Country Living in February

I have looked forward to having a fresh set of monthly magazines to browse over and share with you for this post once again this month. I really feel like I am getting 7 new magazines each time, as although at the time I am sure I loved every feature, I so often read them through, admire the pictures and then forget about each issue. It has also been great to see themes that crop up in every issue year after year. I thought I would start this month's post with a collage of all the February front covers - don't they just tease you with the idea that Spring really is on the way?

February

So last month I promised a look at some of the features from inside the issues and I have decided to go with a food theme for February. The herb rosemary appeared in several issues and alongside growing instructions some amazing recipes were featured.

One recipe which caught my eye, as chicken is one of our firm favourites, was ‘Chicken with Rosemary and Pine nuts’

12 Chicken thighs
2tbsp fruity olive oil
2 cloves garlic, peeled
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 sprigs rosemary
2 sprigs thyme
3 tbsp pine nuts

Heat the oven to 220C (gas mark 7). Spread half the oil over the bottom of a shallow baking dish that will hold the chicken pieces, not too snugly, in a single layer. With a knife blade, crush the garlic ad a little salt into a pulp. Rub this into the chicken and place in a dish, scattering rosemary needles, thyme leaves and seasoning under, over and between them. Sprinkle over the remaining oil and bake for about 45 minutes, basting once or twice. Scatter the pine nuts over the chicken, baste it again and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the meat is cooked, the skin is golden and beginning to crisp and the pine nuts are lightly coloured. Exact timing will depend on the size of the chicken pieces. Serve straight from the dish.

Another recipe which featured in many issues was that of flavoured sugar. Now, I have never used any type of flavoured sugar before in cooking but I will admit I have admired how pretty the jars look on many shop shelves. Various recipes appeared in Country Living including one for Rosemary Sugar but also Vanilla, Lemon, Cinnamon and Rose.

All the sugars looked stunning in glass jars and I am sure they would make beautiful presents to give to a friend. The ones I have spotted before are from Waitrose (our ‘treat’ supermarket here in England) and they are stored in those air-tight Kilner jars I just swoon over! I have such a jar sitting on my office window sill – maybe I should stop admiring it and put it to good use with one of these sugars. Have you tried or made flavoured sugar and if you have what have you used it for?

So there you have it – ‘Food February’ from Country Living. I am always on the look out for new recipes so if you have any great country/rustic ones please share. Would also like to ask if you liked this idea of picking out a feature from Country Living or if you preferred last month’s idea of pictures taken from each issue. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing both ways but would love to know which you preferred or if you would like to see both. Thank you in advance for taking the time to comment – comments make me smile!