Autumn cooking: Four cozy recipes to level up your seasonal kitchen game

Why we're obsessed with autumn produce

Real talk: early autumn is the ultimate vibe for home cooking. The weather is chilling out, and our local markets are popping off with peak-season goods like sweetcorn, squash, and those crunchy, bitter greens. If you’ve been feeling a little uninspired in the kitchen, chef Joe Otway is here to help us stop overcomplicating things. His latest recipes are all about letting the ingredients do the heavy lifting.

The lineup

• Cheesy tarts: These aren't your average snacks. You’re making a simple cheddar-infused dough and filling it with a savory custard. The goal is that perfect, slight wobble in the center.
• Sweetcorn salad: This one is a total W. We’re talking fresh corn cobs, zesty lemon, and a killer oregano oil drizzled over a bed of sour cream.
• Roasted squash with ’nduja: Squash is lowkey the main character of fall, but roasting it with spicy, honey-infused ’nduja? Absolute chef’s kiss. It’s spicy, sweet, and feels fancy with zero effort.
• Radicchio salad: If you think salads are boring, say less. This one uses a floral elderflower cordial dressing to balance out the bitterness of the leaves. It’s fresh, tangy, and perfect for when you need to offset something richer.

How to level up your kitchen game

• Don't skip the chill: When making the pastry for the tarts, make sure you let that dough hang out in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. It stops the crust from falling apart when you bake it.
• Blind bake is your friend: For those tarts, don't skip the blind baking step. It’s how you get that crisp base instead of a sad, soggy bottom.
• Embrace the marinate: For the radicchio, let it sit in the dressing for a few minutes before serving. It helps soften those tough leaves so they actually taste good.

Why it matters

Cooking with what’s in season isn't just better for the planet—it’s also way cheaper and tastes significantly better. Following the natural harvest helps you break out of the same-old-routine rut and actually makes you feel like you have your life together.