Time to enjoy autumn’s arrival and its bounty and

September is a funny month for food. I am still enjoying tomatoes, berries and salads but there is also the beginning of that unmistakable autumn feeling. The evenings are getting shorter and there is something very appealing about putting the oven on again.

Suddenly soup sounds good. Apples are appearing and I start thinking about crumbles, cakes and stewed apples for a good rice pudding.

It is the food equivalent of putting on a light jumper when you feel a light wind in summer. You don't quite need the big coat yet but you are beginning to appreciate a little extra comfort.

Perhaps that is what I love most about autumn food. Summer is about keeping things light and simple. A tomato, some good bread and a little olive oil can be all you need.

Autumn, on the other hand, invites us to slow down. It is about casseroles bubbling away in the oven, roast vegetables, mashed potatoes and desserts that really should be served with custard. There is an undeniable comfort in knowing that the season of warming food is approaching.

Autumn is about comfort. Maybe that is why autumn food has such a strong emotional pull. Summer food tends to be about freshness, simplicity and making the most of what is available while autumn is about comfort. It is about putting something in the oven and allowing the smell to fill the house. It is about mashed potatoes, casseroles, roasted vegetables and desserts that are best served warm.

I don't want to be thinking about turkey while I am still enjoying the last of the summer vegetables. I don't want to hear Christmas songs while the possibility of a sunny afternoon in Cork still exists. And I certainly don't want a conversation about Brussels sprouts before I have had my fill of strawberries.

I try to avoid shops at this time of year. I like the Halloween offerings but Christmas baubles don’t need to be next to a witches hat.

I think we should be allowed to make the transition slowly. I don't want to be eating mince pies while the sun is shining. I don't want to be thinking about turkey when I am still enjoying the last of the summer vegetables. And I certainly don't want to hear Christmas music while I am still wearing sandals.

For now, I am happy to stand somewhere between summer and autumn.

I will enjoy the last of the berries, welcome the apples and perhaps make the first crumble of the season.

I might even light the oven for something comforting on a cooler evening or wrap myself in a fluffy blanket while watching ‘The Great Sewing Bee’ on TV.