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen. Not only has Charlotte whipped up this fabulous, warming curry, but she has also made a brilliant little video of the recipe. I am so impressed with Charlotte’s videos – they always looks so professional!
One of my favourite things about autumn is the wonderful apple dishes: comforting apple pies, crumbles and of course baked apples, but I love the way Monika from Everyday Healthy Recipes has chosen to use this autumnal fruit in a savoury dish: Rooibos Chicken with Autumn Apple. I also really like how Monika has used rooibos tea as a seasoning for her chicken. I love rooibos tea, but I had never considered using it in cooking…I will now!
Finally, one of my other autumn favourites is mushrooms and I love the way Kirsty from Hijacked by Twins has used them with chorizo in this wonderfully easy midweek pasta supper: Chicken and Chorizo with Artisan Tagliatelle. This dish looks so simple and yet so delicious. It is absolutely the sort of thing my family would enjoy on a busy midweek evening. I also love how Kirsty has given her dish an unusual twist by using spring onion flavoured pasta, which she found in Aldi. I love little twists like that which can elevate a simple midweek meal into something a bit more special, but with very little extra effort involved!
#CookBlogShare Linky Week 42
And so we come to this week’s linky. You can link up any foodie post that you have – both old and new posts are welcome. All you need to do is:
- Link up a recipe or foodie post by clicking the blue ‘add your link’ button below and following the instructions
- Add a link from your post back to this post (so everyone else can find it and link up too!)
- Add the #CookBlogShare badge to your post (you can find the code below)
- Comment on some of the other recipes linked up here and generally share the love with a bit of social media action!
If you wish, you can tweet a link to your recipe to me @easypeasyfoodie, using #CookBlogShare and I will retweet them. You can also post your recipe on the Cook Blog Share Facebook Page.
I will comment on all the posts this week and pin them all to the Cook Blog Share Pinterest Board. I can’t wait to see what you’ve all been making!
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Just to remind you, by joining in you are giving the #CookBlogShare hosts permission to use your pictures in a round up and on social media, if your recipe is selected as one of our favourites!
Next week’s linky will be hosted by Mandy over at Sneaky Veg.
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
Wow Eb, it certainly sounds like you have had an amazing weekend….all that amazing looking food at Wahaca (I wonder what that name means?), and a food writing course (with even more yummy food!)!! I’m so looking forward to hearing about what you have to share on that Eb 🙂
Great round up too, I know just what you mean about all of the fab flavours autumn has to offer. I must say I’m really intregued by Nico’s vegetarian sheherd’s pie made with teh buckwheat groats. We have some in the cupboard, I’m defo going to have to try it out.
Angela x
Eb Gargano says
It was quite incredible, Angela. So sad that it’s over now. Isn’t Nico’s shepherd’s pie fab? I must admit, I had never thought of using buckwheat as a meat substitute but I bet it works a treat – especially with all those delicious mushrooms! Eb x
Nico @ yumsome says
Do try it, Angela – everyone I know of who’s made it so far, has absolutely loved it!
Cliona Keane says
It sounds to me like you’ve had a great week! Love the recipes you’ve linked up too 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Eb Gargano says
I really have Cliona! Such a lucky girl 🙂 Eb x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Oooh the Mexican food looks delicious! A great round up of meals and thank you for featuring my pasta dish. Thanks for hosting and hope you have a lovely week x
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure, Kirsty 🙂
Vicki Montague says
Oh my gosh! Seriously…that sounds like my dream weekend. You lucky lady!!! And Happy belated Birthday!
Eb Gargano says
It was absolutely my dream weekend. Wish I could do it all over again! Thanks for the birthday wishes 🙂 Eb x
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
Lovely dishes you’ve chosen for the round-up…..they all look delicious (although strangely Rooibos gives me eczema patches if I drink it!).
Can’t wait to hear more about your food writing weekend……. sounds fab! x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks, Kate 🙂 How odd about the rooibos – have you ever met anyone else who get the same? Wonder if it would have the same effect if you had it cooked like this? I am currently working on my food writing weekend post – out soon! 🙂 Eb x
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
Yes…. Interestingly my cousin! x
Mandy says
What a lovely selection of recipes. I especially love the sound of the vegan buckwheat shepherd’s pie – I bet that is delicious. And what a weekend you’ve had! I love the sound of that food writing course and the birthday lunch also sounds and looks amazing. I’ve linked up a round up of healthy Halloween recipes for kids this week – just in case anyone is like me and wants their kids to join in the fun without a ton of sugar!
Eb Gargano says
Doesn’t it just? Great idea from Nico. I know I have really had the most fabulous weekend – such a lucky girl. Good idea with the healthy treats – this time of year is a bit of a sugar fest, isn’t it? Eb x
Monika Dabrowski says
Thanks for featuring my rooibos chicken recipe and the lovely writeup! Sounds like you’ve had a perfect foodie/birthday weekend! Looking forward to hearing more Dorset foodie stories:)
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure, Monika. Such a lovely sounding dish and such pretty photos! More Dorset foodie stories to come!! 🙂 Eb x
Sadhna Grover says
Hi Gargano, Thanks for hosting cook blog share.
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure Sadhna – thanks for linking up! 🙂 Eb x
Corina says
Firstly happy belated birthday! And your weekend sounds fantastic – I have to say I am more than a little bit jealous!
Eb Gargano says
Aw, thanks Corina 🙂 It was a rather fantastic birthday weekend – I am such a lucky girl. 🙂 Eb x
Jacqui Bellefontaine says
Happy to link up again this week.
Belated Happy Birthday wishes
jacqui x
Eb Gargano says
Thanks Jacqui 🙂 Eb x
Nico @ yumsome says
Thank you so much, Eb, for featuring my shepherd’s pie – I’ve never been featured anywhere before… I feel all kinds of special now!
I’m intrigued by spring onion-flavoured pasta – I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I must see if I can get some when I’m next in Blighty.
Your weekend away sounds spectacular, and All Hallows looks gorgeous (I checked out their site – beautiful)! I’m now going to go and read your review!
Eb Gargano says
Aw, so pleased I featured you now 🙂 Though can’t believe you’ve never been featured anywhere before now – your food looks and sounds so good! And such beautiful photos!! All Hallows is amazing – hope you enjoy reading my review 🙂 Eb x
Nico @ yumsome says
Awww, thank you, Eb – your kind words really mean a lot to me.
I’m almost finished work, so I’m going to make myself a glass of cha ma now (Thai iced lemon tea), and read your review while my beloved makes supper. Bliss!
Eb Gargano says
A pleasure Nico! They were genuinely meant 🙂 Enjoy your supper and cha ma (sounds lovely!) Eb x
jenny paulin says
sounds like a perfect birthday weekend Eb – i hope you had a blast!
i agree about the colours of autumn in food, it so reflect the colours out and about too. thank you for hosting xx
Eb Gargano says
It really was Jenny – rather sad it’s over 🙁 I just love autumn food and autumn colours and autumn everything really! Especially when it’s sunny and not to cold…perfect! Eb x