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Day: 22 September 2015

Review: The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Books.

When Barack Obama took office in 2008, it was implicitly implied that he would help to improve the lives of African-Americans. In the 2008 election, 95 per cent of the African-American community who voted did so in favour of Obama, with this figure only dropping by a few percent in 2012.

However, the figures for the lives for an African-American show little-to-no improvement under Obama’s administration. During his swearing-in speech, Congressman G.K. Butterfield, the Chairman-elect of the Congressional Caucas for the 114th Congress, highlighted key statistics that illustrate Obama’s failings to reduce racial inequality. One black child for every three lives in poverty. An African-American is twice as likely to be unemployed compared to their white counterparts, and the employed African-American will earn $13000 less than their white counterpart.

On top of this, high-profile shootings of unarmed African-Americans by police officers occur consistently, as well as petty and trivial arrests, for many, many years. You can credit Obama with a lot, but for achievements with regards to civil liberties and racial equality… not yet.

It is a shame that African-Americans do not have a globally known spokesperson to defend their rights. Arguably, not since the 1960s, a time of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X—two diverse figures who fought for similar goals but with contrasting methods—has the African-American really had a loud voice challenging the status quo on a worldwide level.

In the public sphere nowadays, more is known about Martin Luther King Jr., with his non-violence philosophy and his “I have a dream” speech, than is known about Malcolm X; however, Malcolm X’s influence and legacy should not be overlooked and The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a first-hand account of what the man stood for, of how he contrasted with King, and a glimpse at what affect he has had on American lives, particularly African-Americans’, today.

Written with the assistance of Alex Haley, Malcolm X’s story took around two years to be written down, fortunately being finished just before X’s assassination in 1965. Haley plays a key role in keeping the book as focused on Malcolm’s different life phases as possible, instead of the autobiography being one long polemic against the Nation of Islam—Malcolm infamously split from the movement in 1963 after a disagreement with then leader Elijah Muhammed.

Malcolm’s bold, uncompromising voice is portrayed throughout the book. At times he is unapologetically discriminatory against the white man, chiding them ‘blue-eyed devils,’ he held for a long time the controversial view that Black people and whites should be separated, and at one point tells a young white woman that there is ‘nothing’ a white person can do to help the lives of the African-American. In fairness, Malcolm later returns to this latter scene with regret.

Ultimately though, Malcolm was deeply proud of his race and dedicated his life to fighting for the basic civil liberties and rights for African-Americans that the American white man already had. This is what shines through in the book. He often criticises African-Americans for being too ‘brainwashed’ to recognise the truth of the racial inequality around them, or the “bourgeois negroes” (African-Americans who live amongst whites in the more affluent regions of the country) for betraying their roots and being friends with the white man. However, this criticism can be interpreted as Malcolm’s way of wanting unity amongst his African-American brothers and sisters—Malcolm believed in the Pan-African movement as well. He taught his fellow African-Americans to stand up for themselves, to defend themselves and to not just passively wait for things to improve.

Malcolm’s views are powerful; they are well-reinforced with historical facts and are vastly distinct from Martin Luther King Jr. He delivers a brutal critique on the March on Washington, calling it a ‘picnic’, as well as the non-violent movements in general in the book, trying to justify why the “negro” should fight “by any means necessary” to achieve justice. His beliefs and arguments have ensured that he has gone down in history as one of the true great African-American activists. He has helped to empower numerous African-Americans.

His autobiography is a must-read for anyone wanting a picture of the racial injustices that occurred in America in the 1940s to the mid-1960s. Unfortunately, it also remains largely relevant today, making the book prophetic in parts. The Black American still suffers now from the same police brutality that it did 50 years ago.

Obama wrote in his own autobiography that Malcolm X’s book ‘…seemed to offer something different. His repeated acts of self-creation spoke to me,’ which makes it an even greater tragedy that Obama has done little to help the lives of the African-American in the spirit of Malcolm X.

Societies to look out for during Welcome Week

Written by Elise Gallagher on . Posted in Theatre.

One thing that everyone will ask you during Welcome Week is whether or not you will be joining a society. As well as the infamous socials and, for some societies, a trip out. Societies are a fantastic way to meet new people, find new hobbies, and try something new. Look out for these at our Freshers’ Fair.

