Even before fun-scuppering pandemics came along, Januarys tended to be quite bleak. A combination of post-Christmas come down, dark evenings and weeks until payday tends to sap any fun out of the start of the year.
Whether you spend more time at home out of necessity or design this month it doesn’t have to be all bad. Look at things from a different angle and consider it “wintering”.
It’s a time to get cosy and relax, listen to good music, read good books and eat good food. A time to nourish your soul, head out for invigorating walks or swims – whatever the weather – then wrap up when you get home.
The Wintering Essentials
The home addition
ARCH lounge chair, from €2,000, mazō at Nordic Elements
The outdoors inspiration
The 2022 Sea Studio Calendar, €25 + P&P, seastudio.ie
The mood enhancer
Earth candle, €37.50, The Home Moment at thehomemoment.com
The 'hygge' must-have
Tweed blanket, €250 each, Eddie Doherty at Irish Design Shop
The body and mind reviver
The Hug, €35, Ground Wellbeing at groundwellbeing.com
The comfort food
Cold weather calls for hearty dishes and this cuttlefish, chorizo, chilli and tomato cazuelita is the perfect thing for this time of year. It’s full of warmth and flavour.
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 chorizo sausages, cut into small cubes
50ml Oloroso sherry
3 cuttlefish, body, tentacles and wings separated, body and wings finely sliced into thin strips 400g tinned tomatoes, chopped
A pinch of chilli flakes
Flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Olive oil
Sea salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
Method
In a large pot, fry the onion and the garlic in some oil. Add the chorizo and fry for a further few minutes. Add the sherry and cook off the alcohol. Add the cuttlefish and cook for 5 minutes on a medium heat. Add the chopped tomatoes and the chilli flakes. Simmer the cazuelita for 20–30 minutes or until the cuttlefish is tender. Before serving add in the flat-leaf parsley and season to taste with some salt and pepper.
Taken from Cava Bodega Tapas: A Taste of Spain in Ireland by JP McMahon (4th edition, €30, cavarestaurant.ie)
Main pic: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash
