Toast, soup, a bake, a biscuit… When the days are dark and cold, you want simple recipes with a nod to nostalgia and childhood comforts, but with flavours that feel right for now

Prima ’s homes and food editor, Bella Evennett-Watts, shares her top advice and insider tips for this month

MAKES 8 PREP 10 mins plus cooling COOK 15 mins EASY V 50g butter, melted then cooledslightly, plus extra for the mould1 egg50g caster sugar1 tsp honey50g self-raising flour 1 Heat the oven to 210C/190

PREP: 15 MINS COOK: 25 MINS CALS: 337 FAT: 7.5G SAT FAT: 2.5G CARBS: 56G SERVES 6 Delicious banana bread and sticky toffee pud with a low-fat toffee sauce. YOU WILL NEED 150g pitted dates 1tsp bicarbo

Bright bakes to beat the January blues

Rise and shine with a traditional Irish breakfast, from marmalade cake and banana muffins to waffles and wheaten farls