The Burlesque Society
The Burlesque society is a community that aims to teach members everything they need to know about the art of burlesque. The society attends shows, holds classes and workshops and are also hoping to hold open lectures in order to hold discussions on topics within the burlesque community.
Whether you’re a complete newbie or a burlesque expert – everyone is welcome.

The Drama Society
The University of Manchester’s drama society is one of the university’s most popular societies, with their Facebook page racking up over 1000 members. A very active society, they kick off with their Autumn showcase, which involves three plays that are staged and selected by the society. First semester also involves the Freshers’ Play, which purely consists of first years while the second semester features an in-house fringe festival and MIFTAS, where seven plays will be staged and judged by a handpicked panel.

The Comedy Society
Whether you’re a fan, a writer, or a performer of comedy, this society is for you. The Manchester Comedy Society rotates around three aspects: they make you laugh, they teach you how to make others laugh and they may end up laughing at you. Perks of the society include discounts on comedy events in the city and much more.

The Panto Society
If you’re looking for something a little light-hearted, the Panto Society are known for being mad, hysterical and just a tad inappropriate. 2015’s Christmas panto is already in the works, with the production to be announced soon. With the performance billed for Christmas Week, your first semester is spent jam-packed with rehearsals and socials to get you into the Christmas spirit. The Christmas pantomime is open to students and public alike with all proceeds made going to RAG.

Musical Theatre Society

Now going into their fifth year as a society, the Musical Theatre Society has an even bigger schedule than last year’s, meaning there’s no excuse to not get involved. There are at least three shows in which members can participate, as well as a place in the Inter-University Musical Theatre Showcase, hosted by Warwick University. The society’s showcase is open to anyone who wants to be involved in- or off-stage, and with the shows ranging from classic musical theatre to contemporary cutting edge the society is offering the perfect platform for members to get invaluable experience.

If none of the above appeal to you, and you prefer to express yourself in more of a physical manner, as opposed to a verbal one, there are a variety of dance societies that might be perfect for you. Whether it’s Ballroom and Latin or Indian dance the societies have tried to get everything covered.

If there isn’t anything that takes your eye, there is always the option to create a society of your own. For further details look to the Students’ Union website.

Staying Safe in Manchester

Written by Alice Williams on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Students in Manchester are constantly reminded to be aware of street safety, but with an influx of shiny new freshers it’s definitely a conversation worth having. Whether you’ve grown up in a quiet country village, shielded from the frantic pace of the city or are in fact a hardened city-dweller, it’s still worth being aware of what you should do if you do happen to feel threatened in Manchester.

Firstly, consider a few preventative measures. Although assault is categorically never the victim’s fault, it might be worth employing a bit of common sense, if only to avoid the embarrassment of having to state that you were listening to Billy Joel full blast through your headphones in the police report. Whenever possible try to walk home from nights out in groups–at least with one other person.

If walking home alone is completely unavoidable, or you’re that lone wolf who always seems to be M.I.A. from the club at about 2.30, then keep to the well-lit areas. Now is not the time to venture off the beaten track, convinced that crashing through the darkened Fallowfield cycle path with your cheesy chips will get you back quicker.

Now is also not the time to whip out your oversized Beats by Dr. Dre and close yourself off from all sensory perception. If you do even feel the slightest bit uncomfortable or suspect that you may be being followed, you can call the University of Manchester security team and summon your very own bodyguards to escort you safely home. Their numbers are:  0161 275 2728 or 0161 306 9966.

Manchester City Council has also set up Student Safety Zones; located in businesses around the Oxford Road Corridor, they offer a safe place to wait or call a registered taxi. All places offering this service have a ‘safe zone’ sticker in the window and will be more than happy to take you in.

Keep aware of your surroundings and stay safe!

Ignorance isn’t bliss

Written by Merle Streck on . Posted in Opinion.

This August, the Austrian artist, Raoul Haspel, released his track “Schweigeminute” (“Minute’s Silence”), which quickly reached number one in Austria’s iTunes charts. His message: 60 seconds of complete silence to reflect on our responsibilities in the face of the biggest refugee crisis since WWII. 60 seconds to remember the many lives lost.

