As students in Edinburgh universally mourn the summer – and that familiar autumn chill starts to creep in- what better way to get back into the swing of the semester than some good, hearty food. That being said, here is a day in the life at university: foodie edition.
My favourite green-flag in a person is someone who loves a filling breakfast, and so my day will always start with some good food- even if that means sacrificing a lie-in on those blissful days that I have no morning lectures. For me, the perfect go-to breakfast in autumn is a big bowl of porridge, drizzled in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. And if you’re feeling healthy, then throwing a chopped banana in there too will not go a-miss!
I will always be an advocate for a Starbucks pumpkin-spiced latte, however, one of my favourite coffee shops near campus for a mid-morning snack is Dai Pai. Not only are their coffees so good, but you also get a free cake when you buy a hot drink! A uni student in autumn’s dream.
For lunch time, a great budget-friendly meal is a Cajun Chicken Avocado Salad Wrap: not too much preparation, and still provides those autumnal vibes. Use Cajun seasoning and some red pepper flakes on some chicken breast- with a few minutes on the hob until crispy, and then 20 minutes in the oven. Make up the salad with tomatoes, lettuce, avocado, a dab of natural yoghurt and a shake of black pepper, throw it all in a wrap and you have a student friendly lunch to suit the season!
Alternatively, if you aren’t a packed-lunch kind of person and prefer to opt for eating out, then Fettle is the place to go. Freshers listen up: this is an Edinburgh Uni student staple. Their soups are to die for and the focaccia never fails to hit the spot; and as an added bonus, they offer student discounts. What more do we need?!
After a long day of lectures and studying – if you’re anything like me – baking is one of the best ways to relax. And I think we all have to admit: autumnal bakes are some of the best. Aside from the obvious (but delicious nonetheless) bakes of cinnamon buns, banana bread or an apple pie, a sweet treat I will always appreciate has to be pumpkin muffins. Throw together some cake mix, pumpkin purée, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl, bake for 20 minutes at 175 degrees C and there you have it- the perfect post-uni snack.
Finally, my ideal round-off to the day would be some homemade carrot and coriander soup. After sautéing with onions and garlic, blend your all vegetables with some coconut milk. Then cook it off, adding salt, pepper, turmeric and paprika. Pop it in a bowl, add some cream and sprinkle some parsley, and you have one of the best feel-good meals- best served with some good, crusty, buttered bread!
Feel free to end your evening with one of my favourite cosy cocktails: an espresso martini. And there you have it; an autumnal-eats day in the life!
“SOUP BOWL CAFE IS NOW OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY By R.L.Huffstutter” by roberthuffstutter is licensed under CC BY 2.0.