January is a difficult month. After all the festivities, fun and frivolity of the festive season are over, you have to take the Christmas tree down, pick yourself up from your New Year's day hangover and face mid Winter in all its freezing glory. Even though the Christmas tree might have taken up a lot of space, now that it is gone and you have got your room back, it's funny how the house feels bare, doesn't it?
I've been kept very busy by the day job. I've been in the thick of delivering my enjoyable but mentally taxing Large Group Sessions (that's lectures to those who still work in old money), my many fun Small Group Sessions (seminars), producing podcasts and student materials. We are also beginning to get into the dreaded Assessment Season. Feared and despised by students and tutors alike, it is now looming over us like a big, dark, big, dark...... loomy thing. See what's happened to me?! I can't even manage to write decent prose these days....
Still, here is my January Favourites list of all the stuff that has been diverting me these past few weeks. I hope you enjoy them!
The pictures this month are from my recent trip to Sri Lanka of the fishing boats in Negombo.
Blogs worth following:
Recipes:
Houmous - but smooth: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/01/ethereally-smooth-hummus/
Proper tagine with heat diffuser and ceramic dish, Peckham style: http://helengraves.co.uk/2013/01/peckham-goat-tagine/
Hug In A Bowl noodle soup: http://www.domesticsluttery.com/2013/01/sluttishly-savoury-ramen.html
Up to date take on classic beef stroganoff (although I'd pass on the boil in the bag rice and would cook my own): http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/beef-stroganoff-fluffy-rice-red-onion-parsley-pickle
One pot wonder with lamb and pasta (a real Winter Warmer!): http://www.domesticsluttery.com/2009/12/one-pot-wonder-aromatic-lamb-with-orzo.html
Know what is in your burgers by making your own: www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/the-ultimate-beef-burgers
Vegetarian: Wild Mushroom Stroganoff http://recipes.vegsoc.org/christmas_recipe.aspx?cId=98
Vegetarian: Pumpkin ravioli http://recipes.vegsoc.org/christmas_recipe.aspx?cId=95
Vegetarian: Winter Nut roast http://recipes.vegsoc.org/christmas_recipe.aspx?cId=132
Interesting articles:
What is Kohl Rabi and what to do with it: http://www.food52.com/blog/5253_down_dirty_kohlrabi
Guide to Ramen noodles: http://eatlovenoodles.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/world-of-noodles-9-quick-guide-to-ramen.html
It's wrong to blame feminism for the lack of cooking in contemporary homes: http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/01/betty-friedan-did-not-kill-home-cooking/272518/
Interview with food hero Fuchsia Dunlop: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/9788689/Whats-cooking-Fuchsia-Dunlop.html
A defence of the recipes of TV chefs (recently dubbed unhealthy): http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/dec/18/tv-chefs-food-not-unhealthy
Alvin Leung (Bo London & Bo Innovation) on his approach to food: http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2012/12/19/the-engineers-approach-to-food/
Books:
The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex: What Is Wrong With Modern Movies? by Mark Kermode
Music:
Akron/Family - Akron/Family
Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced
Ben Howard - Every Kingdom
Jack White - Blunderbuss
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