Primer | Ocean Waves

Watching winter waves on a blustery beach is a surefire way to feel both calm and invigorated (and a little bit small in the universe). Let’s get to know them better. 

Whether we’re jumping over them, trouser legs rolled up, or scuttling away from them up the beach, we all love a wave. If you’ve ever found yourself saying something like “Goodness! That’s a big splashy one!” and would like to sound like more of a Wave Afficionado, however, here are a few scientific Wave Terms you can employ. There won’t be a vocab test but they are rather fun.

Crest The high point of a wave

Trough The low point of a wave

Height The distance between crest and trough

Amplitude The distance from either the crest or the trough to the still water line

Attenuation A reduction in amplitude

Frequency The number of waves occurring at a single point in a given period of time

Period The time between swell crests

Fetch How far the wave has travelled

Swash The movement of a wave up the beach

Backwash The movement of a wave down the beach

Shoaling The change in wave height as the wave moves up the beach

If this has inspired you to take more coastal winter walks, you might like to read our feature, ‘A Shore Thing’ in our February issue, which is in shops now.

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Recipe | Coconut Kisses (Beijinhos de Coco)

Photography and Styling by Catherine Frawley

Their name means ‘coconut kisses’ in Portuguese. They’re typical party sweets, but this version has plenty of coconut

Makes about 20

1 can condensed milk
150g desiccated coconut (plus 50g extra to coat the outside)
30g butter

1 Melt the butter, condensed milk and coconut in a large pan over a low heat.

2 Stirring continuously, the mixture will thicken after about 5 mins. It’s ready when you can drag your spoon along the bottom and it takes a 2–3 secs to reform. Pour onto a plate lined with greaseproof paper and chill for 1 hr.

3Using a teaspoon, form into small balls and roll in the extra coconut.

Their name means ‘coconut kisses’ in Portuguese – and just like the brigadeiros, they’re typical party sweets, but this version has plenty of coconut

Cook’s note: These truffles will keep in the fridge for 5 days.

The Coconut Kisses are just one of the recipes from our February ‘Gathering’ feature which is a fiesta style Brazilian feast. It also includes recipes for Brazilian Cheese Bread, Chicken Croquettes, Brazilian Barbecue Steak with Salt, Sauce a Vinagrete and, of course, Caipirinhas. The issue is in shops now.

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Outing | Quirky Cinemas

Cinemas from every corner of Britain, who make movie night a little more quirky

A Sunday afternoon film is a wonderful, escapist way to spend a few hours, but what if the cinema was an escape from reality in itself? All over the country there are film fans making the cinema experience a little smaller, a bit quirkier and a lot more special - you just have to know where to find them. 

Slindon Cinema, West Sussex 

A 1930s cinema hall on the edge of the National Trust Slindon Estate, showing a classic film each month, with everything done on traditional 35mm film. It’s one of the very last cinemas in the world to show nothing but celluloid - no digital to be seen. 

The Horse Hospital, Bloomsbury, London

The only remaining example of a two-storey stable the public are able to access in London. And its showings are as unique as the building itself. The Horse Hospital bills itself as “championing the outsider, the unfashionable, the other.” Whatever you see there, you can guarantee it will be a little different. 

Showroom Cinema, Sheffield

Located in a former 1930s showroom, this is now a workspace, cafe… and a cinema. Take your laptop, grab a bite to eat, then slip into the screens for a film when your working day is done. 

Sol Cinema, catch them everywhere

Lots of indie cinemas claim to be the smallest in the world. This one reckons it’s the smallest in the solar system! Sol is a cinema in a caravan that runs off solar energy and shows short films in a space seating eight adults. They even roll out their own mini red carpet.

Cell B, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd 

Ever fallen asleep in the cinema? Cell B Cinema has its own rooms so you can catch a film and then roll straight into a comfy bunk. One of the rooms is in an old prison cell beneath the building; ideal if you wanted to watch a cops and robbers style movie and then sleep it off in the cells. 

The Swallow Theatre, Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway

This modest ‘theatre’ is actually a converted cowshed, but it’s such a joy to find, hidden away on the Machars peninsula. It shows theatre, film and other performing arts. Don’t forget to look in on the swallows who used to nest in the ceiling and interrupt performances and have now been gently moved to the passageway on the approach to The Swallows. 

The Small Space, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan

The UK’s smallest commercial cinema, with just 16 seats, The Small Space is definitely small but big on glamorous Victorian atmosphere. Each film starts at 7.30pm sharp and includes an interval so you can refresh your drinks halfway through. Very civilised. 

