May 2014 Favourites List

My students and I have reached the end of an era. We have made it through to the end of teaching. I am so proud of them all. 

My students joined the one year course they have been studying in September. In possession of law degrees or postgraduate diplomas in law, they had a head full of the theory, but little or no experience of practice. 

They have had to learn all about court procedures, from 3 massive books with 2000+ pages in each. Some had never done any public speaking, yet had to stand up in front of their classmates and perform advocacy as if they were doing it for real in court. They have had to learn about ideas like evidence and proof and how to win cases by using tactics. They have had to learn judgment, analysis, and then had to apply this by advising clients in writing and in person, verbally. 

Toys of the iconic Auto Rickshaw (AKA Tuk-tuk)

The students have been through so much; exam stress, the monotony of revision, heavy workload, the challenges of receiving negative feedback, responding to feedback, being responsible for their own learning. As they now complete their final assessments, I hope you will wish them the very best of luck.

Then it will be time for the Summer marking season. I'm praying to the gods of weather to give me some sunshine so that at very least I can get the monotony of marking done outside in the garden. The sunshine will do me (and my students' marks) a power of good.

This month's pictures are from Kerala, South India, as they have been for the last couple of lists. I hope you won't mind, but the sunshine and warmth of the place is exactly what I need to remind myself of to keep me going. 

Enjoying a sneaky cocktail!

Blogs Worth Following:

Indian and fusion recipes: http://strawberrylentils.com/

Frankfurt based Karin's multi-national food blog with recipes and more: http://www.yumandmore.com/

Recipes:

Pav bhaji is an Indian street food classic. Find out how to make it here: http://saffronchronicles.com/2013/10/04/pav-bhaji/

Ivor Peter's Beef or Ostrich carpaccio with an Indian spiced crumble coating, a recipe for Curry For Change: http://www.urbanrajah.com/how-to-make-Indian-curry/spice-crumble-carpaccio

I love chocolate. I love curry. But can they work together? Zoe Perrett, AKA The Spice Scribe thinks so. Check out her spectacularly original Bombay Mix Chocolate Cheesecake recipe for Find Your Feet's Curry For Change fundraiser:  http://culinaryadventuresofthespicescribe.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/curry_for_change_chocolate_bombay_mix_cheesecake_recipe/

Inspired by the flavours of Vietnam, a white fish recipe with ginger, chilli, turmeric and dill: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/10708804/Fish-with-turmeric-dill-and-coconut-recipe.html

Tom Kerridge's Red mullet soup, Blanquette of pork with braised lettuce salad & Dried apple drop scones with apple cider jam http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/03/tom-kerridge-west-country-recipes-britain-on-a-plate 

Speedy supper mixed bean salad by Mark Hix, serve with a grilled pork or lamb chop on a weekday night: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/mark-hix-recipe-mixed-bean-salad-9190587.html

Spicy sausage stew with beans and tomato, healthy & simple: http://www.catsyellowdays.com/2013/08/01/spicy-sausage-stew/

Masala Dosa. Just add green and red chutney!

Karam Sethi (chef/owner of Trishna and Gymkhana) shares his recipes for authentic versions of well known curries - Lucknawi chicken korma, Hyderabadi dal & Goat keema http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/02/dal-chicken-korma-goat-keema-recipes-karam-sethi

Tomato, chicken, peach, corn and feta cheese salad for sunny days: http://www.askchefdennis.com/2013/08/summer-salad/

Poha is flattened rice, often used for Sunday brunch in India, here's a typical recipe with potatoes and peppers: http://myownfoodcourt.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/aloo-pauwa.html

Ivor Peters, The Urban Rajah's authentic Meatball curry (Kofte curry): http://www.urbanrajah.com/how-to-make-Indian-curry/meatball-curry

Lisa, AKA Cookwitch Creations, is inspired by Moro's Sam and Sam to create this porky nibble treat: http://www.cookwitch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/moro-inspired-pork-belly.html

Colourful mountain village house in a rainstorm

Articles/Know How:

Got a Breville sandwich toaster languishing in your cupboards? Time to give it pride of place and revive its use! http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/mar/13/breville-toastie-toasted-cheese-sandwich

Fiona Beckett's top pairings for dry and off-dry Alsace whites (Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, etc):  http://www.matchingfoodandwine.com/news/pairings/20110615/

Kitchen/Cooking skills video! Chef Vaibhav Bhargava demonstrating how to properly slice onions to be used for Chinese or Indian food. http://youtu.be/0CCmOnRLS1E

Alchemy festival celebrating Indian food and culture is coming to the South Bank. Here's a guide to what's happening:

http://culinaryadventuresofthespicescribe.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/indian_alchemy_festival_london_southbank_guide/

"Can I have that sushi cooked & to go?" LOL! Poor Jiro, genius sushi chef from "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", gets the customer from hell in his restaurant. http://www.finedininglovers.com/blog/food-drinks/cooked-sushi-sukiyabashi-jiro-ono/

Fancy having your Friday night curry fix in an old 737 aeroplane? Sounds pretty cool to me. Bhajis on a Boeing! www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11226835.Plane_crazy_curry_restaurant_ready_for_take_off

Alain Ducasse and Michel Roux Jr on Gastronomy  http://www.finedininglovers.com/blog/news-trends/alain-ducasse-and-michael-roux-jr-on-gastronomy/

Appam, vada, curry and chutney - Keralan breakfast

Film:

Once

Her

TV:

House Of Cards (US Version) Season 2

Music:

Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots

Juana Molina - Wed 21

Beck - Morning Phase

Please note: as with every monthly Favourites List, all of these items have been selected by me simply because I love them. I do not receive any money, benefits in kind or other incentive for posting these links or recommendations.