Your Essential Lockdown Guide: 10 things to read, watch, listen & eat this week
Hi Saucettes! Let’s be honest, 2020 forced us all into submission, including yours truly. I’ve felt it all: melancholia, lethargy and procrastination, lots of it.
It’s still pretty hard to believe that this is our reality now and that we only have four months to make this mare of a year suck a bit less. I mean, no pressure. And since Auckland went back into isolation, I thought I’ll put together a nice edit of things to do to keep you busy (or not).
So here I am spoon-feeding you with some thoughtful suggestions of what to watch, read, listen and make for dinner. Don’t expect everything on this list to be newly discovered, the selection is rather random — mostly what I’m doing or recently have done myself. So whether you like my suggestions or not, let’s have a discussion later?
Listen to Michelle Obama’s new podcast
Presented as a Spotify Original, this podcast is something lots of us have been waiting for since reading Becoming and watching an eponymous Netflix documentary. One episode in, and we witness a casual chat between Michelle and her husband about the sense of community and how people used to unite together in face of difficulties when they were growing up. What surprised me the most though, is that at the end of the episode the former First Lady credited every single person who contributed to its creation. And while it should be a normal thing to do, this humble act of appreciation is rather a rare occurrence these days.
2. Binge Good Girls
With season 3 finally being released on Netflix. The tale of bad things happening to good people is as old as time and in this gripping iteration, we get to see what happens to three suburban mums Beth, Ruby and Annie after robbing a grocery store in a desperate need of some cash to pay their bills. This one day reshapes their lives once and for all. Of course, you’d normally think getting caught is the worst thing that can transpire but not in this case — the series of events the unlucky trio brings upon themselves by pulling this heist gets beyond control. Note to those who’ve seen the show, I’m sorry but how hot is Rio? I mean, really. One fan wrote on Twitter “Rio from Good Girls could slit my throat and I’d say gracias”. While I find the remark rather dark, I can’t completely disagree with it.
3. Read Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey
This book only got released so I haven’t had a chance to read the whole thing apart from the sample but it’s at the top of my list. Described as ‘a chillingly personal and exquisitely wrought memoir’ by Goodreads, Memorial Drive gives us a glimpse into the life of a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey after her mother was shot and killed by her stepfather. The story supposedly explores the topics of racism, domestic abuse and how it all shaped Tretheway to become the artist she is today. I say let’s read it together and discuss later on Instagram?
4. Follow Nikki Boyer’s best friend Molly’s story of battling cancer stage IV and experimenting with sex on Dying for Sex podcast
This podcast introduces us to a riveting account of Molly’s sexcapades after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41 and made a decision to end her marriage to feel alive again. After embarking on a series of sex adventures, Molly generously dished them out with her best friend Nikki and made incredibly deep, funny comments about life and all. I swear by this podcast and was happy to hear that there’s also a book to come in memory of this brave woman.
5. Indulge in some good old teen romance with The Kissing Booth 1 & 2
As much as I am into dramas, documentaries and other serious stuff, I am always all in for a mawkish, over-sentimental movie. What can I say, I am a sucker for fairy tales — the more unrealistic it is, the better. Starring a talented young actress Joey King and her love interest, Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, these two movies are exactly what you need if you don’t mind yourself some sappy romance with a glass of wine on the side.
6. Go to bed with Harry Styles
I don’t think many people can resist Harry Styles’ charm, apart from Liam Sharma who apparently can’t stand the guy (seriously, how come?). So as a big fan of bedtime stories, I got excited when I came across Dream With Me on the Calm app. As soon as the recording starts, Harry’s dreamy voice suggests to think of anything you’d like and then, rather abruptly, takes you to visualise a few unconventional scenes. You’ll find yourself in a green forest, inhaling the morning air as we explore, just me and you; getting caught in the rain; or sitting by the fire with Harry until another destination lulls us closer now, it seems… perhaps it’s real, or just another chapter in our dreams. Not to mention how the thought of passing time inspires a feeling that grows stronger — this feeling washes over us, lost between a sight; and as the sun begins to set, we stop and wonder why gravity caresses us and pulls you close to me, then, the scene begins to fade into a new reality. What a sweet talker, by the end of the pillow talk it’s impossible not to contemplate if Harry Styles is your actual boyfriend now. While it seems like his attempt at a lullaby isn’t successful at all, I can’t take away from him the fact that after 30 minutes he made me forget my problems ever existed, well apart from a new one of falling asleep.