La Charette, Gower, Glamorgan

The third of our quirky cinemas in Wales, this gorgeous little theatre on land belonging to the Gower Heritage Centre (worth a visit in itself) claims to be the smallest cinema in Wales. The building is a converted train carriage and began life as a cinema in a back garden in Gorseinon. Before closing there, it attracted the attention of Mark Kermode and hosted the world premiere of the film Alien Love Triangle, attended by none other than Kenneth Branagh! It was relocated to the Gower when it became too expensive to keep up but has since been lovingly restored. It has its own red carpet and seats 20 people. Just turn up with your friends and your own DVD or USB stick and watch whatever you please. 

Kinema in the Woods, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire

Kinema began life as a sports pavilion in the grounds of a hotel, which sadly burned to the ground. After the ruins of the hotel were bought privately by a couple in 1922, the pavilion was restored and turned into a small cinema. The roof is too low for an image to be projected from the back of the cinema so films are projected from behind the screen onto a mirror to flip the image onto the back of the screen. Kinema is thought to be the only full-time cinema in the UK to use ‘rear projection’. Fascinating filmy stuff!

Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate, Kent

A former coach house, and renovated with Alpine and Japanese style, this theatre’s style is as diverse as its programme - a mixture of theatre, film, music and comedy. All in a beautiful location set just back from the sea.

If you’ve been inspired to visit a quirky cinema, and fancy making a weekend of it, we’d also recommend a stay at 36 And The Roxy, a holiday home in Axebridge, Somerset, which comes with its own cinema. 

36 and The Roxy. Turn to page 114 of the February issue to read about the weekend Lottie Storey spent there for our Weekend Away pages. 

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Veg | In Praise of Kale

Lauded as a superfood, and loved by those who love their greens, we all know now that kale is very good for you indeed. But here are ten more facts about Kale that just make us love it that little bit more…

1. It’s practically the only vegetable you can pick in abundance right now. While lesser veg are snoozing beneath the surface of the soil, gathering strength, or are still a twinkle in Thompson and Morgan’s eye in February, hardy and stoic kale is still out there, ripe for the picking. 

2. The Ancient Greeks used it as a cure for drunkeness. They boiled up (something like) kale (though it was definitely a green-leafed brassica), and drank the water to sober themselves up. Then coffee came along and spoiled everything. 

3. Shetland has its own weather proverb about kale: “Dry sunny weather was best for maetin the corn and drying the peats; wet, misty or rainy weather grew best kale.”

4. A serving of kale has more vitamin C than an orange and more calcium than a pint of milk. 

5. Kale is part of the same family as Brussels sprouts and has been cross-bred with sprouts to create kalettes*, a sort of kale sprout. There are more than 50 varieties of kale, too. And yes, there is already a book called ‘Fifty Shades of Kale’. 

6. Kale was so ubiquitous in Scotland at one stage that the word ‘kale’ was used interchangeably with the word ‘food’. There was even a school of ‘rural life’ writing known as ‘Kailyard’. 

7. We’ve been growing kale since the 4th Century BCE but this is far from its first moment in the sun. Your parents and grandparents might remember a surge in its popularity following the Dig for Victory campaign of World War Two. 

8. The Germans have a kale festival, known as Grünkohlfahrt (Curly Kale Hike). They go on a long hike, then feast on kale and beer. Tremendous fun but perhaps avoid any participants the morning after… 

9. Unlike many veg which are ruined by a spell of cold weather, kale actually tastes sweeter when picked after a good frost. 

10. Kale enjoys a bit of pampering me-time, just like we do. If your kale is a bit chewy, give it a little massage before cooking it to relax the fibres and make it a little more tender and chilled out. 

For more inspiration on using this month’s veg well, turn to page 56 of the February issue of The Simple Things where Kathy Slack (@gluts_gluttony) shares ideas from her Veg Patch Pantry. *There’s even a recipe for green noodle broth with kalettes. 

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Wellbeing | Books to Inspire a Walk

A good walk is good for the soul. Take a hike from the comfort of your armchair with one these great books that will inspire you to put your best foot forward

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn (Penguin)

After Winn and her husband Moth lose their home and business, and he receives a terminal diagnosis, the couple decide to walk the South West Coast path – 630 miles from Somerset to Dorset via Devon and Cornwall – carrying all they have on their backs. It’s a tale of coming to terms with grief and the power of nature to heal.

Wild: A Journey From Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed (Atlantic Books)

Following the death of her mother, Strayed took on the Pacific Crest Trail – 1,100 miles up the US West Coast, including desert, ice and wild animals. Her account not only deals with her physical challenges (losing her toenails) but her emotional reckoning, too. It’s now a film starring Reese Witherspoon.

