Su-Lin’s blog

What are your three favorite snacks?
Submitted by Sunscreem.

Only three? Alright, this is what I'd eat now if I had the chance:

1. Tortilla chips - with salsa and/or guacamole.
2. Crisps - current favourites are Miss Vickie's jalapeno chips or anything Tyrrells
3. Any of those Indian crunchy fried snacks

I think it's pretty obvious that I like greasy, salty, crunchy things. At least, that's what I'm usually in the mood for about 85% of the time.

Does anyone else get great child-like joy from seeing snow? This rather sad bit of snow that I woke up to a few weeks ago made me so happy.... Blai said he'd never seen me bounce out of bed so fast!

Snow in London

C'mon, I can't be the only one!

What's the next country you want to visit? 
Submitted by Schomer.

Italy! Easy question - Italy is the one country that both Blai and I haven't been to and are both dying to go. Maybe this year...

At the dodgy pub down the road, there used to be a sign declaring that they sold a "Full Ingles Breakfast".

They took it down recently and I want to see it again.

How do you pass the time during a flight?  What do you bring in your carry-on?

I use a flight as an excuse to buy a magazine - either something fashiony (which I never buy otherwise) or something culinary (especially from another country that's not available in the UK - oh, and preferably in a language I can read).

Oh, and food. I bring lots of food, enough food to last me a whole day. And it's really junky too. Chocolate, crisps, nuts. Snacky things that I can just pop whole in my mouth. Anything really that's portable, has disposable wrapping and is tastier than the swill they call food.

You can't get better than this. Hot chocolate, smooth and thick enough that you have to "drink" it with a spoon, and a plateful of crispy on the outside, a bit of a give on the inside, churros (xurros in Catalan). You can "upgrade" like we did to a Suis, which comes with a giant cap of whipped cream.

Xocolata Suïssa - Mine

Xocolata Suïssa - Blai's

Xurros

Dip

If you don't like chocolate, you can even get a plate of just whipped cream. We saw a little boy work his way through a plate of cream with one of churros, letting nothing interrupt him. And if you can't stomach deep-fried goodness? There are other pastries like ensaimadas and melindros to dip and dunk.

Of course, I'm not talking about hot chocolate in London here. You're going to have to go to Spain for this - I was recently in Barcelona for New Year's. These photos were from Granja La Pallaresa, on Carrer Petritxol, but I think the chocolate at Dulcinea is just as good (same street too).

Two days of Christmas dinners and I didn't take a single photo! Bad, bad, bad Su-Lin!

Yesterday, we went to Mirna's and had cheese stuffed courgettes, a lovely braised beef dish with gnocchi and a gorgeous flan for dessert! Today, I invited some friends over for a Christmas Eve lunch (can't actually do that on Christmas day as there's no public transport) with roast chicken, roast potatoes, chipolatas wrapped in bacon, roast brussel sprouts with chestnuts and pancetta, orange and cranberry stuffing and buttered carrots. Stuffed right now...and probably just going to roll around for a while. Just picture those meals in your head.

How do you take your tea or coffee?
Submitted by Vasquez.

Hmmm...tea is almost always "no milk, no sugar". The only exception is masala tea, that Indian tea where it's already sweetened and milked and spiced but I don't drink it often.

Coffee is no longer an everyday drink for me and the way I take it is quite variable. Usually milky with a bit of sugar for breakfast or dark with a bit of sugar after meals.

Breakfast at the cafe down the street

And the office was very quiet. Everyone has gone on holiday and once again I'm one of the few left behind who decided to take my holiday just after Christmas (when flights are so much cheaper).

There's so much to do for Christmas week! Dinners to plan, food and gifts to purchase (hooray for post-Christmas sales!)

Is this too much food for 4 people?:
one roasted chicken (a big 'un)
roast potatoes
brussel sprouts with chestnuts and bacon
carrots in butter
baked sweet potatoes with orange and cinnamon
bacon wrapped sausages