​Hello October, autumn favourites!

It's no secret that the Wares team are huge fans of Autumn! Yes, we adore summer with its long days and relaxed vibe, but there's something about the cosiness and colour of autumn that's impossible to resist. It's also a great time of year to get back into projects and crafts, especially if you love cooking.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some fun things to try in the kitchen this autumn, especially with Halloween around the corner! Gather up those glass jars, raid your allotment or 'grow your own' patch for any seasonal supplies and let's get creative!

Pumpkin Soup

Squashes, pumpkins and gourds, in general, are synonymous with autumn, and most of us find we're left with pumpkin pulp around Halloween. But don't throw it away after your carving efforts, because pumpkin also makes the most delicious - and nutritious - soup.

This is a lovely warming soup with subtle sweet flavours and rich chicken undertones. It's also creamy and can be finished with garnishing's of your choice, such as freshly made croutons and crunchy fried seeds. Serve it with a hunk of sourdough bread, warm from the oven and generously buttered. Here's a great recipe to enjoy: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pumpkinsoup_89904.

Autumn Granola Parfait

Why not grab your glass jars and look at recipes that make the most of seasonal favourites? If you're lucky enough to have some frozen blackberries left from your seasonal foraging activities, combine them with some stewed apple puree, made from the last of the garden apples. Apple puree is great as you can cut the last of the cooking apples and store your apple puree in glass jars for later use. Take your apple, blackberries and any other seasonal fruits you might have to hand and layer them with Greek yoghurt and delicious granola.

Granola is actually very easy to make, and you can store it in airtight Mason jars or any other kind of lidded glass jar. Have a go at making your own here: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/good-you-granola.

Did you also know that you can make your own yoghurt very easily? Just treat yourself to a little electric yoghurt maker, or use a thermos flask to make your own. You just need milk and a starter, and you'll find the results are absolutely delicious. Again, you can serve individual portions in small glass jars or bottles, ready to enjoy for breakfast with a swirl of local honey.

Autumn Green Tomato Chutney

Did you end up with green tomatoes that never quite ripened on the vine? Don't worry. With this fantastic green tomato chutney recipe, you can transform them into a delicious treat that will sit perfectly in your pantry, just waiting to accompany your next Ploughman's. Put them in pretty glass jars and add labels for something positively gift-worthy. You'll find a great range of jam jars here, too which work perfectly for chutneys.

This recipe will get you started, and it's lovely to make on a rainy afternoon as well. Enjoy time in your kitchen with the radio, a glass of something nice and a row of your favourite glass jars, ready to fill. Just make sure they are sterilised before you begin so the chutney doesn't spoil: https://lovelygreens.com/spicy-green-tomato-chutney/.

Berry Cordial

You can also make your own beautiful berry cordials and store them in tall glass bottles, ready for mixing into cocktails when the party season arrives. These homemade cordials are very natural - just using fruit, spring water and sugar - and they also look beautiful once they are made, so they double up as a decoration for your kitchen shelves. Here's a lovely starter recipe for you to experiment with: https://www.lordbyronskitchen.com/how-to-make-homemade-fruit-and-berry-cordials/.

Other ways to use glass jars in Autumn

There are so many fun ways to use glass jars in autumn. Spray paint small jars in shades of orange and gold and paint on black eyes and mouths to make spooky candles, which you can then fill with tealights or strings of battery-operated lights. These are great Halloween decorations that are very safe to use, without the risks of candle tealights.

You can also glue pretty autumn leaves onto glass jars with decoupage glue to make pretty vases for seasonal foliage, or make your own scented cinnamon bath salts with Epsom salts and essential oils for that all-important post-walk bath. Glass jars are so versatile, especially with all of the natural beauty you can find outdoors at this time of year, such as pine cones and conkers.

Stock up today

We have a great range of glass jars and bottles on sale at Wares of Knutsford, with extra discounts for large orders and highly competitive rates on our fast delivery services. Our team are also on hand if you have any queries - we're always delighted to help and to show off the superb customer service that we've become renowned for over the years. Discover the Wares of Knutsford difference today - and remember to sign up for our newsletter too for all the latest product releases, inspiration, competitions and more!