Weekly Love: Week 178
Why is it that every summer America stops all of our favourite TV shows so that there is nothing to watch over the summer? I’ve solved this by binge watching current shows that I never got around to starting, and re-watching some old favourites. At the moment, I’m really into Blindspot (I’m a sucker for a good FBI drama. A woman with absolutely sick combat skills is found naked and tattooed in a duffle bag in Times Square with her memory wiped, and the tattoos lead to crimes), and I have been re-watching Bones right from the beginning, which, given the absolute, blast from the past shocker in the season 11 finale, was a very good call of mine.
1. A Cucumber & Elderflower Collins on the (cloudy) Granary Square terrace of The Lighterman in King’s Cross. | 2. Pork belly and prawn stuffed giant crispy pancakes with lettuce wraps, herbs and Vietnamese dipping sauce for lunch at Little Viet Kitchen in Islington – review to follow next week! | 3. Oh, and did I mention that the interior of the restaurant is absolutely dreamy? | 4. The only tomato salad recipe you’ll ever need, again, something else that will be appearing in the blog next week. | 5. For a healthy treat that uses up the end of a can of coconut milk, whizz it together with a handful of raspberries and some vanilla bean paste before freezing in a lolly mould. | 6. My weekend greenhouse haul.
- I’m still really enjoying Mani’s posts (and food photos) from her study abroad year in Japan. Recently, she reached the 100 day mark.
- Style Me Pretty’s guide to Newport, Rhode Island may *just* have me reconsidering my stance that the West Coast is the only cost visiting.
- Yeah, so that stuff that comes with sushi? It isn’t actually wasabi.
- Here are 8 great ways to stay active if your job involves sitting behind a desk all day.
- According to analysts, the upcoming election is effecting America’s eating habits.
- This is how to spend 24 hours in Birmingham.
- A true Italian bar does a lot more than you think it does. Another great one from my favourite authority on Italian food, Emiko Davies.
- More from Emiko, she is currently spending a blistering summer on the Tuscan coast.
- These are some great tips from Food 52 on controlling the amount of liquid in a fruit pie. Their guide on how to use blossom waters in your cooking is also really helpful.
- PUNCH has put together a potted history of Scottish gin. Oh, and if you pick up a bottle of The Botanist, I’ve paired it for summer with watermelon juice and basil here.
- Also, they’ve done a great history of the Daiquiri, my favourite cocktail after the Margarita.
- Here are 10 things you can do with toasted marshmallows if, like me, you believe the graham cracker to be the source of all campfire and barbecue evil.
- These are the 15 most popular skincare brands in the world, by country.
- This is how not to ruin homemade paella.
7. This pretty little house near my office is always beautifully in bloom every year and really puts a smile on my face whenever I pass. | 8. Wonderfully smooth and clear peach bellinis with fresh strawberries from the new brunch menu at The Ambrette – full review coming soon! | 9. Monday night beer and hot dogs (I’m obsessed with Marks & Spencer’s Posh Dogs) with a very special delivery I recently received from Heinz – their new New York Deli style mustards are amazing – they’re in all good supermarkets now, and I’m particularly enamoured by the honey one! | 10. Folkingtons juices have launched some new summer sparklers, they sent me a few over, and the ones I’ve tried so far are both delicious, and are wonderful over ice with gin. | 11. Throwing a round of my Barbecue Chicken, Bacon & Honey Mustard Skewers on the barbecue. | 12. Frankly awesome chocolate dosai’s from The Ambrette’s new brunch menu.
- Carrie as 10 great tips for when you travel to New York. And 10 more.
- Lauren writes on why she is a better cook in the summer than in the winter, and I’m totally with her on all the points she made, except for that I plan dinner parties like that all year around!
- This is how to halve an egg for baking.
- So, in America apparently kitchen tool lending libraries are a thing.
- These are some great tips for smuggling contraband food and drink into the cinema, because while it is against the rules, everything is so overpriced only the ice cream is worth it!
- Here are 36 savoury weekend breakfast ideas for people like me who prefer them to sweet.
- PSA: there is actually a lavender field you can visit in (South) London.
- I think this great piece from Refinery 29 on why you should not feel guilty about not having any student loans to pay off, while it is geared towards Americans, is universally applicable.
- Here is a recipe for how to make any colour of chalk you want, because we all need a kitchen chalkboard in our lives, right?
- This map shows you where all of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Britain are, and I’m not bias at all telling you that Canterbury Cathedral is the best one!
- Claire went to Coombeshead Farm in Cornwall, and now I really want to stay there.
- Because the most shocking thing in the Sherlock trailer is Sherlock getting evicted.
- This (is it a parody?) list on how to cook each Pokemon and what they may taste like (!) had me cracked up on the train, sitting next to a 50-something guy playing Pokemon Go!
- A bit of wanderlust: David Lebovitz’ Paris market picks.
What have you been enjoying this week, and what do you have planned for the weekend? I’m making Brazilian chicken lime chicken on the barbecue (finally time to break out the new Cabana cookbook) and American ribs, and I am very, very excited about it. There is something about trying new, long form recipes in the summer that is somehow more exciting than making an all day casserole or homemade pasta and bolognese in winter.
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