Fall foods from the five places I’ve lived.

Autumn has arrived and it just maybe my second favourite season of the year. (When I think about it, I probably say that about every season). I love the new beginning vibe of Autumn. Everything starts afresh.While I do miss the sunshine and wearing T-shirts as uniform. I must admit I love to wear a snug jumper and kick leaves in the park.

Autumn is great because finally it becomes socially acceptable to decline inviations and stay at home with a good movie or book due to the weather. People prepare for the Autumnal holidays such as Halloween and thanksgiving yet none of the Christmas pressure has arrived yet. Another thing I do like about Autumn is the food! I fantasize about a steamy dish placed in front of me with all my favourite autumn veggies and desserts.

Warm tasty delicious foods help you get cozy during the change of the temperature. I obviously love all the staples like pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes and mulled cider. However, these are my favourite five dishes that I love to eat in the Autumn to deal with those cold dark nights that suddenly arrive.

https://recipes.sainsburys.co.uk/recipes/sides/roasted-butternut-squash-with-garlic-and-parsley

Roasted Butternut Squash, England
In my wonderful homeland the UK, we eat a variety of warming dishes during the cold months. One dish that reminds me of Autumn in the UK is Butternut squash. This can be cooked in a variety of different ways, in a soup or in a salad or as I prefer, roasted. The taste is similar to pumpkin and very filling. I probably only eat it in Autumn. Chuck it in the oven with a bit of garlic and herbs and voila! you have a delicious dish.

2. Songpyeon, South Korea

I am obsessed with rice in all shapes and forms, which is probably why I absolutely love ddeok, the Korean ricecake. During the Korean thanksgiving, Chuseok, families eat Songpyeon a type of rice cake with a sweet filling such as sesame paste or honey. It is made to show gratitude for the years harvest during the festival. It is one of my favourite types of rice cake to eat and they look very pretty in a variety of colours and shapes. I look forward to this festival so I can eat these. Check out this amazing blog which gives information on how to make your own Songpyeon here!

Picture credits to: https://www.koreanbapsang.com/songpyeon-half-moon-shaped-rice-cake/

3. Mooncakes, China

In China they have a similar lunar festival named the Mid-Autumn festival in Chinese it’s called Zhong Qiu Jie. Families gather and eat a feast together. Mooncakes, Yuebing in Chinese are small densely filled cakes with flavoured paste inside which flavours such as lotus seed, red bean, and pineapple to name a few, traditional mooncake also have a yolk in the middle. They are also presented as gifts during the mid-Autumn festival and usually served with tea. Eating mooncakes reminds me of the positive memories I made living in China and all the warmth and kindhearted people that I spent time with during my stay in Asia. When I first moved into my apartment in Taipei my landlord gave me mooncake which made me feel very welcomed indeed.

4. BBQ, Taiwan
Once again, the Mid-autumn festival is celebrated in Taiwan as well as on the mainland but in Taiwan people celebrate by having a BBQ with close friends. Grilling meat together with friends is a great way to celebrate the change of the season and bond with your loved ones. This is a more modern take on the traditional mid-Autumn festival feast but I do love any excuse for a barbeque.

5. Pumpkin Risotto, Italy

One of the best things about living in Italy is the food. Since the day I arrived in Italy I had always wanted to try a true pumpkin risotto, a dish which warms you from the inside out and distinctly reminds you of the season. Pumpkins are in season now so supermarkets and grocers sell them in abundance. This dish with buttery creamy rice is by far one of my favourite Italian dishes and I could probably even eat it in the summer.