Friday open thread: recommendations

[dolorosa_12]

For this Friday open thread, I decided to do something a bit different. Rather than asking a prompting question, answering it, and then looking at everyone's responses, I wanted to make something that might enable people to get input from beyond their own Dreamwidth circle. The idea, in short, was to host a giant recs post.

Maybe you have just joined a new fandom, and are interested in fic recs. Perhaps you want to spend the weekend binge-watching a new TV show, but are feeling uninspired as to which one. Maybe you need to do some clothes shopping, but have very specific requirements.

Whatever the context, put it in the comments section here, and add any further details or information you feel would be helpful to get the recommendations you need. Recommendations can be as broad as you want — covering any form of media, fanworks, or consumer item. If there are any limitations (e.g. cost, availability on a specific streaming platform, published in a specific region, etc), please include them — and if making a recommendation, please bear people's specific limitations in mind. (E.g. if someone says it needs to be available on free-to-air Australian TV, don't recommend something only available on US Netflix, etc.)

Normally I keep these open thread posts pretty flexible, but for ease of navigation, please give your comment a title summarising what it's about (e.g. 'Baking recipes - gluten free and no dried fruit'; 'Horror novels available as ebooks in the UK';), and use the comment itself to provide further details. People can then add their recommendations as replies to the comment.

Please make as many requests as you like, but make a different comment for each request. As more comments come in, I will edit this post to link to each comment, enabling people to navigate to any request for which they'd like to make recommendations.

Updating with links to specific requests
If you have recommendations for any listed request, please reply to the relevant linked comment. I will continue to update this as more requests come in.

Recs for cosy Murderbot fic

Movie recommendations for mixed-age family Christmas

Bookbinding paper available in the EU

Danmei audiobooks in English, Spanish or German

Recs for books similar to Victoria Goddard's Nine Worlds books

Hearty vegetarian wintry recipes — no raw onion

I hope this post helps people find the things they want!

Comments

Vegetarian Dishes

[got_quiet]

How about some recs for favorite winter/hearty vegetarian dishes? I am not the biggest fan of raw onion but other than that I've got a broad palette.

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[dolorosa_12]

This is not a specific recipe so much as something which I cook repeatedly, in varying combinations and quantities, throughout the whole winter. It's extremely flexible and can be made in large batches, to suit personal preferences.

Ingredients:
Some form of allium — onion, leek, or shallot chopped finely
Garlic — as much as you want to suit your tastes (I tend to use about four cloves in a meal for two people, but it's up to you) — chopped/crushed finely
Whatever spices you like — dried or fresh chili, paprika, cumin, ras al hanout — in whatever amount you like
Some form of dried or tinned legumes in whatever quantity you like (I use one 400g tin to serve two people) — this could be butter beans, cannellini beans, chickpeas, lentils, split peas, whatever you prefer
Whatever vegetables you like (e.g. carrots, zucchini, capsicum, spinach, kale, chard, corn kernel) in whatever quantities you like, chopped into small pieces or shredded
Tinned tomatoes
Oil

Use a heavy bottomed saucepan or frypan (something that can be covered and used for both frying and stewing), and heat the oil. When it's hot, add the onions/leek/shallots and fry until they're soft, then add the garlic, and fresh chili (if using) and fry for a minute.
Then add any heavy chopped vegetables (i.e. any that aren't leafy greens) and fry for a couple of minutes. After that add the legumes and toss in the pan until all contents are mixed together. Add your spices (if using), and mix the ingredients in the pan well so the spices are distributed everywhere. Add the tin of tomatoes and mix with the other ingredients. Then add enough water, bring to the boil, and simmer until the legumes are cooked and most of the water has been absorbed. How long this takes will depend on if you're using tinned or dried legumes — I tend to have to test things to see if they're cooked, and add more water if necessary. Once everything is cooked, add the torn leafy greens (if using) and wilt in the cooked stew, stirring so that everything is mixed together.

If you make this in large batches, you can store leftovers in the fridge for a few days, or even freeze it and reheat it later — it's an incredibly forgiving and flexible recipe. You can serve it with whatever garnishes or sauces you like.

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[got_quiet]

This looks like a very easy and delicious recipe, thanks!

The hardest part for me is always the spices. I never know what to use or how much. I'll try some paprika and cumin and see how it goes!

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[chestnut_pod]

Smitten Kitchen's pizza beans are a real go-to for me. Can be done with canned broad beans or limas in a pinch.

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[misbegotten]

That recipe looks awesome. Now I'm hungry. Thanks for sharing!

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[got_quiet]

That looks great for making a nice big batch. Thanks!

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[nerakrose]

here's a few of my faves! fair warning, they're all Rukmini Iyer recipes (I own four of her roasting tin cookbooks) because I like food that I can just put in the oven and let it take care of itself.

Ras el Hanout Slow-roasted Mushrooms with Pine Nuts, Halloumi and Flat-leaf Parsley - I make this semi-regularly as it's so easy and tasty. I make coconut rice to serve with it.

One-pot Kerala Prawn Curry - this is my go-to year round! I've only made it with prawns twice, they're expensive so I usually just omit them and then this is vegetarian. serve with rice.

Ras-El-Hanout Roasted Cod with Cauliflower and Pomegranate - another go-to. I've only made this with cod once (again, it's expensive so I omit) and I usually just make this vegetarian. I sometimes add tofu but this is lovely with just the cauliflower, chickpeas, and onion. the pomegranates are a must!

Roast Chicken with Mushrooms, Chicory and Dill - I have never made this with chicken, actually, and you can adjust and modify to your own taste. the key to this recipe is roast your fave veg the way you like with whatever herbs you like, and then add vacpacked puy lentils (250g) and sour cream (125-250ml) and return to oven. serve with rice. the original recipe calls for mushrooms, chicory, and dill, but I've also made this with peppers, carrots, potatoes, shallots, broccoli, cauliflower, and I've added tomato and 'warm' spices as well.

not vegetarian but can be easily modified - if you have a favourite veggie 'meatball' recipe, you can swap them in. Russian Meatballs with Sour Cream, Rice and Tomatoes . the key in this recipe is dill + tomatoes. I've made this a few times, the tomato sauce has a base of celery, carrot, onion blended and roasted with butter in the tin before adding the tinned tomatoes and dill, stirring. the meatballs (or vegballs) should also have dill in them and cook along with the sauce in the oven. 10 min before you would deem the meat/vegballs cooked, stir in some sour cream in the sauce and return to oven. serve with rice.

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[got_quiet]

These all look amazing, thank you! I've never tried cooking with Pomegranate before but I'm gonna give it a shot!

Re: Vegetarian Dishes

[nerakrose]

For the ras-el-hanout cauliflower dish you sprinkle them over the dish before serving - I find they add delightful sweet/tart pops of juice with each mouthful, and they go so well with the warm spices and mint :) I hope you enjoy!