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Loch Awe on Lá Fhéile Bríde   After what has, at times, felt like the longest January in living memory , today arrives with a quiet sense of relief. Back home in Ireland, the 1st of Feburary is St Brigid’s Day – Lá Fhéile Bríde  marks that turning point. A day that honours the women of Ireland , and one I’m proud to count myself amongst. Since 2023 it has been recognised as a national holiday, but long before that it lived in classrooms, kitchens and hedgerows. Growing up, we

A Loch Awe Winter Sunset Burns Night has never been just about haggis. For me, it’s always been about gathering together . The lighting of candles against the January dark, pouring a dram (or a cup of tea) and letting food, poetry and laughter do what they’ve always done best : bring people together. Burns Night has always felt half-ceremony, half-ceilidh. Someone would inevitably forget a line of the address to haggis, the neeps would be a bit over-enthusiastic with the pepp

Leafy Kale January is often painted as a month of absence. Less colour. Less choice. Less indulgence. But in a cook’s kitchen, January is anything but empty. This is the month where ingredients step forward without fuss . Where flavour comes from patience, good sourcing and knowing how to treat simple things well. It’s the season of the unsung kitchen heroes the ones that don’t shout but always delivers. In my own kitchen here in Scotland, January cooking is grounded, nourish

The Truth About Granola, Breakfast Pots & “Wholesome” Bars When breakfast starts to look like dessert in dressed in healthy packaging There’s something that never ceases to amaze me, even after decades in professional kitchens: how many ingredients can be squeezed into foods that should be beautifully simple.

A bowl of January comfort January has a reputation for being a bit bleak in the kitchen. The festivities are over, the market stalls look quieter, and people assume it’s a month of restriction and restraint. But I’ve never cooked that way — and I don’t teach it either. January cooking, at its best, is about resourcefulness . About noticing what’s still here, what’s actually at its peak, and how to turn simple ingredients into food that nourishes properly. And this is where be

Confused by Greek and Greek-style yoghurt? Learn the real difference, why Greek yoghurt contains less lactose and which is easier to digest in January. New year resoulition ideas January arrives with the very best intentions.Fresh starts. Clear heads. A desire to feel lighter, steadier, more ourselves again. And yet this is the month I hear from so many of you “I’m eating really well — but I don’t actually feel any better.” If that’s you, let me say this gently and clearly:

Cosy winter window There’s a moment, somewhere between the last of the leftovers and the first properly quiet morning of January, when the season finally loosens its grip. In Ireland, that moment has a name: Little Christmas , also known as Women’s Christmas  or Nollaig na mBan  — literally Women’s Christmas  in Irish. Celebrated on 6 January , the Feast of the Epiphany, it marks the true end of the Christmas season . Not with noise or novelty, but with gentleness. Growing up

There are moments in the kitchen that linger long after the plates are cleared. The sound of a knife on a wooden board. Steam fogging the windows on a dark winter afternoon. A pot murmuring away while the light fades outside. Preparing for our first Hogmanay in the Highlands has brought all of that rushing back. Hogmanay, more than any other celebration, is rooted in food as comfort and continuity. It’s not showy or fussy. It’s about feeding people well as one year closes and

Cosy reading nook If you’re reading this on Christmas Eve, let me say this first: You’ve done enough. The shopping lists have been ticked off. The fridge is full. The plans however loose or ambitious are made. And now, before the evening slips quietly into tomorrow, this is your reminder to stop. Christmas Eve is not the moment for one last push. It’s the threshold. The pause before the gathering. The soft landing after weeks of preparation. When the World Finally Goes Quiet

Gifts ready for the hamper There comes a point each Christmas when we pause mid gift shopping and think, do we really need more stuff?  Another candle, another lotion, another novelty item that raises a polite smile before quietly joining the back of a cupboard. I’ve always loved giving gifts far more than receiving them. I feel deeply uncomfortable when someone asks what I would like for Christmas or my birthday. I suspect this is partly tied to being autistic it’s a feeling

