Seasonal Foods - November

Almost through the whole year of seasonal foods, hope you've all managed to identify recipes to use the bounty of the seasons. This months collection is no less impressive.

November Vegetables
Artichoke, beetroot, butternut squash, celeriac, celery, chicory, chillies, horseradish, jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, potatoes,
pumpkin, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips, watercress


November Fruit
Apples, elderberries, medlars, pears, quince


November Seafood
Brill, clams, coley, conger eel, crab, eel, haddock, halibut, hake, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, monkfish, mussels, oysters, plaice, pollack, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, skate, squid, turbot, winkles


Bon appetit!

Seasonal Foods - October

Well it's still well mild here in the UK, with the occassional threat of a frost so there's no excuse to not get outside and keep harvesting the lovely produce that we have in the ground. My garden is almost empty now of the foodstuff from this growing season, we've not made decisions on over-winter crop with the exception of leeks that have been in the ground for what seems like eternity... but there's a tangent that I like to find, back to seasonal stuff, keep your seasonal recipes coming in please and remember to eat local, eat seasonal.

October Vegetables
Artichoke, beetroot, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, celeriac, celery, chillies, fennel, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, marrow, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, swede, turnips, watercressbrussels sprouts, chicory, cucumber, garlic, jerusalem artichoke, lettuces & salad leaves, peppers, radishes, rocket, runner beans, salsify, shallots, spinach, spring onions, sweetcorn

October Fruit
Apples, bilberries, elderberries, medlars, pears, quince, tomatoes

October Seafood
Brill, clams, coley, conger eel, crab, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, hake, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, monkfish, mussels, oysters, plaice, pollack, prawns, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, skate, squid, turbot, winkles

October Harvest

So we went to tidy up the allotment this weekend and whilst up there decided to pull the carrots up... bloody hell there were a lot. This picture isn't even half of them, and let me tell you, they were delicious :~) Kudos to Shandy P for setting up this wheel of carrots, he thought it might look good, the closet artisan that he is!

Bumper Chilli Crop

As promised here are pictures of the variety of chillis we grew this year. Having a greenhouse has been an absolute godsend, meaning that the fruit had plenty of opportunity to get big and juicy.

My chillis!

Seasonal Foods - September

Harvest Month... plenty to gather and plenty to eat, i will post some images later this week of appales pears and chilli peppers that were harvested this month by the Palmer's fair hands. This month gorge yourself on the following sumptuous offerings.

September Vegetables
Artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, celery, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, garlic, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuces & salad leaves, mangetout, marrow, onions, peppers, potatoes, radishes, rocket, sweetcorn, watercress.

September Fruit
Apples, bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, damsons, pears, plums, raspberries, tomatoes.

September Seafood
Clams, cod, crab, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, monkfish, pilchard, pollack, plaice, prawns, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, shrimp, squid, turbot, winkles

Images to follow :~)

Seasonal Foods - August

Finding my feet again following the earth-shattering introduction of a new member to the Palmer-clan! Hopefully that'll mean more blogging time. Anywho (to use a Jessica-ism), August is still a hugely bountiful time of year so what's good?

August Vegetables
Artichokes, aubergine, beetroot, broad bean, brocolli, carrots, chillies, corgettes, cucumbers, french beans, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, leeks, mange tout, new potatoes, onions, peas, radishes, rocket, runner beans, spinach, sweetcorn.

August Fruits
Blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, loganberries, peaches, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, tomatoes.

August Seafood
Cockles, coley, conger eel, dab, grey mullet, langoustine, sea trout, squid, cod
crab, dover sole, haddock, halibut, herring, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, monkfish, plaice, pollack, prawns, salmon, sardines, scallops, sea bass, sea bream, shrimp, whelks, whitebait

DAMN! Lots of choices this month, don't be frightened to send me a recipe or two to try from these lovely selections :~)

Seasonal Foods

Nature really does start to show off in June. The sun is higher in the sky, hotter and more intense. In our temperate climate we get a fair amount of rain and so fruit and veg is abundant. As such, this month, you should have no problem creating a seasonal dish full of delicious ingredients, bon appetit!

June Vegetables
artichoke, asparagus, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, french beans, garlic, jersey royal new potatoes, kohlrabi, lettuces & salad leaves, mangetout, new potatoes, onions, peas, potatoes (maincrop), radishes, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, spinach, spring onions, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms, wild nettles

June Fruit
blueberries, cherries, chillies, elderflowers, gooseberries, greengages, loganberries, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, tomatoes

June Seafood
cockles, cod, coley, conger eel, crab, grey mullet, haddock, herring, john dory, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, plaice, pollack, prawns, salmon, sardines, scallops, sea bream, sea trout, shrimp, squid, whelks, whitebait

June Herbs
basil, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, elderflowers, mint, oregano, parsley (curly), parsley (flat-leaf), rosemary, sage, sorrel, tarragon, thyme

Seasonal Foods

A big thank you to AA (he or she's identity kept strictly confidential) for submitting his or hers very own seasonal recipe.

