November 2024 Favourites list
Welcome to this month’s list.
I am in the middle of marking drafting formative exercises for eager Bar course students, so forgive me for getting straight to the list!
Food advice and kitchen tips
Chef Romy Gill shares her three base pastes – a Punjabi tomato base, a Keralan coconut paste, and a tempered spice Tarka: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/romy_gill_three_base_pastes
Instant noodles are a useful staple for quick lunches, especially if you add to what comes with the packet. Here are 17 ideas for pimping your noods: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/oct/31/17-ways-with-instant-noodles-ramen
When I roast a pumpkin or squash, the “cook’s perk” is the roasted seeds. I’d never thought of roasting the squash with the seeds (I usually scoop the seeds out and wash them), but this seems like a fab shortcut! https://www.purplekale.com/writings-and-recipes/squash-slices-with-their-seeds
Recipes
Marcus Wareing’s Croque Madame recipe – more than just a cheese and ham toastie, this luxurious take on the French classic also includes a thyme infused roux. https://www.irishnews.com/life/food-drink/marcus-wareings-croque-madame-recipe-OXH7DYCC7VJTROJGHBSUOF2XVU/
This is a biriyani with a difference – a Swahili chicken biriyani recipe from the cookbook “Africali” by Kiano Moju: https://www.eater.com/24254265/swahili-chicken-biriyani-recipe-africali-cookbook-kiano-moju
Planning your Sunday roast? Ishan Kolhatkar has got how to make roast potatoes covered. https://www.ishankolhatkar.com/food/roastpotatoes
Cookbooks
Wanting to plan your Christmas food? You might want to invest in a Christmas themed cookbook. Here is a list of the best: https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/christmascookbooks/
Watching Nigella Lawson’s Cook Eat Repeat during the pandemic was, for me, both a lifesaver and a tonic for the soul. The book is a delight. In case you haven’t already got it, here’s a review of a cookbook worthy of space on your kitchen shelf: https://lifehacker.com/food-drink/nigella-lawson-cook-eat-repeat-review
I wish my Spanish were better, because I have found a haul of digitised historic Mexican cookbooks online here – a truly important archive: https://libguides.utsa.edu/MXcookbooks
What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen
New mini blog post - Chicken and chestnuts - Chinese style: https://www.tumblr.com/snigskitchen/766977474096693248/braised-chicken-with-chestnuts-guest-recipes
My review of Nongshim’s Chapagetti instant noodles: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2024/09/nongshim-chapagetti-noodle-review.html
TV
So Long, Marianne
Among the songs on his now legendary debut album, “So Long, Marianne” by Leonard Cohen is a lyrically complex reflection on a relationship which has ended. The relationship between Marianne Ilhens and Cohen has been the subject of his songs, other people’s books, documentaries and now this 8 part TV drama. Marianne (played by Thea Sofie Loch Naess) and Leonard (Alex Wolff) bring to life their relationship, showing that Marianne was more than just a Muse. If you know and love the songs about her, you’ll enjoy this in depth, emotional drama.
Available currently on ITVX on demand. https://www.itv.com/watch/so-long-marianne/10a4867
Music
Naturally, having watched So Long, Marianne, I have been drawn back to the music of Leonard Cohen.
Leonard Cohen – Songs of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems
Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
End of year lists are always fascinating. What to put in? What to leave out? And when they are ranked, that's a whole new set of controversies. This is an interesting Top 20 of this year's music. Totally agree with the inclusion of Bon Iver and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/music/the-20-best-songs-of-2024-ranked
Film
The Whip
Imagine if a robbery could bring down the UK government. Now imagine the perpetrators have never done it before… Andras Forgacs and Christopher Presswell have created a film which defies genre classification. It’s a political-heist-comedy-drama but that description doesn’t do it any justice. The ensemble cast bring humanity to story, meaning you’ll be hoping they pull off the robbery of the century.
Available on:
Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/The-Whip/0MAT95UMK1D285WNOMCF19TFY5
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqdcNiLDre4 (Follow the link for rent/buy options)
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
