December 2017 Favourites List

Dear Readers,
 

Somehow the end of the year is upon us again, and I feel rather underprepared! Cards, presents, Christmas messages…. So much to do and so little time! All my intentions of planning ahead went awry, and I find myself disorganised and rushing.

The end of term is always a busy time up in the ivory towers of academia. Everything has to be done before the students scurry away for the vacation. They do deserve it, as they have had a gruelling 14 week term, full of classes and hour upon hour of preparatory work in between.

Hopefully your festive preparations are going well and you are looking forward to the big day. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. I wish you a healthy, happy and success filled 2018.

My selections this month are generally festive, with Christmas dinner recipes and present ideas for you. I’ve not had as much time for films, TV and other cultural things, so I have compiled my list of albums of the year. I wish I’d had the time to investigate many other of the music of the year, as it appears to have been a great year for different and original sounds. Cigarettes After Sex, Sampha, War on Drugs and LCD Soundsystem are all on my list to investigate in the New Year.

Here is my final Favourites List of 2017, see you in the New Year!

Recipes:

Posh sausage roll by Glynn Purnell for serving up with Christmas dinner: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/posh_sausage_roll_64375

For Christmas dinner - roast potatoes by Big Spud Gary. He suggests you could pre-cook them and freeze, to save time on the big day. http://bigspud.co.uk/recipes/perfect-roast-potatoes/

Showstopping centrepiece dish for vegetarians or vegans for Christmas day. It's not all about the Turkey! https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/vegan-christmas-recipe-ideas-tomato-cashew-aubergine-baingan-musallum-a3711656.html

Don't like Christmas cake? Here are some alternative Festive bakes from Bake Off winner Sophie: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/bake-winner-sophie-faldos-perfect-stollen-buche-de-noel-pandoro/

Slow Cooker Chocolate Caramel Puddings served with Chocolate Caramel Cream; an alternative to Christmas pudding, by Janice at Farmer’s Girl Kitchen: https://farmersgirlkitchen.co.uk/2016/12/slow-cooked-chocolate-caramel-puddings/

For the chilli fiends out there. I personally wouldn't carry my own chilli sauce stash. Mind you, those New Orleans chicken wings seem irresistible! https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/02/hot-sauce-recipes-yotam-ottolenghi-chicken-wings-prawn-pasties-green-beans

Macaroni cheese can be done down-home style or de luxe. Here is a posh version with lobster: http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/fish-and-seafood/lobster-mac-n-cheese/

In Guadalahara, they don't make chili con carne. They make carne con chili. This is from Rick Stein's food and travel exploration of Mexico: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/carne_con_chile_04415

In need of a Winter warmer? How about Adam Handlings' Hot Toddy. That'll chase the cold away! http://goodthingsmagazine.com/adam-handlings-hot-toddy/

 

Articles:

Perfect gifts for food and drink lovers, as selected by Kavita at Kavey Eats blog: https://www.kaveyeats.com/2017/11/five-delicious-gifts-for-food-drink-lovers.html

Which fish are OK to eat, which should we avoid? Handy and beautiful graphic here: http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/which-fish-best-safest-healthy-to-eat/

Christmas wine picks from Sean Jones QC and Professor Dominic Regan: https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/christmas-wine

 

My recent blog posts – these are for my students:

My latest blog post for students - how to approach resit assessments, step by step: http://snigsclassroom.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/resits-your-step-by-step-plan-to-pass.html

Brian Mondoh on Smashing the BPTC - in other words, how to pass with a Very Competent first time round! http://snigsclassroom.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/nuggets-of-wisdom-for-smashing-bptc.html

My albums of the year:

Alt-J – Relaxer

Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice

The xx – I See You

Lorde – Melodrama

Mogwai – Every Country’s Sun

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.