January 2023 favourites list

Happy New Year, my friends! 

January is a month I find challenging. The short days, long dark nights, and chilly weather all conspire to make me want to retreat into my shell. I detest feeling cold, so I tend to wrap up. Only yesterday, I went to a meeting, clad in my big, long quilted coat, with a huge pink scarf. One of my colleagues immediately commented on how I looked like I was coming in from Siberia. It was friendly joshing, so please don't worry. It made me laugh and brought a smile to a few faces.  

Perhaps this desire to retreat into my figurative shell has influenced my choices this month. Certainly I have found myself snuggling on the sofa and watching a lot more TV. I have also been thinking about making and actually eating comfort food; soups and stews as internal central heating.

This month's pictures are a selection of this month's eats. I hope you enjoy this month's list. 

Food writing

What's in season in the UK in January? https://realfood.tesco.com/whats-in-season/january.html

I’m mystified by the whole “meal prep” trend. Stacks of Tupperware full of identical meals from Monday to Friday leaves me cold. I’m not alone. https://www.romper.com/life/why-meal-prep-trend-is-bad

Where to go out to eat in 2023: https://www.stylist.co.uk/food-drink/new-uk-restaurants-2023/745864

Jan 25th is Burns Night. Here's an interesting read all about the main attraction of a Burns Night Supper - haggis! https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/haggis-traditions-burns-day

Pizza Express has somehow managed to remain a chain restaurant which most people still like. Others have felt a backlash. This edition of the always great Vittles newspaper explores the history and design of the restaurant which brought Italian pizza (as opposed to the American-Italian version of Pizza Hut) to the UK: https://vittles.substack.com/p/the-radical-design-of-pizzaexpress

New to cooking?

A beginner’s guide to cooking: https://www.vox.com/even-better/23436672/how-to-start-cooking-beginner-guide

Kitchen tips

Top tips for cooking up smashing roast spuds! https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/mary-berry-roast-potatoes-how-to-cook-b2252010.html

Briefly marinading meat in baking soda can tenderise it. A technique I have seen used in Vietnamese and Mexican food: https://www.mexicali-blue.com/baking-soda-the-secret-to-tender-flavorful-beef/

Tips for home cooks from Chef Jacques Pepin: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/jacques-pepin-cooking-advice

Kavey’s guide to cuts of Beef and what they are best used for: https://www.kaveyeats.com/which-cuts-of-beef-are-best-for

 

Cost of living

How to cook and eat well when food is more expensive than ever (some useful ideas, especially on trade offs and personal priorities): https://www.vox.com/even-better/23465536/cooking-food-inflation-grocery-prices

Recipes

Fesenjan, the Iranian chicken stew with pomegranate and walnut: https://www.eater.com/23517322/fesenjan-recipe-nilou-motamed-yalda 

This is a Basque recipe for braised chicken, with chorizo and piquillo peppers:  https://www.saveur.com/french-braised-chicken-basquaise-recipe/

A Japanese pork belly recipe I discovered thanks to Kavey (I find slices of skinned pork belly in my local supermarket and never know what to make with them): https://www.justonecookbook.com/braised-pork-belly-kakuni/

Films

Knives Out

Glass Onion

TV

Vienna Blood, Series 3

His Dark Materials, Series 3

Stonehouse

The Real Stonehouse

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.