December! I mean can you believe it.  All of those yummy winter vegetables are now in season and it is most definitely time to start long slow root vegetable roasts, slow cooked Tagine’s with orange and dishes sprinkled with bright red cabbage. Proper heart warming food. 

As a result I have picked Clementines, Parsnips and Red Cabbage for this months seasonal favourites and have already found some amazing recipes to try out.  So I thought I would share them with you all and hopefully we can cook up some delicious dishes this December. 

So how about some Clementines is Spiced Cider, or dipped in Chocolate for a sweet treat. 

Or what about Parsnip Chips, or Wheat Berries with Roasted Parsnips, Butternut Squash & Dried Cranberries. 

And finally why not pull out all the stops with some Pulled Pork and Red Cabbage sandwiches  or mix things up with a Red Cabbage and Mango Slaw. 

All in all the days are getting shorter which means more time to be spent inside cooking and eating. So let’s fire up the stove!

Clementines via FrenchBasketeer, Parsnips via Martha Stewart, Red Cabbage

Autumn is usually a time to feast on root vegetables and squashes, thoses lovely oven bakes, pies and mashes that include Sweet Potatoe, Butternut Squash, Pumpkin and Beetroot.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love these vegetables, and the warmth that they bring on a fresh Autumn day. But I feel as a result some vegetables get left out of the converstaion. So for the sake of being equal and fair I have decided to pick out some of Octobers bounty that doesnt seem to get as much air time.

For me the ultimate addition to a slow roasted veg mix is Celeriac, whislt it may like an ugly sort of vegetable it certainly packs a punch in the flavour deparment and is certainly worth playing around with. Personally I love Celeriac mash. But if you fancy something a bit more exotic – why not try Celeriac Fries or Celeriac and Beet Salad.

Then comes Fennel, not the sort of vegetable to expect to find in an Autumn vegetable line up – frankly the poor old Fennel is too green- but boy does it add flavour. I love fennel in fish stew – you can find my recipe here. But if you are feeling more adventurous what about trying it in a salad?

Then finally the Artichoke. I have added the Artichoke because personally I have always overlooked it. I have never cooked with Artichoke and hardly ever eaten it. But I think it is time to change. So I have decided my goal for this Autumn is to finally give the good old Artichoke the run out it deserves. Here are a few of the recipes I am tempted to try. 

Artichoke Risotto and Globe Artichoke and Vinaigrette. Now hopefully that is enough to be getting on with for one month!

Fennel from here, Globe Artichoke from here, Celeriac from here

Boy is this weekend a busy one! Today I am out all day and this evening, tomorrow a trip out of London to meet my parents and then it is Monday again. How quickly does the weekend seem sometimes? However that is not the way to be approaching it on a Saturday morning. No Siree. Especially since I am off to Berlin next week for a 3 day holiday. So in fact leisure time extends in front of me like a wonderful yellow brick road of possibility. The problem is I am not the sort of person who does nothing. So I always end up busy even when there is not much going on.

Anyway despite all my plans I am hoping to get some time in the kitchen and also some time having chilling out on the sofa with some good reads.

If you are at a loose end this weekend why not check out some of these.

I have a real urge to make a fancy looking Pie like this one. I never have, so it is definietly on the to do list.

Discovered this lovely blog this week – I really enjoy her approach to food and there are pretty pictures.

Another great find of the week – doesn’t this salad look amazing. This is what I want for Dinner! 

Not food – but the coolest illustrations – I think he might have seen me on the tube – the blonde lady staring! 

This looks like such a fun project for next year. I love craft kits!  

Finally because it wouldnt be a weekend without cookies – I am definitely making these bad boys!

Whatever you’re up to  – Have a lovely weekend!

image via Famille Summerbelle – Ryo Takemasa