January 2018 Favourites List

Happy New Year, food lovers! I hope 2018 is treating you well! I am intending to spend 2018 enjoying good food, good music and maybe a little bit of travelling. How will you be spending yours? 

To kick off the new year in appropriate fashion I was at Rockaway Beach festival at Butlins, Bognor Regis this month. The festival took a year off and has moved from October to January. But the same commitment to celebrating the best of alternative music remains. 

I was amazed to be standing at the feet of bass guitar legend Peter Hook (Joy Division and New Order), a man whose distinctive playing has been the soundtrack of my life from childhood. I was privileged enough to see Wild Beasts final festival performance (their farewell tour is next month). I discovered a love of Honeyblood, proving that women rock. I found out why British Sea Power's live shows are so celebrated; the party atmosphere and costumed bears invading the audience. Definitely a band to see again! 

Peter Hook

I witnessed the brooding power and rock star moves of Faris Badwan, during the Horrors' dark (literally!) set. Alabama 3 impressed with their subversive lyrics and bluesy sound. Gang of Four proved that even when you have a change of line up, great bands fight on.

Faris Badwan - The Horrors

My pictures are the highlights of my weekend, hope you enjoy looking at them and picking over my cultural titbits for the month.

Recipes:

Butter beans are creamy, delicious beans, great in salads, super in soups: http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/smoked-bacon-leek-and-butter-bean-chowder/

 

Colourful shredded veg in the sesame flavoured slaw, with chicken for a healthy midweek supper. http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/shredded-veg-and-chicken-salad-with-japanese-sesame-dressing/

 

One of Tom Kerridge's low cal but high flavour new recipes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/beef_stroganoff_16029

 

Cheer yourself up with some citrus sunshine: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/13/feeling-fruity-five-citrussy-recipes-to-lift-the-gloom

 

Wild Beasts (Hayden)

Wild Beasts

A vintage fusion food post from Helen at Fuss Free Flavours - lamb keema tacos: https://fussfreeflavours.com/lamb-keema-tacos

 

Tash at Food I fancy blog shares her Seafood linguine recipe. Dig in! http://www.foodifancy.com/tasty-seafood-linguine

 

Thrifty, warming, comforting supper for four people - costing a fiver in ingredients. http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/sausage-carrot-and-cumin-hash/

 

How about these pot pies for Sunday lunch? http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/meat-and-poultry/roast-dinner-pot-pies/

Honeyblood (Stina)

Honeyblood (Cat)

 

Comforting, indulgent soup for January: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/04/how-make-perfect-broccoli-stilton-soup-cheese-shallots-stock-cream

 

British Sea Power

British Sea Power (Hamilton)

Food writing and articles:

What food trends can we expect this year? https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/15-food-trends-2018

 

I do intermittent fasting to allow myself the chance to eat what I want the other days of the week. 5:2 if I've indulged myself too much, 6:1 too keep things in check. It's not for everyone, but I can't do dieting. https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/dietnutrition/70663

Films:

Wonderwoman

The Drop

Headhunters

Alabama 3

Alabama 3 (Rob/Larry)

Music:

Green Leaves (Nick Drake Covered) - Various Artists (a Mojo magazine compilation)

Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left

Wild Beasts - Boy King

New Order - Substance 1987

Gang of Four

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.

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.

November 2017 Favourites List

In my September Favourites list this year, I told you all about how I received the wonderful surprise of seeing some new street art in my local neighbourhood magically appear. (For the story, visit here: https://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/september-2017-favourites-list.html). Well, the good people of Catford haven't stopped there! Local artists are busy working, some are volunteering their skills, designs and time for free to make our locality feel loved and look beautiful. Co-ordinated by Caroline Hughes of 6arts, it's a mission to increase civil pride and create thought provoking urban art.

In the last couple of months, the street art invasion of Catford has intensified. We now have the other side of Catford Bridge (the road bridge over the railway lines) decorated with running greyhounds. 

This is a tribute to the old Catford Greyhound Stadium, which was near by, but also a poignant symbol. It is a sad fact that whilst many people love the spectacle of greyhound racing, once their careers are over, the dogs find themselves surplus to the requirements of their owners and trainers. The artist, Andrew Ioakim, has rescued some of these greyhounds, so for him, the dogs are not running in a race; they're making their bid for freedom and a life of love and affection with a "forever owner".
 