Potato and Curly Kale Soup
Chop an onion and 5 cloves of garlic and fry gently until soft
Pour in 750-1000ml of beef stock (can use chicken or veg)
Add a sheet of Kombu (Optional)
Peel and cube 4-5 large potatoes, add to stock (I like Vavaldi at the mo)
Simmer for 30 minutes
Chop stalks off 500g of Kale
Remove Kombu sheet
Add Kale
Add a small amount of soya milk - This is the trick
Simmer for 15 minutes
Blend - Add more soya milk or water if overly thick
Add salt and pepper to taste
Will freeze well - You can blend the soup before adding the Kale for an all together different experience.

Seasonal Foods - March

Apologies my followers of seasonal foods, I've been somewhat remiss with my writing this month. I have just moved home you know! So I've received no feedback about how you're all doing with trying to source just seasonal foods, let's assume that means you're all doing well :~) Anywho, here's this months delicious seasonal foods.

March Vegetables
Beetroot, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, chicory, cucmber, jersey royal new potatoes, kale, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, rhubarb, rocket, salsify, shallots, spinach, spring onions, swede, wild nettles.

March Seafood
Cockles, conger eel, crab, dab, dover sole, eel, hake, john dory, lobster, mackerel, mussels, oysters, prawns, salmon, sea trout, shrimp, skate, whitebait, winkles.

March Herbs, Flowers, Funghis & Nuts
Chives, coriander, dill, mushrooms, parsley (curly), sorrel.

At the moment I'm eating more smoked mackerel then you can shake a stick at in replacement for my huge appetite for Tuna. Mackerel is also certified as a sustainable stock by the Marine Stewardship Council (http://www.msc.org/cook-eat-enjoy/fish-to-eat/mackerel), so go ahead and eat plenty.

Seasonal Foods - February

How did you all get on last month with your new found seasonal foods knowledge? Those of you local to me (Sussex) have a little help this month as i figured what better way to buy seasonal then to visit the local farmers markets, dates and times below:

Saturday 27th February, 10:00 - 15:00, Brighton & Hove Farmers market, George Street, Hove and the fourth Saturday of each month following.

Sunday 7th March, 10:00 - 15:00, Hove Farmers Market, Ralli Hall, Next to Hove Station and the first Sunday of subsequent months.

Saturday 13th March, Shoreham Farmers Market, East Street, Shoreham and the second Saturday of every other month.

There are others to be found in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Worthing, Billinshurst, Petworth, Arundel, Chichester, Ford, Hassocks, Horsham, Midhurst, Slindon and Steyning, but i'm trying to encourage you to not travel too far for your locally produced fresh fruit and vegetables.

February Vegetables

Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Leeks, Parsnips, Rhubarb, Shallots, Swede

February Seafood

Brill, Clams, Cockles, Haddock, Halibut, Hake, Lemon Sole, Mussels, Oysters, Salmon, Skate, Turbet, Winkles.

Opportunities are aplenty, so go out and buy fresh and seasonal. Yummy!

Seasonal Foods - January

So, it's one thing to say we should all eat locally produced and seaonal food, but i bet some of you are asking why? Well to those people i say d'Uh, isn't it obvious?

Seasonal food is fresher and for the most part means tastier! This reduces the amount of energy needed to grow and transport the foodstuffs from further afield, reducing our overal CO2 associated emissions. Typically this also reduces the cost of the food too, as it's not having to travel so far to your plate, it also supports your local economy, local community and reconnects us all with nature's cycle.

I'm not embarking on this little project in some vain attempt to make us all buy British, or American, or whereever you're from; but come on, why would you buy Asparagus from South Africa or Apples from New Zealand when both these can be sourced many months of the year here in the UK and are often better tasting with a wider variety to boot!

So bear with me whilst i find my feet with this. I have challenged Jess to come up with a delicious recipe each month, using only ingredients that are in season. I have asked Andy to do a similar job to me but to identify sowing and planting schedules from month to month; those to follow.

January Vegetables

Beetroot, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Leeks, Parsnips, Purple Sprouting Brocolli, Radishes, Rhubarb, Spinach, Swede, Turnips, Celery, Shallots.

January Fruit

Apples, Pears.

January Seafood

Brill, Crab, Mackerel, Monkfish, Mussells, Oysters, Plaice, Skate, Hake, Halibut, Lemon Sole, Langoustine, Sea Bream, Turbot.

They you go, January's choices are pretty plentiful so don't be shy, get out there, search for your locally produced and seasonal foodstuffs this weekend!