I Belong Here: A Journey Along The Backbone of Britain by Anita Sethi (Bloomsbury Wildlife)

When Sethi became the victim of racist abuse on a train, it sparked a period of anxiety. Motivated by claustrophobia to find open spaces, and determined that the crime would not stop her travelling, she hiked the Pennines, reclaiming the landscape and her right to be in it.

The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd (Canongate)

Shepherd’s short account of walking in the Cairngorms was written in the 1940s, but she chose not to publish it until 1977. It’s been an influence on nature writers such as Robert Macfarlane.

Windswept: Why Women Walk by Annabel Abbs (Two Roads)

Part memoir, part history, Abbs tells the story of trailblazing women, including Daphne du Maurier and Simone de Beauvoir.

OR TRY THESE NEW TITLES…

Between the Chalk and the Sea: A Journey on Foot into the Past by Gail Simmons (Headline)
This follows a long-lost pilgrim route between Southampton and Canterbury.

Sarn Helen: A Journey Through Wales, Past, Present and Future by Tom Bullough (Granta Books)
An evocative account of a journey along the old Roman road that runs from the south of Wales to the north.

Finding Hildasay: How One Man Walked the UK’s Coastline and Found Hope and Happiness by Christian Lewis (Macmillan)
In a bid to counter depression, Lewis sets off around the coast with £10 and two days’ worth of food.

In our February issue, we have a feature on walking in company by Duncan Minshull, author of Where My Feet Fall (William Collins). Turn to page 36 to read it.

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Recipe | Pork and Leek Stew with Thyme Dumplings

A much-needed filling meal for a winter’s day, after a few hours working in the garden

Serves 4

4 tbsp olive oil
1kg diced pork shoulder
1 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
75g diced pancetta
275g trimmed leeks, finely sliced
500ml dry cider
1 tbsp chopped sage leaves
2 thyme sprigs
500ml chicken stock

For the dumplings:
150g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
1 tsp baking powder
75g suet
½ tsp flaky salt
2 tsp thyme leaves, chopped
120ml cold water

1 Preheat the oven to 170C/Fan 150C/ Gas 3. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large casserole dish over a high heat. Toss the pork in the seasoned flour then fry half in the hot oil until brown. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with the rest of the pork and the remaining oil, lifting it out once browned and leaving any fatty juices behind.

2 Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the pancetta and fry for 2-3 mins until golden. Add the leeks and a pinch of salt and sweat gently for 10-15 mins, or until very soft. Add the cider and bring to a bubble for a couple of minutes to burn off the alcohol and deglaze the pan.

3 Return the pork to the casserole along with the sage, thyme and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, put the lid on, then transfer to the oven for 1.5 hrs, or until the pork is falling apart. Check it after an hour – if it looks dry, add a splash more stock; if it’s swimming, leave the lid off for a while.

4 For the dumplings, simply mix all the ingredients together to form a sticky dough, then, with floured hands, roll into 8 balls. When the stew is ready, increase the heat to 200C/ Fan 180C/Gas 6. Sit the dumplings on the surface of the stew, then pop the lid on and return to the oven for a further 25 mins. Serve immediately

This recipe was just one of the ideas from our regular feature, Veg Patch Pantry, in which Kathy Slack (@gluts_gluttony)shows us how to use veg from your garden to make kithen table dishes. This month, she also has recipes for Green Noodle Broth, Chard & Cheese Lasagne and Puy Lentils with Cumin Roast Parsnips & Cauliflower.

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Winter growing and eating…

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Playlist | Awake

Songs for mornings… and for late nights.

Take a listen to our playlist on Spotify
And browse our previous playlists here.

Recipe | Blood Orange Posset

A citrussy pud for a special dinner or the full-stop to a fresh, palate-cleansing lunch, this zesty posset is easy to make and full of flavour

Dating back to the 16th century, possets are one of the simplest desserts to make. Blood orange juice adds both flavour and a bright yellow hue to this pretty posset.

Serves 4

500ml double cream
150g caster sugar
2-3 blood oranges, zested and juiced

To serve:

4 x 150g glass jars (bowls or glasses will work if you don’t have jars)

1 In a pan, gently bring the cream and sugar to the boil over a low heat, stirring until the sugar’s dissolved.

2 Boil the mixture for 3 mins, or until it’s thickened, then remove from the heat and stir in the orange juice (you’ll need 75ml) and most of the zest (leaving some for a garnish).

3 Divide the mix between the glass jars and transfer to the fridge to set overnight. To serve, remove from the fridge and top with the remaining orange zest.

More from our blog…

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