August 2018 Favourites List

In my Favourites List last month, I shared my impressions of going "on safari" for the first time. Since then, I've been trying to go through the many photos I took. I confess to having been completely snap-happy!

Going through my pictures, I am struck by how the wild animals of southern Africa all have a story. Sometimes that story is known by rangers and trackers. They can tell you all about the daily struggles and life story of some of the animals. Other times, the animals are recent visitors, mysterious and enigmatic. 

Powerful elephants roam around, sometimes devastating the bush, trampling trees or stripping them clean of leaves and fruit. Marula fruits are their favourites. These hungry giants have an inefficient digestive system, forcing them to roam. Yet they show their family group tremendous tenderness and loyalty. You can see how the baby elephants are looked after by all the females in the group. They all invest their time and care into the next generation, an amazing act of altruism. 

Cheetahs roam around, solitary and regal. Conserving their energy when there is nothing for them to hunt down. They'd beat Usain Bolt at a sprint hands down, moving with effortless skill. Yet, watch them try to climb up and down a tree and you see their evolutionary disadvantage; their claws, which cannot be retracted, render them clumsy at climbing. 

Families of warthog dig deep burrows, which they ensure they sleep in, facing the exit. Beware the predator who dares try to invade their home... they are in for a ferocious attack! 

My favourite group among these animals were the three little lion cubs. Cubs with an astonishing life story. Their dad died of old age, their mum was killed by other lions. Their sister took them on, with her brother. A highly unusual family group, the cubs play with their uncle and aunt with seemingly no cares in the world. They don't know there are other males in the area, who would dispose of them without a second thought. Their secret defenders are their other aunts, who sneakily keep the dominant males busy to prevent them investigating the local area. Who knew that big cats can show such self sacrifice, strength, tactical awareness and love. The odds are against them, but I am cheering them on. I hope you will too.

I hope you enjoy this second instalment of safari photos, taken on the edge of the Kruger National Park where there are a number of private game reserves and lodges. If you missed the first, you will find it here: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2018/07/july-2018-favourites-list.html

Now it is time for me to share my list of fab stuff for the month. I hope you enjoy it all, and do get in touch with your feedback on your safari experiences or on any of the items in this list!

Recipes - food, drink, quick cooks and no cook dishes: 

Chicken and spinach pasta from Jack Knight's food blog: https://jackknightcooks.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/pollo-florentine-pasta/

Pimm's isn't just for Wimbledon! Here's a classic Summertime Pimms and a Pimms Spritz from Fiona Maclean at London Unattached: https://www.london-unattached.com/pimms-perfect-summer-drink/

No cook salad with broccoli, daikon, cucumber and dried cherries. The dressing keeps for a week if you want to make up a batch. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/broccoli-salad-with-peanut-dressing

You might be a bit too hot to fire up the barbeque, but these Japanese inspired skewers by Tash of Food I Fancy remind me of Izakaya Yakitori sticks: https://www.foodifancy.com/chicken-and-leek-teriyaki

Too hot to cook? Here's a no cook Scandi style chopped salad with smoked mackerel: http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/food/recipes/scandi-chopped-salad

Chef Romy Gill's Bhindi Subzi (okra/ ladies' finger curry) - vegetarian and vegan): https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/romy-gill-okra-sabzi-recipe-cooking-instructions-a8470861.html

Marinaded lamb cutlets, with cannellini beans in a pesto dressing: https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/quick-and-easy/lamb-cutlets-with-pesto-and-beans/

From the BBC series Eat Well For Less - Slow cooker lamb and Sweet potato tagine with couscous: https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/slow-cooker_lamb_and_79282

Nothing says Summer holidays to the Med like Paella! Felicity Cloake's Seafood Paella: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/01/how-to-make-seafood-paella-recipe-masterclass

Want to make your own soft flour tortillas for tacos, burritos and quesadillas? Here's how: https://www.whereyougetyourprotein.com/tortilla-recipe/

Sometimes, the most effective recipes are the simplest ones. And the simplest, the most effective. Who's have thought simply dipping courgette juliennes in milk then rolling in plain flour, seasoned with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper could be so satisfying? https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2990/courgette-fritters

Full of Spanish flavours, this prawn stew is a quick cook dinner. https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/fish-and-seafood/smoky-prawn-pepper-and-new-potato-stew/

School holiday cooking? How about Unicorn Poo Meringues? https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/unicorn-poo-meringues

What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen:

Brand new recipe blog post - Sichuan inspired salad: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2018/08/sichuan-inspired-pepper-carrot-and.html

Film:

Spirited Away

Music:

Mojo and Trojan present "Reggae Nuggets" 
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey/Garvey's Ghost

TV: 

Search Party (Season 1)
Search Party (Season 2)
The Carole King Story

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.