While a minute’s silence is admittedly more enjoyable than any song an Austrian artist has ever produced, we have to praise Haspel’s bold statement, and praise too, let us not forget, the people of Austria who helped to boost his track to number one, because let’s face it—Raoul Haspel got it right. This crisis is a tragedy. Yet some EU countries, Great Britain particularly, still refuse to see it as such.

Not a day goes by without a deluge of news reports on Syrian refugees and their individual harrowing accounts. In June and July especially, news of Syrian refugees in Calais making the perilous journey to the UK reached front pages all across Europe. Whether it was Katie Hopkins dehumanizing the refugees by referring to them as “cockroaches”, or The Daily Mail’s wildly insensitive cartoon tying in Cilla Black’s death with the Calais migrant crisis, the major right-wing UK media only helped to proliferate a hostile, anti-immigration rhetoric.

It should not have taken the photograph of the young Syrian refugee, Aylan Kurdi, whose body had washed up on a beach in Turkey, to provoke a response from the British government. “Europe can’t allow people to drown” – it is as simple as that.

Earlier this summer, time and time again, Cameron emphasized the Royal Navy’s effort in helping refugees cross the Mediterranean Sea, referring to HMS Bulwark’s “key role in saving lives.” With this, and Parliament’s recent announcement that Britain will take up 20,000 refugees by 2020, the Prime Minister is already congratulating himself with a hearty pat on the back; however, there is a fatal flaw in the system.

You cannot rescue migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean, bring them to safety in Greece, Italy or Turkey, but then refuse to let them enter your own country. Especially when countries like Greece, devastated by economic turmoil, saw the arrival of around 50,000 refugees in July alone. 4.1 million people from Syria are in desperate need. Turkey has given succour to 1.9 million people, and 25% percent of Lebanon’s population is now composed of refugees. We can conclude from these figures alone that Britain’s effort of taking in 20,000 refugees by 2020 is insufficient and poor.

In fact, in the case of the small German city Goslar, the city council is actively looking for more refugees to create more economic growth. As Germany’s population is becoming older and begins to decline, some regions need more citizens to prevent an economic collapse. Goslar’s mayor Oliver Junk has a pragmatic approach: “We need more staff and professionals. That’s why I say we need more refugees in Goslar.” Let us say good riddance to the myth that refugees and migrants from Eastern Europe and the Middle East are crossing over to Europe to take ‘our jobs’ and ruin ‘our economy’.

Now while this article has hitherto been inherently critical towards Britain’s response, it must be said that even Germany, who has shown a great amount of initiative and open-mindedness this past summer, has had trouble keeping up public morale due to government officials announcing that the number of asylum seekers would soar to more than 800,000 in the next year.

For instance, Angela Merkel was heavily criticized for failing to respond to the various anti-refugee riots, in which German residents blocked camps to protest the flow of refugees in Heidenau and Freital. And while emphasizing the UK’s significant foreign aid expenditures is no way to deflect calls to accept more refugees into the country, it is noteworthy that Britain’s aid budget reached £11.7 billion, becoming the second largest international aid donor.

Further, while David Cameron’s “swarm” of migrants comment outraged British citizens, the Hungarian Prime Minister shocked Europe with comments that could easily be perceived as Islamophobic. He stated, “I think we have a right to decide that we do not want a large number of Muslim people in our country,” referring to Hungary’s history as part of the Ottoman rule in the 16th and 17th century. Evidently, Hungary is still holding a grudge from the past, while countries like Germany have clearly moved on from their history and learned something.

In order to see improvements on the refugee question, the EU has to be forced to make fundamental changes to its frail asylum system. As the Guardian Migration Correspondent, Patrick Kingsley, aptly points out, the chaos surrounding the refugees in Europe only initially spread because “some European countries treat refugees more humanely than others”. By implementing a standardized asylum policy across Europe, EU countries could see equal numbers of refugees spread across the continent proportionally.

Media footage of refugees arriving into Munich being welcomed by huge applauding crowds, and Angela Merkel’s strong engagement with this issue, have diminished the image of the “ugly German”—a reputation that the people of Germany have carried since WWII. Britain has been presented with an opportunity here to show the rest of Europe that they, too, will do their fair share to help; however, the government has yet to commit to any large-scale changes in its asylum policies. Let us hope then, for the UK’s sake, that an “ugly” prefix does not come to haunt it in the future.