Meg Preparing Canapes By Meg’s Scottish Kitchen There’s something wonderfully inviting about the very first bite of a festive meal. Long before the turkey is carved or the pudding is flaming, it’s the nibbles those small, thoughtful plates that whisper to your guests “You’re here now. The fire’s lit. Take off your coat and settle in.” Winter Reading Nook In every kitchen I’ve cooked in from the freezing cold tied cottages when I have worked for various titled families here in

Winter Light on Loch Awe at Quiet Cove There’s a moment every year — usually halfway through November — when the air sharpens just a touch, the light dips earlier behind the hills, and my hands automatically reach for cinnamon sticks, oranges, cloves and the gentle rustle of the recipe notes I’ve loved for decades. Christmas doesn’t begin on the 25th.It begins with a feeling. A pull towards warmth, generosity, small rituals and familiar flavours… a longing for light in the d

A selection of seasonal ingredients As another year draws to a close and a fresh chapter waits just around the corner, I always find myself reflecting on the small, intentional choices that shape how we live, how we cook and how we nourish ourselves. A new year often sweeps in with promises, resolutions, gym memberships and shiny new supplements — all in pursuit of becoming healthier, fitter and happier. But so often, those well meant resolutions crumble before the Christmas

There’s a moment every November when the scent of brandy, spice, and citrus fills the air. That’s when I know it’s Stir-Up Sunday . This old English tradition occurs on the last Sunday before Advent. Families gather to make their Christmas puddings, each taking a turn to stir the rich, spiced mixture and make a wish. In my kitchen, it’s a day of joyful chaos. Bowls, wooden spoons, and a bit of friendly arguing about who gets the final stir fill the space. Growing up, I rememb

Winter in the Highlands There’s a certain hush that settles over the Highlands as autumn fades and winter takes hold. The mornings arrive cloaked in mist, the loch turns silver in the pale light, and the scent of woodsmoke curls through the air. Here in Dalavich, we’ve stacked our logs high, filled the oil tank and stocked the pantry. We are ready for whatever the Highland weather decides to throw our way. I love this season of retreat and rest. When the nights draw in and th

Autumn in Scotland There’s definitely a real autumn bite in the air. We finally put the central heating on this morning and set the timer for winter. For those of you who’ve been with me for a while, you’ll know that I secretly love the autumn and winter seasons. I enjoy nothing more than snuggling under a blanket, the log burner warming the house and the scent of something delicious wafting from the kitchen. As the seasons change, just like our ancestors before us, we are in

Friends with Sparklers The Glow of Bonfire Night: A Feast by the Fire As the nights draw in and the scent of woodsmoke lingers in the air, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about Bonfire Night. That unmistakable crackle of logs, the fizz and pop of fireworks across the loch and the rosy faces gathered around the flames, all reminders that November has arrived in full, golden splendour. I love how this celebration bridges the gap between autumn’s bounty and winter’s hush

Celebrate the flavours of autumn with Meg’s Scottish Kitchen. Discover two delicious pumpkin recipes a vibrant roast pumpkin salad and a spiced maple loaf. Rediscover the joy of seasonal, fuss-free cooking Pumpkin Table Setting There’s something about the sight of pumpkins lined up at farm gates and garden walls this time of year that makes me feel instantly at home. Maybe it’s their colour, that deep golden hue that seems to bottle the last of autumn’s light or maybe it’s th

As the light fades earlier each evening and the air carries that unmistakable chill of late October, there’s a shift that feels almost otherworldly. The leaves turn to gold and russet, the fields lie bare, and the scent of woodsmoke drifts through the glen. It’s a season that hums with old stories, when the veil between worlds thins. We gather close around the fire for warmth, light, and food that feeds the soul. Since childhood, I’ve always known this time by what I call the

There’s something magical about the smell of cookies baking in the oven, It’s like a warm hug. It conjures up warmth and comfort, a balm for a stressed or troubled soul. Sometimes baking perfect cookies can feel like chasing a unicorn. Too crispy, too doughy, too flat, too puffy… the list goes on. The good news even when they are not 100% perfect they will still be yummy to eat as any of my cookies that don’t pass quality control are joyed by Simon and the dogs. So I thought