March 2022 Favourites list

Hello everyone! It's time once again for my monthly favourites list. This time, at the end of March, Spring is doing its best to push away the last vestiges of Winter and we are seeing the green shoots and new leaves of the annual rejuvenation.

Tonight the clocks go forward and we go into British Summer Time. This change in time will give us more daylight when it counts. Leaving behind the days of waking up in the dark and coming home from work in the dark is something I look forward to... just like taking my Winter coats to the dry cleaners and putting them away for another year. 

 

 

This month's pictures are street art I found wandering around the Brick Lane area recently. The colour and energy were invigorating. I hope you enjoy my selections and photos. Here is your monthly list of lovely stuff. 

Food writing:

What's in season in the UK in March: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/whats-in-season-march

Planning to watch TV and chill out? How about with some dip and either chips or crudites? Here are some ideas for you: https://www.eater.com/22871965/best-dip-recipes-how-to-make-artichoke-spinach-buffalo-chicken-dill

Mark Diacono’s books focus on sour flavours and fermentation. He suggests you add the spicy sour kick of kimchi to your Pad Thai: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/pad-thai-recipe-easy-kimchi-b2021191.html

Air fryers – worth the hype or another gadget taking space on the kitchen worktop?  https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/feb/15/air-fryers-miraculous-kitchen-must-have-or-just-a-load-of-hot-air

  

Eye opening article on cookbooks, geography, and what stories get told of the Maghreb and Mashriq (the Arabic speaking world of North Africa and the Middle East): https://www.eater.com/22940207/arabesque-food-cookbooks-reem-kassis

Looking for foodie present ideas for Mother's day? Some good ideas here - especially the personalised cookbook! https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/mothers-day-foodie-gift-guide/

 

Marcus Wareing on how he's become a convert to running a kitchen garden. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/marcus_wareing_kitchen_garden

Some ingenious (and some obvious) tips on how to stop wasting food and save money, as April will mean bigger bills for all of us: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/mar/07/how-to-stop-wasting-food-and-save-money

 

Recipes:

One pot spinach, mushroom and pearl barley “risotto” (barlotto?): https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/one-pots/spinach-and-mushroom-pearl-barley-risotto/

Chicken Shish in Sweet Confit Garlic Marinade from Chasing Smoke: Cooking Over Fire Around The Levant by Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich (of Honey & Co fame), as featured at Kavey Eats: https://www.kaveyeats.com/chicken-shish-in-sweet-confit-garlic-marinade

May at Eat Cook Explore has written what must be the ultimate guide to the dish Hainanese chicken rice - how to make it, PLUS where to order it both nationally and internationally! https://www.eatcookexplore.com/hainanese-chicken-rice/

 

Pollo alla cacciatore (or ‘hunter’s chicken’ casserole) gets the Felicity Cloake treatment: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/feb/23/how-to-make-chicken-cacciatore-recipe-felicity-cloake-masterclass  

The pasta dishes of Sicily are unique, using ingredients from the eastern and Arabic world. Here's a vegan pasta dish with romanesco/cauliflower, saffron, pine nuts and raisins: https://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/vegan/sicilian-pasta-with-cauliflower/

 

 

What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen

My recipe for a warming, comforting but light seafood noodle soup: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2022/02/seafood-noodle-soup.html

Music:

Johnny Marr - Fever Dreams Parts 1-4

Hannah Peel - Fir Wave

Songhoy Blues - Resistance

TV:

Dodger

The Responder

Stanley Tucci - Searching For Italy

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.

February 2022 Favourites list

Life doesn't want to give us a break right now, does it? From the anxiety and tension of the pandemic, to the current world events, we don't seem to have the opportunity for calm regrouping and settling down our jangled collective nerves. 

For me, times like this have me doing two things; one negative and the other positive. Doomscrolling is the bad habit. Sure, I keep myself informed, but it doesn't do my blood pressure or beauty sleep any good. My thumb suffers scrolling fatigue and my tired brain finds it hard to switch off. Retreating into the kitchen to immerse myself in the craft of preparing and creating dishes is the good response. I admit it, it's a distraction. No, it doesn't not mean that what is happening in the world doesn't upset me, or that I consider them irrelevant. I would argue that sometimes distraction or diversion is necessary. I'm also not saying anyone else has to do the same. We all have our own coping mechanisms, and the chances are yours are more effective than mine.