More than anything, this crisis has unmasked the ugly face of ignorance. And it is ignorance about the history of civilisation and of world affairs that leads to a lack of compassion, to disrespect, and to intolerance.

Metal Gear Solid V: Looking back through Night-Vision Lenses

Written by Andrew Dixon on . Posted in Games.

Disclaimer—this is not a review of Metal Gear Solid V, rather, this is an analysis of the ways that a long standing series can reinvent itself in order to remain relevant and enjoyable whilst retaining its core values and themes.

I am Venom Snake, a man seeking vengeance for acts performed against myself and those I hold close. Placed in Afghanistan in the 80’s, I will use the tools at my disposal, to complete the mission that is given to me. How I shall complete this mission is unspecified; I could scout the area and mark all personnel, wait until night and then neutralise the target. I could sneak into the base at evening, place C4 explosives at the west edge of the base, crawl to the east and detonate, causing the guards to leave their posts, leaving me free to roam undetected, or I could equip a grenade launcher, call in a support chopper and just blow the place up. This freedom is unparalleled.

That was a retelling of the first few hours of my Metal Gear Solid V playing experience: the Phantom Pain (2015), and it started to make me think about the ways that a series such as Metal Gear Solid can reinvent itself to successfully uphold its principles while also reinvigorating the genre. In order to understand this, I shall look at the history of Metal Gear Solid and the ways that it has reinvented itself.

Starting with the original Metal Gear Solid (1998), the player is separated from the action, peering over with a top-down perspective. This allows the player to see beyond Snake’s field of vision. The perspective creates simple-to-understand stealth mechanics, and while the game is 3D, the depth of field perspective is not utilised as much as it could have been (a few tricks with laser alarms and cover), this however does not detract from the quality of the game. Following on from this, the second Solid title – Sons of Liberty (2001) – changes little in terms of gameplay but narratively it takes big strides. Players expected to be playing as Solid Snake, the original protagonist, and indeed, returning players begin as their hero on a tanker, being face to face with the newest Metal gear (Ray). Yet, this dream’s curtain was lifted and instead, players were presented with Raiden, a rookie on his first mission within the Big Shell. The reception from fans could be comparable to the reaction to Nintendo’s reveal of the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (2002)—outrage. However, the genius of this role reversal was noted. In taking the expectations of now experienced players – who began with Snake – they now have the ability to take the role of a rookie once more and achieve feats that Raiden should be incapable of doing. The unacknowledged relationship between player and character became more pronounced this way.

Photo: Konami Corporation

I shall call the first two games Act One. Act Two, then, must contain Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) and Metal Gear Solid 4: Sons of the Patriots (2008). These games offered a third person perspective and created a greater cinematic experience, focusing on elements you could see in the field. Snake Eater offered the option for a top-down perspective, but due to not being within an environment where looking around corners was emphasised to the same extent as in previous outings, this perspective was of little use. The camouflage system of each, and the mix of urban and jungle environments brought us, as players, back to basics, and we had to evolve the methods we had engraved into our minds. These two games offered a new generation of what stealth games are and, once again, like with the switch between the Act One games, narratively we were faced with an incredible and unexpected twist – Old Snake. The hero we love, now aged and dying, but still fighting. This caused an emotional experience from the player, since we had been missing out on what would seem to be years of his life (why did we never engage with the missions that Philanthropy engaged on?). But seeing the state of our hero, unlike any other in games since, was a refreshing Kojima twist.

And now we reach Act Three. The overlooked Peace Walker (2010) and both Metal Gear Solid V games: Ground Zeroes (2014) and The Phantom Pain. Peace Walker offered a distinct change, being designed for the hand-held device—Sony’s PSP. Including a new mission system, a mother-base and more RPG elements from the characters whom you recruit, it was created on a system that was not as technically impressive as the others; however the game had more depth than some of the most complex games in the series. The HD move to PS3 is where I originally played it. Being able to redo missions in order to get that S-rank finally forced me (usually a MGS pacifist) to use weapons that killed. The game was a pleasant surprise, one that I initially overlooked because it did not have a numbered title, or originate on a home console.

