This is the first in my collection of recipes for lovers. Of course, we all know about Valentine ’s Day on the 14th February. My husband, though is Welsh and he celebrates the native Welsh saint of lovers, Saint Dwynwen’s day on the 25th of January. So we get two chances to celebrate. This first recipe is […]

marzipan-centre-bundt-cake.png This is a half-cake, half-stollen confection bursting with festive flavours, mixed spice, dried fruit and nuts that can be served and made as a last-minute Christmas bake that doesn’t need to mature. The bundt shape also makes it round, like a coin; so it can be served for good luck as a New Year

Mussels on the half shell are now available in South African supermarkets. This recipe turns these fairly cheap shellfish into a moreish New Year’s Eve (or any other party) nibble. Prep time 10 minutes/Cook time 40 minutes/Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 150g (1 1/2 cups) cornbread, crumbled 60ml (1/4 cup) extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling ¼ tsp of crushed

Siberian Beef Dumplings Dumplings are another food often associated with prosperity and served around the New Year. Chinese dumplings are shaped like traditional purses, so it’s relatively easy to work out their association with wealth. These Russian (Siberian) dumplings are more shaped like coins, hence their association with the New Year. Prep time 25 minutes/Cook

Round confectionery such as bundt cakes, layer cakes, doughnuts, biscuits and cookies are believed to bring good luck on New Year. The key is the round shape, as they are believed to bring a full circle of luck in the New Year. These are really good and can be used as New Year gifts to

Grilled Mackerel Two Ways Fish are also considered lucky, in Chinese culture at least, but they must be served whole, with the heads and tails still attached. This symbolizes prosperity, abundance and a fortunate year to come. Here I’m cooking braaied (barbecued) whole mackerel, with the first recipe for a Chinese-style of finishing the fish

This is from the American South, where sweet or savoury cornbread is said to bring prosperity in the New Year (its golden hue literally refers to gold and other riches). This recipe is for a sweet breakfast cornbread, typically served with maple syrup. Prep time 5 minutes/Cook time 30 minutes/Serves 6 Ingredients: 270g (1 1/2 cups) yellow cornmeal

neujahrsbrezel.png neujahrsbrezel-plaiting.png As we enter the New Year, I’m presenting a few recipes for foods that are deemed lucky. Today’s recipe is from Germany. Neujahrsbrezel is a large pretzel popular in the Rhineland and other areas in southwestern Germany and is typically served on New Year’s Day to symbolize good luck. Unlike traditional lye pretzels,