Let’s pretend how dull would be the foodies pallet if there were no autumn in the world. No roots, no pumpkins, no plums, no marrows, no apples, no late autumn honey, no mulled wine from thermos… Autumn is a great time to celebrate comfort and flavour. So I have a quick bucket list of things to do this fall if you are a food lover.

1. Bake an apple pie. Absolutely a must. No autumn should pass without a pie. May I offer you a recipe to try? This one with apple roses tastes good and looks delicious. Or why not to try an apple cake instead?
2. Mulled wine! Who said mulled wine is for Christmas? I promise you that it’s spicy warmness suits autumn beautifully. Make some mulled wine and spend a gloomy evening in the park or garden, drinking it. Maybe watching the stars, or maybe reading some poetry.
3. Go chocolate hunting. Research what shops in your city have the best variety of chocolate and spend some time reading labels, taking photos and tasting (if available). Buy couple, or three, or five (no more than ten)… And spend a half an hour comparing different bars with tea or coffee.
4. Buy a pumpkin. Actually, buy two. Waste one on all that pumpkin dishes you save on Pinterest. Pumpkin curry, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin soups and pies are among those really nice things to try. (May I also suggest you these really nice pumpkin cupcakes?) Make a “nature morte” with the other one. Place it on the dinning table as a centrepiece or on a mantel (if you have one) as an object of art.
5. When it’s time, gut it, carve it, make the scariest lantern on your street. Or the cutest if you like it better. Do not discard the seeds. You are a foodie or what? Extract the seeds, wash them, dry them, then bake at 50 degrees C for 30 minutes to make the best pumpkin seeds for salads, granola or bread… You made it yourself!
6. Apple chips. No more words. Just slice and bake!
7. Go adventurous and choose seasonal menu in your favourite restaurant. How often do you come to your fav place and order the same fav plate? To be honest, I do that all the time. I have several dishes I love the most in several restaurants I like. And tend to order them all the time. But autumn is so generous on fruits and veggies that we can’t ignore it. Viva celeriac! Viva parsnips!
8. Herbs and spice tea can be a great remedy for all that colds and flues waiting around the corner. But it also can be a pleasant way to calm down after a stressful day at work. Fill you teapots with mint, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, orange peel, cranberry and raspberry leaves and steep for 5-7 minutes, add some honey and dive into you relaxed evening. It can as well be linden, camomile and lavander  for a goodnight sleep.
9. Preserve! Whatever you like. My own stars of the shelf are pumpkin confiture, raspberry jam, black currants jelly and minced marrows.
10. Apples are very rich in pectin wich makes them really good for making jam. It sets quickly and has a nice consistency once set. But it’s also great for making jellies and zefir (Russian marshmallows). Give it a try.
11. Pack a hamper for a picnic. There’s no other such joy in the world as autumn picnics. Herb tea, hot chocolate, apple tarts, plum jams, cheeses and wines – oh, don’t start me on this. Get some inspiration here. Have a look at how we made our big Lavender picnic in Hyde Park.
12. Cook! Autumn is a nesting time, you spend more and more time at home and cook more and more comfort foods. Use all the help you need from books, magazines and blogs – find the recipies you dare to try and come on, turn the stove on!