Then Ground Zeroes appeared, and visually it was stunning. Rain and other environmental effects directly affected the visibility of the guards. The lighting and wind effects presented new levels of cover and affected the risk of being caught by your opponents. The game was concise, made primarily to catch people up to speed so no time would be wasted in The Phantom Pain in retelling events or explaining game controls. Ground Zeroes is a prototype. It helped to encourage the concept of engaging with a mission however you so wished, but the scale compared to the newest title is minuscule. The Phantom Pain, while only a few hours in, has slightly shifted the formula but remained truly a Tactical Espionage Action game in ways that I had hitherto not considered. From what I have experienced, Phantom Pain has opened up the closed doors of the Metal Gear Solid series to newcomers by offering freedom in its game-play and thus making it the crowning achievement of the series to date.

Review: Urban Cookhouse

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in News.

Accompanying fellow food writer Hester Lonergan on her route to uni, we passed by the beginnings of the now open and operating Urban Cookhouse. Intrigued by the artsy logo and stylish purple lettering, we made reservations for an early lunch accompanied by cocktails.

Hester arrived slightly before me and made the first move with a nibble of popcorn, though I had to ask what flavour it claimed to be as it tasted of nothing. Unperturbed by this bland appetiser, we moved to decide on our samples of the real food.

The menu at Cookhouse is refreshingly different, a fusion of cuisines are presented to make a beautiful, intriguing and innovative collection. Too excited to choose one thing, and too scared of not having room to try it all, we opted for a tapas-style collection of starters. Our choices in agreement, we went for the crispy whitebait in lemongrass aioli, tempura cod cheeks, scallops and black pudding, harissa duck breast and the mushroom parfait on rye.

Everything was presented beautifully, and delivered in ample time as we sipped our celebrator “it’s Easter” cocktails. Mine the Florasion Invasion, a cool and fresh balance of gin, chartreuse and bitters finished with a sprig of rosemary. After discovering the infusion of this herb into cocktails on my 21st at the Chester Grosvenor, there was no doubt about my preference for this glass. In exchange for the tempting signature Negroni, my companion opted for the Mezcal Mess Gal, a fitting swap due to its content of sweet vermouth, mezcal and Campari. This came with the option of pickled worms, clearly an option for the thrill seeking adrenaline junkies, which evidently I must not be (or maybe I just don’t want to eat a worm). Hester took the challenge and experienced the thrill of the slimy worm popping in her mouth while I happily twiddled my sprig of rosemary. We both agreed on the taste of the drinks: not too sweet, not too potent, a perfect mix of flavour.

Unsure where to start with our stunning array of food, we continued in Spanish style by having a little of everything on one plate. The whitebait was piled generously on a wooden board and delivered the perfect crunch when dipped in the aioli, though I personally prefer this to be a little more garlicky. The cod cheeks manifested yet another generous serving, with five little battered fish pieces on a bed of Asian slaw. This was one of my favourites; the chilli and lime jam an interesting change from what would commonly be sweet and sour sauce. As a disliker of black pudding, I relied on my companion’s judgement to approve that the scallop dish was excellent and cooked to perfection, ‘like velvet’. We agreed that the harissa duck tasted like steak – albeit very good steak, it was a way of duck that I have not had before and am used to associations of sweet Asian flavours rather than the earthy chilli-pepper taste of harissa. The mushroom parfait was delicious, essentially mushroom pate delivered in a small (but more than sufficient) clip top jar with pear chutney and soft grilled rye bread.

Scallops & Black Pudding Soil. Photo: Ellie Gibbs Crispy Cod Cheeks. Photo: Ellie Gibbs Photo: Ellie Gibbs

Our 2nd round of cocktails was slightly disappointing: we ordered the first two from the signature menu, which was essentially prosecco with cordial – there wasn’t much distinction between the tarragon & pear and the elderflower & lime. I’d rather drink it straight up and classic in a flute than fuss with the sweeteners. However, our final round more than made up for this marginal flaw, with espresso martinis that were dark, deep, earthy and delicious. The perfect light dessert.

The staff were eager and responsive to our cocktail-induced enthusiasm for asking questions, and offered an informed response to all of our queries, as well as being consistent with the timing of each course. There were a lot more things on the menu that I’d definitely come back and try, with a variation suitable for any time and any company. Though definitely placed in the expensive bracket, Urban Cookhouse is honestly priced and the cost is reflected in their stunning presentation, attention to detail and fluently attentive service.

