Cooking
I don't think I've let on, that for my sins I do all the cooking in our house, out of choice as well, because I enjoy it.
As long as somebody else does the prepping and the washing up !!
I have let on that we have been disappointed with local curry houses since moving up,well apart from the Taal which closed down.
Well I've started cooking my own and if I say so myself, it's better than the Taal's, so for those of you who fancy a dabble, here's the recipe for
Lamb Pathia
Ingredients:
800g kneck of lamb fillet
300ml water or stock
1 medium onion finely chopped
1inch piece of ginger
2 cloves of garlic
200g butter, gee or groundnut oil
2 teaspoons turmeric powder
4 teaspoons of curry powder (make your own)
1 teaspoon chilli powder (or more)
2 teaspoons garam masala (make your own)
1 teaspoon whole toasting seeds (black onion, coriander,fennel, cumin,cardoman)
100ml tamarind extract (or use block tamarind as directed)
1 tin tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato puree
Serves 4
Heat a large pan or wok on a high heat. Once it is hot add the whole seeds and toast them until they sizzle and crackle. Now add the oil and then add the chopped onions and reduce the heat to low.
You can add 1 or 2 whole star anise which help bring out the sweetness of the onions and give a subtle aniseed flavour, remove them once the onions are cooked.
Cook the onions gently and slowly until they turn a golden brown colour.
Make a paste of the ginger, garlic, curry and chilli powder, turmeric , with a little water, add to saucepan and stir in well and fry for a couple of minutes.
Now add your lamb stir in well.
Add the tamarind
Mix chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, together in a jug with the water or stock and pour into the saucepan and mix in well.
Turn up the heat until the sauce begins to simmer and leave to simmer for an hour or so. Stir occasionally.
Finally sprinkle in the garam masala and stir in well for the final 2 minutes of cooking.
Try it, and let me know what you think, it works well with chicken too, but it doesn't need an hour 20 minutes will be fine
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Monday, 14 March 2011
That's it!
Fishing
The season
That's the river season over, and I have to say i'm glad it's over with, because this last season it's been too easy for me to make an excuse to not make the hours car journey to the river.
Couldn't even be bothered to fill in a journal, so what I've reported on here, is about it.
From memory only 1 barbel.
I've four trips to take up next river season, which again were too easy to stall in my frame of mind.
The Kennet with Martin James, the Severn with Steve Pope and two on the Hampshire Avon with a couple of guys off Fishing Magic. All four charity auction bids that I won.
Hopefully if nothing occurs that needs my urgent attention, I shall be taking advantage of the stillwaters in the close. Finishing off the winter with an attempt at the good roach and perch said to exist in a nearby pair of ponds.Then tench hunting.
Final fling
I decided that a final fling on the Trent was needed.
At 6pm last night as we moved into darkness, there was already a thick frost on the motor. So my trip to the middle, became a trip to the tidal. Don't know why the frost should have changed my plan, even though the pond was frozen over.
I should have gone to the middle,because I hit the tidal at what appeared to be a low tide. If it was the runoff, it didn't run off much, and stayed level for the whole 5 hours!
Not a touch.
Reviews
I've been reading quite a bit, and buying music for the first time for a while,here are just the first impression of my current interest.
We bought this cd off the back of two very good previous albums.
I regret to say after first listen, there is not one track that catches my ear. The earlier albums certainly did that at first listen.
It's in the car, if something grows on me, I will comment further.
Dave Stueart From Minnows to Marlin
If you have the chance to get along to the launch of Dave's book, it may be your only opportunity to get a copy of this fine tome. I'm only up to Chapter 20, so half way through. It really is a good read. A man after my own heart!
Saturday 16th April 2011
The season
That's the river season over, and I have to say i'm glad it's over with, because this last season it's been too easy for me to make an excuse to not make the hours car journey to the river.
Couldn't even be bothered to fill in a journal, so what I've reported on here, is about it.
From memory only 1 barbel.
I've four trips to take up next river season, which again were too easy to stall in my frame of mind.
The Kennet with Martin James, the Severn with Steve Pope and two on the Hampshire Avon with a couple of guys off Fishing Magic. All four charity auction bids that I won.
Hopefully if nothing occurs that needs my urgent attention, I shall be taking advantage of the stillwaters in the close. Finishing off the winter with an attempt at the good roach and perch said to exist in a nearby pair of ponds.Then tench hunting.
Final fling
I decided that a final fling on the Trent was needed.
At 6pm last night as we moved into darkness, there was already a thick frost on the motor. So my trip to the middle, became a trip to the tidal. Don't know why the frost should have changed my plan, even though the pond was frozen over.
