Welcome riggernut ... I know exactly how you feel my friend !!!   

Another great dish CA !! ... not one ingredient was overpowering .. perfect balance !!   

We cooked this yesterday to spec using CA's base and masala .. I used the masoor dhal recipe that I posted in traditional Indian recipes ( no-one else tried it yet  ) .. it was sooo nice we're having the same again tonight !!

CA  thanks again !        

As some of you will have read Terramamba was offering FOC some Asian bay leaves .. I PM'd her and explained that whilst I would love some I do live in Slovakia and therefore post might be more expensive and if she chose not to send some I'd understand fully .... well ... they arrived today so thank you Colette very much .. it's a kind gesture and one I appreciate a lot .

They'll be flavouring my Pilau at the weekend and I'll remember your kindness when we eat it .. thanks again !

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Welcome teddytora !!

Having read read your post avidly it seems mean to only call you a 'trainee chef'  ... it sounds as though you know loads which will be great for us .. I for one can't wait to try some of your recipes .. 

@Colette ... 13 seconds for a standing 0.25 mile is almost suicidal ... how did you hang on to it   

Great looking food and great looking cooker ... welcome back !!   

I'm a old bikes man .. I have a 1958 Jawa 555 Pioneer , a 1948 CZ 125T both mint and a couple of older bikes in bits awaiting TLC .. I couldn't ride the sorts of bikes above it would scare me to death !! 

Thanks Chewy !!

Unfortunately I have more chance of winning the million pound premium bond draw than finding fresh curry leaves in Slovakia ... plenty of dill and parsley ... if only BIRs used handfulls of those !!   

We have both gas and electric here since the 'norm' is to have two kitchens .. one in the house for use mainly in winter , spring and autumn and the second called a 'summer kitchen' is accessed from the garden and used (you've guessed it .. ) in the summer. The idea is that by not going in and out of the house all day the house stays cool even if outside is up around 40 degrees Celsius.

I've never used the gas hob for curries ( my wife would do her nut ) and I've always found the ceramic one great .. it gets really hot and is a piece of p*** to keep clean .. if only I had ceramic worktops , splashbacks and so on !!   

At the risk of appearing stupid ... I bought a bag of curry leaves .. whole dried last time I was in UK thinking they'd be really handy but I'm yet to see a recipe that uses them .. are there any uses for these leaves please ?

I don't usually buy stuff that I have no idea what to do with so this is a tad embarrassing  :