Autumn brings it own pleasures.....

Autumn brings it own pleasures.....   

 A very special time for everyone.          For some of us it is a welcome slow-down after 2015 started off at full speed! Summer has come and gone and Autumn is beginning to show her magical colours. With it she brings us beautiful days with longer evenings, milder temperatures and a longing for more heart warming dishes.

With winter approaching it is time to take out the recipe book and look for those comforting dishes - flavoursome casseroles, rich sauces and heartwarming aromas. Soups, bredies, casseroles and baked dishes are all family favourites that will celebrate the change of season.

Stewing beef is excellent to cook many great casserole dishes, especially the iconic Boeuf Bourguignon

Buying Meat to Beat the Budget - During summer we tend to buy the more expensive cuts of meat, steak and lamb loin chops being on top of the list for a braai. With winter setting in it is now the time to buy those cheaper cuts that are still on special every now and then.
Stewing beef is a marvelous cut to use in many recipes that require a long and slow cooking time.

Mutton can now replace lamb - it should be a lot cheaper and has a lot more flavour than lamb - ideal for a slower cooking method - bredies and curries are waiting to be cooked.

Buy Vegetables that are in Season - Many vegetables are currently available at reasonable prices, especially if you buy them in bulk. Pockets of gem squash, butternuts, onions and potatoes are a lot cheaper than buying them per kilo or pre-packed. They all have a reasonable shelf life, and they are ideal in dishes prepared for the freezer.

There are many vegetables in season at really reasonable prices, especially if you buy them by the pocket. Most of them will last quite a long time and they are ideal for heartwarming and tasty soups.

Spinach, leeks, onions, sweet potatoes,  broccoli, cauliflower, beetroot, pumpkin, carrots, potatoes and butternut are all excellent to use in the most delicious soups - ideal to prepare and store in the freezer - time to stock up for all those cold winter nights!

Be really Smart when you Shop - So often we buy ingredients for a very specific recipe that we have in mind - nothing wrong with that - but this causes us to overlook what is on special or relatively cheap at the moment. You will be amazed at how much you can save by doing it the other way roud. Buy what is available or on special and then search for a good recipe to make use of it. This way you will expand your repertoire and cooking skills at the same time - discover new flavours, combinations and cooking methods. Being creative and open-minded can take you on an exciting new culinary adventure whilst saving money at the same time.

Waste not, want not - there is a lot of truth in this old saying. Leftovers can sometimes be a bit of a nuisance - too much to throw away and too little too keep. Using your deep freeze wisely can save you a lot of money and time. Keep two or three plastic zip-lock bags (or empty used ice-cream containers) in your freezer for all your leftovers. With winter upon us this is the ideal way to stock up for the most delicious and heartwarming soups.
Place all your leftover vegetables in one bag, meat in another (seperate bags for red meat, chicken etc.)  and one for potatoes. Potatoes don't freeze well, but if you reheat them in stock and blend them they are ideal for thickening soups and stews. Once you have a fair amount of leftovers you can get the stock pot simmering with delicious ingredients to make really good soup. With most ingredients already cooked you save a lot of time as well. Serve with croutons or a freshly baked seed loaf for a delicious winter meal.