The Autumn Checklist
As the leaves turn gold, harvests are ploughed and the days get shorter; autumn feels like a fresh start. It’s my favourite season. The changing colours of natural landscapes. The piping hot and hearty meals. I could go on and on about all the things I love about Autumn. But with it, come challenges too. From waking up on dark mornings to fighting off the seasonal colds, here’s how I prepare for the season ahead.
Support your immunity
Stock up on vitamins and supplements, making them a daily part of your routine. Vitamin C is your go-to for immune support and for an extra boost, you can take a double dose on days where you feel run down. For digestion and nutrient absorption, take fresh ginger. And last but by no means least: turmeric. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits make it a great supplement for fighting against respiratory infections and coughs. Whiz up ginger, turmeric, orange juice and black pepper in a blender to make fresh shots that you can store in the fridge and knock back in the mornings. Or if you’re short on time, incorporate ingredients like ginger and turmeric into recipes.
Batch cook and freeze soups
Having soup in the freezer for when cold and flu strikes will have you thanking past you for being prepared. Just one Sunday spent in the kitchen will have you stocked up till the new year! My mum’s saffron chicken noodle soup recipe always delivers a bowl of comfort and nostalgia; something she always lovingly cooked for me when I felt poorly. And for days when the sinuses get stuffy, my mother-in-law’s butternut squash and sweet potato soup comes to the rescue; with heaps of ginger, chilli and black pepper for an extra kick. A generously buttered slice of sourdough must be consumed with every bowl, of course.
Fail-proof your mornings
Peeling yourself out of the warm embrace of the duvet on a cold and dark morning can easily be made into a romantic experience. Start by brightening up your bedside with the warm glow of a sunrise alarm like the Lumi Bodyclock. Your circadian rhythm will thank you. Ditch the blaring sirens for a calmer wake-up call by setting your clock or phone to play birdsong or Classic FM. Brew your drink of choice, or even better, have one made by a loving spouse. And if you can muster it, wake up half an hour earlier than you need to. Relish the mornings. Read a few pages of your book or favourite magazine. Breathe in the swirls of steam rising from your mug. Make your mornings something to look forward to.
Plan for seasonal eating
Autumn is the season of harvest. And the abundance of fruit and vegetables make it the the season for seasonal eating. Squash, leeks, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, pumpkin, jerusalem artichokes, aubergine, mange tout, sweetcorn and tomatoes are all ripe for the taking. Apples, pears, plums, figs and autumn fruiting raspberries bring sweetness to darker days. Hedgerows are a foragers delight, with hundreds and thousands of blackberries waiting to be picked. And now is the time to pick and freeze Mediterranean herbs like sage, parsley, basil and chives; for recipes that will carry you through till next spring.
Prepare the garden
As crops from kitchen garden start to plateau and perennials begin to die back, it feels like the gardening year is over. But from now till the first frost, there’s plenty to get on with. Wash empty pots and store them away, putting soil and spent plants into the compost bin. Move tender perennials and vulnerable plants into greenhouses, cold frames, or bring them inside. For more established plants that can’t be moved, wrap them in fleece. As summer fades into autumn, the hope of spring keeps gardeners busy, with bulbs waiting to be planted. Save tulips for early winter to prevent Tulip fire, a fungal disease. But you can begin to plant Snowdrops, Crocus, Daffodils, Hyacinth, Alliums and Bluebells now, for a display of colour from as early as February!
