A change in the seasons brings delicious
new flavours and exciting new recipes... 
Blackberries – nothing depicts the last few days of summer better than the sight of large, plump, blackberries hanging lazily from overgrown brambles. Get picking before the birds beat you to it, but if time is short, or the thorns make it tricky, we have ready picked blackberries in store for your convenience.
Try this: make a blackberry coulis by simmering blackberries with sugar for 5 minutes. Add a drop of vanilla extract then whizz in a blender. Strain through a sieve and serve with ice cream or pancakes.
Pears – the perfect autumn partner to blackberries, pears are another signal that the seasons are on the change. Ours come just a couple of miles away from Hayles Fruit Farm – freshly picked, ripe and juicy – just the way they should be!
Try this: place peeled and cored pears in a saucepan. Add sugar, water and vanilla pod to cover. Bring to the boil and poach for 20 minutes until soft. Remove pears and reduce the remaining syrup down to use as a sauce.
Fennel – with its deliciously fragrant aniseed flavour, fennel can liven up the most basic of dishes. It is lovely finely chopped and used raw in salads, or added to stir fries, but is perhaps best cut into chunks, drizzled with olive oil and roasted with other root vegetables for a moreish, caramelly finish.
Try this: finely chop and fry along with onion and garlic in the first stages of a risotto. Add risotto rice and stock as normal and finish with a handful of peas and parmesan cheese .
Mushrooms – a great standby ingredient, mushrooms can be used to flavour almost any dish from casseroles to risottos, from Bolognese to stir fries and even used raw in salads. They love garlic and thyme but sometimes, simplicity is best – a fried mushroom and bacon sandwich anyone?!
Try this: gently fry some butter and garlic, add chopped mushrooms. Add water and salt and cook for 10 minutes. Prepare some hot buttered toast and top with the mushroom mixture. Season with parsley and pepper.
50p off when you buy Budgens Blackberries
Valid from 3rd September 2010 until 28th September 2010
Try Budgens Blackberries at a reduced price using your money off vouchers!
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