THE game season draws to a close in a few weeks’ time so if you haven’t already dipped into this particular branch of nature’s larder, now’s the time to do so.

Choose from pheasant, partridge, hare, duck, snipe, woodcock…the list goes on.

However, you can buy rabbit and pigeon, and some types of venison all year round, so there’s no need to miss out.

Game is lean, low in cholesterol, versatile and easy to cook. And, while the weather is still chilly, cosy casseroles, juicy roasts and warming curries all lend themselves to its rich, full flavour.

Most game is conveniently prepared ready for the oven – choose from diced venison, which is great for slow-cooked stews, pheasant breasts for quick pan-frying, and partridge, which can be roasted in minutes.

In the game season I make a beeline for Border County Foods at Kendal farmers market (tomorrow) where Austen Davies sells divine little wood pigeon breasts. I simply dip them in seasoned flour and pan-fry in butter and olive oil to serve on a casserole of bacon and puy lentils, with roasted beetroot wedges, or perhaps some spicy red cabbage and apple casserole, for which Delia has a great recipe in her classic Complete Cookery Course.

You will also find recipes created by top chef Mark Hix in a new booklet from Game-to-Eat. Or log on to www.gametoeat.co.uk If you are game for a culinary adventure, we have oven-ready pheasant from Plumgarths in Kendal – £3.85 each or a brace for £7; wood pigeons cost £2.19 each.

From www.beelocal.co.uk, check out the diced game mix from Furness Fish & Game (£4.90/500g).

From butcher Garth Steadman at Sedbergh we have venison loin fillet – fantastic in a ‘Wellington’ (£12.99/500g). He also has a special offer on sirloin steaks: Buy five, get one free.

To help me with this week’s suggestion for wood pigeon, John Woods of Bowland Bridge Stores came up with the puy lentils (£1.09/50g). Like me, John often serves them as the carb element of a meal. He also uses them as a base for the soup he sells in the store’s café.

For the roast beetroot, Growing with Grace at Clapham came to the rescue with a locally-grown organic variety (£1.09/kilo). While Hutchinsons at Coniston suggested skinless, boneless chicken breast ((£3.50/500g) to grill and serve on the lentils if you don’t fancy pigeon.

Richardsons at Bowness are doing chicken fillets as part of this week’s stunning value £10 meat deal comprising 1lb minced steak, 1lb any sausage, two chicken fillets, two chicken legs, and two chicken wings.

You might want to try some Hawkshead Relish Company chilli jam from Artisan in Kendal (£3.25/220g) with those sausages. Believe it or not, Hawskhead bosses Mark and Maria Whitehead also recommend it on ice cream – what about some English Lakes Double Jersey Ice Cream (www.beelocal.co.uk, £3.99 per one litre tub).

And finally to this week’s other sweet treats – Grange Bakery has traditional Battenburg cake on at £3.25