Bit of a retail extravaganza occurring over here - have just blown my life's fortune in Birmingham's Bullring, so all the meals from now on are going to consist of spaghetti hoops and rice...soz. I was, however, SIMPLY INSPIRED by a Mexican bean wrap thing I had for lunch from the height of culinary expertise, Boots' sandwich fridge, so I'm going to seriously follow up the Southern American tangent with a quest for the best chilli con carne in the entire world. Obviously, my mother's is a big contender - vary quantities depending on how much you want to make: cook the onions and garlic and chopped red chilli in some olive oil, then brown off the mince in the same pan. Stir in some plain flour to soak up the juices before adding the tinned tomatoes and a squeeze of tomato purée (nice accent) and maybe even a bit of water and vegetable stock to completely cover the mince in liquid. Then pop in the kidney beans, paprika and cumin too, whack it in the oven (aga = second hottest oven for an hour before transferring it to the third for another two or three, other less desirable oven = 180 degrees for an hour and then down to 120 for two or three) and wait. Taste to make sure it's nice and spicy if one likes it that way, if not then add some more chillz. Serve with a warmingly big pile of rice, or, if it's an adventurous week, tortilla it up and melt some cheese over it to create what is widely known as A BURRITO. Musically, I think Zambra by Ojos de Brujos is a shout - it's feisty and definite, which seems appropriate for such a substantial meal. With regards to a bewk, I'm going to go for something equally punchy in the form of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (I'm a postcolonial lit fan, obvs) which contains one of literature's 'strongest females', apparently(1). Even if you don't care for a touch of the feminist in your novels, it is still a fab read, quite dramatic and maybe even unlikely, but you feel immediately warm towards Janie so YES this is my novel of choice for today.