February 2017 Favourites List

We’ve made it through the cold, grim, grey days. And Storm Doris. Pat yourself on the back!

March is coming, and with it will come Spring flowers, new green shoots and a sense we have turned the corner. Of course, you’ll still need your scarf and gloves… undoubtedly you will need your brolly. But the days are noticeably longer and the colours of Spring will shine through in the coming weeks. 

My students face their assessments – I wish them the very best of luck. Please spare them a good wish or two, if you can. Particularly for Friday’s drafting exam.

My pictures for this month are a few of my homecooking attempts. Nothing particularly cheffy or flash, but all enjoyable and satisfying food. 

And now, onto the stuff you came here for – my collection of links and recommendations…

Garlic laced Corsican Daube of beef with pasta

Recipes:

Persian style lamb meatballs recipe by Sabrina Ghayour: http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/sabrina-ghayours-persian-lamb-meatballs/

Pork slow cooked in cider, flavoured with mustard, celery and sage. http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/dorset-pork-and-cider-casserole-with-mustard-and-sage/

Needing to cut your food shopping bill? Here's a savoury bread pudding recipe for leftover bread and some other thrifty eat ideas from Kavey at Kavey Eats blog: https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/02/bacon-cheese-onion-savoury-bread-pudding.html

Vegetarian San Choi Bau

I'm always on the lookout for midweek dinner ideas. Here's a tilapia and mango salad, full of colour: http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/fish-and-seafood/fried-tilapia-with-shredded-mango/

One pot cook out with oozy juices to be mopped up with bread. Homecooking is all about this! https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016135-rishia-zimmerns-chicken-with-shallots

I have been making my own hummus/houmous, made according to this recipe, based on Claudia Roden's: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/aug/11/how-to-make-perfect-hummus

MiMi Aye’s Spicy Sichuan Noodles, recipe post from Mimi Aye's cookbook "Noodle!" on the excellent food and travel blog Kavey Eats: https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/02/spicy-sichuan-noodles.html

Cookwitch blog’s Lisa’s recipe for Rye bread: https://www.facebook.com/snigskitchen/posts/1533217010039702

Smoked mackerel has fatty acids (omega 3 oils) which are good for the brain. Obviously, you shouldn't eat smoked foods excessively, nor should you overindulge in foods rich in fat. But if you are studying right now or want to give your brain a boost, this is a simple pasta dish for you: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/carbonara-of-smoked-mackerel/

Lancashire Hotpot is a British classic. Although there's no 100% agreed recipe, this looks rather awesome: http://onionsandpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/recipe-lancashire-hotpot.html

Articles/Know How:

The Food Standards Agency sets the record straight after the recent news about possible meat contamination in the UK: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2017/15989/setting-the-record-straight-on-meat-inspection

 

Nutty chicken cool noodle salad

Love white wine? But keep ordering the same old Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon blanc or Chardonnay? Here are some ideas to diversify your palate. Personally, Picpoul de Pinet is a great aperitif wine, Gewurtztraminer is fab with spicy food and Albarino is a superb all rounder with food. http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/recipes/alternatives-sauvignon-blanc-white-wine-swap-pinot-grigio-chardonnay-different-new

Top tips for making great Yorkshire puddings: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-tips-making-yorkshire-puddings

Keralan "Appams" and Sri Lankan "Hoppers" are a rice flour pancake which is a traditional breakfast dish - spotting the latest London food trend! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/move-over-crepes-sri-lankan-hoppers-are-the-hot-new-pancake/

Valentina Harris' book on Risotto is a fantastic cookbook which has been out of print for too long. I'm very happy to see it is back in a revised and updated edition! (book sampler): https://issuu.com/bloomsburypublishing/docs/risotto_risotto_sampler

My other writing:

A consideration of the most significant Employment tribunal procedural decisions of the past year: https://www.solicitorsjournal.com/feature/201702/questions-employment-tribunal-procedure (subscription required)

Film:

St Vincent

Moonrise Kingdom

Lamb ouzi with chickpeas and cinnamon

TV:

Taboo

Homeland (Season 1)

Music:

Shura – Nothing’s Real

Blur – The Magic Whip

Explosions In The Sky – Take Care Take Care Take Care

Agnes Obel - Philharmonics

Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness

Mogwai – Les Revenants Soundtrack

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.