What's in Season - December

A new month has started, and with it the arrival of Summer. Summer and I have never been the best of friends, I like the cold, and the rain and sitting by the fire with a rich, hearty meal and a hot cup of tea. I can't stand the heat, and I think its the British blood in my veins that makes me so intolerant of the Australian Summer!

But I've been enjoying fresher foods of late, salads, and fish and chicken. Things that are a bit lighter, and full of spark and crunch. And now that we're living so much nearer to the beach than we were last year, and can so easily go for a swim, I think I might find this season to be a bit more tolerable after all.

FRUIT
Apricots, bananas, berries, cherries, lemons, lychees, mangoes, pineapples, rockmelons, Valencia oranges, watermelons.

VEGETABLES
Asparagus, avocados, capsicum, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, onions, peas, squash, sweetcorn, tomatoes, zucchini, zucchini flowers.

SEAFOOD
Atlantic salmon, blue swimmer crabs, Sydney rock oysters.


Vegetables
Asparagus - 
Creamy Asparagus Pasta
Poached Chicken and Asparagus Spaghetti
Asparagus Risotto
Asparagus with Shaved Parmesan, Aioli and Lemon
Asparagus with Poached Eggs, Feta and Sumac


Avocados -
Jacket Potatoes with Avocado and Ricotta
Grilled Salmon with Lime, Coconut and Avocado Relish
Chicken, Avocado, Basil and Ricotta on Rye
Marinated Mushroom and Avocado Salad
Salmon, Avocado and Asparagus Salad
Potato Rosti with Avocado, Salmon and Rocket


Lettuce
Egg and Lettuce Wraps
Vegetarian Rice Paper Rolls


Onions
Aromatic Rice with Balsamic Onions
French Onion Soup
Baked Onions Stuffed with Pistachios and Cranberries
Three Cheese Polenta Triangles with Caramelised Onions
Onion, Ricotta and Sage Omelette
Warm Potato and Onion Salad
Caramelised Onion and Sausage Tart
Red Onion Tarte Tartines

Peas
Minted Peas Couscous
Chicken and Pea Risotto
Fried Rice
Chicken and Coleslaw Salad with Avacado
Pea, Feta and Mint Fritters
Pea and Goat's Cheese Tarts


Squash -
Squash Risotto
Curried Squash Soup


Sweetcorn -
Chicken and Sweetcorn Fritters
Chicken and Sweetcorn Salad


Seafood
Atlantic Salmon -
Pan-fried Salmon with Grilled Asparagus and Dill Sauce on a Bed of Mixed Salad Greens