The May List

Delicious things to read, wear, watch, do and cook

I’m back to that old mantra of last-month-flew-by-in-the-blink-of-an-eye, and I feel boring and old saying it but then it IS true. I don’t know where May went: I was just getting settled into things, and now we’re halfway through June already. I was chatting with a friend about this the other day, and she was saying that the time-moving-so-fast thing is a sign of age. She might well be right because all I can remember from being a teenager is that time never seemed to pass and I was eternally waiting for something to happen; and now time just flies, I can’t seem to grasp it. In a good way, I guess. Certainly, time flies when you’re having fun: that old chestnut is true too.

So, in the spirit of having fun: here are some things I’ve been enjoying lately - and I thought you might enjoy too…

A deliciously short novel about space travel, which isn’t the kind of thing I normally think of myself as liking to read about, except really it’s a book about humanity, our world, and the often painful contradictions of being human and living on earth. Exquisitely written, it reads almost like verse and is packed with clever literary allusions and erudite word games. Winner of last year’s Booker Prize. Strongly recommend: will also only take you an afternoon to read because it’s only about a hundred or so perfectly-written pages long.

Nothing new about this one, I know, except I had forgotten how much I love the show until recently I started re-watching episodes on a long-haul overnight flight. The early seasons are especially good; but the whole show generally is so joyful and quirky and wonderfully relaxing to watch and/or have on in the background while you potter about doing other things. An oldie, but such a goodie: am currently happily working my way through the extensive archive of old episodes.

I went to see this play at the theatre the other night and was so moved by it. A small production, beautifully acted and very cleverly staged: I can’t recommend it enough. Based on Ibrahima Balde’s story of his journey from a small town in West Africa to Europe, looking for his younger brother. It’s equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring. The play is running until 21st June (which has crept up on us sooner than expected, I know), but if you’re not London based or can’t get tickets, then do read the book: it’s a story that deserves to be heard.

I know I keep banging on about them, but right now it’s all about the supermarket peony. £5 for a bunch: they’re just SO good and so happy. Go now now now, and fill your house with an explosion of frothy pinkness. Just do it. Also: don’t be put off by the bunches of flowers that look like golf balls in the shops, the buds will open up and they’ll also last that little bit longer.

I’m obsessed with this new (to me) vintage sun hat, which I found on Etsy (source of all things slightly random but generally fabulous); and now I harbour visions of myself wearing aforementioned hat with a printed cotton sun dress and a pair of cat-eye sunglasses, pretty much all summer long. It’s vintage so (obviously) I can’t link to the one I have, but if you do a quick search for ‘1940s Riviera Vintage Sun Hat’ you should find a few options, like this one or this one. And while tumbling down the vintage straw hat rabbit hole, I also happened upon this one too. Just saying: someone buy it now, before I do!!

We had a big jar of these Tunnocks tea cakes in the pop up shop, and I’ve pretty much been living off them for the past six weeks. For those who aren’t entirely familiar with this delectable Scottish delicacy, it’s a shortbread-y biscuit topped with fluffy marshmallow and then dipped in a thin layer of milk (or dark, there is a dark chocolate version too) chocolate. They’re delicious and more-ish, and the packaging is A+.

A (no doubt deeply inauthentic) version of Vietnamese coffee, but still (in my opinion) deliciously, unbelievably good. You’ll need 260ml strong black coffee plus 70ml condensed milk plus lots of ice for a nice big glass. Voilà. There’s no turning back once you’ve ice-coffee-ed this way. Also: do try dunking Savoiardi (or ladyfinger) biscuits into your coffee for an afternoon pick-me-up: you’re sort of half way to a tiramisù.

I’ve been making this tomato, black olive and mozzarella tart on repeat, because it’s just such an easy option and we all love to eat it. Also great for picnics (hello, it’s the season!) or just generally for lunches and suppers and barbecues and the kind of hosting where you don’t want to be fussing and stressing in the kitchen. You can watch a video of me making it here or find the full recipe in A Table Full of Love; but basically you fill a par-baked pastry shell with some softened onion, whole baby tomatoes (uncooked), black olives and a mix of mozzarella (in chunks) and grated mozzarella, then pop the whole thing in the oven for just long enough for the cheese to melt and go nice and golden, and the tomatoes to tenderise.

