Here's my madras effort for tonight,didn't use veg ghee in the base plus added 400ml of veg oil and fresh coriander but did add the spiced water.
Made my own garam masala and used it in AZ's spice mix.

base ready to start boiling, spiced water alongside.

spices for garam masala,heated in frying pan and then ground in spice/coffee grinder.

home made garam masala ;D

finished curry

( there is more than one piece of chicken in there ;D)
The result -
I cranked up the heat far more than I usually do and the 'singeing' bit was a bit manic

but I think I managed it first time

I did notice a hint of smoke starting to appear from the pan so guessed that'l do and hastily got the watered down tomato paste and a ladle of base in pretty damn quick

I kept the heat up followed with the pre cooked chicken and more base then continued to reduce down.
The two curry's I made tonight were completed in half the time I would normally take and can understand how T/A's can turn it out so quick
How good was it ? Very nice ,was it the best curry I have made ? not quite but very close and close enough to any BIR around here to continue with the 'singeing' technique and the aroma around the house is wonderful.
Overall very pleased