Sichuan inspired pepper, carrot and broad bean salad

Ever had that dilemma... you know, when you've been flicking through a cook book looking for something new to cook and you can't make your mind up? Dish A looks amazing and Dish B sounds awesome. Which to cook?

This salad was born out of one of those dilemmas. I've been working my way through Fuchsia Dunlop's excellent cook book "Every Grain Of Rice", a varied and comprehensive book of recipes Fuchsia learned in Sichuan province in her travels to China. It's a wonderful book, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to go beyond Chinese restaurant food.

Trouble is, the book has so many recipes, it will take me months to cook my way through it! One very interesting discovery has been the salad recipes in the first chapter of "Cold Dishes". Having had a go at Lao Hu Cai (Tiger salad) a very easy to prepare cucumber and chilli salad, I was ready to try my hand at some other recipes. Trouble was, there were two I wanted to make at the same time: Xiang You Qing Dou (Sichuanese Green Soy Bean Salad) and Liang Ban Hu Dou (Sichuanese Broad Bean Salad). In the end, I decided to mash the two up. This recipe is the result. 

The dressing is Fuchsia Dunlop's, as I don't know enough about Sichuanese food ingredients to invent my own. It packs a chilli punch, let me tell you! If you can't take a lot of chilli, then you will want to keep the amount of chilli oil down (1 tablespoon rather than 2) and perhaps omit the half teaspoon of sediment. 

If you make it as in the recipe, it will be vegetarian and vegan. But I couldn't resist making this much more sinful. I topped it with some crispy cooked pancetta (highly irregular and extremely inauthentic). I would try steamed prawns in it next time. 

Sichuan inspired pepper, carrot and broad bean salad
(Serves 2)

For the salad:
500g bag of broad beans
A third of a cucumber
Half a yellow pepper
A small carrot 
Three spring onions
A handful of salad leaf (I used a bistro salad mix)

Fuchsia Dunlop's dressing:
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
Half a teaspoon caster sugar
Quarter teaspoon Chinkiang vinegar
1-2 tablespoons chilli oil with half a teaspoon of sediment
1 clove of garlic, crushed (optional - but I used it)
A few pinches of Sichuan peppercorns (optional - but I used it)

Prepare the salad first: 

1. Double pod the broad beans. You will be amazed - the half kilo bag only gave enough broad beans for what would have been a side dish. 

2. The broad beans should be blanched in boiling water for 1 minute, no longer. Drain and run cold water over them to stop the cooking. 

3. Peel and chop the carrot into small cubes (around 1 cm). Chop the pepper into similar sized cubes. These should be blanched in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, no longer. Drain and run cold water over them to stop the cooking. 

4. Peel the cucumber partially (in stripes along the length), scoop out the seeds/pulp. Cut into juliennes. 

5. Cut the spring onions into small 7mm-1cm rounds. 

6. Put all the salad ingredients into a large non-metallic bowl whilst you make the dressing. 

7. Toast the Sichuan peppercorns in a dry pan until you can just about smell them. Remove from the heat. When they are no longer hot, grind them in a mortar and pestle. 

8. Now mix all the dressing ingredients in a small (non-metallic) bowl. They might need a bit of a whisk to combine them. 


9. Put a couple of handfuls of the salad leaf on two plates.  

10. Either mix the dressing with the other ingredients (which were in the large non-metallic bowl) or put the other ingredients onto the plates and drizzle with the dressing.

11. Enjoy as it is or top it with something - as you choose.  
 

July 2018 Favourites List

Hello everyone! 

I am writing this post having had a very exciting time travelling around southern Africa. Most exciting was my first ever Safari experience! Seeing the animals in their natural habitat was one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done. 

My trip, during the UK’s Summer, was scheduled in the middle of the dry Winter in the area of South Africa at the edge of the Kruger National Park. This period of time is great for wildlife because the trees are bare, making spotting the animals easier. Also, a lack of water means animals are drawn to fewer waterholes, making the predictability of spotting wildlife much more reliable. 

