Welcome to this month’s list of the wonderful stuff I have been enjoying this month. Enjoy them with some of the spring flowers I spotted in my neighbourhood.
Food
writing
What's in season in May? Asparagus, peas,
strawberries, spinach, watercress and spring onions. Here is the list, and what
you might want to do with them.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/g42934808/may-recipes/
How to
eat sushi, from conveyor belt sushi restaurants to the specialist restaurants
of the sushi masters: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230420-the-right-way-to-eat-sushi
"The
British Chinese takeaway deserves respect, not sneering by ignorant
Americans". A powerful defence of how food evolves and the experience of
the sheer hard work running a successful take away involves, from Kate Ng: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/chinese-takeaway-tiktok-british-american-b2334781.html
Tai Ibitoye, a registered dietitian and a university lecturer in
nutrition and dietetics, busts some of most persistent and misleading diet
myths circulating on social media: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/dietitian_diet_myths
Recipes
Omar Allibhoy (AKA The Spanish Chef) shares
his recipe for creamy Spanish (Bomba) rice with mushrooms: https://archive.md/20fGf
Koreans call it “mu”, but you might know it
better as daikon or mooli radish. Here’s a spicy salad recipe from Su Scott
from Kavey’s blog. Don’t forget to season the dishes in the right order: sweet,
salty, sour and jang. https://www.kaveyeats.com/korean-spicy-radish-salad-musaengchae
Three Indonesian vegetarian recipes from Petty
Pandean-Elliott’s book The Indonesian Table: https://www.stylist.co.uk/food-drink/traditional-indonesian-vegetarian-recipes/778673
My mum used to make a prawn and cabbage dish when
I was a child, and wanted to know how to re-create it. Here’s a recipe which is
pretty close: https://www.diasporaco.com/blogs/recipes/shaz-kik-s-bandhakopi-chingri-bengali-spicy-cabbage-with-shrimp
The Indian snacks known as “chaat” are one of
my favourite light meals. Here’s a novel spin, using shop bought Bombay mix: https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/quick-and-easy/bombay-mix-lettuce-salad/
Jersey Royal potatoes are back in season.
Here’s a reinvention of potato salad, with a lighter dressing than the
traditional mayonnaise with chives: https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/new-potato-salad/
Got a packet of instant ramen and want a
change? How about… wait for it… Ramen salad. Toasted dry ramen mixed into a
salad slaw. https://www.wellplated.com/asian-ramen-salad/
https://www.wellplated.com/sweet-potato-quinoa-black-bean-salad/
Three vegan
Jamaican salad recipes from Denai Moore’s new cookbook: https://www.stylist.co.uk/food-drink/plentiful-denai-moore-vegan-salad-recipes/782373
I love
kitchen and cooking tips. But what about the absolutely worst tips in the
history of cooking? Here they are… [They are very, very bad!] https://www.lovefood.com/gallerylist/82340/the-worst-cooking-advice-in-history
How to
cook beans from dried, and bean-cooking myths busted: https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/soaking-salting-dried-bean-myths-article
I recently started cooking with either white or
red miso paste. But I’m looking to expand my horizons beyond simple marinaded
fish and salad dressings. This beginner’s guide from Niki Segnit (author of the
Flavour Thesaurus books) is going to inform my new adventures. https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/13/niki-segnit-beginners-guide-to-cooking-with-miso
TV/Music
Fanny:
The Right To Rock
In the
70s, there was an all woman band who truly rocked. With members who were mixed
race, and lesbian/bisexual, they were trailblazers in every way. David Bowie
and Bonnie Raitt were fans. Geoff Emerick engineered their records. Todd
Rundgren produced them. They were the first all woman band to be signed to a
major record label. This documentary tells their story. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001ln6p/fanny-the-right-to-rock
Pet Shop
Boys at the BBC
A
retrospective of the duo’s many appearances on the BBC in a career which has
been anything but boring. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001m85r/pet-shop-boys-at-the-bbc
Reel
Stories: Pet Shop Boys
Dermot
O’Leary interviews Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. The David Bowie ham baguette
story told is definitely a highlight! There’s also a number of amusing moments
when the boys laugh at their younger selves. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001m85t/reel-stories-pet-shop-boys
Film
Puss in
Boots: The Last Wish
The cast
of voices supporting Antonio Banderas in this multi-layered film which is
not-just-for-kids include Florence Pugh, Ray Winstone and Olivia Colman. There
are laughs, fights, rooftop chases… and a cat who has to face up to the fact that
life is finite as he realises he’s on his last l
(Available
in cinemas and on streaming services)
A Simple
Plan
It has
taken me years to get around to seeing this thriller which is set in rural
Minnesota where despite the sense of space, the tone is decidedly
claustrophobic. Two brothers and their friend find $4m in cash. All they have
to do is keep shtum about it and not act suspiciously, right? If only it were
that simple… https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0078cwc/a-simple-plan
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.