7. Watch Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood
Some might know Murphy’s work by Glee and American Horror Story but I fell in love with his miniseries after watching The Politician and Hollywood. Both these shows are just great. Hollywood follows a bunch of aspiring actors, filmmakers and scriptwriters trying to make their dreams come true during the Golden Age of Hollywood after World War II. All the characters are so beautifully crafted that you can’t help but fall in love with some and hate the others.
8. Self-reflect on life with How Do We Know We're Doing It Right: & Other Essays on Modern Life by Pandora Sykes
It seems like essay collections are really gaining momentum right now as short stories once did. Published by a talented journalist and contributing editor of Elle magazine (though many of you may know Pandora through The High Low podcast), the series of essays on modern life are thought-provoking and enjoyable to read. While this book might not be classifiable as an award winner, I think it’s only fair to give this very well-researched essay collection a read — it paints the picture of our society quite well.
9. Get to know the founder of Sauce, Zeenat Wilkinson, better in the latest episode of Offline [the podcast]
I’m sure most of you are familiar with Alison Rice’s podcast that zeroes in on the concept of your true self and honest conversations. Recently such a conversation with Zeenat was published online so tune in to learn who Zee was before Sauce and how she got here.
10. Make a batch of this yummy Cauliflower Dal for the lazy meals in bed
This winter I’ve been a champion of consumption of warm, soupy dishes. One thing that quickly turned into my favourite is dal (often spelled as dhal) because it’s bloody delicious and relatively easy to make. I’ve been experimenting and trying different variations of dal for the past two months and here is a cauliflower version from Green Kitchen Stories, I hope you like it. The weather’s been calling for it this whole week.
Ingredients:
3 tbsp coconut oil or butter/ghee
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp ground curry spice blend
1/2 tbsp mixed mustard seeds, coriander seeds and cardamom seeds (or just add 1/2 tbsp extra ground curry)
1 large chunk (5 cm / 2 inches) fresh ginger
1 cauliflower (approx 500 g / 1/2 lb)
3 potatoes, coarsely diced 200 g /
1 cup red lentils
2 soft dates, pitted and mashed
1 litre / 4 cups water or vegetable stock
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Garlicky spinach:
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp mustard seeds
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
2-3 handfuls spinach
Tomato salad:
10 cherry tomatoes
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
salt & pepper
Instructions:
Make the cauliflower dal: heat coconut oil, onion and garlic in a large saucepan on low/medium heat. Add the curry, grind the extra spices in a mortar and add those as well (or just add more curry). Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until it smells fragrant, but be careful so the spices do not burn. If it feels too dry add a spoonful, or more, of water. Break the cauliflower into florets and chop the stem finely. Peel the potatoes and dice them into 1 cm / 1/2 inch bits. Add both to the saucepan along with the lentils and dates. Stir and sauté for about a minute before adding water or stock. Let simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are starting to dissolve and the cauliflower florets are tender. Stir carefully (if you want the cauliflower florets to stay intact) a few times. Add apple cider vinegar and salt to taste. Give the soup 2-3 pulses with a hand blender (if you like, see note above). Serve in bowls with a dollop of yogurt (coconut yogurt or regular yogurt) and top with garlicky spinach and tomato salad.
Make the garlicky spinach: heat coconut oil in a skillet. Sauté mustard seeds and garlic on low/medium heat until golden and fragrant. Add spinach and turn off the heat. Stir until wilted. Ready for serving.
Make the tomato salad: cut the tomatoes in halves and place in a bowl. Add olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and toss to combine. Serve on top of the dal for a fresh zing of flavour.
For more information about the dish and photos please follow the link.
Enjoy xx
Words — Irina Sviatskaia