November 2020 Favourites List

Hello readers and friends,

It's time for another favourites list and I am posting this from UK Lockdown 2.0. I haven't quite lost the extra pounds I put on from last time (I have lovingly called it my Lockdown Belly). So right now, I'm doing my best to control my food impulses. Wish me luck! Thanks to the recommendations of friends, I have discovered the Pinch of Nom website. They have a keen sense food fans want big flavours, and that we can't bear some of the bland "diet" food which is so often found in the supermarket. 

Before this second UK lockdown, I had reason to pop into the workplace. On my way home, my regular train was cancelled, so I had to find another route home. In a moment of sheer serendipity, I ended up travelling via Lewisham station, to find freshly painted street art at the building site immediately outside. 

I love the imagination of contemporary street art, and the diversity of styles the artists have. Some street art is rooted in graffiti art, some inspired by comics and cartoons, some owes more to fine art, some is political, some satirical, some of it packs a message. It brightens up the urban environment and always brings colour to bustling streets. 

So this month's pictures are of the Lewisham station street art, taken back when it was fresh. You can almost smell the paint.

Recipes:

It might not be January, but as the days get shorter and chillier, here is a comforting fish pie recipe:  http://thewatchfulcook.co.uk/2020/01/20/january-is-the-cruellest-month/

Autumnal tray bakes from Yotam Ottolenghi: Five-a-day (root vegetable) toad-in-the-hole, Curried butternut and coconut gratin, Berbere-spiced chicken, carrots and chickpeas: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/oct/10/yotam-ottolenghi-recipes-for-autumn-traybakes

Grilled corn succotash, a light bite or side dish from Janice at Farmer’s Girl Kitchen blog: https://www.farmersgirlkitchen.co.uk/grilled-corn-succotash/

Ragu sauce (what some call Bolognese, although it isn’t strictly accurate) takes so long to make, you might as well make lots and use it for several meals. Here’s an smart idea for when you have too much ragu, but don’t feel like having it with pasta or potatoes – “Bolognese” garlic bread: https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/22/mums-quick-hack-for-using-leftover-bolognese-sauce-in-garlic-bread-cups-goes-down-a-treat-13461603/

Jalapeño Brined Fried Chicken and Homemade Chicken Fat Tortilla Tacos from Niamh at Eat Like a Girl: https://eatlikeagirl.com/fried-jalapeno-brined-fried-chicken-homemade-chicken-fat-tortilla-tacos/

Green Couscous With Prawns from the new cookbook Roasting Pan Suppers by Rosie Sykes, as featured at Kavey Eats: https://www.kaveyeats.com/green-couscous-with-prawns

A vegan and vegetarian mushroom soup from Jacqueline Meldrum at Tinned Tomatoes: https://www.tinnedtomatoes.com/2020/08/easy-mushroom-soup.html

Food writing:

Aaron Vallance has explored a brief history of food and drink in five objects, as inspired by the collection of the British Museum: https://www.1dish4theroad.com/2020/09/british-museum-five-objects-food-drink.html

The history of chicken tikka masala: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3103638/history-chicken-tikka-masala-why-britains-favourite-curry-has

The ingenious and sneaky ways supermarkets encourage you to spend more money than you need to: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/twenty-two-ways-supermarkets-trick-you-into-spending-more-money-1.4393323

What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen

Recipe post – Spicy prawns with pooris: http://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2020/11/spicy-prawns-with-pooris.html

My other writing

A guide for Bar Course advocacy students on the “legal test” in civil procedural submissions: https://snigsclassroom.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-legal-test-in-civil-submissions.html

Film:

Small Axe: Mangrove

Dark Waters

TV:

Anthony Bourdain – A Cook’s Tour

Top of the Pops – The Story of 1983

Music:

Yazoo – Upstairs At Eric’s

Neil Young with Crazy Horse – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Mogwai – Every Country’s Sun

Pet Shop Boys - Introspective

In My Life, Mojo Presents the new singer-songwriters - Various Artists (October 2020 issue) 

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.