I was thinking the same thing, Marian! Is the orange gin, do you think, Mark? 😂
Congratulations on being a professor, and thank you for sharing so many wonderful tips and suggestions. Cooking the veg for the curry in two batches - it's going to be a game changer!
Fantastic vegetable Korma recipe! Thanks. The ground cashews perform several really important tasks as far as I see it. Obviously they thicken and flavour the sauce, they add protein and some essential lipids such as linoleic acid - one of the all important omega 3s. On a more practical level I found that adding the ground nuts off the heat, at the end of the sauce reduction, and then the yoghurt cooled it just enough to stop the yoghurt curdling. Then I folded in the roast veg hot from the oven.
My husband Mike pronounced it ‘delicious’ and I thoroughly agree.
Off to Spain next week for a few months. Hoping to get some time to write more without the diversions of the West End on my doorstep. We are both thriving, thank you. Enjoy the gathering spring!
Mark thank you so much for this compendium. I keep returning to it for little moments of inspiration and information and yes, pure joy. Re gardening, last year I bought some of your blueberry bushes - a mix of three. One flowered and fruited nicely. The others stubbornly refused. I saw something by you recently that suggested planting them all in one pot for cross pollination purposes. . What do you suggest? It would have to be huge wouldn’t it? What do you use?
Hi Patricia, I'm delighted to hear you're enjoying the compendium! Thank you. I've got three blueberries in a 60cm ish pot, all touching am little and in time I may need to up the size, or pot them individually when they outgrow it but it works well. It may be that your plants just need another year or two of developing to all flower well - sunny spot, a fortnightly liquid feed, ericaceous compost, ideally watering with rainwater (it's slightly acidic which suits them) and they should have every chance of being productive
So lovely to read this. The music part (downloading) and this video is great. Thanks for the recipes and tips. I wish there were a way to send out the tons of Seville oranges that almost nobody wants here where I'm currently living (Dubrovnik, Croatia). Such a waste. There could be a river of that gin flowing between here and the UK.
Prodigious, quality output Mark. If it were not for the fact that I’ve met you, and know otherwise, I’d think that you would have no energy left to be a kindly soul. Incredible wide ranging output.
PS. I’m ashamed to say, I’ve got a stash of Sevilles in the freezer from a moment of good intention last year. Since ‘dry January’ is about to be kicked into touch, perhaps a vodka version might work?
Also I meant to say: that YouTube clip is too, too amazing. Did you watch the Peter Jackson doco? It was just extraordinary seeing those songs be pulled from the ether. As a kid, Paul was always my fave Beatle (we later got to know him quite well when lovely Linda was alive), which I got teased about ‘cos he was the pretty one. Then I went through a John phase and a George phase (one day I’ll tell you my George anecdote) - sorry, Ringo, there was never a Ringo phase but I know you’re a lovely chap - but the Jackson documentary made me think my initial instincts were spot-on. Such. Talent.
How amazing to get to know him and Linda. so easy to forget they re actual people. The Beatles tour of Liverpool (I went with a scouse friend who I thought was pulling my leg when he said it wasn't naff) really made me feel (as opposed to 'know') that they were four regular lads who just made a miracle from nothing. I haven't watched all of the PJ docs yet but working my way through them. Aren't they extraordinary! George Harrison *cycling* to rehearsal! Imagine that happening now. And yes please to the George anecdote!
What a LOVELY Substack! You are the perfect antidote to The World Gone Nuts. Actually, my entire weekend will be devoted to marmalade making because Craig gets through approx a jar a WEEK (that is a LOT of peel-slicing, let me tell you - the things we do for love, eh?), but I’m going to pick up some extra Seville oranges to make that gin. Sounds brilliant. Also, DEFFO making that curry. Thank you for a great read and a delicious dollop of sanity…
Thank you Jo. I must say I'm impressed with Craig's marmalade consumption! It is perhaps the greatest sign of a deep love that you are happy to slice enough oranges to meet that quantity.
