This curry is a blast from the past; not at all authentic but the British version of what they thought it should taste like. It would be perfect for Mary Lennox who started out as a bad-tempered orphan in India and blossomed into a compassionate girl while discovering the locked door in the grounds of a house in Yorkshire in the 1911 novel The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
RAJ CURRY
Slice two onions finely and cook in a little oil over a low heat until just starting to soften. Add quorn chicken-style pieces (defrosted if frozen) and 3 cloves of garlic, crushed.
Continue to cook until golden.
Sprinkle in 1tsp chilli powder, 1tsp turmeric and 1tbsp garam masala and stir to coat.
Pour in 100ml vegetable stock and a handful of sultanas.
Allow to simmer until all is cooked through and the liquid has reduced slightly.
Jack Nicholson's role in the film Chinatown is one of his greatest performances.
J. J. 'Jake' Gittes is a private investigator in 1930's Los Angeles. He has to solve the problem of why reservoir water is being released into the sea during a drought and the even more complex problem of Evelyn Mulwray (played by Faye Dunaway).
Sweet and Sour Chicken is, of course, a Chinese-American invention, rather than an authentic Chinese dish, but that doesn't stop it from being delicious. Zelda's version of the famous battered balls of 'chicken' (or in this case tofu) can be found here. The lighter 'Hong Kong Style', stir fries chicken and vegetables and adds the sweet and sour sauce. It has become a popular take away dish which can be reproduced more healthily at home. Maybe Jake Gittes wouldn't necessarily go for the healthiest food, but hopefully he would enjoy this low-fat version. Swap the sweetener for sugar if you like.
SWEET AND SOUR HONG KONG STYLE (LOW FAT VERSION)
Serves 2
Mix together: 4tbsp ketchup 1tbsp white wine vinegar 1tbsp light soy sauce 1tsp cornflour 4tsp powder sweetener plus hot water as needed
Add a little oil to a pan and heat to high
Add: some pineapple chunks, fresh or drained from a can 1 small pepper, sliced thinly 1 carrot, peeled and finely sliced 1 onion, peeled and finely sliced 2 spring onions, chopped diagonally quorn pieces, defrosted if frozen
When softened and slightly browned, pour in the sauce and mix together.
Place in a bowl with some fresh coriander and sesame seeds.
Chronic back pain, prescription drugs and alcoholism are not a good combination. Add a reckless lack of awareness along with fame and fortune and... you know where this is heading. Hank Williams, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century, regular at the Grand Ole Opry and writer of Cold, Cold Heart, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Jambalaya and Your Cheatin' Heart, died at the age of just 29 in 1953.
Since his death, Williams, known as the 'Hillbilly Shakespeare' and 'The Father of Country Music', has had his songs re-recorded and made equally famous by Ray Charles, The Carpenters, The Rolling Stones, George Jones and Mark Knopfler among others
Hank Williams was a native of Alabama. He was inspired by African-American blues and, after winning a local talent contest, started touring and recording, quickly gaining national fame.
He wrote There's a Tear in my Beer in the early 1950s but was discouraged from performing a drinking song, so gave it it instead to Big Bill Lister.
There's a tear in my beer 'Cause I'm cryin' for you, dear You are on my lonely mind Into these last nine beers I have shed a million tears You are on my lonely mind I'm gonna keep drinkin' Until I'm petrified And then maybe, these tears will leave my eyes
There's a tear in my beer 'Cause I'm cryin' for you, dear You are on my lonely mind Last night I walked the floor And the night before You were on my lonely mind It seems my life is through And I'm so dog gone blue You are on my lonely mind I'm gonna keep drinkin' 'Til I can't move a toe And then maybe, my heart won't hurt me so
There's a tear in my beer 'Cause I'm crying for you, dear You are on my lonely mind Lord, I've tried and I've tried But my tears, I can't hide You are on my lonely mind All these blues that I've found Have really got me down You are on my lonely mind I'm gonna keep drinkin' 'Til I can't even think 'Cause in the last week, I ain't slept a wink
There's a tear in my beer 'Cause I'm crying for you, dear You are on my lonely mind
Zelda would like to show Hank that, with a few extra ingredients (no tears needed), beer can make this delightful accompaniment to any meal.
BEER BREAD
Heat 330ml beer gently in a small pan.
Put 375g self-raising flour in a bowl and add 3tsp sugar.
Add the warm beer to the dry ingredients.
Mix everything together well.
Butter the base and sides of a loaf tin.
Pour in the mixture. Push to the sides and even out as much
as possible, but don’t worry too much.
Place in oven at 180C/ Gas 4 for 50 minutes.
Allow to cool a little then turn out onto a board.
Amelia Peabody is the creation of Elizabeth Peters (the pen name of Barbara Mertz, an Egyptologist). Her adventures begin in the 1880s
in Crocodile on the Sandbank. Finding herself independently wealthy, Amelia sets off for Egypt and is immediately dropped into what appears to be a supernatural mystery. Showing sturdy courage and good sense, she solves the problem, takes a husband and establishes herself in modern literature.
In this fantasy world, I would bring her to the present day for this healthy take on an Egyptian classic.
AIR FRYER FALAFELS
Makes 8 - 10
Drain and rise 1 can of chickpeas. Place them in a food processor with 1 chopped onion 2 cloves of garlic 1 red chilli, seeds removed 1tsp ground cumin 1 large handful coriander (leaves and stems) 1 egg small pinch of baking powder salt and black pepper
Mix all together, scraping down from the sides if necessary.
Shape into small balls and put on a plate, flattening them out as you do so.
Chill for at least half an hour.
Remove the plate and heat the air fryer to 180° C.
When ready, spray the base with a little oil and place the falafels inside. (You may need to do this in batches.)
Cook for 6 minutes, then turn carefully and cook for 6 minutes more.
Serve on a flat bread with salad of choice and some plain yogurt mixed with a few chilli flakes.
