Days of plenty - time to eat seasonally

The days of plenty have arrived at last. Days when on every visit to the community garden there is a seasonal something to pick, to bring home and enjoy.

Instead of rhubarb in a variety of desserts we are now savouring gooseberry compotes, gooseberry crumbles, gooseberry fools, gooseberry upside down cakes and much more. The first gooseberries are still quite small and tart but picking the largest allows the rest to fill out, ripen and sweeten.

Rocket and sprouting broccoli are just about over but there are beetroot, kohl rabi, broad beans, peas and mangetout ready to harvest. Perhaps only a handful of each at first - tasters of the bounty to come - but enough for a risotto, to add to a stir fry or to pep up a salad. Coriander is plentiful, as are dill, chives, lovage, mint and other herbs.

Broad beans on their way to a risotto

Mange tout destined for a stir fry

Peas and baby carrots on the way to the steamer

Time to eat seasonally, to be creative and taste your very own-grown produce at its best. Enjoy.