Smokey cod wrapped in Serrano ham

Thank goodness January is nearly over . I haven’t met one person who has said anything positive about this month . Actually my husband hasn’t minded as we have caught up on a lot of indoor jobs that otherwise might not have been done . The cold, wet, grey days , dark nights, the lull after the Christmas festivities, it’s all a bit bleak. I have been out walking every day  but two this month to raise money for dementia . Wrapped up against the cold on days where I wouldn’t normally dream of  venturing out, I’ve found it strangely enjoyable. Even with the wind and rain battering my face and icy paths underfoot . I’ve walked 74 miles so far and raised £617 for the charity. With the added bonus of feeling energised and a little fitter, even my jeans feeling a little loser. If I can walk every day in January I can certainly keep going as the days warm up and the nights get lighter. I saw a lovely Instagram post, a journal of spending January winterising. The woman lived in the most beautiful cottage and filled the month cooking wonderful slow cooked meals in her aga . Doing crafts by the fire and walking in the snow covered woods . I thought that’s what you should do, embrace the month for what it is and make the best of it . Eating comforting food, reading, experimenting with new hobbies,  wrapping up warm and going outside, enjoying the warmth of your home when you come back indoors . Some of those things I have done anyway this month , knitting and walking being my new hobbies.  Though next  year I’ll make more of an effort to try and make January an all around better experience . 

I have had some lovely meals this month, some new recipes and some old . Last night I had planned a new cod recipe. Very simple with ginger and spring onions , steamed with a soy sauce and honey sauce . Unfortunately I forgotten the soy sauce . 

The alternative meal was equally as simple . I had two cod fillets and some Serrano ham which I wrapped around the fillets. I cut  some Maris piper potatoes up small and roasted them with garlic cloves and olive oil until crispy and golden . When the potatoes weren’t far away from being cooked , I fried the cod resting on a big piece of rosemary on a high heat so the ham was crispy and smokey . Depending on the thickness of the cod it doesn’t take too long to cook. Once cooked place the cod on top of the roast potatoes and garlic . Grate some lemon rind over the cod and season well . Add greens if you choice .