News
The 10 best food TV shows to watch on lockdown
I was shocked to see that I have only seen one of these. I clearly need to watch more TV. If the others on this list are as good as Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, then they will be great.
Reviews
For me, Instagram has really come into its own during lockdown. So many brilliant cooks and chefs have been sharing their skills and knowledge for free. Three of my faves are:
Clodagh McKenna – her smile and energy alone will make you happy but her IGTV recipe videos are also fab. Plus you get to check out her beautiful kitchen and garden. Serious garden envy.
Bread Ahead – this Borough Market bakery is well-known as one of the best and they have very generously been sharing their recipes on Instagram Live at 2pm most days. Think cinnamon buns, ciabatta and cookies, and they have special family bakes too so the kids can join in. Find the schedule here and click on the bake to find the ingredients.
Ixta Belfrage – this was a new name for me and I'm so glad I found her. Ixta is a recipe developer with Ottolenghi and creates some amazing dishes. The biang biang noodles look so good. Look at her Insta Story Highlights to see the recipes.
Brindisa Spanish Foods
Another Borough Market winner is Brindisa. If you want to try the best chorizo ever, then go to their website and order some now! They are selling off their 2kg catering packs at the moment for half price. My freezer is very happily full of little bundles of spicy sausages.
Local News
Shop local
If you can do it safely, please please support your local small businesses. The likes of McDonald’s, Dominos, Tesco and Amazon will all survive this, your local bakery or cafe might not. Here’s my highlights reel of the amazing food businesses near me in Leamington Spa who are completely acing lockdown:
Haddie & Trilby – the weekly loaf and pastries feel like such a treat at the moment. Their croissant sausage rolls (meat and veggie) are on another level. Order online and pick up.
Core – this zero waste shop is the only place I've found flour. Just drop them a message and they'll send you a product list to order online. Try the dried apricots, they taste like caramel.
Libertines – these guys recently reopened and brightened up our week. Seriously good chicken and beef burgers. They do veggie and vegan versions too.
Warwick Street Kitchen – love these guys. Their tapas boxes are delicious (see photo) plus they're now on Deliveroo and open for takeaway coffee and cake.
Recipes
5 lockdown recipes I’ve cooked again and again (part one)
I might have featured a few of these before but they are worth putting out there again. If there are any particular types of recipes you're looking for or you don't know what to do with a random ingredient, email me at becky@kitchencrumbs.com and I'll see what I can do.
Coconut and carrot dhal
This is one of my all-time favourite recipes. Simple, pretty quick and so delicious. The curry leaves aren't essential but get them if you can as they do add an extra something. Asian shops and some supermarkets sell them. We keep a bag in the freezer and just bring them out as and when. Serve on its own or with rice/flatbreads/pitta/naan.
Pimped potato salad
I've been making this most weeks to go with fish in the evening or as a group of salads for lunch. It's like a classic new potato salad but with extra sparkle. The shallots, gherkins, capers and vinegar give good punch.
Is this the best houmous?
I've tried a lot of houmous recipes and they are never as good as the ones you buy or eat out. But this one might just have taken that crown. My tip would be to use really good tahini. I bought one from Sous Chef which is a proper Middle Eastern one, rather than the more health-food shop jars you can get. The houmous lasts for days and is a healthy addition to a tasty lunch.
My favourite banana bread
It seems like this has been the top lockdown bake from my social channels. If you're still in pursuit of the perfect recipe (and have some manky bananas hanging around), try this. I tend to add a little less salt than the recipe states, but otherwise it is just right.
Laksa noodle soup
This Southeast Asian soup from last year's Bake Off winner, David Atherton, is something a little different for your lockdown menu. I loved it; it's spicy, zingy and feels like it's doing you good. There is flex with the recipe – add whatever veg you have, sub in standard chillies if you don't want it hot hot, instead of shrimp paste you can add fish sauce, and you can use whatever noodles you have.
So this whole corona thing sucks big time...hope you are all well and staying mostly sane. Here are some things that have kept me on the straight and narrow this week:
And at least we have food to comfort and cheer us. Scroll for my recipe favourites, some distracting TV and bargain chorizo.