From a food observance perspective, December is all but over. Today is Bicarbonate of Soda Day ( a day too early considering tomorrow is New Year’s Eve but never mind.
So I’ve decided it’s time to focus on January. Besides, the weather is cold and January is one of the cosiest months on the foodie calendar.
January is …
Hot Tea Month: Yes, I know I’ve said I don’t like hot tea. I don’t like iced tea either. But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate that lots of other people enjoy the stuff. And I can also appreciate that it is a topic around which people have VIEWS. Views on which comes first, milk or tea; brew strength; bags vs. loose leaf… etc. I tend to stay quiet during these moments since no one wants to hear ‘Ewwwwww, just give me coffee.’
Slow Cooking Month: what could be more on brand for winter than slow cooking? Also, I am very much on board for anything that delivers far more comfort than the effort required. And since ‘simplicity’ seems to be on all the 2026 food trend lists, slow cookers will come into play there too. I mean, what could be easier than throwing a lot of stuff in the pot, turning it on and walking away for the day?
Oatmeal Month: When did oatmeal get so … varied? steel-cut oats, baked oatmeal, bowls gone savoury topped with eggs or greens are showing up all over the place. What is your favourite oatmeal topping? If you are an oatmeal person, have you tried savoury options?
Soup Month: OK, when I say what could be more on brand for winter than slow cooking, I should have said ‘well – soup.’ because it is also very on brand for winter. And so trendy – from bone broth to noodle bowls, soup shows up on all sorts of trend round ups – from gut health to batch cooking, from ‘how to hygge’ to reducing food waste. Bottom line: soup is good food. Enough said.