Winter Has Finally Kicked In – It’s Time To Crack Out The Casserole Dish And Get Stewing

At nan consequence of sounding for illustration a British cliche, tin we return a infinitesimal to talk nan alteration successful nan weather? This week’s abrupt driblet successful somesthesia has our location excited for imaginable snowfall (the children are giddy), pinch everything abruptly emotion a batch much wintry. New coats are connected nan hooks, thermals are being dug retired and a casserole crockery filled pinch immoderate benignant of soup, stew aliases banal seems to beryllium permanently ticking distant connected nan hob. These scope from quick, warming weeknight dinners to leisurely, slow-cooked play meals.

Whatever nan clip of year, I ever person speedy packets of wontons and gyozas successful nan freezer, and navigator them depending connected really I consciousness (fried and steamed versus boiled and soupy). At nan moment, I americium craving warmth and nourishment, and Meera Sodha’s quickish vegan wonton soup hits each nan correct spots; an added prize is that it is simply a crockery my children tin get connected committee with, too. I trust connected my brothy braised chicory and beans (pictured top) to get maine done working-from-home lunches, erstwhile I don’t person overmuch time, arsenic good arsenic Rukmini Iyer’s spiced achromatic legume and herb soup, which is arsenic speedy and comforting.

Quick and easy … Rukmini Iyer’s spiced achromatic legume and herb crockery pinch avocado and lime. Photograph: Matthew Hague/The Guardian

If we person roasted a chickenhearted connected a Sunday, I ever make banal pinch nan bones that aforesaid evening, and Mandy Yin’s look for chickenhearted curry laksa is nan cleanable measurement of honouring that liquid gold. Her laksas are 1 of my favourite things to devour connected a chilly day, truthful I’m thrilled that she has shared her secrets pinch us, and that I tin now make and devour them from nan comfortableness of my ain home.

At nan weekend, I navigator heartier stews – and, if clip allows, moreover indulge successful a small repast prep. Any of these stews by Gill Meller would beryllium welcome; I scheme to commencement by making nan chicken, chorizo, achromatic bean, oliva and preserved citrus number. And I person already shopped for Felicity Cloake’s cleanable Irish stew, for my half-Irish hubby and lamb-loving kids, picking up an extra-large jar of pickled reddish cabbage to spell connected nan side. On a time erstwhile I cognize my extended family will popular over, I will springiness Rachel Roddy’s “sociable” food stew a go, owed astatine slightest successful portion to nan number of pescatarians successful our midst. While I admit that nan sanction references nan stew’s history and creation, alternatively than a declare connected its ability, it’s worthy a try, right? I emotion nan thought of a hearty food stew bringing everyone together connected a acold wintertime day.

My week successful food

The late, awesome Rachel Cooke. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer

What I’m reading | I was ne'er fortunate capable to meet Rachel Cooke, but was heartbroken to perceive of her death. Like galore nutrient lovers, I adored her penning and witty observations astir nan culinary world, chefs, restaurants and more. Cooke’s 2023 book Kitchen Person: Notes connected Cooking & Eating contains 50 of nan champion entries from her much-loved file successful nan Observer, and is simply a awesome measurement to revisit her work.

A touch of glass | I americium a sucker for beautiful serve-ware, and americium smitten pinch each of Ichendorf Milano’s elegant, whimsical glassware. Even conscionable 1 portion would bring truthful overmuch joyousness to immoderate eating table. The giraffe and baobab jug is already connected my Christmas list, arsenic is nan tomato tumbler that I would emotion to unrecorded connected my bedside table. Both are from Sous Chef, but you tin besides find Ichendorf stocked successful galore different places, including John Lewis and Fortnum & Mason.

My adjacent repast out | Ever since I first tried Amy Poon’s home-delivery wontons backmost successful lockdown successful 2021, I person hungrily followed her travel from those wontons to award-winning Chinese deli products and edifice pop-ups. She now has a much imperishable home, Poon’s, successful nan stunning surroundings of Somerset House successful cardinal London, and I cannot hold to effort nan full menu. I’m peculiarly intrigued by nan siu yeh, which she describes arsenic “a late-night repast successful nan nutrient civilization of confederate China”. Perfect for a post-theatre aliases after-pub feast.

Send america your cherished family recipes

Tell america astir a look that has been handed down done generations. Photograph: Viacheslav Iakobchuk/Alamy

Recipes transportation stories, and often erstwhile they are passed down done families, different section is added each clip they are made. Grandmas and uncles concoct elaborate treats and seasoning mixes, which successful immoderate cases recreation crossed oceans to extremity up connected our meal tables.

We would like to hear astir your family recipes that person stood nan trial of time, and ne'er neglect to impress. Who first made it for you? Was nan look passed down to you, aliases did you create it yourself? What are nan stories you subordinate pinch your favourite family recipe? Click here to fto america know, and we’ll characteristic immoderate of nan champion successful a early version of Feast.