It’s officially birthday cake season!! Woohoo! It’s uncanny how many of the people I love most are gemini and cancer and have their birthdays this month, which means I’m baking birthday cake on repeat. So, basically, my happy place. I wrote about birthday cake and its significance for me here. The cake in this photo is one I baked for my friend, Alex: it was many tiers (I can’t remember how many in the end now) of pistachio butter cake (I made 7 x the recipe in A Table for Friends) which I torted and layered with pistachio cream, then smothered the whole thing with Swiss meringue buttercream (I used the recipe for the icing in the Delilah Cake in A Table Full of Love and made 3 x quantities). Then I painted fruits with an egg white wash and sprinkled them with caster sugar, left overnight to harden before adding them to the cake for decoration.

This (unsurprisingly) is pure joy to listen to: a collection of essays, meandering musings on food and its significance, read by Diana Henry herself. It’s an audiobook I could (and will) happily listen to time and time again, and has a wonderfully quasi-meditative quality about it. One to treasure for years to come.

Yes! It’s back!!! The Anya Hindmarch ice Cream Shop Pop Up with all the weird and wonderful Willy-Wonka-esque flavours. My favourites this year include Ovaltine (obviously was always going to be a win), Twiglet (salty-sweet), Rowse’s Honey (obsessed with honey ice cream), and Club biscuit (enough said). Special mentions also for Quaker’s Porridge Oats (so creamy), Irn-Bru (granita-like) and Sriracha (which I probably couldn’t eat a whole tub of, but did really enjoy a taste). I wasn’t sold on the pickled onion or the Bisto ice creams, but then you don’t know until you try, do you? Go now! Do that queue: it’s worth it!

I made a birthday cake that looked like a crate of bananas for my friend, Charlotte (who is bananas for bananas). I used modelling chocolate to make the bananas and invested in one of those airbrush paint guns, which obviously I am now obsessed with and want to airbrush paint EVERYTHING within sight. It’s so pleasing and satisfying to use, and gives such a lovely finish. My next project to try it out on is marzipan fruits, which I feel like could be a lovely Christmas present for people. A little niche, I know; but if you’re at all into this sort of a thing like I am, then I cannot recommend enough: I wish I had bought one years ago.

So, I didn’t need a new cotton sun dress, but I treated myself to one anyway. And in my defence: I absolutely love it, and have been wearing it on repeat since I bought it! It’s such a pretty colour; can be easily dressed up or down; and is a very flattering cut. So all round, win win, really.

And while riding the big blue wave, I also snapped up this pretty blue cotton skirt which is perfect for summer: much like the dress above, you can dress it up or down, as you like. I’ll most likely be wearing it with a sun hat.

I already have this skirt (and matching bikini) in black, but fell in love with the yellow version when I saw Hadley wearing it at an event. It’s the perfect shade of butter yellow and comes in a really lovely, heavy Irish linen. Hadley was wearing hers with a light wool jumper (it was a chilly day), which also inspired me to think of this as a piece for summer but also beyond… Food for thought.

Talking of which… the world’s biggest croissant (or thereabouts) and you can buy it here. They also make a giant pain au chocolat. Such a fun treat for a special breakfast or brunch, to share with friends; or a really nice gift for your host if you’re staying with friends for the weekend; or just generally something delicious and fabulous for the greedy amongst us who love a good breakfast pastry.

I can barely contain myself I’m so excited about this one! Have (obviously) already pre-ordered and strongly recommend that you do too, because you just know it’s going to be a really, really good one. India Knight on all things home from cooking to finding the right sofa to what colour to paint the room to just generally making your home everything you were hoping it might be and, most importantly, somewhere you want to be… Like I said: counting down the days.

My friend Luke Edward Hall has a second Instagram account which is all food and things he’s cooked and/or eaten and/or wants to eat… It’s deliciousness and joy and the dream for those of us who are always thinking about our next meal.

PS While we’re on the subject of time flying and there not generally being enough hours in the day, I’m conscious that I’m a little behind on my posts here. So, I wanted to say THANK YOU for bearing with me, while it’s been such a busy/chaotic patch. I really appreciate it. And I’m working on an extra couple of posts to make up for it and share with you here soonest. So more from me very very very soon! And until then, enjoy the sunshine! xx