Winter Warmer Recipes

With the clocks having gone back and the nights getting colder, here are some recipes that not only use seasonable produce but that will help warm you up through the winter months.

Pumpkin Soup

A warming winter soup; the kick of ginger and chilli is balanced by tasty coconut milk.

INGREDIENTS: 1 medium pumpkin (preferably organic), 1 large white onion (chopped), 2.5cm/1in piece of root giner (finely chopped), 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped), 1/2 scotch bonnet chilli (seeds removed & chopped), 4-5 sprigs thyme, 400ml/14fl oz coconut milk, sea salt and feshly ground black pepper, breadfruit or sweet potato chunks (optional & to taste).

1. 1. Cut the pumpkin in half, then into wedges. Peel and deseed each wedge and cut the pumpkin flesh into 2.5cm/1in cubes.
2. 2. Put the pumpkin in a large pan with the onion, ginger, garlic and chilli. Strip the leaves from the thyme and add to the pan.
3. 3. Pour in about 400ml/14fl oz of water, bring to the boil and cook until the pumpkin has turned to a pulp.
4. 4. Add the coconut milk and season to taste with salt, then reduce the heat and leave the soup to simmer for another 5–10 minutes.
5. 5. If you like, add chunks of breadfruit or sweet potato towards the end of the cooking. Serve hot in bowls.

Apple & Berry Crumble

INGREDIENTS: 4 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and cut into big chunks, 1 tbsp water, 3 tbsp sugar, 225 g fresh or frozen blackberries (or mixed berries For the crumble), 170 g plain flour, 75 g butter, 75 g demerara sugar.

TIP: Rolled oats can be sprinkled on top to add an extra crunch

1. 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4.
2. 2. Put the apple chunks, water and sugar into a saucepan over a lowish heat and cook until the apples are soft and mushy; this should take about 10 minutes. While cooking, stir it every minute or so to prevent sticking. Taste and add more sugar if it needs it.
3. 3. Transfer the apple pulp into individual bowls or one big pie dish and allow to cool slightly. Stir the berries into the apples.
4. 4. To make the crumble, rub the butter into the flour until it resembles very coarse breadcrumbs. However, if you rub it too much the crumble will not be crunchy. Combine with the sugar. Sprinkle the crumble mixture over the slightly cooled apple and bake for 15 mins for small crumbles or 30-45 mins for larger crumbles. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.