Monthly Mains: September 2021

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I'm a big fan of shopping local, supporting small businesses, and giving my money to companies that give back to the community and do good. I also have spent my time in quarantine doing a lot of online shopping and needed something to help me justify all my purchases. And so I bring you Monthly Mains, a series where I’ll highlight three things that have made my life better (and will probably make yours better, too). 

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Before I dive into September’s Monthly Mains, I want to highlight Truth and Reconciliation Week, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is September 30 in Canada. The last week of September is dedicated to learning and engaging in important conversations about Canadian history, the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada (in the past and present), First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, land claims, and residential schools and their traumatic, multi-generational impacts. 

There are a number of great resources to educate ourselves on all of this, including: 

• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation 
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
• Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• The Canadian Encyclopedia: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada  
• The Secret Life of Canada - S2: The Indian Act
• University of Alberta: Indigenous Canada course  
• How to talk to kids about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation  
• 48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools

There are also some great charities focused on helping Indigenous communities across Canada, including:

• Indian Residential School Survivors Society 
• Indspire 
• Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation 
• Native Women’s Association of Canada 

Truth and Reconciliation Week is a great way to start (or dive deeper) into learning about Indigenous peoples in Canada and systems that are in place that continue to operate against them, but it should not be the only time we are focused on Truth and Reconciliation. I hope you will join me in being an active listener and learner year-round, even when it gets uncomfortable. It’s the only way all of us can begin to have a positive, long-term impact in the near future.

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We’ve made it through another summer of quarantine (barely) and are now welcoming in the fall season (at least, on my end of the world). There are a few things that come to mind for me when I think of fall: Cozy sweaters, flavourful soups of all sorts, vibrant sunrises, crisp air, piles of yellow and orange leaves, and of course, pumpkin spice lattes (which I actually don’t like. Instead, I’d recommend ordering a grande half sweet white mocha with one pump of pumpkin spice syrup on your next Starbucks run. It’s a game changer.).  

It also signals a shift from the carefree (although these last two summers have NOT been carefree, especially for those of us who pay even a small amount of attention to what is happening in the world) and flexible schedule we’re used to during July and August to a more regimented day-to-day routine. And that routine often includes coming up with ideas for packed lunches and quick dinners that can be ready in however long you have before you and/or your starving family members turn into raging, hangry monsters.  

 

That’s where September’s Monthly Mains will help. There are so many great YouTube chefs/food channels out there, but the three I chose to highlight I’ve been following for ages and I have yet to be let down by them. If you’re looking for some food inspo to add more variety and excitement to your weekly meals, I promise you’ll find it on these three channels. 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I don’t remember how I stumbled across SORTEDfood, but the team of one properly trained chef (Ben) and three “normals” (Barry, Jamie and Mike) has managed to be part of both my sister and my life for more than 10 years now.  

They make cooking fun – whether that’s challenging one another to battles, reviewing fancy gadgets and ingredients, traveling around the world to learn about a diverse range of cuisines, and everything in between. Viewers will always leave with some new information, sometimes a recipe, sometimes that the expensive ingredient they were thinking of buying is actually just pretentious, and most of the time, at least one new (mostly foolproof) recipe to try. You get to see the "normals" (and sometimes the chef, but I mean... it's rare) make mistakes that you can avoid. And, my favourite thing about this channel, you're guaranteed to laugh at least three times no matter what video you're watching. 

SORTED is basically a group of friends who constantly make fun of each other, pull pranks on one another, tell Dad jokes, and make delicious-looking food. They are great on camera, and their chemistry and love for food (whether that's making it or eating it) comes through in every video. Trust me, you can't go wrong with them.

If I could only recommend one video, it would be the Homemade Iced Gems. You don't even have to want to make Iced Gems (which I don't think are sold in Canada? At least, I've never heard of them outside of this video), this recommendation is solely for comedic purposes. And Tyrone. (You have to watch the video to get that reference.) 

You can find all of the battles, reviews and recipes on SORTED's YouTube channel. If you want more from the team, including exclusive access to podcasts, meal prep packages and cookbooks, visit SORTED's website. You can also follow SORTED on Instagram. 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I am kind of late to the Alison Roman fan club, because by the time I found her, she'd already been doing videos with New York Times Cooking channel for a few years. But during the pandemic, she decided to leave the NYT to pursue other things (at least, that's what I read on the internet). Then, at the beginning of 2021, we learned what one of those "other things" was when Home Movies was born. 

Alison is a great host. Her personality shines through in every video, and it really feels like you're in a friend's home having a conversation as they cook for you. She's funny, very personable and has some fantastic food puns. 

What I love about her recipes is that they are pretty hassle-free. Sure, some involve a little prep, but Alison seems to have a rule where you don't use more dishes than you need (we LOVE one-pot dishes in my household), and you don't add in extra steps (like sifting ingredients) unless absolutely necessary. That means faster meals with quick clean up... a win-win, if you ask me. Another thing that is not food-related but I really like about her videos is the editing. It's just so well done. Props to whoever she has doing post-production!

The one video (and recipe) I would say you MUST watch/try is the No-fry eggplant parmesan. I really think even if eggplant isn't your favourite, you will like this dish. If you want even more of Alison, she has two cookbooks: Dining In and Nothing Fancy, and she publishes an online newsletter (which is ALWAYS a very fun read) almost every week. You can also follow Alison on Instagram. 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

If you want to add some Asian cuisine into your weekly meals, head to Marion's Kitchen. I won't lie, I would LOVE to go to her actual kitchen and have a meal she cooked in real life, but since that isn't going to happen, I am very happy to tune into her videos and attempt to follow along as she cooks a variety of Asian dishes and shares her stories behind them. 

One of the things I cannot get over about Marion's videos is the actual footage of the food, both as it's being prepared and the shots of the final dish. Visually, everything about the videos is so appealing. Another thing I love about Marion is her passion for food. It's evident in both the way she talks about and prepares her meals that food is so much more than just something you eat to her; every dish has a story, and it feels like she wants you to take her recipes and create your own memories with them. 

Marion makes Asian cuisines more accessible. Marion's recipes, for the most part, are not labour-intensive or time-consuming. She's always sharing tips on how to speed up prep time, cut cooking time, and even offering up substitutes to ingredients that not everyone may have access to. 

In terms of recommendations, the entire Cooking with Mama Noi playlist is a must watch. The mother-daughter duo complement one another so well, and Mama Noi is just a feisty, adorable human who makes Marion's videos even better than they already are (and they're pretty fantastic). 

You can find all of Marion's recipes, pre-order her upcoming cookbook, and buy bottled versions of sauces, marinades and dressings (in select countries, which, unfortunately for me, do not include Canada) on her website. You can also follow Marion on Instagram. 

Side dishes

Podcast: 
Red Collar

Quote: 

“One does not have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient. In fact, a man convinced of his virtue even in the midst of his vice is the worst kind of man.” 

— Charles M Blow 

Read:
Building the Atlantic: Designing the story for our readers
— Christopher Ballard, The Atlantic 

Song:

Na cher malangaan nu — Farhan Saeed, Aima Baig