A winter tale

LOTS of cookbooks have been written extolling the glories of spring and summer foods - of the first rhubarb, the first spears of asparagus, sweet green peas and summer berries.

The produce of autumn and winter is seldom welcomed with such enthusiasm but Jill Norman has just written a wonderful book called Winter Food to remind us that there is much to get excited about.

Gardens, orchards and fields may be dormant but there are still lots of winter vegetables, fruit and nuts and food that warms and nourishes during the winter months. Even if forests and moorlands are in the grip of cold, game is still hunted to provide pheasant, wild duck, venison and hare. Geese are reared for the autumn and winter feast days.