I’ll confess, waking at 5am (or soon after), to get ready for a 6am game drive was something of a challenge. Early mornings are very much not my thing! Two cups of tea are required before I become a human being most mornings. However, something changes almost the second you make your first sighting. Suddenly I found myself feeling full of energy and wondering what I might see next.

Safari is an unpredictable and erratic experience. You go out morning and afternoon in the hope of seeing wildlife. Trouble is, they didn’t get the memo. Maybe you’ll see them, maybe you won’t. One day a Hyena den will be full of life, the next… completely deserted. Another night, leopards hunting, the next… no big cats at all. You get the thrill of the chase – but thankfully the only shooting which happens is with a camera. 

I hope you like my pictures from my trip. These splendid animals show such personality, I feel. They're almost calling on you to interact with them (not recommended!). With my pictures, I present my monthly collection of food websites (articles and recipes) and other cultural fun for your enjoyment. As ever, I hope you will dig in. Please do let me know if there's anything which particularly gains your attention in the comments below!

Food and drink articles and know how:

Chicken thighs are more flavourful than breast and stand up to marinading and grilling extremely well (they don't get dry and cardboardy). In case you were put off using thighs because of the bones, here's how you de-bone a chicken thigh!  https://www.bbc.com/food/techniques/how_to_bone_a_chicken_thigh

Looking for a new cooking inspiration? Kavita (of Kavey Eats) recommends Japan: The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu. https://www.kaveyeats.com/2018/07/japan-cookbook-nancy-singleton-hachisu.html

How to pep up supermarket dips without having to make from scratch: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jun/15/revamp-supermarket-dips-recipes-hummus-taramasalata-ramael-scully

Chinese food often gets an outrageously unfair bad press. It's high time to stop demonising it. http://www.gal-dem.com/stop-demonising-chinese-food/

Aldi's £11 Monsigny Champers named one of the best - a genuine supermarket wine bargain! http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/food/food-news/aldi-champagne-in-best-in-world

 

Recipes: 

Felicity Jones will be playing kick-ass American judge Ruth Bader Ginsberg in a new film. Judge Ginsberg is more colloquially known as The Notorious RBG for her sassy judgments and unique take on the law. Here is a cocktail in her honour. All rise!  https://www.quartoknows.com/…/…/ruth-bader-ginsberg-cocktail

Lamb neck stewed with rosemary dumplings, to make the most of new season lamb:  https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/lambstewwithrosemary_90363

My local Turkish restaurant makes a fritter like this with carrot and courgette, served with a garlicky yoghurt dip. Carrot, sweet potato and feta fritters: https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/carrot-sweet-potato-and-feta-fritters/

Put the ingredients into tin foil, throw into the oven for 30 minutes whilst you cook the rest of your dinner. A low effort side dish to impress: https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/chef-recipes/foil-baked-mushrooms/

Lamb mince spiced meatballs with jewelled couscous by Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jun/08/thomasina-miers-recipe-spiced-lamb-meatballs-jewelled-couscous

 

Porterhouse steak with preserved lemon gremolata: https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/playboy-steak-with-preserved-lemon-gremolata

From indulgent potatoes slathered in dressing to a light Pimm's dressed Summer salad, here is a fab collection of 10 super tasty salads:  https://www.kaveyeats.com/2018/06/picnic-recipes-salads.html

Cool noodle salad for hot days. From Thug Kitchen, known as much for their great recipes as their colourful language! https://www.thugkitchen.com/sesame_noodles

Yotam Ottolenghi’s picnic recipes: Giant couscous with golden raisins, lemon and almonds, Grilled and marinated sandwich vegetables, Harissa-spiced tuna picnic cake: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jun/16/yotam-ottolenghi-picnic-recipes

Films:

The Post

Black Panther

I, Tonya

Music:

Call The Comet – Johnny Marr

ATOMOS – A Winged Victory For The Sullen

Mogwai - Every Country's Sun

TV:

TOTP Big Hits – 1985

TOTP Big Hits – 1986

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.

June 2018 Favourites List

Hello lovely readers!

It's Favourites list time again!

The month has flown by in a hectic daze at what is one of the busiest time of the year for academics. Time to get a bit of headspace...

It is for this very reason that this month's pictures are from the Beth Chatto Garden, near Colchester in Essex. Sadly, Beth died last month. Her garden, designed and tended by her for six decades, remains and will continue as a place for appreciating the beauty of plants and flowers. 

