The January Cheshire Cookbook – healthy and hearty #Producer Review

Victoria Hayes
4th January 2022

On a cold and wet early January day I’m after healthy, hearty, flavour-packed food. I also always need a little inspiration to cook after the festive period, so I pulled together a few ideas for you from our local producer network in the hope that they would inspire you as much as they have inspired me this chilly January day.

Spices, especially add huge depth to my January cooking, but most important thing to be found in all today’s recipes, is comfort. I love a dish that brings you warmth both inside and out.

Don’t forget that many people use January to experiment with plant based diets and some of these have brilliant ways of adding this and more to all manner of dishes.

When you’ve got more time on your hands, browse our previous blogs on Taste Cheshire for more culinary ideas inspired by local producers and ingredients.

Enjoy, and happy cooking!

HOT COURGETTE FRITTERS WITH A COOL CHILLI AND MINT DIP from Spice Kitchen 

“Like all the good foods.. simple to knock up and oh so moreish.. and you may have to stop yourself from eating the whole batch.. or just give in, like me.. Seriously, that’s how good they are” 

Check out the full recipe here: Hot Courgette Fritters with a Cool Chilli and Mint Dip | Spice Kitchen™ – Spices, Spice Blends, Gifts & Cookware (spicekitchenuk.com)

Sticking with our favourite vegetables, keeping it healthy for January, the next recipe is a  Greek Classic from our friends at Greka Foods.

Traditional, low cost, humble but most importantly simple to make and so very delicious. This one is vegetarian and vegan

Kounoupidi Kokkinisto – Greek Cauliflower in Tomato Sauce

View he full recipe here: – Kounoupidi Kokkinisto – Greek Cauliflower in Tomato Sauce – Greka Foods 

If you take a look at Cheshire based Greka Food’s YouTube channel, ‘Sofia’s Greka Kitchen’ you’ll find lots of recipes, hints, and tips as they walk and talk you through each one, so you’ll be making authentic, delicious Greek dishes in no time.

If you aren’t quite ready to give up all the neat just yet, and are looking for something healthy and tasty, Mrs Darlington’s lends us a little  inspiration.

This has to be one of the easiest supper dishes, best of all it looks and tastes as though you’ve spent hours preparing it. It does need prep time, so this is one to sort the night before ready for a midweek dinner.

Spicy Tomato & Sticky Onion Chicken 

View the recipe in full here:- Spicy Tomato & Sticky Onion Chicken – Mrs Darlingtons

The Chutney used for this recipe is a Great Taste Award winner and we love it. We absolutely love this delicious chutney on sausages, sandwiches and onion bhaji’s. So Don’t worry that you can’t use the rest of the jar. In fact, you should probably buy two!

January health kick does mean no beer for me, but I have found a cheeky way to get a little beer fix without the alcohol, plus who doesn’t love the smell of fresh bread in the house?!