Autumn Cookid EDIT #2 Pumpkin and Autumn Veg Soup

Making soup is one of the best things about autumn. Getting the kitchen really warm by cooking hearty meals. Pumpkin soup is a big favourite and especially seasonal with Halloween around the corner. Here is my take on a hearty pumpkin soup.

Yummy autumn lunch!

Autumn Cooking EDIT #3 Pumpkin Spiced Latte

Happy Halloween! As winter starts to draw in my intake of hot beverages goes through the roof. I will never get bored of tea and coffee but it's fun to spice things up a little. I love the spiced pumpkin lattes they do at starbucks but they do tend to eat through my wallet a little. My solution was to buy the syrup (mine was about £10 online) and do it myself! 

Nothing better on a rainy Halloween right?

An Edinburgh Winter

Arthur's seat from the window

"England's Most Romantic Ruin" Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle has been called "England's most romantic ruin", here are some pictures I took of it last winter at sunset. There's something very Arthurian about it ...

A view of the castle walls, battlements and moat

Dinner Party Ideas #1 Easy Salmon and Roast Potatoes

This recipe is a useful, quick, yet impressive piece for a dinner party or just something a little fancy for a treat. Really quick to make and can be done in advance, just give it a little panache when serving and you can enjoy you're own party without being glued to the oven.

Fun with Cocktails #1 Cranberry Tart

Making cocktails is really fun. Inventing cocktails is really dangerous. So here's an easy recipe for a citrusy, sweet and sour drink that's tastes a little like sherbet.

What you will need:

• 1 1/2 measures gin
• 1 measure triple sec
• 1/2 measure lime juice
• Dash angostura bitters
• Dash cranberry bitters

Autumn Cooking EDIT: Butternut Squash Risotto

One of the best things about Autumn is Autumn cooking. Cold weather food for chilly days to get a nice glow going in the kitchen. Butternut squash is that little bit cheaper this time of year so I though I'd experiment with a risotto.

You will need:

• 1 butternut squash
• 1 white onion
• 700 ml chicken stock with white wine/cider
• 300 grams risotto rice
• Salt and pepper
• Sage
• Grated cheese (I used mature cheddar)

Step 1:

Cut up the squash into chunks and scoop out the seeds