Cooler temperatures call for a touch of comfort – Marc Weir has dishes to entice you back indoors.

We all eat with the seasons in mind and more often than not the weather dictates what we feel like, either consciously or subconsciously. The summer that has just passed has been a roller-coaster of cravings from those hot summer days where barbecues and summer salads were needed, to the crazy, unseasonal weather patterns that made us want to hunker down with comfort food to nourish the soul.

Autumn, I’m sure, will bring more unseasonal weather which again will impact on our eating habits and desires. Not only do we get to enjoy the gorgeous foliage and cooler temperatures of autumn, but we also get to enjoy dishes that say a gentle farewell to the flavours of summer: from a fresh one-pot wonder through to more comforting dishes such as a vibrant super-green risotto, to a crisp, earthy beetroot and apple salad and a savoury crumble that will want to make you gather your friends or family together for a shared Sunday lunch. So I say enjoy the autumnal feasts and cherish those flavours.