Seasonal foods in December

It’s the festive season, so help yourself to what’s fresh and plentiful right now.

Fruit & nuts: almonds, apples, hazelnuts, pears from store, walnuts. Imported chestnuts, clementines, cranberries, dates, pineapples, pomegranates, satsumas.

Vegetables: asian greens, brussels sprouts and sprout tops, cardoons, celeriac, chicory, endive, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, leeks, parsnips, salsify and scorzonera, winter squash, red cabbage, seaweed, spring onions, swedes, turnips, white celery.

Fish and shellfish: brown hen crab, carp, conger eel, Dover sole, mackerel, mussels, native and rock oysters, sea bass, skate, turbot, whiting. You may wish to avoid anything that’s been overfished, such as skate.

Meat, poultry and game: goose, grouse, wild duck, partridge, pheasant, turkey, woodcock.

Cheeses: Stilton, Blue Wensleydale. Brie de Melun, Vacherin Mont d’Or.

Time to hit the market then… What are you going to cook?