Reading this is like reading the Saturday papers, which in my world is one of the great pleasures in life. I'll need to get back to your spotify play list, I left them in disgust a few years back (Josh Rogan, Neil Young related).
The cardamon forward vegetable korma would be exquisite, I don't need to cook it to know. But I will cook it just so I can tell you again how good it is.
Congratulations on your latest publishing success, that must feel so sweet. Your cows are coming home Mark. Enjoy sharing your knowledge in your workshop, look out the window and see if you can see me there in spirit.
I love that you know the korma why me good without cooking it! And yes, spotify is a mixed blessing but I try to use it to try/discover new music and then buy it when I find something I love
I like the Gin recipe! I think under the Asparagus part you mean asparagus crowns not artichoke. I planted some crowns in a deep water trough because my garden is mostly rocks. Though I dont have much sun I have been picking about 12 asparagus stalks every spring, just enough for a little springtime snack and I still think it is worth it! If I move the entire thing comes with me!
How on earth you fit it all in ~ your stamina amazes me! A line that should a) go down in history and b) be sent to Sir Paul! :
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about The Beatles is that unlike everyone that followed, they did all that without The Beatles to influence them.
I was thinking the same thing, Marian! Is the orange gin, do you think, Mark? 😂
Congratulations on being a professor, and thank you for sharing so many wonderful tips and suggestions. Cooking the veg for the curry in two batches - it's going to be a game changer!
Thank you so much Sanjida - the orange gin certainly helps
Thank you Marian! Maybe having had enough really joyless jobs had given me energy to really revel in something I love now I’ve found it
And how are the pecans doing now? Would I have seen them on a tour of the Otter Farm back in 2017 ?
Hi Sally, I went back last year and they are thriving. Yes, they were planted many years ago so would’ve been there in 2017
Thanks - good to know they are thriving - cant remember them - can visualise vineyard, roses, Szechuans - will have to find my photos
Fantastic vegetable Korma recipe! Thanks. The ground cashews perform several really important tasks as far as I see it. Obviously they thicken and flavour the sauce, they add protein and some essential lipids such as linoleic acid - one of the all important omega 3s. On a more practical level I found that adding the ground nuts off the heat, at the end of the sauce reduction, and then the yoghurt cooled it just enough to stop the yoghurt curdling. Then I folded in the roast veg hot from the oven.
My husband Mike pronounced it ‘delicious’ and I thoroughly agree.
What a marvellous, informative and entertaining comment Wendy, thank you! I do love a cashew. I hope you are both very well
Off to Spain next week for a few months. Hoping to get some time to write more without the diversions of the West End on my doorstep. We are both thriving, thank you. Enjoy the gathering spring!
Thanks for your advice Mark. I will keep going with them!
Mark thank you so much for this compendium. I keep returning to it for little moments of inspiration and information and yes, pure joy. Re gardening, last year I bought some of your blueberry bushes - a mix of three. One flowered and fruited nicely. The others stubbornly refused. I saw something by you recently that suggested planting them all in one pot for cross pollination purposes. . What do you suggest? It would have to be huge wouldn’t it? What do you use?
Hi Patricia, I'm delighted to hear you're enjoying the compendium! Thank you. I've got three blueberries in a 60cm ish pot, all touching am little and in time I may need to up the size, or pot them individually when they outgrow it but it works well. It may be that your plants just need another year or two of developing to all flower well - sunny spot, a fortnightly liquid feed, ericaceous compost, ideally watering with rainwater (it's slightly acidic which suits them) and they should have every chance of being productive
So lovely to read this. The music part (downloading) and this video is great. Thanks for the recipes and tips. I wish there were a way to send out the tons of Seville oranges that almost nobody wants here where I'm currently living (Dubrovnik, Croatia). Such a waste. There could be a river of that gin flowing between here and the UK.
Ah but you have the compensation of living in Dubrovnik, which last time I looked (1988) was part of such a glorious region. I hope it still is
It's beautiful with the sea and the mild temperatures. You are overdue for another visit.
