In Season

I love these quick accompaniments as they are enjoyable to prepare and fantastic to eat. The fresh crunch of fennel works so well with fish, pork and chicken.

These pretty strawberry pink cakes will put a smile on all faces this festive season.

This warm salad is a great way to add a bit of a zing to your meal as the dressing is punchy and the leaves are peppery, with the added twist of creamy new-season potatoes.

This delightfully simple dish may consist of only a few components, but the bread must be of good quality and the greens seasonal and fresh.

This dish happened by chance after I got word that Savoy cabbages were in season.

Pears seem to be extra-sweet and extra-juicy this season.

My mum used to do stuffed baked potatoes and we loved them so now I do them for my children. The options are endless as you can add almost any combination that suits you.

This is inspired by homely Italian soups, but made with local winter ingredients.

These tasty little rounds of apples are a wonderful addition to your lunch box or an accompaniment to a pudding or cheese!

Apricots are only getting better and better and this slice is a great example of how they love to be cooked. This slice is sweet, moist and gorgeous all in one.

The combination of nutritious greens with gooey, cheesy curd wrapped in papery filo pastry may not be new, but it is utterly delicious.

Broccoli is crisp and vibrantly green at the moment and it makes a delightful and refreshing ingredient to this salad.

This cake can be made with either carrot or beetroot or, as I have done here, a combination of the pair so I get not only a fantastic-flavoured cake but a fabulous-looking one also.

This dish gives the mighty yam a new lease of life - worth a try!

There are so many varieties of potatoes available now and this wickedly-coloured and earthy-flavoured variety is a firm favourite of mine.

Pears become a decadent treat when caramelised and paired with hazelnuts.

This recipe is the perfect base for any number of delicious toppings. I always have ready-rolled pastry in the freezer, which is perfect for a quick tart like this. Be creative with the vast array of delicious seasonal produce.

It may seem a little early to be thinking of pumpkins but rest assured these autumnal-coloured scones are made with the first-of-the-season gourmet variety - bushfire or buttercup are exceptional.

There's more to cauliflower than smothering it in cheese sauce...

Sun-ripened, sun-sweetened strawberries are finally available at the Otago Farmers Market. With strawberries this good, I recommend keeping it simple and natural. Strawberries and cream is truly one of life's joys.