May 2015 Favourites List

Nearly everywhere you look in England, you can see the flowers blooming and the colours of Spring. We are heading, full steam ahead, towards Summer. It is joyous.

My students are working on their final assessments right now. These are their last four assessments and hopefully, come results day in July, they will be Called to the Bar. Brand new Barristers, of 2015 Call.

They’ve come a long way. Learning how to turn the raw knowledge of the law into practical judgment so they can solve the problems of their clients in the future. They’ve built up their confidence. Many have not spoken in public before, and now they are capable of court room advocacy. They have learnt skills through hard work and lots of practice.

They have blossomed as people and professionals. From nervous, tentative green shoots, they are now in full bloom. Some will practice in the UK, others will work in finance or other sectors. Many will go back to Commonwealth jurisdictions to practice or become the future politicians of their nations. I wish them all the very best of luck, and every success in their future careers.

It seems fitting therefore that this month's pictures are some of my Spring flower pictures from my Instagram account. You can find me by looking for “snigskitchen”. I always follow back. More flower pictures will follow as the season progresses.

But now, onto the other business of my monthly favourites list posts – the wonderful stuff I have been enjoying this month. Enjoy!

Recipes:

Monika Galetti (Michel Roux's right hand woman at Le Gavroche) makes a Springtime dish of asparagus with pearl barley and bacon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/asparagus_with_pearl_43154

Legendary Vogue editor Joan Didion's favourite recipes (including risotto, devilled crab, borscht): http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/02/11/joan-didion-cookbook-recipes/

Weekday salad supper dish with prawns, parsley, barley and saffron for a touch of something special: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/healthy-recipes/11583082/Shrimp-saffron-and-barley-salad-recipe.html

Creamy and indulgent... A veggie soup made from an old Waitrose recipe card. Creamy Cauliflower and Stilton soup at Karen Burns-Booth's Lavender & Lovage blog. http://www.lavenderandlovage.com/2012/02/soul-food-soup-creamy-cauliflower-stilton-cheese-soup-for-random-recipes.html

Avocado stuffed with shredded chicken, served with mixed pepper and roasted corn salad http://thelifestyledirectory.com/fit-and-healthy-recipes/ 

A quick and easy alternative to pulled pork; Indian style spiced mince lamb in a bun.  http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/keema-pav/6680.html

Rich pasta bake for treating yourself (layers of lasagne with porcini, mushrooms and parma ham baked in a creamy sauce):

http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/vincisgrassi-pasta-baked-with-parma-ham/6615.html

Articles/Know How:

Olive oil polyphenol backed by research for selective anti-cancer potential www.foodnavigator-usa.com/R-D/Olive-oil-polyphenol-backed-for-selective-anti-cancer-potential

Myth busting. How some of our given wisdom on food is just plain wrong or confused. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/28/7-of-the-biggest-facts-about-unhealthy-food-that-actually-arent-facts/

Tweak dishes you love to make them a little bit healthier http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/recipes/easy-little-changes-that-can-make-any-meal-healthier-from-nutritious-spices-to-method-tweaks

Vietnam's Hoi An is one of the country's must visit destinations. Evocative food and travel writing. http://www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/destinations/asia/vietnam/eat-hoi-an/

First "Hello Kitty" Chinese restaurant opens in Hong Kong. Kitty shaped dim sum? Yes, please! http://metro.co.uk/2015/05/15/the-worlds-first-hello-kitty-restaurant-has-opened-and-the-food-is-adorable-5198637/

Fiona Beckett reminds us that the South of France's white wines deserve far more of our attention: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/may/14/white-wine-south-of-france-fiona-beckett

Found through the brilliant Kavita of Kavey Eats blog: Life lessons by Anthony Bourdain, on food, cooking and life generally: http://airows.com/travel/23-brilliant-life-lessons-from-anthony-bourdain

How many of you are trying carb free eating? Have you been making spiralised "pasta" (courgetti spaghetti)? Have you explored cauliflower's carb free potential as "rice", "couscous" or cauli flour pizza base mix? http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/carbfree-meals-were-going-crazy-for-courgetti-spaghetti-and-cauliflowerbased-pizzas-10233530.html

What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen:

For fans of sharing food and good times, my review of Inamo St James http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/inamos-sharing-asian-tapas.html

Mini review - Iberica restaurant, Canary Wharf: http://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/118591961199/iberica-canary-wharf-i-had-a-wonderful-long

Film:

Paddington

Interstellar

TV:

Indian Summers

Kate Bush At The BBC

Music:

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – I’m In Your Mind Fuzz

Blur – The Magic Whip

Aziz – From Lahore To Longsight

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.