October 2015 Favourites List

Autumn term has been full of excitement and thrills so far. The leaves are turning brown and there is a chill in the air, but life is exciting and good. Heavier coats and jackets are keeping me protected from the changing, falling temperatures. An umbrella is essential kit to be carried about everywhere.

  

I’ve been meeting my students, teaching seminars and lectures, trying to help people reach their potential. My new students are settling into learning about how to use the law, what the court’s procedure is in both civil and criminal matters and how to be young professionals. They are finding the learning curve is steep, and the terrain unfamiliar. It isn’t easy for them, there are many balls they have to keep in the air.

I am also trying to juggle the different balls in my life; professional life as a lecturer, my food related interests of cooking and blogging, my social and home life, slow progress learning to play the guitar, heavy involvement with social media and my love of live music. It is exhilarating to be kept busy and on my toes. But it sure is fun!

My pictures are the highlights of the three day inaugural Rockaway Beach Festival I attended this month at Butlins, Bognor Regis. I had an absolute blast and you can see more of my photos from a brilliant weekend away in my posts on tumblr as listed below.

Recipes:

Easy and speedy dish with Indian inspiration from Dan, the Curry Guy: http://www.greatcurryrecipes.net/2015/08/19/coriander-and-lime-chicken-salad

Georgia's always on my m-m-m-m-m-m-mind! (Back In The USSR, The Beatles) A spiced kidney bean salad from Georgia: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/11715814/Georgian-kidney-bean-salad.html

Dried porcini and fresh mixed mushrooms make this rich mushroom soup. I could do with some of this... http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/the-real-mushroom-soup/

An Iranian/Persian rice dish, "jewelled" with broad beans, walnuts and pomegranate seeds. http://tinandthyme.uk/2015/07/jewelled-persian-rice/

A speedy prawn curry with the flavours of Goa: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/goan-prawn-curry-with-coconut--chilli-and-coriander/

Chicken and leek pie with cheddar hazelnut crumble: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/chicken-and-leek-pie-with-cheddar-hazelnut-crumble/

A new recipe for a speedy supper to make on the fly from the fab Kavita at Kavey Eats blog - Golden baked peri-peri chicken, yoghurt and rice cake: http://www.kaveyeats.com/2015/10/quick-golden-baked-peri-peri-chicken-yoghurt-and-rice-cake.html

Big party four bean chilli... For Halloween or Bonfire night shindigs: http://www.today.com/food/katherine-heigl-cooks-four-bean-chili-thatll-serve-crowd-t50451

Here are some great aubergine/eggplant/baigoon recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi: Imam bayildi, Roast aubergine with almond tarator and basil oil, Hünkar begendi. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/10/aubergine-recipes-turkish-imam-bayildi-hungkar-begendi-roast-with-tarator-yotam-ottolenghi

Honey & Co Shakshuka recipe (traditional Middle Eastern tomato and egg breakfast dish): http://gefiltefest.org/?p=595

Articles/Know How:

Kitting out a student kitchen: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-kit-out-student-kitchen 

Burnt garlic can ruin a carefully prepared and cooked dish. Here's a way of avoiding it: http://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/the-trick-you-should-use-every-time-you-cook-garlic-article

You say "poh-tay-to", I say "po-tah-toe"..... Let's call the whole thing off! Hilarious story of a bust-up over how to pronounce 'focaccia': http://foodurchin.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/fok-ka-chia-with-cheese.html

Jamie, you've done such solid work campaigning for good school meals and healthier eating. Please sort out the tipping policy in your restaurants. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/30/jamie-olivers-italian-restaurant-chain-under-fire-over-tipping-policy

What you might have missed at Snig's Kitchen:

Pakoras with Premier Inn Purple Sauce. The classic Indian tea-time snack given a fresh twist. http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/vegetable-pakoras-with-premier-inn.html

Gig review - Neil and Liam Finn, 22nd September 2015, Shepherds Bush Empire: http://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/129720315749/neil-and-liam-finn-shepherds-bush-empire-22 

A foodie walk around London's historic St James' area. A trip around the world in 8 stops! http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/st-james-london-food-and-drink-walking.html

Restaurant review, Haywards of Epping. Modern European food with flair and innovation.  http://snigskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/haywards-restaurant-epping.html

My review of Johnny Marr's headline set at the first Rockaway Beach Festival: http://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/131024775294/johnny-marr-rockaway-beach-festival-live-review

Emma Pollock, The Membranes, The Fall and Echo And The Bunnymen: Day 1 of Rockaway Beach Festival, Butlins, Bognor Regis. http://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/131030128379/day-1-rockaway-beach-festival-butlins-bognor

Matinee, St Deluxe, Band of Holy Joy, Mioaw Mioaw, Ghostpoet, Nadine Shah, Johnny Marr: Day 2 of Rockaway Beach Festival, Butlins, Bognor Regis. http://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/131031105244/day-2-rockaway-beach-festival-butlins-bognor

Shocking Pinks, Jonnie Common, Pinkshinyultrablast, Young Fathers, Lola Colt, Spiritualized. Day 3 of Rockaway Beach Festival, Butlins, Bognor Regis. http://snigskitchen.tumblr.com/post/131032433114/day-3-rockaway-beach-festival-butlins-bognor

TV:

Music For Misfits (3 part documentary on the history of Indie Music), BBC

Indie Classics at the BBC

Britpop at the BBC

Music:

First Aid Kit - Stay Gold

Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

Alt-J - This Is All Yours

Echo and the Bunnymen - Ballyhoo

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.