With October just hours away, it’s really time to start embracing autumn.

And what better way than to start cooking and baking some warm and hearty meals and sweet treats?

‘Our choices with food often reflect our environment, and with the temperatures dropping, we’re moving towards recipes that are warming and help us to feel nourished and cosy,’ baker, cook and recipe creator Lucy Lord told Metro.co.uk.

We have some quick, easy-to-prepare and low-cost dishes put together by Lucy to help you get settled into the colder months.

Total time to make: 6 – 8 hours

These quantities are for one portion, multiply as necessary and amend to your own tastes and preferences.

Total time to make: 1 hour

500g pumpkin (or butternut squash), sliced into wedges

2 onions (red, yellow or a mix of both), sliced into wedges

375g good quality sausages (6 large or 12 chipolata)

Salt and pepper, to season

Total time to make: 45 minutes

400g strong Cheddar cheese,grated

200g Gruyère cheese, grated

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Time to make: 20 minutes (+ 45 min if roasting pumpkin)

120g chorizo, cubed* (see Top Tips to use paprika instead)

2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves plucked (or use 1 tsp dried)

1 x tin Cannellini beans (240g drained), drained and rinsed

Salt and pepper, to season

2 sprigs of sage, leaves plucked

Total time to make: 40 – 45 minutes

250g (about 3 medium) ripe bananas, mashed

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