If there is something positive to be said so far for 2020, for me at least, it has been a year of home cooking.
Gone are the urges to just order in after a long day of work and commuting, now instead replaced with one-pot meals that I have cooking all day, as I work away in the next room.
Like clockwork each payday, I have been treating myself to a new cookbook, each of which offer a wealth of new dishes to try my hand at in my tiny kitchen. Naturally, there have been some mixed results, but one constant has been how much I have enjoyed trying a world of new dishes.
Here is a round-up of new cookbooks released so far in 2020...
1. 'Table Manners: The Cookbook'
Released: March 3
If you're a podcast fan, it's likely that you'll be familiar with Table Manners, a podcast by mother-daughter duo Jessie and Lennie Ware. The show sees weekly guests join the pair at their home, where they cook for them and talk about eating and food memories.
A few of their family recipes emerged as real favourites among guests, which led to them collaborating to pen a book of their best recipes.
It will make you nostalgic for cooking with your mum – which really is something when a cookbook has the power to make you well up. It has anecdotes and family photos peppered between the recipes, and highlights include the Marbella chicken – if you listen to the podcast, you'll know – as well as the lemon ice cream and hearty summer salads.
I should also probably disclose that at the time of writing, I have (kind of) got three copies of this book in my possession. One that I bought myself (and have since given as a gift to my mum), one that my friend bought me for my birthday (that I plan to keep) and one that I bought for another friend, for her birthday, only to find out she already owns a copy. That one still needs a home.
2. 'Falastin'
Released: March 26
Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi released Falastin earlier this year, his first solo recipe cookbook as a "love letter" to his homeland.
The long-time business partner of Yotam Ottolenghi has teamed up with Tara Wigley for the project, compiling a comprehensive collection of 122 recipes.
In April this year, Tamimi shared the recipes for his aubergine, chickpea and tomato bake (musaqa'a), chicken musakhan, and sweet tahini rolls (kubez el tahineh), with The National. You can find them here.
3. 'Meals, Music, and Muses: Recipes from My African American Kitchen'
Released: February 11
Alexander Smalls has married music and food in his latest release, Meals, Music, and Muses: Recipes from My African American Kitchen, with personal anecdotes included throughout. Each chapter is named after a type of music the best reflects the recipes, taking readers on a journey around the American South. Dishes include the Carolina Bourbon Barbecue Shrimp and Okra Skewers and Prime Rib Roast with Crawfish Onion Gravy.
4. 'Vegetable Kingdom: The Abundant World of Vegan Recipes'
Released: February 11
An almost encyclopaedic guide to vegetables and vegan cooking, Bryant Terry takes the reader through ingredient-specific recipes, with individual sections on seeds, beans, fennel, asparagus, cauliflower and much more. In all, the book contains more than 100 vegan recipes.
Don't expect meat substitutes, this cookbook gets the reader to cook well, with vegetables as the stars of the show.
Highlights include, caramelised leek and seared mushroom toast, Panko-crusted cauliflower and coconut curry, spinach salad with blackened chickpeas.
The book also offers a playlist, with songs specially selected as a soundtrack for each recipe. And Terry has also compiled an essential list of cupboard recipes, for readers to rely upon, including stocks, sauces and oils.
5. 'Open Kitchen: Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings'
Released: March 3
You may well have started having people over again, and if you are, Susan Spungen's book is the ideal guide to impressing your guests with good food at home.
You will find recipes to try on special occasions, and others that are perfect for relaxed nights in with friends and family – the key theme is that they're all incredibly comforting, wholesome dishes.
Expect to be sharing a few of her recipes, with starters such as burrata with pickled cherries, mains including the rosy harissa chicken and desserts such as roasted strawberry-basil sherbet. The dishes are seasonal and ingredient focused.
It is also helpfully offers hosting tips and ways to get ahead in the kitchen, so there is no wild rush when your guests arrive. Getting ahead is the philosophy of the book.
6. 'Grow Food For Free: The Sustainable, Zero-Cost, Low-Effort Way to A Bountiful Harvest'
Released: March 3
The title of this book gives away much of why this is the perfect recipe book for the now.
A guide to self-sufficiency, learn how to grow all the fruit and vegetables you can in as low cost a way as possible. The book takes into account that we don't all have spacious gardens, with tips for pallet planting or using public vegetable plots, which the UAE have on offer.
The book was born from Huw Richards's personal challenge, to be self-sufficient by growing his own fruits and vegetables for free for a year, which he succeeded in doing.
Don't assume that the mission to start planting starts with an expensive trip to the garden centre, Richards has more low-cost tips, encouraging readers to look in the fridge and kitchen cupboards for food that can be planted – you'll never throw away a pepper seed again.
7. 'My Korea: Traditional Flavors, Modern Recipes'
Released: April 7
Like its pop culture, Korean food is undeniably popular. Here, Michelin-starred chef Hooni Kim aims to introduce novices to the cuisine to the "Korean culinary trinity: gochujang, doenjang and ganjang (Korean chili pepper paste, fermented soybean paste and soy sauce)." Kim advises readers that "these key ingredients add a savoury depth and flavour to the entire spectrum of Korean cuisine".
The book offers everything from simple rice cakes drenched in a spicy sauce to a 12-Hour Korean Ramyeon (ramen).
8. 'Fakeaway: Healthy Home-cooked Takeaway Meals'
Released: January 23
When Chris Bavin released Fakeaway in early 2020, little did he know that we were going into a year of self-reliance and austerity, making the guide all that more significant.
With his guidance, you'll be whipping up low-calorie, low-cost versions of all your takeout favourites; think curries, stir-fries, pasta dishes, pizzas and fish and chips, with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, dairy and gluten-free options included.
Recipe highlights include chicken chow mein, calzone pizza and Thai noodle soup. Even if, just once a week, it encourages you to close the delivery apps and try something new in the kitchen, it's worth a buy.
The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Scoreline
Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')
Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')
Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
The biogs
Name: Zinah Madi
Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and links
Nationality: Syrian
Family: Married, Mother of Tala, 18, Sharif, 14, Kareem, 2
Favourite Quote: “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.”
Name: Razan Nabulsi
Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and Links
Nationality: Jordanian
Family: Married, Mother of Yahya, 3.5
Favourite Quote: A Chinese proverb that says: “Be not afraid of moving slowly, be afraid only of standing still.”
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
'Ashkal'
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Recycle Reuse Repurpose
New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors
Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site
Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area
Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent organic waste and 13 per cent general waste.
About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor
Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:
Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled
Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays
Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters
Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill
