I hope your start to the year has been more of a graceful ease into things rather than the affront to our sensibilities returning from holidays can sometimes be.

While most think of combating the dreariness of Winter with ‘comfort food’, odd though it may seem, this is the time of year I turn to my version comfort food, in order to continue that wonderful sense of calm that Summer holidays bring.

Whatever can be cooked and eaten outside will always make me feel like I’m on a sojourn, so barbecued anything, with fresh greens from the garden, followed by perfectly ripe stone fruit is my recommendation. Cooking your way into a relaxed state of mind has always made sense to me!

Maggie