We love a risotto, we love butternut squash, and we love autumn. All of these things go hand in hand, and this is just the recipe to get your autumn feels on, log burners lit and blankets out. It's a lovely meal to snuggle down to when those long nights are drawing in.

Serves: 2 -3

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 Butternut squash
• 4 Sage Leaves
• 1 Onion
• 3 Garlic cloves
• 150g Arborio Rice
• 500 ml Vegetable Stock
• Dash of White Wine
• 50g Parmesan
• Olive oil
• Butter
• S&P

Optional:

• Handful of Walnuts
• 1 tbsp Maple Syrup

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180℃. Start off by prepping and cubing the butternut squash. Mix with some oil, salt, and pepper.
2. Roast it in the oven with the sage for ~45 mins, until it's softened and catching colour.
3. Meanwhile, dice the onion and soften in a saucepan with a generous cube of butter. Crush your garlic and add it to the saucepan.
4. In another saucepan, boil some stock and keep it simmering away throughout the risotto making process, so it's ready to add in when needed.
5. When the onion and garlic have softened, add the rice. Stir it around before pouring in a generous glug of wine. Let the rice absorb the wine for a couple of minutes, then add a couple of ladles of the simmering stock. Season, then let it simmer, adding more stock little by little only when required.
6. While this is cooking, take half of your roasted butternut squash and blend it in a blender with a little stock until pureed. Stir this puree into your rice along with half of the parmesan cheese.
7. When the rice is nearly ready (tip: it continues to cook slightly, and is better with a bite to it, so don't overcook. Taste test often), mix in the remaining roasted butternut squash chunks and the rest of the parmesan.
8. Once cooked, serve up in a bowl, sprinkling generously with parmesan.
9. Optional: For an indulgent touch, top with some candied walnuts, by simply toasting walnuts with maple syrup for a couple of minutes and sprinkling over.

Serving Note: Best enjoyed wearing comfy PJs, with a glass of wine in hand while listening to Fleetwood Mac or binge-watching your favourite series.