I should have gone to the middle,because I hit the tidal at what appeared to be a low tide. If it was the runoff, it didn't run off much, and stayed level for the whole 5 hours!
Not a touch.
Reviews
I've been reading quite a bit, and buying music for the first time for a while,here are just the first impression of my current interest.
We bought this cd off the back of two very good previous albums.
I regret to say after first listen, there is not one track that catches my ear. The earlier albums certainly did that at first listen.
It's in the car, if something grows on me, I will comment further.
Dave Stueart From Minnows to Marlin
Saturday 16th April 2011
The Lands End - Lands End Lane - Twyford - Reading - RG10 0UE
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Oh well!
Mum
The visit to the Oncologist took place yesterday to talk about radio therapy.
We got some unexpected news.
We were told originally that the cancer would not kill my mum, that it was not an invasive type.
She, not wanting to to be messed around anymore,went for the drugs option. This option after 6 months appeared to be working, but by 12 months it had stopped working,and as a result my mum made the decision to have her right breast removed.
The operation that was carried out at the end of January, also involved the removal of the lymph glands under the right arm.
The oncologist advised that the cancer after the tests of the removed tissues, was in fact vigorous.
There is a chance that the removal has cleared up the problem,but there was equally a chance it hadn't, and that the cancer may have moved elsewhere or, may show again the area already affected and "cleared"
My mum had already decided she didn't want to go through the radio therapy treatment, and all that involved. The specialist advised that if she did there was a chance it wouldn't prove to be a benefit,and the treatment would only be into the operation area anyway. She is too old at 88 for chemotherapy.
Her mind was made up even more as a result of this latest report
So now we just hope that it was all removed, before it had a chance to move around her body.
Another type of drug prescribed and now .......we just have to wait, and wonder what may have happened if she had the mastectomy a year ago..
Fishing
None planned !
6 days of the river season left.
The visit to the Oncologist took place yesterday to talk about radio therapy.
We got some unexpected news.
We were told originally that the cancer would not kill my mum, that it was not an invasive type.
She, not wanting to to be messed around anymore,went for the drugs option. This option after 6 months appeared to be working, but by 12 months it had stopped working,and as a result my mum made the decision to have her right breast removed.
The operation that was carried out at the end of January, also involved the removal of the lymph glands under the right arm.
The oncologist advised that the cancer after the tests of the removed tissues, was in fact vigorous.
There is a chance that the removal has cleared up the problem,but there was equally a chance it hadn't, and that the cancer may have moved elsewhere or, may show again the area already affected and "cleared"
My mum had already decided she didn't want to go through the radio therapy treatment, and all that involved. The specialist advised that if she did there was a chance it wouldn't prove to be a benefit,and the treatment would only be into the operation area anyway. She is too old at 88 for chemotherapy.
Her mind was made up even more as a result of this latest report
So now we just hope that it was all removed, before it had a chance to move around her body.
Another type of drug prescribed and now .......we just have to wait, and wonder what may have happened if she had the mastectomy a year ago..
Fishing
None planned !
6 days of the river season left.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Fishing again......again!!
Roach
Had a another session roach fishing the lake, they didn't want to know today, not a knock!
4 hours into a cold north easterly got the better of me in the end........getting a wimp in my old age.
Talking of old age
Jacob, age 92, and Henrietta, age 89, are excited about their decision to get married.
They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding and on the way they pass a chemist. Jacob suggests they go in.
Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"
The pharmacist answers "Yes".
Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"
Pharmacist: "Of course we do."
Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
Pharmacist: "All kinds."
Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?"
Pharmacist: "Definitely."
Jacob:" Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundices?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety..... the works!"
Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, antidotes for Parkinson's Disease?" Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
Jacob:" You sell wheelchairs and walkers?"
Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes. Why do you ask? Is there something
I can help you with?"
Jacob says to the pharmacist:
"We'd like to nominate your store as our Bridal Gift Shop."
Had a another session roach fishing the lake, they didn't want to know today, not a knock!
4 hours into a cold north easterly got the better of me in the end........getting a wimp in my old age.
Talking of old age
Jacob, age 92, and Henrietta, age 89, are excited about their decision to get married.
They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding and on the way they pass a chemist. Jacob suggests they go in.
Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"
The pharmacist answers "Yes".
Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"
Pharmacist: "Of course we do."
Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
Pharmacist: "All kinds."
Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?"
Pharmacist: "Definitely."
Jacob:" Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundices?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety..... the works!"
Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, antidotes for Parkinson's Disease?" Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
Jacob:" You sell wheelchairs and walkers?"
Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes. Why do you ask? Is there something
I can help you with?"
Jacob says to the pharmacist:
"We'd like to nominate your store as our Bridal Gift Shop."
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