Well December is upon us and that means that it’s Crimbo time. It also means I’m bloody freezing cos those wintry northerly winds have already started a-blowing. I don’t mind it really as long as the weather a cold and dry as opposed to cold and wet. Although the in-season list is looking pretty slim for December there’s loads to look forward to that aren’t on the list – dried fruits, preserves and chutney reign supreme at the time. I must admit I wasn’t very prepared this summer and only made some mincemeat, but never mind. After the success of the steak and oyster pudding last month, I might try some more oyster-related recipes.
Vegetables: Jerusalem artichokes, beetroot, brussels tops and sprouts, cabbages, carrots, celeriac, celery, endive, spring and winter greens, kale, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, swede, turnips.
Fruit: apples, forced rhubarb.
Fungi and nuts: chestnuts.
Fish and shellfish: cod, crab, mussels, oysters, sea bass, whiting.
Game: goose, grey squirrel, grouse, hare, mallard, pheasant, rabbit, venison, woodpigeon.
Neil Cooks Grigson 