Weekly Meal Plan: Hello, Autumn

The weather really has turned, hasn’t it? I know there is promise of a mini boost in the weather this weekend (should I try to plan for one last barbecue?) but we’re full on into autumn eating now. My fridge is full of leafy greens and root vegetables, I’ve got pork chops marinating in the fridge for a black pudding and parsnip heavy traybake, and I’ve already made my first pie. So, in honour of the new season, for this weeks ‘Weekly Meal Plan’ I’ve just put together a week of my favourite autumnal weeknight recipes.

Monday: Creamy Mushroom Savoury Dutch Baby Pancake

In case you’re not feeling the Creamy Mushroom (French-style) Pancakes I posted earlier this week, and you’re still waiting for the promised, mushroom heavy pasta bake and the mushrooms on toast recipes I’ve got coming later this month, for next weeks #MeatFreeMonday go for a big, puffy, parmesan-heavy dutch baby, topped off with my favourite creamy mushrooms and chives. The flavours are basic, but the recipe itself is just unusual enough to make you very happy on a weeknight.

Tuesday: Roast Mexican Chicken with Pumpkin & Pesto

Adapted from Diana Henry’s brilliant book A Bird In The Hand (hands up who else is excited for her new book, From The Oven To The Table which is out next week??) this hearty chicken thigh and pumpkin recipe is full of punchy flavours that are a little different from what you probably use everyday. If you can’t find pumpkin yet near you, you can substitute butternut squash in a pinch.

Wednesday: Slow Roasted Tomato & Squash Soup with Homemade Garlic Bread

This recipe got a lot of love on Pinterest this week, before going absolutely mental on Twitter and I can see why: it is perfect for early autumn, using up the end of season tomato glut, roasted together with newly harvested butternut squash, coming together to make a comforting bowlful which you can easily make ahead, and will also taste fantastic taken to work to enjoy at your desk. Also, don’t skimp on the garlic bread which really is a ‘cheats’ (read: weeknight friendly) recipe I adore, and don’t make nearly enough!

Thursday: Baked Eggs with Black Pudding and Potatoes

A real hearty, Irish-inspired supper, this dish will forever be special to me as the recipe I developed the day my first cookbook was published. If you don’t mind the carb overload you can enjoy things as is, perhaps with some hot sauce on the side (I’m dolloping my homemade hot sauce on everything at the moment – you can find the recipe here!), but some wilted, buttered greens sprinkled with flaky sea salt – think curly kale, or big, thick ribbons of cavelo nero – would also be perfect on the side.

Friday: Scallops with Squid Ink Spaghetti & Pistachio Pesto

Okay, so I originally formulated this recipe as a Halloween treat, but it is actually so easy, and so tasty I think you should enjoy it at least several times this autumn. If you can’t find baby scallops in their shells to grill, feel free to pan sear a couple of larger ones in a pan with the chilli infused oil to serve over the pasta instead, or if you can’t get any fresh, do the same with a handful or raw king prawns instead.

A few autumn inspired sweets and bakes to sink your teeth into this weekend: Autumn Praline Loaf Cake, Olive Oil Chocolate Mousse with Fleur de Sel, Autumn Spiced Maple Frosted Doughnuts, Mummy’s Banana Bread, Vegan Banana & Apricot Flapjacks, Easy Apple & Cinnamon Hand Pies, How To Make Homemade Honeycomb, Cheap & Easy Classic Tea Bread, Super Simple 3-Step Chocolate Brownies.

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