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A Guide To Surviving Lockdown: Easy Meals, Funny Films, Brilliant Books And More...

 Hey Everyone,

We’re back to say hello and check in with you wonderful people again.

We’re a couple of weeks into Lockdown now and I’m sure many people have developed coping strategies. But if you’re struggling, don’t worry – we’re here to provide some more simple tips for your daily routine.

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Simple Meal Ideas:

Spag Bol -

My parents always used to drum it into me that Spag Bol is a very easy dish to master. Any sort of pasta dish are usually meals where you can get creative and really make them your own, so there’s no real right answer – as long as the basic bits are there! 

Personally, I’m the kind of person that finds things like tomatoes a bit hit and miss. I like tomato sauce and tomatoes on pizza but I could never eat a tomato sandwich. However, put them in a Spag Bol and I won’t bat an eyelid. I’m not a fan of mushrooms either but my mother always tries to sneak them into meals…. Sigh. I’m sure they’re nice really.

Photo by Flora Westbrook from Pexels
  

To the point – pasta dishes, and spag bol in particular, can be pretty basic. I’m no Gordan Ramsey/Jamie Oliver/Insert your favourite chef here, and so I’ll leave the actual step-by-step instructions to the experts, but the main idea is along the lines of:

Chop up some onions and garlic. If that sounds like kind of a scary/gross job, supermarkets sell packets of both of them which are already chopped and ready to go straight into the pan. Woo!

Fry the onions and garlic for a while. Add the meat, sauce and let it cook for a while. Add your desired sauce plus any other ingredients you fancy including. Put some spaghetti/pasta on to boil. And at some point in the near future, you will have your very own spag bol! 

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Also, a very important point here: All these dishes, and Spag Bol in particular, can be adapted to a veggie or vegan version! https://www.quorn.co.uk/recipes/quick-spaghetti-bolognese

Here’s some actual professionals with some recipe ideas:

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes/family-spaghetti-bolognese/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/easy_spaghetti_bolognese_93639

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/best-spaghetti-bolognese-recipe

Soup –

While it is a pretty basic meal, soup can really hit the spot. I tend to go for lentil, potato and veg soup. Add in some vegetable stock for extra flavour. All soup really is, is water plus a few ingredients. 

Photo by Aлександар Габона from Pexels
  

Start by frying some onions and garlic until they go brown (and/or start smelling amazing), add in some lentils and let them cook for a few minutes. Add potatoes, veg or whatever else you desire, plus I really recommend veg stock cubes, one or two cubes should be alright. And then let the magic happen.

The above is my own version and so some of the recipes online give out similar steps in a different order – which is a quite normal, cooking is a creative process. Here’s some professional takes:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/300100/recipe/potato-and-lentil-soup

And now for a change of topic.

DVD’s, Books, Podcasts

Hot Fuzz starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and some other brilliant actors and actresses are part of the “cornetto trilogy” (this is worth remembering if you’re keen on pub quizzes) and is one of my favourite films. The other two films in the trilogy? I’m sure you have heard of them – Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End. Three great comedy films to fill up a few hours.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
  

Also, I’m sure you’re signed up to some of the streaming sites. My sister was giving me feedback on one of the Stridi articles the other day and suggested Netflix recommendations. I responded that I don’t currently have Netflix. “You don’t have Netflix, how do you watch TV?” was the reply….

But, I do have another popular streaming service, which is similar and great for both streaming stuff and getting DVDs and books delivered to your door.

As someone with a degree in Creative Writing, I’ll always recommend a good book for escapism, bedtime reading or just generally for using up a few hours on a day off. The Harry Potter series, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones – even if you’ve read the books or seen the films a million times, do it again! The classics never get dull.

Photo by fotografierende from Pexels

 

If you want a personal recommendation, I am currently halfway through 'The Thursday Murder Club' by Richard Osman, if you want a light read. It’s funny, brilliantly written and rather mysterious, as the title might suggest.

'It Started With a Tweet' by Anna Bell is a great read which I happened to stumble upon in an airport bookshop a couple of years ago. A young woman ends up on a digital detox in an isolated cottage in the Cumbrian countryside. She has to learn to adapt to life without the internet, and fast. I find that the book gives a great perspective on living an alternative life, particularly during these surreal times!

I know that not everyone finds reading easy, and so eBooks or Podcasts are available.

Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels

 

Podcast recommendations:

Conversations Against Living Miserably – a great listen where comedians discuss mental health issues such as depression, with a few jokes along the way. Hosted by Aaron Gillies and Lauren Pattison.

For those of you who suffer from anxiety, Mr. Gillies has also written a book on surviving anxiety entitled “How To Survive The End Of The World….. When it’s In Your Own Head!”

The Comedy Arcade – a combination of a chat show and a gameshow, hosted by Vix Leyton.

We hoped that the info provided has been of some use, if you have any questions or simply want to reach out, we are available on our socials!

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Follow Matt! @Matt_jl_24

 

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