I can’t kid myself any longer. There is no chance of hanging onto the last remnants of Summer today. The sky is cloudy, the wind has that chilly bite to it and to top it off I heard them forecasting snow on the radio this morning (though not down as low as our mountain!) It’s definitely Autumn with Winter fast approaching.
In a bid to ‘Make the best of things’ I’m looking hard to find some positives to the colder months. Among those ‘positives’ is the change over from our Spring/Summer menu to our Autumn/Winter menu.
It’s not as fancy as it sounds, and many meals will stay the same, but it’s refreshing and pleasing to think about switching out salads for soups, looking at what fruit and veggies are going to be around and hunting down a few new recipes to try. And, you know, “a change is as good as a holiday” – or so they say!
So here’s our Autumn/Winter menu ideas…
Pasties – Planning With Kids has a great recipe.
Meat Pies/Pot Pies
Empanadas – going to try the basic dough recipe from Buttons Magee
Chilli with cheese bread
Meat balls
Meat loaf
Mexi Bake
Chicken Mushroom Pasta
Chicken Noodle Soup
Minestrone Soup
Pizza /peekaboo pizza bread
Tuna Mornay – my girls love tuna, just not with cheesy sauce but I’m giving this recipe from Innerpickle a go anyway!
Slow Cooker Chicken and Lentils – this will be my first foray into the world of slow cooker meals.
Fried Rice
Stir fry with home made egg noodles – if I am brave enough to have a go at these
Indian Chicken with Naan Bread
Sausages with cheesy vegetable rice.
Roast – we are planning to save up to maybe have a nice roast every now an then!
So what is your favourite winter dinner?
Care to share your favourite winter recipe?
Check out updated list with more ideas for Autumn family meals here.
these autumn menu ideas are ausumn (yes I stole the ausumn)
I can’t wait to try the peekaboo pizza.
Can we come for dinner every day??
OMG Snow seriously!? It has been getting colder in the last hour though thats for sure. I was thinking I had made a mistake sending DD to school in the winter woolies…now I think she should have gone with the umberella as well.
I LOVE MexiBake…such an easy recipe to whip up too. Anything soup wise for the girls too.
Thankyou thankyou thankyou ! I really need a list like this for inspiration, perfect timing.
Welcome to the world of slow cooking, hopefully you will love the ease and the delicious dishes you can cook. I made and organic lamb and vegetable casserole in the slow cooker, and have a great recipe for coq au vin.
I am loving these cooler days and getting cosied up at home. Now it’s cooler and darker at dinner time we like to eat chilli, bangers & mash and shepherd’s pie. This is my first winter with a slow-cooker so I’ll be putting that to good use very soon.
Thanks for the links Kate! Do you have a recipe to share for chicken noodle soup? I have been looking for a good family one, as I think my kids would love it.
I love my slow cooker and use it regularly – we love Beef Strogonoff and Chicken Cattiatore both cooked in the slow cooker, nom, nom, hearty cool weather fare!
oooooo Naan Bread. That’s it. I’m going to have to make some tonight!
Making slowcooked lamb shanks in tomato base with homemade pesto, cardamon, paprika, carrots, green beans, at 140 deg C for 3.5-4 hours. Best of all the smell percoltes through the house causing happy murmering from people as they arrive home….
And I have sourdough doing first rising on the warm stovetop while it cooks :-)