Audrey’s Autumn Notes: Cosy Suppers, Country Shows & a Little Hint of Christmas
After what has felt like an absolutely scorching summer, I find myself wondering what autumn has in store for us this year. Will we be blessed with those lovely crisp, bright days when the Ribble Valley looks at its very best, or will we be reaching for the waterproofs by September.
Whatever the weather decides to do, I have to admit that I love the change of season. There’s something rather comforting about bringing out an extra layer, lighting a candle in the evening and beginning to make the house feel cosy again.
Here at Valley Living, new autumn stock is arriving daily, and over the coming weeks the shop will gradually change with the season. Expect winter scarves, hats and gloves, beautiful autumn fragrances and lots of lovely new homeware and gifts. And then, before we quite know what’s happened, those Christmas boxes will start appearing too!
The change of season happens in my kitchen as well. After months of salads and lighter meals, I’m ready to get back to proper comforting suppers.
I know how frustrating it can be to stand in the kitchen thinking, what on earth am I going to cook for everyone tonight? So, as usual, I’ve been busy in Aud’s Kitchen and have put together some sweet and savoury inspiration for each of the next three months.
There is a bit of an apple theme running through my autumn recipes this year – and for good reason. Apples are wonderful at this time of year. Their sweetness and slight sharpness work beautifully with richer autumn flavours, and they’re sturdy enough to be baked, roasted and simmered without disappearing completely.
So, kettle on, pinny out – here are my thoughts and recipes for autumn.
September – Back to School and Back to Routine
September always feels like a fresh start. The children head back to school, holidays come to an end, and suddenly everyone is trying to get back into some sort of routine.
Here in the Ribble Valley, there is still plenty happening.
One date I always enjoy is the Hodder Valley Show on Saturday 12th September. It’s one of those wonderful traditional agricultural shows that celebrates farming, livestock, rural crafts and food – everything that makes our corner of Lancashire rather special.
Find out more about the Hodder Valley Show
Then Clitheroe changes character completely later in the month when the scooters arrive!
The Ribble Valley Scooter Rally takes place over the weekend of 25th–27th September 2026, with the main events centred around Saturday 26th. It has become a real Clitheroe institution. The rally has grown from an event organised by Paul ‘Derbo’ Derbyshire from 2011 into a huge weekend, with hundreds of scooters, music and that fabulous ride through town.
There’s something quite extraordinary about seeing Market Place filled with Vespas and Lambrettas – you certainly know when the scooter weekend has arrived!
2026 Ribble Valley Scooter Rally information
And there’s another very worthwhile date for the diary: Macmillan’s Coffee Morning on Friday 25th September. The first Coffee Morning was held back in 1990, and what began as the simple idea of getting together over coffee and donating the price of your drink has grown into Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event.
If you’re planning a Coffee Morning yourself and wondering what to bake, have a rummage through my recipe collection – there are plenty of possibilities.
Aud’s Kitchen – September
For supper this month, I’m bringing back my Creamy Fish Layer. It’s a lovely one-pan dish with leeks and potatoes underneath, succulent fish in the middle and a golden Gruyère, dill and breadcrumb topping. Exactly the sort of supper I want when the evenings begin to cool – and fewer pans to wash is always a bonus!
Then we have two new seasonal treats.
My Apple, Date & Ginger Slice has dark muscovado sugar, golden syrup, apples, dates and both ground and stem ginger. You can have a slice with a cup of tea, but I particularly like it warmed as a pudding with custard or ice cream.
And if you want to make it into something a little more special, serve it with my new Aromatic Baked Pears. Pears are baked with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, honey and a little almond extract. They’re also lovely for breakfast with natural yoghurt – and they keep happily in the fridge for four or five days, so they’re a useful make-ahead recipe.
The end of September also sees our Sunday trading end for the autumn. We remain open Monday to Saturday, 9.30 am–5 pm.
October – Baking, Apples & Dare I Say the C Word?
By October there is no denying autumn. The leaves are turning, evenings are darker, and my thoughts have definitely moved towards soup, baking and warming food.
It’s a good month to get the mixing bowls out, and I always like to give a nod to National Baking Week on 14th October. It’s a lovely excuse to bake something just because you can – particularly with children or grandchildren.
October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Wear It Pink takes place on Friday 23rd October 2026, raising funds for Breast Cancer Now’s research and support.
Find out about Wear It Pink 2026
So if you’re organising a pink bake sale or fundraiser, do have a look through my recipes for a little inspiration.
