The October List

What I’m reading, cooking, wearing and generally loving right now

October! Another whirlwind of a month and now we’re edging into holiday season proper: one week to go to Halloween (woohoo!), then hot on its heels come Thanksgiving and - before you know it - it’s Christmas! I love this time of year. All the excitement of things to come: so much to do and plan and cook and celebrate… So here are a few favourites, some new (new-to-me, anyhow), some old, some spookier than others...

Honestly, I can’t tell you quite how happy this discovery made me: it’s tea that tastes like toast and jam. And it actually does! Taste like toast and jam, that is. It’s a small culinary miracle.

I made the More ‘Smores Pie from A Table Full of Love, but I made it using Lindt orange scented dark chocolate instead of plain chocolate, and it was (if I do say so myself) unbelievably good. Chocolate and orange together being one of the all time very best flavour combinations. You can find the full recipe in the book, but basically, it’s: a digestive biscuit base (no-bake and in the style of a cheesecake), a thick layer of chocolate-orange ganache; and then swirls of burnished meringue on top (but you whisk the meringue in a bain-marie over boiling water until the sugar has dissolved, then keep whisking until stiff - this gives the meringue a marshmallow-like texture). Lastly, give the top a good burnish with a blowtorch to give the ‘marshmallow’ that toasted quality and flavour.

I’ve been eating Fabbri Amarena Cherries in sweet syrup for years, but these ones in a sharp liqueur are new to me. And what a treat they are! If only for the packaging… but also spooned over ice cream, over vanilla pannacotta, baked into cakes (Fabbri also do a ready-pipped version which I think is preferable for baking) or potentially in a very grown-up, very delectable rocky road made with liqueur cherries, rich dark chocolate, nuts, marshmallows (of course) and whatever else you fancy.

I treated myself to an Oura ring for my birthday in March and I love it. I’ve learned so much from it in terms of my sleep and activity patterns; and while I’m a longtime sufferer of insomnia, it’s really helped me better manage my sleep so I wake up feeling more rested and energised. Suffice it to say I’m addicted.