Beth wrote many books about gardening, and her key philosophy was about pairing plants to the correct environment. Beth managed to establish 5 distinct garden spaces; Gravel garden, Reservoir garden, Scree Garden, Water garden and Woodland garden. 

It's a beautiful place to feast your eyes and your mind. Taking in the peace and tranquility, I found my cares and worries ebb away. 

If you take the time to stop and look, there's a world of beauty in something as simple as a flower. 

I hope you will enjoy the pictures, food writings, recipes and cultural knick-knacks.


Food articles and food writing: 

As passionate about food and cooking as he was opinionated, Anthony Bourdain lifted the saucepan lid on what goes on in professional kitchens with his groundbreaking "Kitchen Confidential" book. If you haven't read it, treat yourself; still relevant and amusing 18 years on. His food and travel writing and TV journalism was inspirational. I've personally chased down places he recommended, all of whom proudly and happily displayed pictures of the man himself dining there. Despite his reputation as a "Foodie Bad Boy" and the observations of how aggressively male professional kitchens can be, his support of the #MeToo movement online shows there was more to him than laddishness. Reports suggest he took his own life - at only 61. Simply tragic news. Rest in peace, Chef Bourdain! https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/08/anthony-bourdain-chef-found-dead-61

Anthony Bourdain's classic 1999 piece "Don't Eat Before Reading This" - the precursor to his Kitchen Confidential book: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/04/19/dont-eat-before-reading-this

Diana Henry talks about her new book which focusses on menu planning and organising your timing in the kitchen. Planning the steps to be taken and keeping track of it is such an important element of cooking skill! https://www.splendidtable.org/story/vegetables-require-more-than-technique-you-need-a-good-plan

Food funnies (cooking and food fails and other LOLz): https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamiejones/people-who-failed-to-understand-how-food-works

Recipes:

Barbeque A to Z... for fine weather days: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/z-bbq-asado-zaatar-tips-kit-recipes-need-sizzling-summer/

Some more BBQ recipes here - the carrots with spiced nuts looks like a great side dish for sunny days: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/berber-qs-guide-bbq-honeyed-pork-charred-carrots/

Helen at Fuss Free Flavours' Meat Free Veggie chick pea, feta and squash pie: https://fussfreeflavours.com/chickpea-feta-butternut-squash-pie-filo/

It's unashamedly retro, but who doesn't love potato salad? Here is Diana Henry's ultimate recipe:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/8466934/The-best-potato-salad-recipe.html

A Japanese snack or lunchtime dish which is quick and yummy - Sesame chicken: https://www.japancentre.com/en/recipes/1423-japanese-style-sesame-chicken  

Aperol Spritz has become one of the most popular Summertime cocktails these days. Somehow, it always tastes better in the sunshine. It always seems a little more bitter when there are clouds around, or is that just me? http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/food/food-news/aperol-spritz-recipe

I found this Beef Rendang recipe. I loved this dish in Malaysia (it originated in Indonesia, and hopped across). http://tasteasianfood.com/beef-rendang-recipe/

Chick pea Chaat - I'd add some sev, amchur and a sprinkling of freshly ground cumin. A little tamarind chutney would be good, too. http://m.tesco.com/mt/legacy.realfood.tesco.com/recipes/spicy-sour-chickpea-chaat.html

Will need some overnight soaking of the beans and quite a long cooking time, but this is a meal-in-one - Lamb rump with flageolet beans: https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/meat-and-poultry/roast-lamb-rump-with-flageolet-and-spring-veg-ragout/

Summery courgette and mango in this fresh wholewheat giant couscous salad:  https://www.everydayhealthyrecipes.com/giant-wholewheat-couscous-mango-salad/

Super easy and quick carrot and quinoa salad for weekday lunchboxes. I'd add some cooked edamame beans, maybe some sweetcorn (if I had leftovers): https://amp.foodandwine.com/recipes/quinoa-and-carrot-salad 

Watching Rick Stein on TV I want to give this Kozani chicken (with saffron and prunes, served with pilaf rice) a try: https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/kozani-chicken-with-prunes-saffron-and-paprika
 
What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen:

Greek style pilaf rice: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2018/06/greek-style-pilaf-with-saffron-pine.html   

TV:

A Very British Scandal

BBC Music Big Weekend - Father John Misty

BBC Music Big Weekend - Courtney Barnett

BBC Music Big Weekend - Beck

Film:

99 Homes

High-Rise

Music:

Johnny Marr - Call The Comet

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.