People regularly ask me for recommendations: from which culinary classics to have on their bookshelves, to which ingredients to keep in their cupboards, or what utensils are best for certain techniques. So, as a Pasta Grannies team, we thought it was about time to share a few of our favourite things. Each week, on the Pasta Grannies blog, we’ll share a few key items we’re loving.
How do you feel about autumn? Too cold? Too depressing? Or are you happy to start hibernating? If you’re reading this in the states you don’t have a clue what we’re talking about, it could be because you call it ‘fall’. And those of you in sunnier climes like Australia? Well, you might just have to pin this conversation for about 6 months’ time.
Call it whatever you like, we don’t care. We just know that at Pasta Grannies, we love this time of year. Why? Because it’s ripe with brilliant ingredients that go well with pasta, of course. Earthy flavours, root vegetables, bright colours. And for the next four weeks we’ve picked some of our favourite autumnal fare and themed our recommendations around them. Up first on our list: it’s everyone’s favourite “fun guy”… mushrooms!
This woodland-themed trend isn’t new for our grandmothers; we’ve spotted many mushroom tea towels, and trinkets, and of course pasta dishes in their houses over the years. As always, they’re always steps ahead of everyone else.
STOCK
Items we regularly have on shelves in our pantry
We don’t endorse foraging your own mushrooms unless you know exactly what you’re looking for. We mean that! Please! We don’t want any unexpected poisonings on our hands. So whilst they might be a little expensive for what they are, we recommend buying your porcini pre-packed, instead of picking them. They’re a good investment because if dried they keep for a long time. Just make sure you keep them in an airtight bag or a jar.
Try these dried ones from Sous Chef and for that extra concentrated porcini kick, Italians use these Dado STAR Porcini Stock Cubes. They’re a great addition to vegetarian soups, stews, and sauces as well if you need that extra salty, earthy kick, without having to add any meat or meat-based stock into the dish.
MAKE
The best kitchen gadgets and gizmos to make a family-style spread.
And if you don’t want to use dried mushrooms, and have bought them fresh, we’d suggest you remember to clean them well – nobody likes grit in their risotto.
We like the OXO Good Grips Scrubber: or if you want to keep with things that look more similar to the vegetable itself you can try this wooden version.
ENJOY
Other things we’ve been enjoying inside or outside of the kitchen.
In Italy, they love some autumnal ceramics. I’m not usually one for trinkets but when Michaella was in Tuscany a few weeks ago, she spotted these on the tables at her local coffee shop.
And we got chatting, and thought something similar could make a nice seasonal gift? It planted a seed (or should we say spore) and now on my return home, I can’t stop spotting mushroom themed décor everywhere from Ikea to Anthropologie, Amazon, and H&M.
We love these adorable salt and pepper shakers from Flying Tiger. And for something a little less fairy-coded and a little more 70s-style, try this burgundy vase and matching 2-in-1 candle holder for a more subtle hint of the ‘shroom. Plus, if your room is dark? H&M offer a similar design in a lamp.
Burgundy seems to be quite the colour of the season; both for interiors and fashion, but the lamp comes in another 8 colours, in case that doesn’t work for your personal palette. We also love the vibrant autumnal orange one.
For your own nipotini (grand kids) if you have them, this autumnal jumper is equal parts cosy and cute (Mushrooms with smiley faces will never fail to brighten our day).
And if you’re unsure on the sizing, make sure you get it a size up. That way, there’ll be ‘mush room’ for them to grow into.
Please note that all these items are real recommendations chosen at our own discretion, and not a result of paid placement. Sometimes, however, we may include affiliate links)
