Autumn Fayre

This weekend I have been mainly sitting around in big jumpers thinking about falling leaves and also what kind of fur coat I'm going to buy for winter. Normal Leopard? Snow Leopard or perhaps even Tiger! I've also been cooking the type of food which feels like a big hug.


Chicken and Chorizo Risotto (serves 2-4) depending how much rice you use.

The secret to a good risotto is a lot more parmesan than you think you actually need


Things to put in your risotto..
2 shallots
Risotto Rice
White wine (any kind, but if you get a nice bottle then you can enjoy it with your risotto)
Chicken breast - or pieces of chicken any kind of chicken is fine.
Some chorizo - about the size of a travel shampoo will be enough.
A pepper - again your choice of colour.
Mushrooms
Chicken Stock (If you are a vegeeeeetarian use vegetable stock -obvs)
Parmesan - a LOT of parmesan. 


Here is how you make it....


Chop up shallots and fry in olive oil. Once browned add risotto rice and fry with the shallots for about a minute. Then add chicken stock (I use a full measuring jug plus a little bit more) and a generous slosh of wine.  Leave to simmer for around 20-25 mins.


In a separate pan fry up your chopped up chicken and chorizo...

As the rice is starting to go soft fold in the fried chicken and chorizo and the chopped up mushrooms and peppers. Keep stirring until veg are cooked and then fold in the parmesan, add some black pepper and serve with a rocket salad and a large glass of white wine. I saved some to have for lunch today but ended up eating it last night.

As I have been mainly Miss Haversham house bound all weekend and had a lot of spare pears (ooo a little poem) this is a double blog.

Pear, ginger and cinnamon muffins.

If I could have bottled up the smell that came out of my oven this morning and sold it I would have been a millionaire. But I would also have had to go through the rigmarole of learning about how to make air fresheners which I think would be boring.

You can get pears very cheaply at this time of year so these cost next to nothing to make and are also surprisingly healthy!

 I made these after seeing a tweet by @gilliandonovan (fellow foodie and defo worth a follow) who kindly showed me the recipe she used which I have slightly messed around with.

You will need

2 pears, peeled and chopped

1 and a half cups of self raising flour

1 cup of wholemeal flour

1 cup of brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp of ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

1 beaten egg

Half a cup of red milk

A bit of butter - the less you use the healthier it is, I'd say about a tablespoon does the trick.

In one bowl mix together the flour,sugar, baking powder and spices. In another mix together the milk and beaten egg. Make a a hole in the flour mixture and add the milk mixture, whisk/stir/fork the two mixtures together and then fold in the chopped pear. Spoon into a greased cupcake tray or cupcake paper holders, sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar on top and then put in oven on 180 for about 20 minutes.

The hot pear mixed with the brown sugar is one of the loveliest autumn tastes I have ever enjoyed. These are probably best eaten wrapped in a blanket sitting on Hampstead Heath.

This week has seen the early introduction of my winter hat. I love it so much I wish I could wear it at times where it is not acceptable to wear a hat with bobbles on it.

Time to think about what to make for tea.....