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Easy suppers for busy days, my most-requested cookie recipe and a day in front of the camera
Published 3 days ago • 4 min read
Hello!
I'm feeling a fresh burst of energy as we head into the last week of October and I'm more than a little bit excited for Hallowe'en! How about you?
Photo by Terry Joshi Images
It's the time of year when I'm craving cosy suppers - but busy days mean I need easy recipes. I'm sharing 3 of my favourites with you today, recipes that are perfect for when you need soothing, low-effort cooking with comforting results, along with a cookie recipe that has been getting rave reviews for over 15 years.
I'm also taking you behind the scenes, so you can see how the ideas you see on the website and social media come to life, and get an early look at what's to come.
And friends, if you are in the southern hemisphere, please know I am thinking of you too! Honestly, these recipes are perfect for any day of the year - and the cookies, well, they are always in season!
3 Easy Suppers for Busy Autumn Days
Cosy everyday suppers that are special enough to serve to guests.
Pork Chops with Fig & Port Sauce
Tender pork chops in an irresistible sauce. You can also switch the recipe up and use plums instead of figs - or chicken instead of pork!
These citrus-spiked, warmly spiced Orange Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies always get rave reviews from readers, family and friends. They are super-easy to make and keep really well - just be sure to chill the dough as recommended for the best crinkles. This is one of the photos from my latest photo shoot, which leads quite nicely into a little peek...
Behind The Scenes
Creating content can be a lot of fun, especially when you work with the great team I do. Our recent autumn and festive photo shoot was a real success, and my husband Guy was able to step away from his desk for a couple of photos as well!
This may be the earliest I have ever put up a Christmas tree - and do you know what? I've left it up! It is making creating Christmas content a lot easier - and as it is in the kitchen it's not visible from the front of the house, so my neighbours don't think I've lost my mind.
I'll definitely wait until later to put up our other Christmas trees and decorations though. And as you can see from the photograph at the top of the newsletter, my living room is definitely celebrating all things autumn!
Do you enjoy these little peeks behind the scenes? Please let me know - just hit 'reply' and your email will wing its way straight to me.
This week I'm...
finally finishing my tax spreadsheet (in the UK the deadline is 31 January.)
I'm also working on new recipes and content for the website and social media. My latest project is a recipe for old-fashioned carrot pudding, working from recipes used by my maternal grandmother and my Aunt Dorothy on my dad's side. We are definitely enjoying the recipe testing!
If you'd like a recipe for a traditional British Christmas pudding recipe from my husband's side of the family (which has been part of family Christmases for four generations) please click here.
Reading - cookbooks! I love developing my own recipes, but I also enjoy making recipes from other creators.
Fraiche and Simple* by Tori Wesszer was a bookstore discovery on our recent visit to Toronto. Last night I made the Everything Bagel Salmon from page 257 and oh my goodness it is SO good! I had the leftovers on toast today for lunch with a little avocado - yum!
And I treated myself to Simply Ina* by Ina Garten too - I love her recipes and her joie de vivre so much! You can find more of my favourite cookbooks here*. (affiliate links)
Watching - The Great British Bakeoff - oh my goodness, those contestants have nerves of steel!
Listening to - You're Dead To Me - a BBC Radio 4 comedy-history podcast. Listening to an episode about The Battle of Hastings on our way to visit the Bayeux Tapestry at The British Museum was a delight. In fact, we enjoyed it so much, we've started exploring their back catalogue on long car journeys.
Recommending - planning ahead. I don't mean going into full-on tinsel mode, but thinking a bit about what you want to make, cook, bake and buy now can save a lot of time and stress later. Check out my Christmas Recipes and Ideas for inspiration. You can always pin it for later on Pinterest if it feels too early (but I promise it's not!).
Links marked with an asterix (*) are affiliate links - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
That's all for now. Have a wonderful week - and Happy Hallowe'en for Saturday!
Thank you so much again for being a subscriber. Remember you can reply to this email with any questions, comments, suggestions or just to say hi. I love to hear from you.
Warmly,
April x
April J Harris | Helping you make the most of life at home and away.
Helping you make the most of life at home and away
Recipe creator and lifestyle storyteller helping you curate a life you love at home and away with delicious recipes, home ideas, travel escapes and style tips to help you live beautifully and make the everyday feel extraordinary. Subscribe for thoughtful ways to elevate how you eat, live and travel.
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