What's In Season For December
'Tis the season – the season when stone fruit is at its best, butchers are diligently sharpening their knives, bakers are busily slaving away over hot ovens, and candlestick makers are feverishly filling orders for festive Australian households countrywide. Yes, the season of Christmas is upon us once more and it's gearing up to be a cracker.
What's in Season for December
Summer's in full swing and with it the Christmas holiday season, which brings a chance to prepare that sumptuous banquet. Traditional favourites such as honey glazed baked ham, roast turkey and Christmas pudding are always popular, but with Australian cuisine taking on such an eclectic influence, why not adopt the same approach to Christmas dinner?
Consider a selection of cold seafood or chilled soups, exotic poultry dishes, or an assortment of Asian style dishes like Summer fish, with nectarines, chilli, spring onion and coriander – that just screams hot weather fare.
As for an ideal Summer drink...how about Acapulco Afternoon Cocktail, with fresh pineapple, Vodka, jalapenos and mint, long over ice.
Cherries are especially sweet at this time of year and can be used in both savoury and sweet dishes, but perhaps best enjoyed dipped in a simple chocolate ganache or au naturel; while this recipe for grilled peaches, ricotta, honey and rose petals is too good not to try, and cherry pie ice cream
For more festive recipe ideas, click here.
Fruits in Season
Apricots, Bananas, Berries – gooseberries, loganberries, raspberries and strawberries; Cherries, Currants – black and red; Lemons; Lychee; Mangoes; Melon – honeydew, rockmelon and watermelon; Nectarines, Oranges – Valencia; Passionfruit, Peaches, Pineapples – smooth and rough leaf; Rambutans, Starfruit.
Vegetables in Season
Asparagus, Avocados – Hass; Beans – green and snake, Capsicum, Celery, Choko, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Onions – salad and spring; Peas – green, snow and sugar snap; Radish, Squash, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Watercress, Zucchini and Zucchini Flowers.