And while the oven is on…
Dare I mention Christmas?
October is actually an ideal time to make your Christmas cake. Mine is Mum’s old ‘Pound All Round’ Christmas Cake recipe. Growing up on the farm, Mum used to make a huge 10-inch square cake because there were so many mouths to feed! I’ve halved her quantities to make a more manageable eight-inch round cake.
I like to soak the fruit in brandy for a few days beforehand, then once the cake is baked and completely cool, wrap it well and give it a little feed of brandy every week until it’s time to decorate. Entirely optional, of course… but that’s how we like ours!
Aud’s Kitchen – October
First up is my new Parsnip & Apple Soup.
Parsnips really come into their own as the weather cools. They have a lovely natural sweetness and gentle nuttiness, and I find the smaller ones are often sweeter and less likely to have that woody centre. In this soup I’ve paired them with Bramley apple, cumin, coriander, cardamom, ginger and turmeric.
Serve it in a warm bowl with crème fraîche, fresh herbs and plenty of crusty bread. That’s autumn lunch sorted.
For something sweet, it’s my old favourite, Apple Cake with Brandy Sultanas. Apples, almonds, brandy-soaked sultanas and a crunchy Demerara topping – what’s not to like? It works cold with a cup of tea or slightly warmed with ice cream, cream or crème fraîche for pudding.
Meanwhile, back in the shop, keep your eyes peeled because our Christmas stock and Christmas window will begin appearing towards the end of October.
There, I’ve said it again, Christmas!
November – Bonfires, Big Jumpers & Proper Comfort Food
By November, I think we can officially embrace cosy season.
Guy Fawkes Night on 5th November brings bonfires, fireworks, hats, gloves and that unmistakable smell of woodsmoke in the cold air. It’s one of those nights that seems made for coming home to something hot and comforting.
At the other end of the month, St Andrew’s Day falls on 30th November, a celebration of Scotland’s patron saint – and another reminder that we’re racing towards December.
And November’s savoury recipe is comfort food with a capital C.
Aud’s Kitchen – November
My Tartiflette is inspired by the classic dish from the Savoy region of the French Alps – layers of waxy potatoes, bacon, onion, garlic, white wine and cream, topped with gloriously melting Reblochon cheese. If you struggle to find Reblochon, I’ve found a good ripe Camembert makes an excellent (and usually rather less expensive!) alternative.
It’s actually become a Christmas Eve tradition in our house. I serve it with crusty bread, a crisp green salad, and charcuterie in the middle of the table, and everyone helps themselves. Best of all, you can make it ahead and freeze it – invaluable when life gets busy.
As there’s white wine in the Tartiflette, I think we ought to talk about what goes in the glass too! A crisp, dry white is just the thing to cut through all that creamy cheese and bacon. For a local recommendation, have a chat with the knowledgeable team at D. Byrne & Co. Wine Merchants in Clitheroe – one of those wonderful local businesses we’re lucky to have on our doorstep.
And for the sweet tooth, my Cranberry & White Chocolate Chip Flapjack couldn’t be easier: oats, brown sugar and golden syrup with sharp little bursts of cranberry and sweet white chocolate. My final instruction in the recipe might just be the most important: make a brew and enjoy!
Autumn at Valley Living
When I opened Valley Living, I wanted to create something special – a little haven of comfort in the heart of Clitheroe.
Our tiny shop at 3 Market Place is packed with rustic charm, glowing candles, beautiful fragrances, cosy homewares and gifts that I’ve genuinely enjoyed choosing. I particularly love finding something a little different and supporting independent and British suppliers wherever I can.
But I’ve always wanted Valley Living to be about a little more than simply selling things.
Food and cooking have been such a big part of my life, from growing up on a Ribble Valley farm to my years as a chef, and Aud’s Kitchen is my way of sharing that with you. Hopefully there’s a recipe here that solves one of those “what can I make tonight?” moments – or simply gives you an excuse to bake a cake and put the kettle on.
And I’m delighted that all my recipes can now be found together in one place:
Browse all of Aud’s Kitchen recipes
So whether you’re searching for a cake for your Macmillan Coffee Morning, something for a Breast Cancer Now fundraiser, a warming family supper or just a nice bit of cake for Sunday afternoon, have a browse and help yourself.
Here’s to crisp mornings, colourful Ribble Valley walks, apples from the garden, warming suppers, candles on the mantelpiece – and whatever autumn decides to throw at us.
Happy autumn!
Audrey x
