Seasonal Ideas

If, like us, you love enjoying food at its best, you are most definitely in the right place. Half the work is already done when you pick produce at the height of its season. Keep it simple but fresh and you can only achieve great results.

We bring to you seasonal ingredients and seek to share with you what's great to eat right now, and recipe ideas to make it even tastier.

Need more ideas or direction? Drop us an email and we will be more than happy to offer our advice to help you make the most of the great products available to buy at the peak of their season.

Read on for what’s great this month...............

As the days get shorter and the nights longer we're all looking for reasons not to head out into the cold and we've got the perfect excuse. A mission to put the much underrated brussel sprout back on top. These poor little vegetables have long since been pushed aside or even worse left off the menu because of their legacy of overcooking but not anymore! Why not try a few simple receipes and see if you can help restore them to their rightful place in amongst the christmas feast this year.

Start by trying them lightly blanched and then sauted with bacon lardons, or add chestnuts for a truly festive feel. Or how about pulling the leaves off them, blanching them in salty water for a couple of seconds and then adding to any salad as an alternative leaf. If you really want to push the boat out, you could  make a brussel sprout curry and help the humble brussel grace the table more than once a year.

If you're still not convinced, don't fear, there are plenty of other treats available this month. Why not stock up on soups whilst the harvest months are here, butternut squash, jerusalem artichokes and parsnips all make beautifully silky soups which you can freeze and use over the next few cold months. Or how about taking advantage of the abundance of root vegetables and roasting them off, alongside some beetroot, and finishing them off with a dash of balsamic vinegar?

Another great excuse not to leave the house is homemade christmas presents and with quince, cranberries, apples and pears everywhere, now is the perfect time to be thinking about getting those homemade chutneys and compotes on the stove ready to be wrapped and handed round to friends and family. The perfect way to exhibit your cooking skills and show you care without breaking the bank.

Now is also a great time to start thinking about which meat will be pride of place on your table this christmas. Why not take a break from the norm and go with a goose this year? Or for a slightly cheaper option how about roasted guinea fowl?

Finally, why not pick up some Elstar apples, our apple of the month. These apples are juicy, with a subtle honey taste and absolutely perfect in a tarte tatin - a fitting end to any meal!

Happy cooking!