Slow cooked casseroles, comforting blackberry and apple crumbles, toasty hot chocolate and an indulgent slice of sticky cake are the most wonderful flavours of Autumn.
It was great to be back working with top food photographer Kiran Ridley. His ability to create pictures that make you want to eat them from the page never ceases to amaze me. We had some fabulous Welsh ingredients to photograph from a quick and easy pancake mix to some artisan marshmallows which melt sublimely in hot chocolate or frothy coffee.
Blackberry pancakes
Blackberries have been in abundance this Autumn, but if you haven’t had a chance to forage yourself you can easily pick up a punnet in your local supermarket. Served with fresh pancakes a drizzle of maple syrup and a scoop of ice-cream they are a real tea time treat. Alternatively serve them for brunch with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt.
Hot chocolate with melted marshmallows
Indulge yourself with a cup of creamy hot chocolate. Heat some milk in a saucepan with a vanilla pod and a cinnamon stick. Remove from the pan and add some good quality dark chocolate. Stir in some honey, remove the cinnamon and vanilla and whisk vigorously. Pour into a glass and top with your favourite marshmallow. A Vanilla marshmallow would be perfect but you could try one with a chilli hit! Yes indulgent but worth it.
Green tea frozen yogurt
Ring the change this season with this sophisticated flavoured frozen yogurt. A fabulous accompaniment to a hot chocolate fondant or a spiced buttery bread and butter pudding.
Cakes
Bring home the baking. Even if you haven’t been bitten by the baking bug that appears to have swept Britain you can indulge yourself with a slice of cake from one of Wales’ award winning bakeries. This Clams Bakery delight will grace any tea time table…or any other table for that matter.