Rory O'Connell: Three comforting and warming recipes to soothe body and soul

Casserole roast chicken with Indian spices will warm the cockles while lentil and kale soup is deeply nourishing and chocolate apple pudding is very comforting

This comforting dish should be served warm and ideally on hot plates with cold softly whipped cream to accompany. 

My goodness, the weather has been particularly unpleasant this winter and despite the tiny little ‘stretch’ in the evening light, it feels that we are some time away from bright spring days. 

However, I have spotted some daffodils blooming in my garden, much too early if you ask me, and my spring bulbs in pots are bravely pushing up through the cold and damp soil. Little glimmers of hope.