Cold weekends are a good excuse to bring baking back into the kitchen. When there is less reason to rush outside, a batch of muffins, biscuits or a simple cake can become part of an afternoon at home.

Winter baking tends to suit richer flavours particularly well. Chocolate, nuts, cinnamon, orange, apple and pear can all be added to familiar recipes without turning them into complicated desserts. Chocolate chip muffins, for example, require little preparation and can be eaten warm from the oven or kept for breakfast the following morning.

Baking can also make good use of ingredients already in the kitchen. Overripe bananas can become banana bread, apples can be baked into a simple cake and leftover chocolate can be chopped and added to cookies or muffins.

A warm drink naturally belongs alongside it. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate or spiced apple juice can turn something freshly baked into an easy afternoon break, especially during the colder months.

There is no need to save baking for guests or special occasions. Making something small for home can be reason enough to switch on the oven.

And perhaps that is one of the best things about winter food: sometimes a warm muffin and a hot drink really are enough.

Mix flour sugar baking powder and a pinch of salt in a bowl. In another bowl whisk eggs with milk melted butter and a touch of vanilla. Bring everything together gently and fold in chocolate chips. No overmixing. Keep it simple.

Spoon the batter into muffin cups and bake until the kitchen smells like home. Serve them slightly warm with a mug of hot chocolate and whipped cream on top.

Baking, taking a pause and enjoying the little things.

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