What’s in season: December

December is perhaps the best time to be in the kitchen, or at the table! It’s the season for partying and celebration with events such as Christmas and New Year taking centre stage. With plenty of excuses to celebrate, you’ll want to make the most of what’s in season to chef up some delights to wow your friends and family.

Winter veggies

The tastiest vegetables at this time of your tend to be root vegetables that are packed full of earthy flavors. They’re perfect for slow cooking in soups, stews and roasts and can also be enhanced with herbs, seasoning and other marinades. Some of our favourites include carrots, celery, artichokes, leeks, parsnips, sweet potato and swede.

Festive fruit

From the orange in your Christmas stocking to the apple in your pie, there are so many fruits that taste great at this time of the year. Some of the most popular fruits to use in Christmas desserts and puddings include bramley apples, clementines, cranberries, dates, pears, plums and chestnuts.

The main affair

Succulent meat and flavoursome fish will take centre stage on your plate during December. While turkey is perhaps the most common meat for the season, other yummy alternatives include duck, goose, grouse, lamb, pork and venison. For the seafood lovers of you, why not tuck into salmon, mussels or whiting – they’re extremely tasty at this time of year.

Be inspired with our December menu favourites

A vegetable side… Vegetable Gratin

Ideal as a side dish or for the vegetarians at your dining table, this yummy dish is a great accompaniment to meat and / or veggies on Christmas day. Featuring seasonal vegetables and herbs, it’s warming, tasty and simply perfect for December. Cook in your Neff combination oven with microwave for 30 minutes.

Flavoursome meat main… Guinness Baked Gammon

We all enjoy a bit of gammon over the festive period – so why not give it a boozy twist with a bottle of Guinness. Subtle, yet tasty, this meat dish is guaranteed to wow your tastebuds.

Boxing day treat… Turkey & Sweet Potato Fritters

Can’t face a full-on meal the day after Christmas? Why not tuck into this yummy light dish, featuring your Christmas leftovers and a seasonal warming kick! Cook in your CircoTherm for 15 minutes for a delightful bite to eat. Alternatively you can serve it up buffet style at your post-Christmas party.

Festive pudding…Mulled Fruit Pudding

Swap the traditional Christmas pud for this tasty alternative. Featuring winter fruits of prunes and cranberries, along with seasonings of cinnamon, mixed spice and nutmeg, it’s the perfect post-dinner treat. Neff Steam or CircoSteam Oven for 20 minutes – and indulge!

Inspired to get cooking? If you like the ideas in today’s blog why not head over to our Pinterest board, where you’ll find lots more ideas for festive food and seasonal recipes. Enjoy!

What are your favourite festive foods? Tell us in the comments below, our tweet your favourite seasonal delights to us over on Twitter @ModernKitchens