Quote from: loveitspicy on January 11, 2012, 01:28 PM
The same chili powder i use here in Thailand

Small world!  What do you think of it?  I love it, for it's great combination of colour and piquancy.

Quoteand may i say CA the curry looks fantastic!!!!!

Certainly not!   

Thanks LIS 

I'm not sure what the purpose, or point, of posting this is?

I don't think anyone suggested that mimicry is not a valid (and commonplace) way of learning?
 
I think it was simply maintained that a better understanding would be acquired by a more thorough understanding of the science behind certain practices.  Least nonsensical practices become entrenched through simple mimicry.  I'm surprised that anyone can (or would try to) sensibly argue otherwise.

To reinforce that concept, here are some simple examples (from http://stephswiki.wikispaces.com) of where common misunderstandings have led to absurd practices becoming entrenched, even if some of them maybe have a modicum of scientific rationale behind them (though undoubtedly not know at the time).  Fortunately, I'm sure you'd agree, our level of understanding has vastly improved, through better scientific understanding, to the benefit of all (including leeches, wolves, pigs, toads, pigs, birds, etc) !:

"COMMON SICKNESSES AND CURES

RINGWORM  Wash hair in a males urine.
PLAGUE  Eat powdered emeralds, bathing in human urine, wearing of excrement, placing dead animals in home, use of leeches or drinking molten gold.
SKIN DISEASE  Cover sore spot with the skin of a wolf.
LOSS OF MEMORY  Eat ginger.
INSOMNIA  Eat treacle.
BRUISES  Apply a plaster of bacon fat & flour.
FAINTING  Breathe the smoke of burnt feathers.
BLOCKED NOSE  Stuff mustard & onion up the nose
INTERNAL BLEEDING  Wear a dried toad in a bag around the neck
GOUT  Apply a plaster of goats droppings mixed with rosemary, herbs & honey
KIDNEY STONES  Apply a hot plaster smeared with honey and pigeon poo.
TOOTHACHE  Get a candle and burn it close to the tooth. The worms that are gnawing the tooth will fall into a cup of water held by the mouth.

"RING A RING A ROSIES"

Every kid has joined hands with friends and sang the familiar nursery rhyme, "Ring around a rosie, a pocket full of posies. A tissue, a tissue, we all fall down." Not many people realize what this happy little nursery rhyme actually means.The nursery rhyme began about 1347 and refers to the deadly Black Plague, which killed over twenty-five million people in the fourteenth century. The "ring around a rosie" refers to the round, red rash that is the first symptom of the disease. "A pocket full of posies." means carrying flowers and placing them around the infected person for protection. "A tissue" means the sneezing sounds made by the infected person and finally, "we all fall down" describes the many dead from the disease.

DID THEY THINK THEY WORKED?

In medieval times, people didnt know better than to believe that these cures worked. There was no source of medicine so really they had to just try lots of different things. When they thought something worked, somebody else with the same disease/sickness would try it but they would usually end up dead because it didnt (my emphasis)".

Sound (analogously) familiar? 

Quote from: Phil (Chaa006) on January 11, 2012, 08:50 AM
The recent derogatory and frequent references to "Monkey sees, monkey does"...

I suppose we really should apologise, to monkeys everywhere, for our derogatory comments 

Quote from: curryhell on January 10, 2012, 11:09 PM
we are ALL now clear on the meaning. Think it captures most peoples commments and nobody is wrong.  How disappointing   So we can all take a break and see what controversial topic we can next discuss, eh?

I don't think it is clear, at all, CH.  There seem to be, so far, several, and conflicting, understandings and interpretations from various members and sources. 

I would prefer that we continue to solicit opinions until we actually do get a good, clear, understanding of what we mean when we use this term (and the terms bhoona and bargaar).  And, importantly, of how it is done, when it is done and why it is done?

It strikes me that understanding these techniques (i.e. "what?" and "why?"), and correctly applying them (i.e. "how?" and "when?") is probably far more important, to achieving the desired taste and smell of curries, than precise measurements of ingredients.

To this end, I think it would be great to also get contributions from the likes of CBM, CT, Adbul, Ifindforu, Haldi, etc, etc...

Quote from: Razor on January 10, 2012, 05:09 PM

Quote from: Cory Ander on January 10, 2012, 04:30 PM
Surely it's more about HOW to do it and WHY it's done that way? (unless you're a total moron!)  :

Oh, did you miss out insulting?

Apologies, Ray, I can see that, upon reflection, my statement ("unless you're....") might well come across as being personally directed and insulting (which wasn't my intention).   I should have written "unless one is....", but that always sounds a bit pompous, to me.  Anyway, I meant "unless one is a..." (in a generic sense....i.e. generically insulting!   ) 

Quote from: Razor on January 10, 2012, 05:37 PM
Where the forum lets itself down, and by 'itself' I mean ourselves, is our sometimes 'over the top, vicious, sarcastic, belittling and totally repugnant responses to other members just because we've missinterpreted their post or their opinions differ somewhat

But, to be honest, Ray, there WAS none of that in this thread, was there?  Well, until....?? 

You're right CBM, you have no need to explain yourself to me at all.

But, nevertheless, please keep your dirty laundry where it belongs (only my opinion) 

Quote from: PaulP on January 10, 2012, 05:26 PM
CA, calm down, take a deep breath then read the thread title again.

Paul

You're right, PaulP, I misread it.  And now I really don't understand the question? 

Who says that "tomato puree" isn't "added with the other ingredients"?  Which base are we referring to here (definitely not all of them)?

Most don't seem to use tomato paste (rather, most use tinned tomatoes)?

Quote from: Razor on January 10, 2012, 05:22 PM

Quote from: Cory Ander on January 10, 2012, 04:38 PM

Quote from: Razor on January 10, 2012, 04:32 PM
No CA, I don't offer any other definition as your's and Spicey's definitions are absolutely perfect in every way.

Sorry Ray, that seems, to me, to be a rather pathetic and weak response to the original question 

It's hardly going to aid other members understanding of "important techniques", now, is it?

Bloody hell CA, your hard to please.  How can I improve on what you have already said, what is it that you want me to say?

Ray :

Good question Ray,

I'm sorry if I read your above response as being very facetious and as largely nonconstructive 

But, I would prefer that, instead of appearing to argue the toss, for the sake of it, you encourage others to contribute their opinions on my original post in this thread (and in the spirit in which my thread was intended). 

Quote from: DalPuri on January 10, 2012, 04:50 PM
Does anybody know why tomato paste isn't added at the beginning with the other ingredients?

I think it effectively is, isn't it, DP?

Apart from the solid stuff, like emin-j says, such as onion and garlic.

It's effectively added, with the spices, to prevent the spices from burning, IMO.

Insulting?  Please, Ray, get a grip man! 

I would think that most people wish to know WHAT to do, WHEN to di it, HOW to do it and WHY to do it that way (unless they are a total moron).

Please focus on the original question (before you derailed it!)  :