Sunday, 19 February 2017

Recipe: Quesadilla

Basically a quesadilla is a cheese sandwich made out of a tortilla and toasted in the oven or in the frying pan. I had some tortillas left over from a fajitas meal and wanted a way to use them up.

The filling can be anything (as long as it has cheese) so I went for red pepper, bacon and jalpino peppers.

I found you need to be sparing with the filling or else the tortilla reopens. But with little filling then its a bit....well... boring. In future I would opt for bread rather than tortilla, then toasting in a sandwich maker.

The recipe can be found here: Quesadilla

Saturday, 18 February 2017

Support Cause: Stop Illegal Shark Fishing In Red Sea

A petition to enforce the ban on shark fishing in the Red Sea..

Petition here

Support Cause: Petition to Free Nazanin Ratcliffe

A petition to free Nazanin Ratcliffe held in Iran.

Petition here

Recipe: Rhubarb & Date Chutney

Easy recipe although took some time to sort and clean the jars.

The score is just about the making of the chutney rather than the taste since I need to store for at least a month before it ready. I will update this blog entry at a later date.

The recipe can be found here: Rhubarb & Date Chutney

Volunteer: Hindle Wakes (Play)

Stafford Players put on another great play in the Met.

Set in the early 1900s where a mill owner's son gets a bit too friendly with a loom-setter's daughter. Oh what is the right thing to do?

Friday, 17 February 2017

Film Review: Rings

Best horror I've seen this year, helped by the fact I was seated in the center of a large cinema, at 1am, with just 8 other people who gradually disappeared. By the end I was totally alone in the dark. Scary.

Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Alex Roe, Johnny Galecki

Dir: F. Javier GutiƩrrez

"Evil is reborn"

Genre: Action, Fantasy

Film Review: John Wick Chapter 2

John Wick is back to finish off what he started. Lots of nonsense gun play from a somewhat silly plot. A few high points save it from lower score.

Keanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane

Dir: Chad Stahelski

Genre: Action, Fantasy

Film Review: The Great Wall

Why was the Great Wall of China build? Matt Damon's action flick tells the story of monster attacks. Exciting with some cool ideas.

Matt Damon, Tian Jing, Willem Dafoe

Dir: Yimou Zhang

"1700 years to build. 5500 miles long. What were they trying to keep out?"

Genre: Action, Fantasy

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Film Review: Jackie

The story of Jackie Kennedy after JFK's assassination. Apart from a little tension between Bobby and a couple of characters, the film lacks any real drama. Whether the funeral precession walks or takes a car is hardly nail-biting stuff. Story was totally predictable. Portman however does own the role.

Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig

Dir: Pablo LarraĆ­n

"I want them to see what they have done to Jack."

Genre: Drama

Monday, 13 February 2017

Album Review: Rag'n'Bone Man/Human

Although the Rag’n’Bone Man has been playing music for many years, only in the last couple has he had a music company's backing such that he could 100% focus on his art. With only a couple of EPs and the much-acclaimed single Humans behind him, he has just released his 1st full album, so how does it fair?

  1. Human
  2. Innocent Man
  3. Skin
  4. Bitter End
  5. Be the Man
  6. Love You Any Less
  7. Odetta
  8. Grace
  9. Ego
  10. Arrow
  11. As You Are
  12. Die Easy
  13. The Fire
  14. Fade to Nothing
  15. Life in Her Yet
  16. Your Way or the Rope
  17. Lay My Body Down
  18. Wolves
  19. Healed

Humans got to number 2 in the UK, but managed to hit the top slot in a long list of countries. As with the single, the blend of soul and modern pop gives the sound a unique feel and we switch effortless between genres. At one point we are in classic American black soul (Ego; Your Way Or The Rope), then rap (The Fire), then slow piano (Love You Any Less) and even light pop.

Instruments are also mixed in for short stints; piano, drums, strings (As You Are), tubular bells (Healed), and we even drop to pure vocals at one point (Die Easy). The Rag’n’Bone Man is certainly not shy to try different things although lyrics are very much consistent with the soul roots. The fact that songs switch genre part way through (Lay My Body Down; The Fire), along with their short length (between 2½ and 3 minutes long) means that the ear never gets tired. This can be quite refreshing in the days when we tend to have much longer songs.

In all this is a fine debut album by someone who is not frightened to experiment. I expect this man to keep developing his range and we’ll hopefully hear more fantastic things in the future. Finally as I particular liked this album’s sound, I have voted for him in the Brit Award 2017 for British Breakthrough Act. I’m sure plenty of others will also support him, so let’s watch this space.

Film Review: Fifty Shades Darker

Soft porn flick which is full of cheese and fails to deliver on any real tension. "Oh lets take this slow", then 5 minutes later they're in bed with the toys out.

Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eric Johnson

Dir: James Foley

"Slip into something a shade darker"

Genre: Drama

Film Review: Moonlight

Life story of a shy boy growing up in Miami surrounded by American black culture and drugs. A heartfelt look at the social consequences of living in this environment and the repeating cycles it forms between generations.

