8 minute read
Chill In
from SURREY ROCKS 2023
by Surrey Rocks
RECIPE
‘CHILLIN’ CON CARNE
Warm up and chill in on those cold nights with this delicious chilli con carne recipe. What’s more it is only 387 calories per portion and has a 5 star rating on BBC Good Food, it’s the perfect comfort food to see you through the colder months!
INGREDIENTS
1 large onion 1 red pepper 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 heaped tsp hot chilli powder (or 1 level tbsp if you only have mild) 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground cumin 500g lean minced beef 1 beef stock cube 400g can chopped tomatoes ½ tsp dried marjoram 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp tomato purée 410g can red kidney beans plain boiled long grain rice soured cream, to serve
METHOD
1. Dice 1 large onion, cut 1 red pepper in half lengthways, remove stalk and wash the seeds away, then chop. Peel and finely chop 2 garlic cloves.
2. Put your pan on the hob over a medium heat. Add the oil and leave it for 1-2 minutes until hot. Add the onions and cook, stirring fairly frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft, squidgy and slightly translucent. Tip in the garlic, red pepper, 1 heaped tsp hot chilli powder or 1 level tbsp mild chilli powder, 1 tsp paprika and 1 tsp ground cumin. Give it a good stir, then leave it to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Turn the heat up a bit, add the meat to the pan and break it up with your spoon or spatula. Keep stirring and prodding for at least 5 minutes, until all the mince is in uniform, mince-sized lumps and there are no more pink bits. Make sure you keep the heat hot enough for the meat to fry and become brown, rather than just stew. 4. Crumble 1 beef stock cube into 300ml hot water. Pour this into the pan with the mince mixture. Open 1 can of chopped tomatoes and add these as well. Tip in ½ tsp dried marjoram and 1 tsp sugar, and add a good shake of salt and pepper. Squirt in about 2 tbsp tomato purée and stir the sauce well. 5. Bring the whole thing to the boil, give it a good stir and put a lid on the pan. Turn down the heat until it is gently bubbling and leave it for 20 minutes. You should check on the pan occasionally to stir it and make sure the sauce doesn’t catch on the bottom of the pan or isn’t drying out. If it is, add a couple of tablespoons of water and make sure that the heat really is low enough. After simmering gently, the saucy mince mixture should look thick, moist and juicy. 6. Drain and rinse 1 can of red kidney beans and stir them into the chilli pot. Bring to the boil again, and gently bubble without the lid for another 10 minutes, adding a little more water if it looks too dry. Taste a bit of the chilli and season. It will probably take a lot more seasoning than you think. Now replace the lid, turn off the heat and leave your chilli to stand for 10 minutes before serving, and relax. Leaving your chilli to stand is really important as it allows the flavours to mingle and the meat. 7. Serve with soured cream and plain boiled long grain rice.
WINE PAIRING
A beer would be the safest option to have with a chilli, but safe is boring! Instead opt for a Red Zinfandel, which is both rich and ripe, bursting with bramble fruit with just a touch of vanilla. These flavours create the perfect blend to mix with anything meaty.
A Beefsteak Club Malbec says it all in the name, the wine that is made for beef. Deep and vibrant with an intense nose of plum, damson and dark chocolate aromas. Lush and layered on the palate, with well-integrated oak and plenty of fine tannins, it will complement your chilli to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
MOVIE REVIEW ALBUM REVIEW BOOK REVIEW
A MAN CALLED OTTO
Otto Anderson, played brilliantly by Hollywood legend Tom Hanks, is a grumpy old man who has recently lost his wife and is seriously considering ending it all.
When a lively, young family moves in next door, he meets his match in the quick-witted and very pregnant Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside-down.
From acclaimed screenwriter, David Magee, who was behind hit films including ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ and ‘Finding Neverland’ this film from the international bestselling book by Frederick Backman is witty, endearing and heart-warming; making viewers fall in love with the ‘grumpiest man in America.’
The characterisation is well thought out with exceptional performances by newcomer Rachel Keller as Marisol and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo from Netlix Series ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ as her super sweet and caring husband.
There will be laughs-a-plenty and it is a great film to see for any age group, much along the same lines as Tom Hanks other family-friendly biopic triumphs ‘Forrest Gump’ and ‘The Terminal.’
As the trailer captions: “Life is a Journey. That is meant for sharing,” ‘A Man Called Otto’ reaffirms all that is good about life, family and friendships.
SAM SMITH – GLORIA
This upcoming fourth studio album by Brit singer/songwriter Sam Smith is set to be released on January 27th through Capitol Records. The two singles released from the album entitled ‘Love Me More’ and ‘Unholy’ (a collab with German singer Kim Petras) have already been well received, the latter achieving the number one spot in the singles chart in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.
The new album ‘Gloria’ has been called a “personal revolution for Smith”, containing a dazzling, sumptuous, sophisticated, unexpected and at times thrilling, edgy sound of Sam’s creative today.
Sam always writes and sings from the heart and no stone has been left unturned in this new outing with sex, lies, passion, self-expression and imperfection just some of the tracks subject matters. Deep stuff – it always is with Sam!
The album, his first since ‘Love Goes’ in 2020, was recorded between Los Angeles, London and Jamaica with Smith working with regular collaborator Jimmy Napes who has produced with Stormy, Alicia Keyes and Taylor Swift among others.
This album is set to be a belter and right up there with his inaugural album ‘In The Lonely Hour’ which scooped 4 awards at the MOBO’s including Best Album back in 2014.
We can’t wait to hear the 13-track album in all its glory and especially his first collaboration with fellow Brit Ed Sheeren in ‘Who We Love’ which has all the makings of another chart-topping hit.
SPARE
Prince Harry’s tell-all book ‘Spare’ is set to be released on January 10th and will be a warts-and-all expose on life in the Royal Family. How he managed to launch the cover and book synopsis without a murmur from the Royal Family begs belief!
The contents of the soon-to-be bestseller have not yet been revealed but everyone is hoping tricky subject matters including: Diana’s mysterious death in Paris, the assumption he is James Hewitt’s son and who was the ‘racist’ Royal Family member who questioned what colour Archie’s skin was going to be when Meghan was pregnant? All will be revealed on January 10th.... we sincerely hope!
Publishers Random House bill the autobiography as “raw, unflinching honesty, ‘Spare’ is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.”
Prince Harry is supporting British charities with donations from his proceeds from the book. The Duke of Sussex has pledged to donate $1,500,000 to Sentebale, an organisation he founded with Prince Seeiso in their mothers’ legacies, which supports vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS. Prince Harry is also donating to the non-profit organisation WellChild in the amount of £300,000. Although this is a meagre amount in comparison to the staggering £38.5 million amount that the book is supposed to be netting.
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