Delicious UK January 2024

Extreme comfort – that's the theme for this month's issue… For all our recipes this month and next, in fact, as we leave Christmas behind and enter a chilly new year, hoping against hope that 12 new months will bring better news worldwide. Whatever happens, there are two things we all need: top of the list is food that's warming and sustaining. A close second is a month where the focus is less on going out and more on staying in, keeping warm, doing less and appreciating the simpler things in life. Do we have the food to gear you up for when you channel your inner dormouse? You betcha. One word: carbs. Tom, Polly and Emily, on our food team, had the idea of creating recipes to layer up…

A PROPER ROAST Roast chicken with vermouth, beans and roast grapes, p38 Mandarin-dressed roots, p81 Dorset apple cake, p90 Make Sunday lunch something special – and a little different. Pot-roast chicken is enlivened with sweet grapes, making the citrussy roast roots on the side a perfect companion. Give the meal a fruity finish with a stunningly simple apple cake that's ideal for making in advance. BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS Sprout and harissa hash with tahini yogurt, p36 Spiced kipper fried rice, p5 Date and walnut loaf, p50 Having friends to stay and need a brunch for the morning after? Put on a proper spread with plenty of flavour to awaken their senses (and stave off potential hangovers). Make the loaf in advance for spreading liberally with butter, then serve up a…

Spiced kipper fried rice Serves 2 Hands-on time 20 min Grate 1 carrot and finely slice 1 small onion. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, then add ½ tsp cumin seeds. After 30 seconds, add the grated carrot, sliced onion and a pinch of salt, then stir-fry over a high heat for 5-6 minutes until soft and golden-tinged. Stir in 250g cold, cooked basmati rice (leftovers or from a microwavable pack), breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add a 145g tin of sustainable kipper fillets in oil (adding as much of the oil as you fancy), ¼ tsp ground turmeric, ¼ tsp chilli powder and 1 crushed garlic clove. Cook for about 3 minutes until combined and heated through. Meanwhile poach 2…

“After your walk and a swim in the River Dye, you get to warm up with a hot cup of pine needle tea” A DIP AND A DRAM Calling all adrenaline-seekers. Dive into a three-hour introduction to wild swimming at the Glen Dye School of Wild Wellness and Bushcraft on a beautiful remote estate east of the Cairngorms (£55 per adult, glendyecabinsandcottages.com). After a walk and a swim in the River Dye, you get to warm up with a hot cup of pine needle tea. Accommodation is in one of Glen Dye's cabins and cottages, some of which have featured on Channel 4's Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig. You could also book a well-deserved whisky and cheese tasting, from £50. Prefer something a little warmer? Check out the outdoor swimming…

globeinndumfries.co.uk PUBBY CREDS What better place to celebrate Rabbie Burns’ birthday (25 Jan) than inside his favourite pub. You can sit in his chair, peek inside his bedchamber or read the poems he etched on the window. The owners of Annandale Distillery bought The Globe in 2018 and lavishly refurbed the interior. THE BOOZE As a Scotch Malt Whisky Society bar, it has over 300 drams to try, including Annandale's Man O’ Words whisky, inspired by Burns himself. Other spirits include Hills & Harbour gin and 24 Seven Vodka by Crafty Distillery. On tap, you'll find locally brewed Five Kingdom beers. THE FOOD The Globe's 1610 Restaurant has a mention in the Michelin Guide, so expect the finest local produce such as Galloway beef and venison, as well as out-of-thisworld…

A recent study by Freeview reveals a strong link between telly and food among Brits, with 85% of us scoffing our supper in front of the screen. But once you've decided on something to watch, how do you decide what to cook or which takeaway to order? Food scientist Rob Hobson believes that, as certain nutrients can influence our emotional responses, it's possible to match types of food to television genre. Planning a hunker-down big night in? Consider testing Hobson's theory of food and TV matching, below – at the very least, you'll get a good dinner out of it. + DRAMA ITALIAN FOOD Stay awake during a box-set binge by eating a sustaining prosciutto-topped pizza. Your energy levels will thank you. + ROMANCE MEXICAN FOOD Spicy chillies and magnesiumrich…