Best in season in December

Not all sprouts are created equal. M&S Food is the only retailer to painstakingly hand-trim all their prepared Brussels sprouts, so they're the perfect size and top quality. I like to think of sprouts as little mini cabbages, packed full of flavour. Unfortunately for these little veggies, we tend to over-boil them until they’re soggy and bland, but I like mine when they’ve got a bit of crunch. A good trick is to cook them directly in a hot pan with just butter and a splash of water, as in my recipe for never-soggy sprouts. Paired with crispy lardons, crumbled chestnuts and a knob of garlic and herb butter, it’s seriously good. Slice the cooked leftovers to add some lovely texture and colour to your Boxing Day turkey sandwich.

British apple growing is a heritage farming tradition that we should be proud of in the UK, and there are still some lovely homegrown varieties to enjoy throughout December. M&S is the only retailer to tree-ripen their Braeburn apples at this time of year, meaning they can develop the most amazing sweet, honeyed flavour. I love them in crunchy, vibrant slaws and stuffed into this sticky hoisin pork bao buns recipe with gorgeous heritage pork belly, or simmered down into a spiced fruit compote, spiked with brandy. Or make them the main event, as in M&S Food team’s lush dessert recipe for granola-topped baked apples, which have all the spicy, warming flavours I’m craving right now.

At this time of year, you can’t go wrong with parsnips, roasted until beautifully caramelised, sweet and nutty. M&S parsnips are always harvested in the morning to ensure they maintain their distinctive flavour, by trusted growers like Ben Madarasi, who they’ve worked with for more than 40 years.

Enhance their naturally sweet, nutty flavour by pan-frying or roasting them in honey or pair them with warming, robust spices, as in this spiced carrot and parsnip pilaf. They’re equally delicious as an alternative to potatoes in a cheesy, creamy gratin. But my favourite way to have them (when it’s not Christmas Day of course), is in my super-warming veg-packed curry with chilli butter and garlic naan.

Lending a natural sweetness and subtle aromatic flavour to gravies and curries, stews and soups, the humble brown onion is an often overlooked seasonal hero. M&S onions are harvested from trusted M&S Select Farms for their robust flavour, each carefully selected to make sure they’re the best quality and freshness possible. Try slow-roasting this seasonal onion in this Middle Eastern-inspired roasted cauliflower recipe until deliciously sweet and soft – paired with robust spices and smoky cauliflower, it’s a dream dish!