Seasonal Food for October
Well, here we are again. The start of another month. As the days grow shorter, so does the time we have left until Christmas. In fact we have just 12 weeks until another year’s turkey and stockings are stuffed.
If the sheer mention of the ‘c’ word fills you with a sense of dread then take a look at my 12 part guide to a Stress Free Christmas – guaranteed to fill you with a sense of seasonal serenity instead…
We’re not there yet though so forget the Christmas shopping for today and take a moment to enjoy October and the seasonal gifts it has to offer…
Fruit/Veg
Clementine
Quince
Sweet Potato
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Sweet potato is a huge favourite of mine. Its nutritional benefits are unquestionable – unlike normal potato it even counts as one of your five a day! Better than that though, whether it’s roasted, mashed or made into soup, its honeyed tones add an almost dessert like sweetness to any dish, which is pure comfort on a chilly October day.
Meat/Fish
Duck
Mussels
Haddock
If you’ve never cooked with Duck then do give it a go. These days it’s not too tricky to get hold of duck legs or breasts so you don’t have to tackle a whole bird if you don’t want to. It has a slightly stronger flavour than chicken but isn’t as ‘gamey’ as other birds like pheasant or goose. The fat makes great roasties too…
What I had to say last October (2014)
If you want to get more fish in your diet then haddock is a wonderfully versatile and widely available fish. A fish shop favourite, haddock doesn’t have to be covered in batter. It can be cooked simply with some lemon juice and parsley as a healthy alternative. Smoked haddock is one of my favourite fish – poached and served with creamy mash and poached egg on top. That moment when you break the yolk and it oozes into both fish and mash… sublime! It’s a must in fish pies and it makes a mean chowder too.
Foraging
Chestnuts
Sloes
Could there be anything cosier than pulling on your woollen sock slippers, pouring yourself a nip of sloe gin and enjoying the smell of sweet roasting chestnuts as you warm your cockles by the open fire? (Figurative cockles, rather than literal that is – actual cockles are just going out of season..)