54 Princess St,
Manchester,
M1 6HS
http://urbancookhouse.co.uk/

Review: Red Hot World Buffet

Written by Katie Green on . Posted in News.

Manchester’s culinary scene proves to deliver a diverse range of cuisines; there are so many to choose from in Manchester and Red Hot World Buffet provides the majority of these all under one roof. Hidden away in the centre of Manchester, it is not somewhere I would first think to go, however it seemed an ideal place to dine with a fussy eating friend.

Entering the restaurant, we were greeted by one of the managers, named Gareth, who showed us to our table and introduced us to the staff that would serve us during the evening. Recommendations of what food to try were also given, which proved extremely helpful seen as we had no idea of where to begin when it came to choosing what to put on our plates. Overall, the service we received at Red Hot World Buffet throughout the night, was near enough faultless; the staff could not have been more helpful and pleasant. All members who served us were very prompt and attentive, and regardless of the restaurant being somewhat busy we were never left waiting for anything.

The buffet itself, offers Italian, Chinese, Indian, Tex Mex, Sushi and even Carvery, which we were initially overwhelmed by. However, my plate soon became a meal from around the world and we managed three trips up to the buffet before returning for a fourth to collect dessert. Foods such as risotto and pasta (which were recommended to us on arrival) could be made in front of you if requested, and from ordering to eating, it only took around 5 to 10 minutes. The risotto proved to be the nicest dish served and in general the Italian section was the one I would choose to go back to. Despite this varied selection of food, it was however very basic and the main issue was with food being left out. The food was all covered and attempted to keep warm, but lacked having that freshly made taste and we left the restaurant feeling underwhelmed by a lot of the dishes.

The meal for an adult, costs around £15.00 on average, which covers the cost of an all you can eat buffet, including a main meal and dessert. In addition, they offer 20% discount for students, Monday to Thursday. The price however seems to cover the quantity of food rather than the quality. It is appropriately priced for how much food there is available and the wide selection on offer, but if you are searching for a fine dining experience I suggest looking elsewhere.

Personally, Red Hot World Buffet is not the best place for fine cuisine- although I do not think this is its aim. Its focus appears to be more about food for everyone at a cheaper price. Which, if you were to dine with a larger group maybe this could be a good option? However, the food won’t leave you with the desire to urgently go back or wanting to recommend it to a friend. The service provided by the staff is however commendable and many restaurants could learn something about how to deliver friendly service from the staff here. Overall, Red Hot World Buffet proves itself to be a world buffet, however it does fail to be red hot.

48 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2EG
0161 819 1240

Recipe: Creme egg brownies

Written by Katie Green on . Posted in News.

Serves: 12 Cooking Time: 25 minutes Prep Time: 10 minutes

Easter is just around the corner; the only month other than Christmas where eating vast amounts of chocolate is deemed somewhat acceptable. So having an excuse to try out these creme egg brownies was perfect and not an opportunity I was going to miss out on! After seeing quite a few people making these and being unbelievably jealous of wanting to try them, I thought why not give it a go before creme eggs disappear from the shops for yet another year. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are in baking, as it requires hardly any baking knowledge whatsoever and the recipe I used to make them is really simple. The ingredients used were not too expensive as a lot of them I already had in my cupboards, which I am sure you will too. If you are looking for a perfect way to procrastinate, bake these! They are super quick to make and like I did, you’re sure to earn a few brownie points with your housemates.

Ingredients:

• 6 cadbury crème eggs
• 185g unsalted butter
• 185g dark chocolate
• 3 medium eggs
• 275g caster sugar
• 85g plain flour
• 40g cocoa powder

Method:

First, preheat the oven to 180 degrees and grease a baking tin to ensure the brownies don’t stick.

Over a pan of hot water melt the butter and dark chocolate in a small bowl, stirring frequently until smooth.

In a separate bowl, crack the 3 eggs and add the caster sugar, whisking the ingredients until it forms a smooth mixture.

After the chocolate mixture has cooled, pour the mixture into the egg and sugar mix, gently folding all the ingredients together.

