A Slow Start to the Year: Finding Comfort in Simple Ingredients

January often arrives with a lot of noise.

Resolutions, rules, promises to overhaul our lives overnight.

But after the richness of the holidays, what many of us truly crave is something quieter—a return to simple meals, warm kitchens, and ingredients we trust.

At The Hat’s Olive Tap, we believe January doesn’t need to be about restriction. It can be about coming home—to nourishment, to ease, and to the everyday rituals that make winter feel a little warmer.

Let the Kitchen Be a Place of Ease

A gentle reset doesn’t require new recipes or complicated plans.

It begins with a few pantry staples that do a lot of heavy lifting.

A good extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of those ingredients.

It adds depth without effort, warmth without heaviness, and nourishment without rules.

In the winter months, olive oil becomes a quiet companion in the kitchen—stirred into soups, drizzled over roasted vegetables, or poured generously onto a slice of toasted bread.

Simple Ways to Use Olive Oil This Week

If January feels tender, let your cooking be simple too:

• Drizzle olive oil (Rosemary infused EVOO works well here) over roasted root vegetables with sea salt (Sel Gris from Saltcellar is fantastic)

• Finish a pot of soup with a slow pour before serving

• Add it to scrambled eggs (Cayenne fused EVOO) or grains for richness

• Dip warm bread into olive oil as a small evening ritual (any UP EVOO)

These small moments add up—not as habits to track, but as comforts to return to.

Choosing Quality Over Quantity

A gentle reset isn’t about cutting things out—it’s about choosing well.

Fresh, high-quality extra virgin olive oil supports everyday cooking and offers natural benefits, from healthy fats to antioxidant properties. More importantly, it makes simple food taste deeply satisfying, so there’s no need to overcomplicate your plate.

At The Hat’s Olive Tap, our extra virgin olive oils are thoughtfully sourced to bring both flavor and integrity to your kitchen—whether you’re cooking for yourself or gathering with others.

A Quiet Invitation for January

This month, we invite you to slow down.

Cook one simple meal you love.

Use ingredients that feel good in your body.

Let your kitchen be a place of warmth, not pressure.

January doesn’t need to be loud to be meaningful.

Sometimes, the most nourishing reset is the simplest one.