I hope that the situation in Ukraine is resolved soon. The people of Ukraine deserve self determination and independence. We would want the same for ourselves, so we should want nothing less for others.  

Here is my monthly favourites list for February 2022, with pictures of some current cooking escapades. Posted with love, from my kitchen to your screen. 

Potato and cauliflower pakoras

Food articles and writing

Fab foodie bargains you can enjoy simply by ditching more expensive branded goods for supermarket own label offerings. As chosen by chefs and food writers. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/feb/17/i-cant-believe-its-not-nutella-chefs-and-food-writers-favourite-grocery-bargains

I was today years old when I learned there were some highly unsuitable and inauspicious gifts you should never give anyone for Lunar New Year. Really interesting! https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/things-not-give-chinese-new-year.htm

What is in season in the UK in February? Carrots, Brussel sprouts, Parsnips, Spring green cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale and Leeks. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/whats-in-season-february

Poha

Fuchsia Dunlop on "wishes and dishes", her reminiscences of Lunar New Year food and celebrations of the past and her early travels to China in the 1990s. https://www.ft.com/content/d84e3fb9-6a47-4cce-b0fe-b5507a57ea20

Three: Acid, Texture, Contrast – The Essential Foundations to Redefine Everyday Cooking by Selin Kiazim. Brand new cookbook review by Nicky Bramley at Kavey Eats foodblog: https://www.kaveyeats.com/three-by-selin-kiazim

Supermarkets employ trickery in product placement and fake special offers to try to make you spend more than you intend to - here are their tricks exposed. Be aware and take care! https://archive.md/c6691

Recipes

Nigella Lawson's recipe for pasta with anchovies, tomatoes and mascarpone cheese: https://www.nigella.com/recipes/gemelli-with-anchovies-tomatoes-and-mascarpone

Nigella's pasta with anchovies, tomato and mascarpone

20 of the best easy dinner recipes. This is a treasure trove of ideas: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/jan/24/20-best-easy-dinner-recipes-yotam-ottolenghi-nigella-lawson-spaghetti-marmite

Mario Carbone shares his 20 minute penne with prawns recipe. Mario is the chef behind the iconic Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Carbone in NYC: https://www.insider.com/i-made-michelin-star-chefs-easy-pasta-dish-2021-8

Chicken soup with Orzo and winter greens by Scandi cook Signe Johansen for Ocado: https://www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/Chicken-Soup-with-Orzo-and-Winter-Greens/208171

Steamed fish with Sichuan sauce and greens, recipe by Thomasina Miers: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/jan/31/steamed-fish-sichuan-sauce-greens-thomasina-miers-recipe

Cheater's steak "pie" (lid only)

Rukmini Iyer's recipe for Crispy Artichoke, Pancetta and Butternut Squash one-tin Pasta bake: https://www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/Crispy-Artichoke-Pancetta-and-Butternut-Squash-One-Tin-Pasta/205826

Three seafood recipes from Janet Wei: https://www.stylist.co.uk/food-drink/asian-food-noodle-hotpot-seafood-recipe/620971

Thai salads are healthy deliciousness. Here Pailin Chongchitnant runs through the four main types (Yam, Tam, Laab and Pla) and the main ingredients: https://www.seriouseats.com/guide-to-thai-salads-5209897

Thai beef and mango salad

  

What you might have missed at Snig’s Kitchen

My recipe for a warming, comforting but light seafood noodle soup: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.com/2022/02/seafood-noodle-soup.html

Akash Sachdeva's Mum's chicken curry recipe

 

TV:

Rick Stein – From Venice To Istanbul

The Tourist

Chloe

The Great Songwriters: Johnny Marr

Music:

Songhoy Blues – Music In Exile

Goat Girl – On All Fours

House of Love

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.