Mahershala Ali, Shariff Earp, Duan Sanderson

Dir: Barry Jenkins

"This is the story of a lifetime."

Genre: Drama

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Competition: Whisky

Woman Magazine

Win:

  • Tamnavulin Whisky
http://comps.womanmagazine.co.uk/index/index.php

Competion: Cleaning Pack

Woman Magazine

Win:

  • Cleaning Pack
http://comps.womanmagazine.co.uk/index/index.php

Recipe: Bakewell Slice

For the pastry, I turned to the ultra modern kitchen toy - the electric mixer. Saves on the old fingers.

This was a super-yummy. It may be the first time everyone in the house has agreed on giving top marks.

The recipe can be found here: Bakewell Slice

Support Cause: Voted in Brit Awards

Vote in the Brit Awards (Rag'nBone man for Britsh Breakthrough Act).

Competition: Classical Concert at Royal Albert Hall

Woman Magazine

Win:

  • Classical Concert at Royal Albert Hall
http://comps.womanmagazine.co.uk/index/index.php

Competition: TV Tech Bundle

SSE

Win a 'Tech Bundle':

  • Sony 55in 4K Ultra HD 3D FHD Smart Curved TV
  • Sonos Playbar Home Cinema Soundbar
  • Sony DVD Player with HD Scaling
  • iPad Air 2 64GB
  • 2 x Sonos Play 1 Smart Speaker

Draw Closes: 10th March 2017

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/energy-efficiency/win-a-tech-bundle

Saturday, 11 February 2017

Film Review: The LEGO Batman Movie

Lego version of Batman gets up to some fun fighting his archenemy The Joker. Nothing too new here although some good tougue-in-cheek jokes.

Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson

Dir: Chris McKay

"Always be yourself. Unless you can be Batman."

Genre: Animation

Recipe: Blueberry Muffins

Nothing too difficult here although I did forget to use the muffin cases in the baking tray. Didn't matter too much since we have a silicon liner which makes muffin-extraction a doddle anyway.

Also doubled up on the blueberries to give them a real good berry flavour.

The recipe can be found here: Low fat blueberry muffins

Friday, 10 February 2017

Thursday, 9 February 2017

Film Review: Gold

Unlucky gold prospector gets lucky in Indonesia when teamed up with a renowned geologist. A great rollercoaster of a movie.

Matthew McConaughey, Edgar RamĆ­rez, Bryce Dallas Howard

Dir: Stephen Gaghan

"It was never about the money."

Genre: Drama

Film Review: Resident Evil - The FInal Chapter

Zombie follow-up which never takes its foot off the accelerator with both great fight and CGI scenes.

Milla Jovovich, Iain Glen, Ali Larter

Dir: Paul W.S. Anderson

"Evil will end."

Genre: Horror

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Film Review: Manchester By The Sea

Long, slow burn movie about a failing janitor landed with looking after his brother’s kid after he dies. Although not a bad movie, I don’t see why the critics have this up for so many awards since neither acting, script, cinematic or screenplay is anything overly special.

Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler

Dir: Kenneth Lonergan

Genre: Drama

Monday, 6 February 2017

Volunteer: Inni K & Jessica Morgan

Such a shame but only 25 people turned up for these 2 folk songwriter acts. Although Inni K needs a more time to polish her music, Jessica Morgan was wonderful.

Sunday, 5 February 2017

Support Causes: More Social Care Funding

A petition to increase the funding given to social care.

Petition here

Recipe: Garlic Chicken Tray Bake

After my trip to India I decided that I would cook a lot more with chicken thighs rather than breast. In UK we appear to place thigh meat as 2nd best however the extra flavour is very noticeable and it seems a shame to miss out on that.

The recipe was easy (apart from the apparent shortage of courgettes meaning a hunt to get some), and flavours were good. I tried to follow the recipe closely this time however next time I will be more flexible with the vegetable choice. Served with garlic bread.

The recipe can be found here: Slimming World's Garlic Chicken Bake

Film Review: La La Land

Good old musical love story based around a jazz pianist and wannade-actress. Although the film isn't the best-of-the-year, Emma Stone gives a crackin' performance.

Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt

Dir: Damien Chazelle

"Here's to the fools who dream."

Genre: Musical

Support Causes: Optional Cervical Screening from 18

A petition to allow optional cervical screening from 18 years old for high risk groups.

Petition here

Recipe: Croque Monsieur

Okay I accept that a croque monsieur is hardly the most exotic meal, however I've always loved them even though I've never made one.

I followed Delia's recipe, and although she advocates keeping the crust on, I went for the authentic look. I do however hate the waste and next time the crust stays on!

The recipe can be found here: Croque Monsieur

Competition: Overnight Stay in Wales

Telegraph

Win:

  • Overnight stay in Wales with meal and breakfast

Draw Closes: 7th Feb 2017

https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/win/item/win-an-overnight-stay-at-luxury-welsh-hotel-the-townhouse

Competition: Peak District Break

Telegraph

Win:

  • 2 nights in luxury break in Peak District

Draw Closes: 8th Feb 2017

https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/win/item/win-a-luxury-break-on-the-edge-of-the-peak-district