Once you have done this, sift into the same bowl, the coco powder and flour and once again fold the mixtures together.

Pour the whole mixture into the baking tin, ensuring it is evenly spread. Bake for 15 minutes.

Take the brownies out of the oven and after cutting the creme eggs into halves, press them into the mix, then proceed to bake for another 10 minutes.

Leave the brownies to cool before removing them from the baking tin.

Finally, serve the brownies into around 12 separate pieces and enjoy!

Recipe: Salted Caramel Chocolate Pots

Written by Adam Fearn on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Salted caramel chocolate is becoming increasingly popular within England after its surging popularity in both America and mainland Europe. Rich and indulgent, the sea salt perfectly balances the intensity of the dark chocolate. Here’s an easy recipe on how to make delicious chocolate pots!

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp canned caramel
  •  ½ tsp sea salt
  • 100g of dark or milk chocolate
  • 2 tbsp demerara sugar
  • 100ml double cream
  • 100ml milk

 Method:

Mix the caramel and sea salt together, and divide the mixture into two separate glasses. Place the glasses into the fridge to set. Melt the chocolate and set it over a pan of simmering water. Stir the double cream and milk together with the chocolate until it is smooth. Once done, pour the mixture on top of the caramel. Put back in the fridge for a couple of hours to set. To serve, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top of each pot.

Flat Bonding: The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach.

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in Food & Drink.

When I started studying at Manchester two years ago, I suggested to my flat that for the first week that we take it in turns to cook for each other–a sort of Come Dine With Me in halls. Each of us picked a day and got excited about what we were going to make. I was lucky enough to live with a few international students which meant that I got to try lots of things that I’d never even heard of, including Chinese baked eggs and frogs’ legs. I wasn’t too sure about the frogs’ legs but I believe you never know until you try!

I have loved cooking since I can remember, so I wasn’t too nervous about this idea, but serving up food for a reasonably large number of people wasn’t something I had really done before. I can imagine this being daunting for those who are not used to cooking regularly, but it doesn’t need to be. If you stick with something simple you can’t really go wrong.

It’s not Masterchef. It’s not even Come Dine With Me (I mean, you’re literally in halls)—the main thing about this meal time is to spark some interesting conversation with your new flatmates, and if the food tastes great then it’s a bonus. (And they’ll probably like you even more.)

At this point you probably don’t know everyone’s tastes and preferences, so it’s best to go with something simple and easy. Be sure to ask about people’s dietary requirements such as vegetarian, gluten-free or vegan diets. Here’s an idea to get you started:

Tortilla stack.

This is what I made in my first week, adapted from something I found on a Sainsbury’s recipe card. It’s cheap, delicious and suitable for vegetarians. I love this recipe because it’s highly adaptable and by no means needs to be followed to the letter.

Ingredients:

Pack of 8 soft tortilla wraps (white or wholemeal)

Tin of mixed beans (kidney, borlotti, cannellini etc)

Tin of chopped tomatoes

Tin of sweetcorn

100ml vegetable stock

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic (or 1tsp jarred minced garlic)

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp ground coriander

Black pepper

100g cheese (any, but mozzarella or grated cheddar works well)

Optional: approx 6 cherry tomatoes for decoration

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 200ºC, add the oil to a saucepan and fry the onions for approximately 5 minutes, until soft. Stir through the spices and garlic and cook for a further minute. Pour in the stock, beans and tinned tomatoes, and let simmer for around 10 minutes until the stock has reduced. Add the sweetcorn and prepare a round cake tin with a tortilla wrap. Spoon ¼ of the bean mixture onto the wrap, and grate around 20g of the cheese on top. Repeat 3 times using up all of the ingredients, and finish with a layer of cheese. If using, dot with cherry tomatoes in pattern of your choice. Bake for 25 minutes

To serve, slice into wedges and plate up with fresh salad. This should make enough for around 5 people, but the recipe can easily be doubled for more.
Tips/suggestions:

  • use any beans/pulses you have in, e.g chickpeas, black beans, even baked beans;

  • mix it up by trying different spices – it’s a good idea to club together when buying spices as you’ll have more of a range and it’s a great way to flavour food for less;

  • a layer of spinach and ricotta between each section of beans is a good way to balance the stack, making it look prettier and offsetting the spice if you have used too much.

