Monday 27 September 2010

Village Green

Had a potter at the Village green on Saturday,  at one of our large local parks.
Funky bags


Beautifully crafted wooly birds
Scrummy Kidsonesque vintage fabrics


Mosiacs


Daughter Bollywood dancing!

Abtract artworks

Smashed!



The quirky glass piece above, which HAD to be mine was once a smashed car windscreen,  heated in a kiln, the glass pieces all meld back together, looks great on my mantlepiece! £2 BARGAIN!

 A  most enjoyable 2 hours, scouring all the stalls, lots of gorgeous homemade goodies. Daughter was very fed up, as was cold and windy, I would have stayed longer...

Friday 24 September 2010

Friday night Curry feast!

I LOVE CURRY!!

As you can tell, I am mad about the stuff, I crave it all the time, I can't go a week without having one, hence my expanding waistline....

 I was very virtuous back in  May, in preperation for my wedding. I planned my wedding over two years, but bought a dress that was 4 sizes too small for me , determined not to be a fat bride!  but never lost an ounce in those two years, because of my love of food, and aversion to excersise.With only 8 weeks to go, my dress was no where near to fitting , I needed to lose at least 2 stone, so enthusiasically embarked upon a liqiuid only diet, it was just 3 shakes a day, amounting to a mere 400 calories a day, starvation level bascically... with litres of water, well I did it, I lost 2 stone in 5 weeks, it was painful... very painful, but I still carried on baking for my children, and cooking lovely home cooked meals, I just used to take in the smell...,

 However, I still gained sooo much pleasure from baking, during those long weeks ,I just love doing it, and my children  love eating it, they  go to the cake tin when they return home from school, what surpise awaits in there today? There were 3 different cakes on Tuesday to choose from, my eldest son said " you have too much time on your hands"!  bloody cheek! I could spend my very little spare time catching up with my oil painting, but I am addicted to baking! If there is no cake in the house which is a rarity these days, they soon complain,  NO CAKE!! , what have you been doing all day   I'm not mad keen on the sweet stuff myself, i'm more of a savoury gal, cheese, and bread is a major downfall, and spicy stuff, and wine! good job too or I would be twice the size...although I am partial to chocolate brownies, and chocolate in any form in small doses;)

All in all ,I have been  a very busy bee in the kitchen this week, I made my first batch of vegetable soup, great to have in freezer, when you want a quick and easy meal.  Always making Fruitcake, hubby's fave, banana cake( because I always have bananas that are going off, and can't throw food away)they are staples in this house , delicious chocolate brownies, they went down a treat! Recipe from fellow blogger:) Big batch of  Chutney yesterday,  and all these curries, which have taken about three days in all, as I make a base gravy, one day, which I use in all my curries ( they do this in restaurants), it's what gives it its really authentic taste, I will blog this recipe another day, or if requested, then marinating of  meats, then pre cooking stages, gives the meat more flavour, then final day today of cooking it all last stages, with Pilau rice and  Onion bajhees. My house is going to smell nice for days...

What has been even more wonderful about cooking all of this stuff, is that I have had peace and quiet to do so, as my little daughter started nursery at the school she will be going to, full time next September, so I have 5 mornings a week (9-12) FREE!!, it is bliss I can tell you! Even though its a little sad she 's growing up so fast...

Anyway, the reason i'm blogging this, is that it's going to be my last feast of curry for a while, as I am endeavouring yet again to get in shape, in time for Xmas, as have gained all the weight I lost back in May.

I must try and walk more too, it's about the only form of excersise I can bear, aside from swimming which I love! I am very lazy!

Anyway hope these pics get you drooling! I am going to  really enjoy this tonight, knowing that I cooked it all myself, followed by a  few glasses of white wine, nice  music, and chat, with my lovely hubby. Perfect start to the weekend :)                                           


                                     

Beef Madras

Tandoori Chicken and Onion Bajhees


Bombay Aloo
 
                                




Pilau Rice
Chicken Korma

Have a lovely weekend all! Thanks for looking at my blog!

Thursday 23 September 2010

Back for Autumn, with recipe!

Well i'm back, i'm so lazy, haven't blogged since March!! although I haven't stopped reading everybody elses blogs, I've been busy, got hitched in May, been on a couple of  holidays in July, and September, and have enjoyed the glorious summer we have had!

Autumn is however my favorite time of the year, and i've come over all Mrs Beeton, and have been making Jam and chutney, it's very satisfying foraging for  food, and my little girl really enjoyed blackberry picking!






 Have been given a  windfall  of apples, by mum, and making wonderful jars of goodies, that will have many uses, and keep us going through the long winter months, and all for free!!


                                        Anyhow as requested by fellow preserver Dee,


                                         A recipe for Tomato, Apple and Chilli chutney:


I made a huge pan of this, but you can halve the quantities:


4lb ripe tomatoes roughly chopped ( i didn't skin them)
400 g Onions,  chopped , same as above
9 cooking apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into biggish chunks
3 mild red chillis, chopped fine, seeds n'all (optional)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Thumb size piece fresh ginger, finely chopped, or 2 heaped tsp dried ginger
4 tsp black mustard seeds
5 cloves
350 g light muscavodo sugar,( I didn't have it so used white granulated)
500 ml malt vinegar
Handful fresh  coriander chopped.(save for the end)






                              You will need a big, preferably  heavy based stainless steel pot.

                                      
                             And lots of jars, ask people to save them for you, to build up a supply.



                               


                                           Mix everything up except the vinegar and coriander

Now add half of the vinegar, give a stir and place over a med heat and heat gradually, until the sugar starts to dissolve, continue stirring, bring to a simmer,  and leave for 30-40 mins.

Stir in the remaining vinegar, and season with salt and pepper to taste, you will have to taste until it's right! and continue simmering for another 30 mins, until it starts to thicken, if  its a little runny, then give another 15 mins.

Add your coriander in 5 mins before you turn off heat.

Ladle into hot sterilised jars, seal straight away (I put my clean jars and lids on a baking tray, in the oven on a low heat gas 1 for 15 mins.)

All that remains is to label your jars, kids will enjoy getting involved with this :)


                                                        I got all this! really pleased!



                                      This chutney will be best left to mature for a couple of months...
                                  
        That's if I can resist not opening one before Xmas, to have with a lovely mature cheddar and crackers!

Will also be lovely with cold meats....

I will be giving away a few for xmas gifts!

Now what to make next?