Comfort Stews

WELCOME TO January

There are so many conflicting pulls on our emotions

instant joy: If you cook one thing this month…

It’s quick, comforting and takes five minutes to throw

CITRUS FRUIT

It can be hard to see beyond the chill of January, says Gill Meller, but comfort can be found: in cosy fires, hearty food – and the jewel-bright cheeriness of oranges, lemons and more

The world-beating vegetarian menu

Leek cappuccino soup

DELIA RETROSPECTIVE:: ‘Kate and Sidney’ makes a comeback

Why has the classic British steak and kidney pudding been so neglected, asks Delia. It’s the perfect comfort dish for winter and something to be proud of. Full steam ahead!

TASTES LIKE HOME:“Making these tacos always puts a smile on my face”

When Karla Zazueta moved to London from the Pacific coast of Baja California in Mexico, she brought with her a zinger of a family recipe that’s emblematic of her father’s affection

KEN HOM’S TREASURED FAMILY RECIPES: A feast to celebrate the good things in life

Health, prosperity, longevity and the sharing of great food are the linchpins around which the Chinese New Year celebrations revolve. In 2020 the day of feasting falls on 25 January, the start of the lunar year, and it’s the best reason to cook a menu from a legend

The Burns Night SUPPER

This traditional chicken dish, stuffed with haggis and served with lashings of creamy whisky sauce, is a fitting way to toast the Bard of Ayrshire’s birthday on Saturday 25 January – along with a dram of your favourite scotch, obviously

MID WEEK MEALS MAKE LIFE SIMPLER

All these recipes are quick and easy for weeknights, and each one has a USP: one-pan, vegan, cook-once-eat-twice and more. Plus, they ‘re all stamped with our reassuring midweek promise

Meatballs

These three quick one-pan recipes take you on a flavoursome world tour – just choose your stop

FRIDAY NIGHT

Kick back with a classic Eighties romcom, good wine and – no, not a takeaway; we won’t hear of it! Make a film-friendly meal instead

YOUR delicious.

I’ve worked my whole adult life in the beer industry

NEW BEGINNINGS

make 2020 the year you try something new

THE INTERVIEW: TOM KERRIDGE: “AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU REALISE YOU’RE NOT IMMORTAL”

He’s renowned for hearty British fare with Michelin-star polish – but how does he survive on only five hours’ sleep a night? Sue Quinn meets the chef of the moment

making a difference: How loaves are changing lives

Giving thanks for their daily bread has real resonance for the people who take part in Breadwinners – a charity offering a lifeline to refugees and asylum-seekers

in the know.: HOT ON THE SHELVES

Every month, dozens of products are sent to us to try. We test them all, considering flavour, value for money and, where possible, ethical credentials. Phoebe Stone picks the best

The dining room is dead. Long live the dining table!

Once upon a time, laying the table in its own separate room and gathering around it was a daily ritual. But times have changed. It’s not the end of the world though, says Debora Robertson, as long as we can still make time to eat together

In the moment…: JANUARY

Outside the world snoozes under a wintry blanket, but

Could you go plastic free in the kitchen?

That was the challenge journalist Katy Salter took on, giving herself a month to do it, despite having two small children and a demanding job. Single-use plastic is polluting our planet but, as Katy discovered, it’s used in so much packaging and so many kitchen items, it’s hard to eradicate

10 ways to be an eco-friendlier cookfood for thought.

If every family in the UK swapped a red meat meal for

MY FOOD HERO:“The day I met Elizabeth David”

They say never meet your heroes, but what’s it like

WHY DON’T WE HAVE A WORD FOR THAT?

Multilingual food writer Signe Johansen is a lover of languages. Not only have they connected her to different people and cultures, they’ve also given her a passport to an exotic new world of culinary vocabulary

10 BEST ALCOHOL FREE DRINKS

“Non-alcoholic drinks have never tasted better, but

THE HEALTH DEBRIEF

★ FAD-FREE insight ★ DEBUNKED food & health news ★ HEALTHFUL ways to eat better ★

Are grass-fed meat and dairy better for you?

Though there’s a debate about whether the grazing or grain-feeding of animals is better for the environment, grass-fed meat and milk are widely regarded as being more ethical and favourful. They’re also said to be healthier – but are they? Sue Quinn chews over the arguments

The best way to start the day

Whether it’s a weekend brunch or a grab-and-go weekday brekkie, the first meal of the day deserves the most nutritious ingredients. With these good-for-you veggie recipes from Annie Bell’s new book, you can get off to the best of starts

YOUR 2020 TRAVEL & FOOD CALENDAR

Feeling the January blues? Banish them by diarising a food lover’s escape. Month by month, these are 2020’s hottest, coolest and all-round best destinations, from Scotland to South Carolina

Beware useless gadgets

Food writer Andrew Webb, your very own ghost of Christmas

WIN A gourmet escape to a boutique retreat in the Cotswolds

Our winner and guest will enjoy three nights at Widbrook

COOK IT LIKE delicious. and WIN a selection of dinnerware from Shekåbba The Danish Home

Cook your favourite recipe from this month’s issue

Cuppa time

There are prizes to be won and foodie fun to be had with our new page of brainteasers

LASAGNE

It’s a dish that tops so many people’s list of favourites

THE ULTIMATE grilled cheese sandwich

As all food obsessives know, the difference between OK and OMG is in the detail. In this new regular feature, we take a simple recipe and nail down the finer points so you get it right. First up: an all-American classic

Learn to cook Thai

In this new series, Bangkokborn Kay Plunkett-Hogge

THE KNOWLEDGE

Tips, hacks and know-how in the kitchen, key techniques explained step by step, plus in-depth appreciation of the best food and drink. Find it all and more, right here each month

HOW TO FILLET A WHOLE SEA BASS

Daunted by fish prep? This new series is designed to

LOOSE ENDS

Don’t let this month’s special ingredients linger in your kitchen. Instead, make the most of them with these smart and easy ideas