Another amazing project is the Nature Tunnel, designed by artist Zoe Hendersen. Assisted by scenic artist Charlotte Gainey, Tamara Froud, Caroline Hughes and a group of dedicated volunteers. They have transformed the unloved tunnel leading from Halfords to the train station, a sad, stinky little place... (No prizes for guessing why it smelt so bad!) It is now a tranquil "Tunnel of Trees", a gorgeous celebration of nature.

Finally, we have Lionel Stanhope's retro railway "Catford" signs at the railway
bridge. Their neon colours resplendent, they're a bold and beautiful welcome to da 'hood! Catford is now proud to welcome you in, confident and colourful.

So I hope you will enjoy this month's pictures from Catford's amazing artists, designers and volunteers, brightening up the neighbourhood bit by bit. I hope you will also like my choices of the usual mix of recipes, food writing, and my own efforts since the last Favourites List. 

Recipes:
Fish pie (fish in a creamy sauce, baked with mashed potato on top) is a British classic. Here are 10 tips to make your fish pie even better. I totally agree with not double cooking your fish - overcooked fish is ruined fish! https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-next-level-fish-pie

Tom Kerridge with his wintry recipes for beef brisket lasagne, classic fish pie and spicy sausage casserole with black cabbage pesto: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/beef-brisket-lasagne-spicy-sausage-casserole-stews-bakes-serve/
 
A side dish with a difference for this weekend's Sunday lunch? Parmesan baked cauliflower: http://www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/vegetarian/parmesan-crusted-cauli-steaks/
 

In local grocery shops I've admired Autumnal pale green Kohl Rabi. Other than knowing vaguely they're a Brassica (same family as super healthy broccoli), I know nothing about them. Or how to cook them. Here's a salad recipe from Nigel Slater: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/07/nigel-slater-cannellini-fritters-and-kohlrabi-salad-recipe

Janice Pattie writes the Farmersgirl Kitchen blog. Here's her recipe to make you own "mincemeat" for festive mince pies. (Non-UK readers - there's no meat in mincemeat. It is made of dried fruits, which is baked into little pies for Christmas). https://farmersgirlkitchen.co.uk/2017/10/slow-cooker-mincemeat-with-ginger/

Janice's video of how to make the recipe can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/snigskitchen/posts/1834893933205340

You can use leftover pumpkin to make this dish. Substituting pumpkin for butternut squash is no big deal. http://boroughmarket.org.uk/recipes/pork-collar-steak-butternut-squash-puree

This Japanese poached chicken can be served with veggies or with rice, as you prefer. A simple dish for Monday's supper, as we look to the week ahead: https://www.pickledplum.com/poached-chicken-with-sesame-sauce-recipe/
 
With the warming flavours of cumin, ginger and coriander, this cauliflower and carrot soup can be served chunky and hearty or smooth and well blended. Vegan, and vegetarian from Jac at Tinned Tomatoes blog: http://www.tinnedtomatoes.com/2017/04/hearty-spiced-cauliflower-and-carrot.html
Food writing and resources:

Food critic Marina O'Loughlin asked Twitter for their "Cheap Eats" recommendations. The brilliant Anya (@anyabike on Twitter) a noted employment lawyer, has put them all together in a google map: http://bit.ly/2yohPTx

Recent studies show conventional dietary wisdom is wrong - eating fats will not necessarily result in weight gain, and your body needs certain oils and fats for good health: http://uk.businessinsider.com/eating-fat-wont-make-you-fat-gain-weight-says-doctor-2017-11

I plan my meals. We do a weekly plan with one big shop and a couple of top-up shops a week. It definitely saves us money and prevents that "what's for dinner?" panic at 7:30pm. Here are 20 reasons why you might want to meal plan: https://www.easypeasyfoodie.com/20-reasons-need-start-meal-planning/

Goodbye to Antonio Carluccio, the great champion of Italian food in the UK. Rest in peace, Antonio! https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/08/antonio-carluccio-obituary  

What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen: 

New blog post - creamy chicken with cider and mushrooms. A new recipe post: http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/creamy-chicken-with-mushrooms-and-cider.html
 

My other writing:

Not food, but legal skills. I am proud and delighted to host Dan Hoadley's Pro tips on Cross examination on my law student blog: https://snigsclassroom.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/cross-examination-guest-post-by-dan.html

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.