Six ideas for January

Bake some shortbread

Shortbread is associated with the new year tradition of ‘first footing’ in Scotland – to ensure good luck for a household, the first person through the front door should be a dark-haired male, and he should carry a piece of coal, a ‘wee dram’ of whiskey, a coin, salt, and a piece of shortbread.

Given the use of butter, shortbread was seen as an expensive luxury, and was generally kept to special occasions, such