June 2015 Favourites List

This month's pictures are from my trip to New York this month. I went to New York not knowing what to expect. The city that never sleeps did not disappoint. Forgive me for doing all the “touristy” things, but what did you expect me to do on my first ever trip?

I discovered an energetic and frenetic city with great personality. Like London, it is fast paced and immensely cosmopolitan. The love its citizens feel for it is palpable constantly. The friendliness I experienced was simply astonishing. I have never looked at a map of a city on a street corner, utterly confused and found someone volunteer to help me find me way. Yet it happened more than once on the streets of NYC.

The starting point of the High Line, NYC.

New York is a magical city of bright lights, grand old buildings, skyscrapers, great art and a stunning food scene. Thankfully, as my time there progressed, I realised it was easy to navigate, the grid system making sense to me after I had gotten over the long journey.

I told myself when I went to make the best of it because I was unlikely to go back…. Now I just want to work out how soon I can get back!

The Flatiron Building

 Recipes:

Jordanian Mansaf is a creamy, milky lamb stew which is so comforting. A nice choice for a long, lazy weekend cook-off. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/may/29/lamb-in-milk-mansaf-recipe-fennel-spinach-new-potatoes

If you are roasting chicken or cooking firm fleshed fish like monkfish, you might like this accompaniment, borlotti beans with kale (or cavolo nero if you can find it): http://foodurchin.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/diana-henrys-borlotti-beans-and-kale.html

Crisp skinned chicken with chorizo and butter beans. http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/braised-chicken-with-chorizo-and-butter-beans/7869.html

Asma Khan's Darjeeling Express supper club is completely wonderful. I recommend it thoroughly. This is a fab interview with Asma, and includes an authentic Bengali tomato chutney recipe. My own mum makes one very similar. http://www.indiafoodnetwork.in/meet-asma-khan-londons-bengali-food-pop-up-evangelist/

Cafe Wha? Where Hendrix, Dylan, The Velvel Underground and Springsteen played. Greenwich Village. 

As Summer arrives, dare I hope to cook on the Barbeque? These spicy Moroccan style kebabs sound lovely. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/11652491/BBQ-spiced-lamb-and-apricot-kebabs.html

Simple and swift Italian steak for a quick midweek supper. http://www.london-unattached.com/2015/06/steak-recipe-tagliata-balsamico/

Articles/Know How:

Storing your fruit and veg... some helpful advice: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/ten-fruits-and-vegetables-youre-storing-wrong/2014/10/21/a7d8adb6-4b44-11e4-891d-713f052086a0_story.html

The main concourse at Grand Central Station, NYC.

We all love a bit of sugar. So I won't preach that we avoid it completely. But it does deliver "empty" calories which give you a short buzz, but then leaves you hungry and wanting more. If you are trying to control your sugar intake, you might find that some of the food you are eating is sabotaging your attempts. Here is a guide to where that hidden sugar can be found:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/the-foods-with-high-amounts-of-hidden-sugar-10218253.html

Portuguese food - could this be the next big food trend? (I love a good sardine, me!): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/11622804/More-than-sardines-is-Portuguese-food-the-next-big-trend.html

Lady Liberty herself.

Tips, inspiration and recipes from Uyen Luu on how to cook and eat more veg, regardless of their hue: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/uyen-luu/5-ways-to-love-vegetables_b_7441706.html

Simple tips on seasonal cooking, with the caveat not to get too stressed about it all: http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/common-mistakes/article/seasonal-cooking-mistakes

The Empire State Building

Vegans will soon be able to get Ben & Jerry's new vegan friendly ice cream: http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/06/10/major-ice-cream-brand-makes-life-sweeter-vegans

So, let's get this straight... Quinoa - "keen-wa". Espresso - "es-press-o". Bruschetta - "brusk-etta". Moet (as in Moet and Chandon champagne) - "Mo-ett". As for Poutine, I don't know if it is "Putin" (like Vlad) or "putain" (don't even ask). http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/10/quinoa-espresso-bruschetta-food-tongue-twist-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall-jay-rayner-unpronounceable

The "Imagine" mosaic at Strawberry Fields, Central Park, a tribute to John Lennon.

What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen:

How I was taught about how lamb can be quickly cooked and way more versatile than the perception of roasts, stews and curries:

http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/cyrus-todiwala-on-lamb-recipe-lamb-in.html

My Summer potato salad with a difference, a mayo-free meaty meal in a bowl:

http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/potato-and-salami-salad.html

Freedom Tower

Film:

The Theory Of Everything 

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

TV:

Gershwin's Summertime: The Song That Conquered The World

Music:

Ghostpoet - Shedding Skin

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit

The Brooklyn Bridge

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.