November - Monthly Recommendations

What to.

Eat

Bake

Watch

Read

Buy

this month...

Where to Eat

The best and most undiscovered place I think I have eaten this month happens to be where I ate a brunch-y lunch today - Spice Deli, a little deli in Swiss Cottage, Goldhurst Terrace, discovered by my mum because it is local. So if you are ever nearby and have the time, maybe check it out. It has brunchy foods with spices and flavours from the Middle East and India, cakes and a staple chai tea.

What to bake

This month I revised the classic Hummingbird bakery brownies but also some oatmeal raisin cookies, sometimes disliked but these soft, chewy, just-the-right-amount-of-sweetness cookies will not leave you disappointed. here's the recipe. https://www.livewellbakeoften.com/soft-chewy-oatmeal-raisin-cookies/ . I also have made lava cakes a few times with a very simple recipe, 1/4 cup of everything from a video from @BakingEnvy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rDvByB9Ja8. Tip - grease the ramekin with butter and cocoa powder. I also came across the recipe for simple flour and yoghurt bagels and there are lots of recipes that combine these two ingredients to make a dough for something, that sound really good.

Watch

Honestly, I haven't been enlightened by any new TV shows (rewatching episodes of Brooklyn 99 and Just Add Magic though) so I'll give some Youtube channel recommendations

1. College Humour - funny skits and videos, rarely active now but loads of past videos to watch

2. 2. Salem Tovar- I seem to have acquired a slight obsession for short video essays and she does lots of those (so do shanspeare and fil Fatales)

3. 3. Danny Gonzalez, Drew Gooden and Kurtis Conner kind of belong together as they make similar kinds of content.

4. Offensive Tea makes really funny edit videos

5. Fairburn films make skits

6. Katie Yoo does fashion videos and some vlogs, these are useful, entertaining and fun to watch

7. I also like seeing recipe shorter videos like MyHealthyDish, ThatDudeCanCook and You suck at cooking (yeah you totally suck!)

8. Daniel Thrasher makes normally piano themed (but not always) funny videos and has great skills

9. Drawing Wiff Waffles (or Rin) is a great artist YouTuber

10. And both Jack Edwards and his second channel JackInTheBooks have great booktube content

What to buy

As a small gift for the festive season, you might want to consider are little card games, Christmas themed if appropriate. I found some at a local charity shop, just would you rather? and hum that tune? both Xmas themed small box card games that you might play in the car, like this

eBay even sells this coaster game 'Mince Spies' for 4.99 here.

Other gift ideas people seem to always like

Fun stationery (if you're buying a glitter pen you may want to check out biodegradable glitter pens, shops like Paperchase have)

Cosy Socks

Normally some sort of cleansing product face masks to 'shower gel bars' (although don't assume everyone takes baths so will use bath bombs)

Christmas chocolates

Remember its the thought that counts <3

What to Read

The Winter issue of 'The Penguin' , our school magazine, that I'll hopefully have an article in and will post the link to as soon as it comes out.

Here is the link to the website for digital copies that should have the last edition and my article on rewilding as well as the highlights of some categories from previous editions, https://www.shhswingspan.com/

I hope you enjoyed this, happy reading