I love your compendiums, Mark. Playlists, recipes, random bits and bobs …. a very lovely thing to sink into
That’s very lovely to know Jo T, thank you
Prodigious, quality output Mark. If it were not for the fact that I’ve met you, and know otherwise, I’d think that you would have no energy left to be a kindly soul. Incredible wide ranging output.
PS. I’m ashamed to say, I’ve got a stash of Sevilles in the freezer from a moment of good intention last year. Since ‘dry January’ is about to be kicked into touch, perhaps a vodka version might work?
Ha ha, you are very kind! Although I have no idea when we would've met! And I think it's the perfect way to end dry January...
CHIPOTLE MAC n CHEESE. That sounds like a perfect Friday night supper in front of a good film. Yum. And very exciting that the book is coming soon!
Thank you - it is a very infrontofthetv kind of supper!
Also I meant to say: that YouTube clip is too, too amazing. Did you watch the Peter Jackson doco? It was just extraordinary seeing those songs be pulled from the ether. As a kid, Paul was always my fave Beatle (we later got to know him quite well when lovely Linda was alive), which I got teased about ‘cos he was the pretty one. Then I went through a John phase and a George phase (one day I’ll tell you my George anecdote) - sorry, Ringo, there was never a Ringo phase but I know you’re a lovely chap - but the Jackson documentary made me think my initial instincts were spot-on. Such. Talent.
How amazing to get to know him and Linda. so easy to forget they re actual people. The Beatles tour of Liverpool (I went with a scouse friend who I thought was pulling my leg when he said it wasn't naff) really made me feel (as opposed to 'know') that they were four regular lads who just made a miracle from nothing. I haven't watched all of the PJ docs yet but working my way through them. Aren't they extraordinary! George Harrison *cycling* to rehearsal! Imagine that happening now. And yes please to the George anecdote!
What a LOVELY Substack! You are the perfect antidote to The World Gone Nuts. Actually, my entire weekend will be devoted to marmalade making because Craig gets through approx a jar a WEEK (that is a LOT of peel-slicing, let me tell you - the things we do for love, eh?), but I’m going to pick up some extra Seville oranges to make that gin. Sounds brilliant. Also, DEFFO making that curry. Thank you for a great read and a delicious dollop of sanity…
Thank you Jo. I must say I'm impressed with Craig's marmalade consumption! It is perhaps the greatest sign of a deep love that you are happy to slice enough oranges to meet that quantity.
Btw - so thrilled for you about the 3D real life version of your book.
Love your compendiums Mark and what a joy to see great playlists, gin and my favourite thing in the world: Mac & cheese, in this edition. Hooray!
I wonder if you are psychically communicating with my mind! Thank you JP, you are a champ
Reading this is like reading the Saturday papers, which in my world is one of the great pleasures in life. I'll need to get back to your spotify play list, I left them in disgust a few years back (Josh Rogan, Neil Young related).
The cardamon forward vegetable korma would be exquisite, I don't need to cook it to know. But I will cook it just so I can tell you again how good it is.
Congratulations on your latest publishing success, that must feel so sweet. Your cows are coming home Mark. Enjoy sharing your knowledge in your workshop, look out the window and see if you can see me there in spirit.
I love that you know the korma why me good without cooking it! And yes, spotify is a mixed blessing but I try to use it to try/discover new music and then buy it when I find something I love
I have no Judgement on the Spotify stance Mark, I’ll probably end up back there. One of those decisions lurking about, without impetuous to act on it.
Got to give another cover recommendation as you’ve included Love Will Tear Us Apart - try the Hot 8 Brass Band version!
Definitely going to try the curry
I shall Kate, thank you!
I like the Gin recipe! I think under the Asparagus part you mean asparagus crowns not artichoke. I planted some crowns in a deep water trough because my garden is mostly rocks. Though I dont have much sun I have been picking about 12 asparagus stalks every spring, just enough for a little springtime snack and I still think it is worth it! If I move the entire thing comes with me!
Thank you Patti for the asparagus/artichoke typo…I shall edit. And yes, dig up the asparagus and get it to the new place when/if you move!