I love it. It kills the bugs, it gives the world a bit of sparkle, and it makes it feel right to hunker down inside with cosy food and a box set. Come to think of it, that’s far more my kind of Valentine’s night than a restaurant full of couples not talking to each other, handing over sorry-looking red roses that have spent too long in the florist’s chiller store. On p58 we’ve created five recipes made for sharing, snuggled up in front of something you both want to watch on the telly (now there’s a challenge – and we’re giving you inspiration for that, too). To whet your appetite I’ll mention oven-baked chips with a herby melted cheese topping…
There are so many other things to celebrate this month, too, including our new, expanded Eat Well For Life section where you’ll find all manner of good-for-you recipes. Plus there’s the top news that it’s beneficial to eat dark chocolate and unpasteurised cheese and drink red wine (in moderation, naturally). It’s all about the little creatures in your gut called microbes. Mark my words: they’re going to change the way we think about our health. Big thanks to Tim Spector, the expert who’s made it his mission to study them and who, on p96, shares his discoveries. It’s certainly something to think about as you cook dinner on a weeknight after work. I look forward to hearing what you think.