Delicious UK January 2021

PORTRAIT: PAUL MITCHELL Surely it’s going to be a better year… It has to be, right? Before writing this I looked back at last January’s editor’s letter and it was so full of innocent hope, with (obviously) no idea of the magnitude of difficulty we were on the cusp of facing as 2020 unfolded. I’m glad I didn’t know what lay ahead, actually; sometimes a gradual dawning of challenges makes those challenges easier to cope with – one day at a time. Although we’ve all had more than enough of bad news (along with words that now make me cringe – ‘unprecedented’ being top of the list), I’ve been heartened by how people have learned to be more open about their wellbeing, sharing more and considering others anew. On that…

STAR EMAIL FROM: SUZE The stories about how food has saved lockdown for so many [Dec, p16] really resonated with me. I trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine years ago but, although I qualified, I missed a lot of training due to ill health, then the graft of a part-time restaurant job saw me back in hospital. I decided to catch up on what I missed by learning at home, and trying out delicious. recipes was part of this process. Lockdown 1 saw me enrol on Puff’s School of Pastry online and classes by the Japanese cooking school Sozai. Lockdown 2 was an opportunity to share what I’d learned... I pledged to make a foodie gift every day for friends or neighbours in need. As well as…

Serena’s French onion sausage casserole [Nov, p97] was well received by her husband and toddler. “Very indulgent for a Sunday night – we’ll definitely be cooking this again!” We’d like a slice of this snowy winter wonderland cake by @mlle.marguerite [Dec, p102]. 10-year-old Sam baked and iced some outstanding gingerbread Christmas trees [Nov, p72]. “Now that we’ve practised the recipe, we’re going to try a whole gingerbread house!” Winter cakes, warming bakes and a gorgeous lemony treat @nims_noms made a stunning baked lemon cheesecake (find the recipe online). Her top tip? Spread a thin layer of lemon curd over the top after baking to boost the citrussy flavour.…

Our star email wins a box each of premium red and white Portuguese wine worth over £50, brought to you by experts from The Wine Show (Amazon Prime). These wines stay fresher for longer thanks to their box format, which produces less CO2 than glass bottles. Visit thewineshow.com/boxed-wine See what other delicious. fans are talking about at facebook.com/ deliciousmagazineuk Follow us at twitter. com/deliciousmag Follow us at instagram. com/deliciousmag Follow us on pinterest. co.uk/deliciousmaguk…

Cook any recipe you like from the January issue and share it with us for a chance to win this elegant bone china dinner service for four. It’s a creation from Cream Cornwall, a brand that celebrates that county’s coastal heritage. In classic blue and white, the pieces are decorated with beautifully illustrated sea creatures. As well as dinner plates, side plates, dessert bowls and pasta dishes, the prize includes matching placemats and coasters, four bone china mugs, napkins and a table runner. Cream Cornwall is passionate about producing high-quality British pieces and, where possible, sources and manufactures its products in Cornwall and the rest of the UK. For more information visit creamcornwall.co.uk FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN…  Make any recipe from the January issue, take a pic and share…

1 WONDER… AT THE BEAUTY OF NATURE We’re all aware of the benefits of blowing the cobwebs away on a bracing winter walk. But what if you only have five minutes, or a weekend ramble isn’t realistic? Try a webcam instead. From nature reserves and beaches to historical places of interest, a huge number of sites broadcast live streams or images online, allowing you to sightsee from your sofa – and it’s curiously calming. Watch the rolling waves on Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, thanks to Quiksilver Surf School Newquay (quiksilversurfschool newquay.com/webcam ); nature spot with The Wildlife Trusts (wildlifetrusts.org/webcams), which streams footage of seals, badgers, peregrine falcons and more; observe the changing elements at pretty Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland (eileandonan castle.com/webcam ); or catch a steam train rolling…