This is a reasonably easy recipe that should be accessible to all, but if you’re struggling don’t be afraid to ask another flatmate for help! They’ll probably be pleased with the chance to get involved, and if it all goes wrong you can laugh about it later. This is one part of uni where you’re not getting graded. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

The Sunday Roast: a students guide

Written by Holly Poynter on . Posted in Food & Drink.

A Sunday roast dinner is arguably one of the greatest meals for feeding a hungry crowd of students and, in my experience, it always goes down well. In the last four years I have prepared a roast chicken for friends of varying figures: the smallest was for four and the biggest fourteen! It only feels right that I should pass on everything I have learned about a cooking a well-timed, tasty roast dinner in a small kitchen with limited utensils!

Firstly, a word on shopping. Before you start cooking, write a list of absolutely everything that you will need. From your actual chicken and stuffing, to goose fat to roast your potatoes, herbs, and even a bottle of washing up liquid for during and after cooking; a shopping list will make sure you don’t have a nasty shock when your hands are covered in butter after prepping the chicken, and reach to cover your chicken in foil only to realise that you have forgotten it. This is also good if you are on a budget, as you can work out approximately how much you will be spending by looking online for prices.

For your chicken, I recommend simply stuffing it with a whole lemon, and then covering the skin in butter with some garlic, salt and pepper.

Potatoes: depending on how many people you are cooking for, make both roast potatoes and mash. The advantage of this is that mash doesn’t take up oven space, and once it is cooked and mashed you can pop a lid on the pan and reheat before serving. Investing in goose fat to roast your potatoes takes your potatoes to a new level of tastiness, and you can always keep the goose fat for subsequent meals.

Stuffing: I keep it simple, using classic sage and onion from a packet, and it always goes down well with guests. If you feel up for making your own then all power to you, but it is an added layer of preparation that doesn’t necessarily translate into better results.

Vegetables: frozen peas are a cheap and simple way of adding something green into your roast, and then roast carrots and roasted parsnips are essential accompaniments for a roast chicken.

Gravy: I keep a back-up pot of instant gravy granules so that if my home-made gravy gets used up, then no one will be left gravy-less. Optional extras, depends on the number of people coming for dinner and include Yorkshire puddings, pigs in blankets, and other vegetables such as steamed leeks or broccoli. I recommend adding one extra dish for every four extra people (Starting with the Yorkshires, obviously).

The next thing to do is check your utensils. I recommend a deep tray to cook your chicken in, so you don’t lose any of the precious juices that can be used to make your gravy later. In addition, be sure that you have adequate oven trays to cook roast potatoes, along with roasted carrots and parsnips, plus a separate dish for stuffing. It is also important to check how many pans you have, as you will need at least one pan to parboil your potatoes before roasting them. Last but not least, verify that you have enough plates and cutlery for every guest and yourself; you don’t want to be left eating your dinner out of a pan!

Once you have all your equipment and ingredients, the next thing I would advise you to do is to make a list of timings. This planning is essential and will reduce your stress levels substantially, particularly during the last half an hour of cooking.

Plan your timings around when you are aiming to serve up, and use this as a basis to work out how long different things need to cook. Don’t forget to take into account preparation times as well. For example, factor in peeling and chopping potatoes before parboiling them, and then once they are parboiled leave the potatoes to cool for 5 minutes.

The most important thing to remember here is that the chicken needs 30 minutes to rest after it has come out of the oven: at this point you can turn up the heat (the chicken will have been cooking at 160°C in a fan assisted oven, far too low to get your roast potatoes nice and crispy) and get the other components of your roast ready.

The most stressful part of the whole cooking will undoubtedly be the 10 minutes before serving. If possible, enlist a sous chef who can help with the last minute tasks, such as laying the table, cutting the chicken, and making sure that everyone has a drink. Good wines for this meal are a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc for white drinkers, a Malbec for red drinkers, and on the non-alcoholic side, I would recommend an elderflower cordial topped with still or sparkling water. When everything is finished, make sure that you all sit down and toast the efforts of everyone involved.

Enjoy sharing the fruits of your labour with your friends, and bask in the satisfaction you will feel after completely this marathon task: Cooking the perfect Sunday Roast.