Make the most of all the fresh produce – ‘tis the season to pickle everything!
Pantry staple: Vinegar
Autumn is the best time to get pickling! Pretty much any fruit and vegetable you can buy can be pickled, from baby carrots, cucumbers and daikon to rhubarb and berries. Pickling is easy to do in an RV; all you need is a glass jar, water, salt and vinegar (and maybe a smidgeon of sugar). Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar, but I prefer to use white wine vinegar or cider vinegar. For a quick pickle, heat water, salt and vinegar (and sugar if required), allow to cool and immerse your fruit or vegetable into the liquid. Store in the fridge and enjoy with anything from salads to tacos, or just as a snack.
Did you know?
Pickling was discovered accidentally 4,000 years ago in Egypt, after a cucumber was accidentally left in a salty brine.
Cool carrots
Although they are available year-round, carrots actually thrive in cool weather. Farmer’s markets are a great place to find some gorgeous varieties of carrots, and they can be enjoyed pretty much any way you like. If you’re buying carrots with their tops still on, make sure the greens are bright and crisp; these tops are actually delicious made into a pesto if you want to make zero waste. My favourite autumn recipe is carrot and ginger soup: sauté a couple of onions and three cloves of garlic, add carrots and vegetable stock, season with salt and pepper and a generous grating of ginger. Cook for 20 minutes, blend and serve with a dollop of sour cream. Yum.
An apple a day…
…is the best decision you’ll make! A famous supermodel once told me that her secret to keeping trim was in an apple: “If you think you’re hungry, eat an apple. If you don’t fancy that, you’re not hungry, so just have a glass of water.” Apples are at their crunchiest right now, and they are fantastic as sweet or savoury; try them grated into coleslaw with carrots, celery and walnuts. Apples are pretty amazing when baked too. Store apples in the fridge for optimum crunch and freshness. While apples are great for eating raw or as an easy salad ingredient, don’t be afraid to add them to savoury dishes too; apple and pork casserole is delicious!
