March Simple and in Season: Now Open!

I’m most delighted to be guest hosting March’s Simple and in Season event, a bloggie challenge dear to my heart that promotes seasonal produce, of which I’ve now entered many a time. Thanking you very kindly Ren (of the fabulous Fabulicious Food) for entrusting me with your baby and allowing me to host this month. In fact this will also be my first ever hosting of a bloggie challenge, so wish me luck!

So what’s in Season in March? On the veggie front it’s definitely the time of year for the Brassicas to shine: Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Spring Greens, Kale, Turnips and Swede are all pretty abundant. There’s also plenty of Carrots and Parsnips, Beetroot, Leeks, Celery, Jerusalem Artichokes, Lambs Lettuce, Mushrooms, Spinach, Pumpkin and Potatoes. As for the fruit, it’s a little thinner on the ground at this time of the year, but there’s still plenty of lovely Rhubarb plus Apples and Pears stored from the Autumn. On the meat and fish front, it’s a good time for Venison, Cockles, Cod, Crab, John Dory, Salmon, Sea Bass and Sea Trout.

Obviously what’s in season would vary considerably as to where exactly in the world you’re blogging from! Please feel free to blog your local seasonal goodies, wherever you are.

In my own garden in SW France I’m currently munching my way through Savoy Cabbages, Calabrese, Romanesco Cauliflowers, Brussels Sprouts and very soon, fingers crossed, LOTS of lovely Purple Sprouting Broccoli (one of my favourite veggies ever!). We also still have a few Carrots and Parsnips in the ground, scattered Lettuces, Celery & Rocket and my dye hard Mr Wonder Veg Swiss Chard. And yesterday my husband took very delighted delivery (as I’m currently in the UK with the littlies lavishing in the world of central heating) of half a local muntjac deer kindly given to us by the local hunters. And I mean half, I’ve seen the gory photos!

One of my Romanesco Caulies

My last homegrown Cabbage 😦

In need of a little more seasonal inspiration? Then Ren has kindly compiled a list of her favourite websites dedicated to seasonality:

• What’s in Season (a great website with an A-Z picture guide of what’s in season in Britain)
• Eat the Seasons (tells you what’s good this week, e.g jersey royal new potatoes, asparagus etc)
• Well Seasoned (more about what’s in season in the UK including seasonality charts)
• Sustainable Table – seasonal produce further afield

Here’s a few guidelines for entering Simple and in Season:

1) All you have to do is come up with a dish using any seasonal produce you like (savoury or sweet) and post it on your blog, LINK TO THIS PAGE and to Ren’s Simple and in Season page and email me (loufoti@gmail.com) the name of your dish and the URL link. I’ll add your link to this blog as soon as it’s received.

2) Feel free to use the Simple and in Season badge in your post (it’s at the top and bottom of this blog).

3) March’s round starts today, 1st March 2013, and ends on 31st March 2013. I’ll be doing a Round-Up shortly after showcasing all your seasonal goodies.

4) You can take inspiration from anywhere – adapt a recipe from your favourite cookbook, try something from a magazine, make up your own creation or share a family favourite. The usual rules apply when using someone else’s recipe, please either get permission from the author to post it or adapt it in some way stating how/why you’ve changed it.

5) Include any seasonal produce you fancy including fruit, veg, herbs, meat or fish.

6) Link as many recipes as you like. You can link posts entered into other blog events or carnivals as long as it involves a seasonal food item (and fits in with their rules).

7) The linky-up is open to anyone, anywhere.

8) If you’re on Twitter, tweet to myself @ChezFoti and @RenBehan using the hashtag #SimpleandinSeason and we’ll re-tweet all that we see

If you have questions or problems, email me or leave me a comment in the comment box at the bottom of the post.

So looking forward to all your entries, and thanks again for letting me host Ren!

Louisa

1) In Praise of Nettles – Nettles & Beans

2) Crispy Beer-Soaked Sweet Potato Fries

3) Beetroot & Carrot Pancakes with Herby Mascarpone

4) Roasted Roots and an Easy Roasted Roots Pizza

5) Vegan Watercress, Rocket, Spinach & Almond Pesto

6) Thyme Courgettes with Leeks and Feta

7) Shepherds Pie using Leftover Roast Lamb

8) ‘Almost Spring’ Lamb Hotpot

9) Spanish Stylie Baked Chicken, Rice & Seasonal Veggies

10) Roasted Vegetable Salad

11) A Wintery Roasted Roots & Gruyere Pie

12) Beetroot Soup

13) Parsnip & Bacon Gratin with Leeks, Hazelnuts & Blue Cheese

14) Marvelous Mussel Risotto

I’m still getting a generous weekly picking of Calabrese Broccoli, my kids fave veggie!