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There is so much delicious produce in December and if you are like me, I try to save money at the store by buying produce that’s in season. It’s cheaper, it’s fresher, and it didn’t travel very far to get to your table. My December — What’s in Season Guide is your guide to December Seasonal Produce along with recipes, tips, and more!
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DECEMBER SEASONAL PRODUCE
December has ….. Find out all about December Seasonal Produce in this December — What’s In Season Guide.
I hope this December — What’s In Season Guide is just what you are looking for. Furthermore, if you’re looking for more resources on your food journey then check out my Feeding a Family on a Budget guide or this Budget Friendly Menu Planning. I have lots of menu planning guides for various occasions and even a monthly & weekly menu planning printable that’s super helpful. Lastly, the best thing for eating healthy and in season is a well stocked pantry.
December brings the cold temperatures, everything peppermint and of course Christmas. I wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
DECEMBER — WHAT’S IN SEASON GUIDE
Beets
I’m not a huge fan of beets. I tolerate them, but I don’t go out of my way to eat them. But this year I plan to cook with them more.
Roasted Beet Salad
Chocolate Beet Cake with Balsamic Berries and Whipped Mascarpone
Game Day Beet Balls
Broccoli
My kids never get tired of broccoli. They happily eat it and would eat it with every dinner if I let them. I tend to just roast it with olive oil, garlic, and a little kosher salt. I love it when it is just starting to turn dark which means the flavor becomes a little nutty. YUM!
Broccoli Leek Quiche
Broccoli Saute with Pecans and Garlic
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Chicken Teriyaki with Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are back in season, but I don’t make these as often as should. They are super fun when you can find them on the stalk…in fact Trader Joe’s had them on the stalk last time I was there.
Lemon Pepper Brussels Sprouts
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Apples
Cabbage
Mostly I use cabbage for coleslaw and corned beef, but it is so delicious and has so many health benefits. It is a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin B6. Plus it’s a good source of manganese, dietary fiber, and potassium to name just a few.
Corned Beef & Cabbage
Stuffed Cabbage with Cashew Cream
Cabbage Lasagna Recipe
Vegan Tomato Turmeric Cabbage Stew
Carrots
Carrots are more than just a side dish to chicken wings (although, that’s supper yummy). My favorite is to juice them or add them to smoothies…the kids will never know.
Morning Glow Tonic
Corned Beef Shepherd’s Pie
3 Packet Pot Roast
Creamy Carrot and Cauliflower Soup
Citrus (Oranges, Clementines, Lemons, Limes)
I love citrus…really all of it! We have like 5 citrus trees: orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and kumquat. Seriously, fresh picked citrus is one of my favorite things in the whole world. Find a U-Pick location near you if you can and go to town. I juice almost all my lemons and freeze in 2 cup proportions for summer-time lemonade!
Triple Citrus Chicken
Orange Scallion Quinoa
Grapefruit Scones
Lemon Thyme Salmon
Cranberries
I love grabbing a few bags of fresh cranberries at the beginning of holiday season and using them in various recipes. Of course, I love making holiday cranberry sauce with fresh berries, but it’s fun to use them in other ways too.
Grilled Pork Chops with Cranberry Applesauce
Orange Cranberry Oatmeal
Kale
I love kale chips and adding kale to smoothies, but that’s about where my use of kale ends. Sometimes it finds its way into a hearty soup.
Kale Smoothies
Portuguese Kale & Potato Soup
Kale Pesto
Cheesy Bacon Kale Stuffed Chicken
Parsnips
Mmmm…parsnips. If you haven’t tried them then you need to! I had a mashed parsnips side dish a couple months ago that was to-die-for. Treat them like carrots or potatoes!
Parsnip, Carrot, & Lentil Soup
Parsnip, Leek, & Mushroom Pie
Crispy Parsnip Fries
Creamy Whipped Parsnips
Pomegranates
I recently fell in love with pomegranates. They are crazy expensive in the store though, so I planted a tree too. lol My tree doesn’t produce a lot yet, so I end up buying a bunch this time of year for salads and snacking. Check out the best way to get the seeds out of a pomegranate HERE.
Pomegranate & Goat Cheese Salad
Pomegranate Lemonade
Rainbow Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Pomegranate Sauce
Potatoes
I love potatoes…really cooked any way will do. Baked, Fried, Boiled, Grilled…just give me all the potatoes and I’m a happy girl!
Easy Slow Cooker Potatoes
Loaded Potatoes
Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Potato Chowder
Radishes
These spicy little veggies are added as garnishes around here on some of the Mexican food. I’m not sure why, but I do love adding them to my salads and roasting them totally mellows out the flavor.
Oven Roasted Radishes & Peas
Quick Radish Pickles
Rosemary Roasted Radishes
Cabbage, Radish, & Apple Coleslaw
Sweet Potatoes
Wanna know what I love even more than potatoes? Sweet Potatoes! I usually just eat them plain…no butter, no sugar, no cinnamon. Just a baked sweet potato and a juicy steak and I’m set!
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Browned Butter
Sweet Potato Donuts
Restaurant Style Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato and Turkey Hash
Turnips
Turnips are full of minerals, antioxidants, vitamin C, and plenty of dietary fiber. They are also a low-calorie vegetable with only 28 calories per 100 gram serving.
New England Boiled Dinner
Turnips Au Gratin
Mashed Carrots & Turnips
Turnip & Chickpea Meatballs
Winter Squash
Winter squash are full of vitamin C, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, and potassium. Winter squash have a hard skin and flesh. Acorn, butternut, spaghetti, as well as pumpkin are all considered winter squash.
Crockpot Potato Stuffed Squash
Butternut Squash & Veggie Bake
5 Cheese & Butternut Squash Ziti Bake
Winter Squash Soup
Praline Stuffed Acorn Squash
Did I miss something in my December — What’s In Season Guide??? What’s your favorite in-season fruit or veggie during December….tell me, I’d love to know.
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