5 tips to keep September feeling like summer

From lighter lunches to indoor barbecues, food editor Angela Romeo shares her top tips for  hanging onto summer that little bit longer…

There’s so much to love about summer: the long evenings, the delicious food and the regular get-togethers with friends and family. But just because it’s September, it doesn’t mean you need to reach for your hats and scarves just yet. Here, I’ve pulled together my favourite ways of extending that summer feeling throughout September – and maybe even beyond!

Enjoy in-season fruit and veg

With harvest season around the corner, there’s no better time to enjoy British fruit and veg. And you’ll be happy to hear that many of our summer favourites, such as tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries and apricots, are still in season well into September. Make the most of them with our delicious recipes – my choice would be this roasted tomato and yogurt flatbread followed by a few strawberry cheesecake bites.

Eat outside when you can

I love to eat outside throughout summer, and a bit of cooler weather doesn’t mean you need to move indoors straight away. Make the most of the afternoon sun by eating lunch in the garden, or on a park bench if you’re in the office. Try making this prawn & noodle salad box for lunch on the go. For warm evenings, take a cooked dinner to your patio or balcony to enjoy outside – while you may need a light jacket, you can still enjoy the outdoor eating experience. Too chilly to sit outside? Open up the doors or windows for an indoor-outdoor experience instead.

Cook your holiday favourites

Pining for your summer holidays and all of that delicious food? Bring a holiday feel to your dinner table by cooking up an easy Spanish paella, or the classic Sicilian dish, pasta alla Norma. Dreaming of a holiday further afield? Try Caribbean-inspired jerk-style chicken or indulgent Asian-inspired surf and turf. Holidays on a plate.

Prepare lighter lunches

On hot summer days, who doesn’t automatically reach for lighter lunches and salads, such as panzanella or Greek salad? These are a great way to up your vegetable intake too. Try to keep this habit up throughout September with lunches that make veg the star, such as this roasted carrot salad.

Barbecue indoors

No, I’m not suggesting you bring your grill in from the garden here! Instead, you can actually make use of a griddle pan, or the grill in your oven, to add that barbecue flavour to your meals. You’ll find tips on how to do this in our July/August issue. This method of cooking is also ideal for those unpredictable days when the rain could arrive any minute!

My favourite barbecue recipe to cook indoors is these stacked meatball sliders – they’re great if you’re hosting or entertaining. Cook indoors on a griddle pan to get the same barbecue effect. Looking for something a little different? I’ve combined the classic hot dog with a taco to create these fun, flavour-filled taco dogs. For this one, simply cook the sausages under the grill instead of on the barbie. Simple!