Just a General, in the current world...

[Bob-A-Job]

How are you all doing? Well I hope?

I have to admit that I haven't really been cooking many curries in the last 14months, mainly to do with moving house and health issues and nothing to do with convenience.  I am going to start looking back on here for some new inspiration though (Kashmiri Bob's stuff always looks fantastic and at the same time, a little off-putting that I never get near those standards if I am honest).

This last year has mainly been about getting my 'land' (more like Livo's herb patch I reckon) but I think a good size for an English garden these days, of slightly more than 3,000 sq ft (280 sq m.) into shape for growing year round produce. I also have a patio which is ideal for tomatoes/chillies and capsicum but that needs the wife's permission as it is currently for Gin 'Parties' most of the warm weather.

Anyway, I will try to be more regular (as we all should ) and see what you are all up to.. and if I have anything to contribute.

Regards,
BAJ

[Robbo141]

Hey BAJ
I recently made Julian Voigt's latest base (a lovely thick consistency) with the intent of trying the madras recipe he posted. I've used his base twice now, with great results, but just winging it based on experience. I'll get to the madras soon I think.
Today is lovely sunny 60 deg F in Chicago and lunch is Indian veg curry puffs. Made the filling from the Dishoom samosa recipe but just making a couple pasties in the oven. Will see if I can upload a pic once they're done.
Glad to see the (very) few folks still here.



Robbo

[Robbo141]

Photo upload thing not working from iPad still

[Peripatetic Phil]

Photo upload not working from anything !  If you use Dropbox, add the image(s) to a Dropbox Paper document, access the latter via the public link, then extract the image URL(s) and insert them into one or more IMG elements.

[Kashmiri Bob]

How are you all doing? Well I hope?

I have to admit that I haven't really been cooking many curries in the last 14months, mainly to do with moving house and health issues and nothing to do with convenience.  I am going to start looking back on here for some new inspiration though (Kashmiri Bob's stuff always looks fantastic and at the same time, a little off-putting that I never get near those standards if I am honest).

This last year has mainly been about getting my 'land' (more like Livo's herb patch I reckon) but I think a good size for an English garden these days, of slightly more than 3,000 sq ft (280 sq m.) into shape for growing year round produce. I also have a patio which is ideal for tomatoes/chillies and capsicum but that needs the wife's permission as it is currently for Gin 'Parties' most of the warm weather.

Anyway, I will try to be more regular (as we all should ) and see what you are all up to.. and if I have anything to contribute.

Regards,
BAJ

Hi Bob. Good to see you back. I am envious of your garden. Isn't that well over half an acre? Huge! I would need a tractor to keep on top of it. I post too many photos. Guess I just hope it helps a little to keep the forum ticking along. Thanks for your comments. Don't be put off though. Good lighting, loads of oil, and food colouring!

Rob

[Peripatetic Phil]

I am envious of your garden. Isn't that well over half an acre? Huge! I would need a tractor to keep on top of it.

No way !  I have almost an acre, and a Husqvarna 315X is all that is needed ...

[Bob-A-Job]

Hi Bob. Good to see you back. I am envious of your garden. Isn't that well over half an acre? Huge! I would need a tractor to keep on top of it. I post too many photos. Guess I just hope it helps a little to keep the forum ticking along. Thanks for your comments. Don't be put off though. Good lighting, loads of oil, and food colouring!

Rob

No Bob, feels huge compared to what I have always had/been able to afford but did have to hire a rotavator for 4 days over the May B.H. to turn it all over.. turned out to be only 60% of it and still hard work. Top 20% I had already planted Salad potatoes in (harvesting now) and bottom 20% I spent 3 weeks, in the height of the heatwave May/June digging out a pond (approx 12ft x 4ft / 3.5m x 1.2m).  Some days could only start working on it after 8pm... neighbours were tolerant but not so happy at me chipping away for an hour or so, with a garden spade (wrong tool for the job but only one I had) through upto 4ft (1.2m) at the deepest, sloping to just a few inches. Top soil, then gravel, then chunks of Yorkshire stone (some sort of patio I think) over a layer of coke, coal, cinders, glass and pottery shards... and then I hit tree roots.. at that point I gave up digging much deeper.

Yorkshire Water and I must have been the only ones at that point that were praying for rain.. and for a while I was happy but now the pond is full and I need my outdoor Tomatoe's on the patio, to continue growing and to ripen even if YW want it to rain for the rest of the year!

With the harvesting of the Potatoes well in hand (neighbours all around are happy to accept some and a little more forgiving atm) I have ordered the Lumber for the 4x vegetable beds.  Need the Salad potatoes out (I know, will never get them all) so I can put winter potatoes in. Need the beds built, fully filled with fertiliser (local horse stables - free) and compost on top, ready for crops I need to plant in Autumn, like Garlic and Spring onions. Rest of the beds will be for other seasonal produce such as beetroot, beans, turnip, sprouts and leeks, etc.

Anyway, got a pan of curry base made tonight and will try a few dishes with it over the coming days.  A certain dish was requested by my wife's colleague but since they are off for the next 6 weeks, seems like a good time to practice a few dishes again.

Hope you all are doing well and I will check back again soon(or later )
BAJ

[Kashmiri Bob]

Good work Bob. I am losing patience with the supermarkets, big time. Brown onions from South Africa (Asda) or New Zealand (Tesco). Spring onions from Egypt. Mushrooms from Poland. It's pathetic really. The one that annoys me the most though is having to buy red, green and yellow peppers, when I only want the green one.

Rob