Hi all,  Just to remind anyone in the West Dean area in West Sussex on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th August that it will be the annual Chilli Festival.  Gates open 10-10.30 and you can buy anything chilli thats possible.  Different foods to eat, chutneys and pickles, chilli chocolate, plants to name but a few.  Last year I bought an apron with chillies on and also an umbrella, black with lovely red chillies all over it.  I like to be different!  It's well worth a visit.  We could almost use it as a venue to meet up with one another once a year - what do you say?

Hi,  I use Terry's base and recipes and have found them to be excellent too!  CQ

Hi Waldini,

Welcome to this great site!  Do you cook restaurant style curries already?  Which are your favourite ones?  CQ

Hi,  Don't play around with the base, make it normal.  I eat curry every weekend and have lost 52pounds over the last 15 months.  Just drain oil off, or as much as you can and just eat less of it and serve with basmati rice and tarka dhal.  Beats going without!!!

That's the way I have cooked my chicken for years now. Turmeric, water  and chicken and make sure you don't over cook them.

I'm about to order some of these (Dorset Naga) chillies from "Peppers by Post".  You get 6 and they cost ?1.80.  I like 'em hot!!

Hi Mike,  I don't fry the onions either, I think it's a waste of time.   I do, however, put a lot of veg oil when making the base so that it can rise to the top.  I then skim it off the top and bottle it for future use.  I have been doing it this way for the past 20 odd years.  Its good to use when making dishes this oil and it gives a wonderful smell in my kitchen too!  What recipes are you looking for?  Have you achieved that elusive, wonderful bir smell/aroma that you get from a take-away when you make yours?

Hi Dave,

My husbands favourte, have been cooking it for years.  You need a good base and balance the lemon juice and sugar to get the right flavour.  Use a vindaloo recipe and use the lemon and sugar to adapt it.

Hi juju,

You will get best results if you use the powdered food colourings that you buy from Asian stores. 

Hi Dave,

Enjoy this forum, you won't find another one like it.  It's a daily fix for me!