Just listened to miss selling ad for electric panels - light at the tunnel . Hit 5.7 C today (NW UK)

Report on the day too long for a post.

Host was top notch and brill day with much info and discussion - loved every minute even the rotisserie chicken.

Very clear that balti has evolved since 77 with no wrong answers depending on the date stamp.

Bengali bob had already done the hard work at Xmass - in my eyes I have a block of solid gold in my freezer. Going to ice cube size it and get on with my homework.

In short balti base is a dumb down version of BIR perhaps both very similar in the distant past. Of course the dumbing down not applying to the spicing which is a type of challenge i like.

If any members are clued up on green technology it would be interesting to get some inside knowledge.

I only skimmed it but with typ 17 yr payback it's insulate all the way for me.

Chewytikka,

Fantastic post - star man for me.

That Karahi is my small balti pan and I love it to bits. I actually don't have the wooden block and have to leave it on my gas hob to serve (been going to make for too long)

Have adopted your red masala - love it. Rev 1 going to take some beating.

Not made jalfrezi for a while and can't even think whoes recipe i use. Defo will try yours on next base

Cherry toms look the business too

George,

Bigboaby1 has been raised and discussed.

Next on my list is H4ppy-Chris. Do you know why he is not back on the site. He was never an EV. He clearly gave for free a lot of information and help. What I'm getting at is fairness. Surely the naughtiest naughty step has a reprieve. How are the EVs who must have insighted whatever caused the current situation.

Et all

I don't see ringing up George everytime there's an incident. We need to get improved tolerance across the site.

The thing at the back of my mind is that everyone in prison feels they have been surved injustice.

Ive got my grey cells working but any ideas appreciated.

In my simple mind id had the expectation that when excitement gets the better of members they could be reminded of the EV post so that they could remember (count to 10) different views are good and not a criticism. It looks like i need to refine this strategy any steers appreciated.

This is not a now thought for me. I posted on the same subject years ago and the site did improve with awareness but has well slipped backwards in id say last 2 yrs.

What really matters is that I'm sure the site misses out on valuable contributions as a direct consequence

Naga,

The mix Pwdr learning is on my radar. I'm still puzzling on it.

I thought Abdul's was good. My current thinking is that a poorly constructed mix makes for very poor curry. When in the right "BIR" ballpark margins are small.

Before switching to IFFU mix id tried a fair few mix mostly almosts and had settled on mouchak. It took side by side to compare the 2 - very close yet discernable difference only just. Since then had opportunity to taste madras by member who I'm big fan. The key was I felt the IFFU was top notch for cream dishes but down when it comes to hard curry like madras. I now feel I need to stock 2 mixes.

For added injury on my last make I switched IFFU for haldi without telling - no one spotted any difference. This for me was not a downer in fact far from it.

The other probably not so useful is I only use 0.5 tsp mix per portion (came from BE). I have tried upping.

In short my current thinking mix Pwdr if ballpark is not that critical. Base having a greater effect and yet to decide perhaps chef garam.

Geoff,

Not aware of mr Sings base. Vegetable oil is what goes into base.

Secret Santa , forgot there is a no 7: using no water in the base for stage 1 ie rely on the oil only produces a much stronger oil. It still needs typ 5 hrs which goes against flavour being destroyed by heat.

George,

You know I'm big fan of you . If you put me on the naughty step i accept the punishment.

I feel its mission accomplished - we need you and we need you to be more active.

As for the "ev"s being a set im not convinced - they are all different and don't need to be named - they give themselves away all too easily. My interest being solely in making the site friendlier - perhaps we just need some discussion on how this can be achieved if ev is not acceptable and the site does not seem as friendly as it could be.

Love this type of post. Holding breath for BiR outcome.

Nice prompt for me on the spicing - need to dig out my copy of the Gurkha book.

Secret Santa,

Yes. This ive parked for the time being.

The base from 1 of the BIR I had sample from have really strong oil in the base - despite my best efforts ive not got close.

I've parked it as I can't think how i can close the gap. This is what I know:
Which suggests im still not doing it quite right ie missing something:
1) oil takes a long time to take on flavour (2 or 3 hr base make not long enough)
2) oil freezes and can be carried forward into the next base over a period of 3 cycles the flavour develops better
3) MSG does improve
4) more chef masala increases the strength but puts the base spicing out
5) excess dish oil works well being put back into the base - its a Phaff to decant off though (I know the BIR did this)
6) there was no hint of stock or meat in the oil - it was crisp and flavoursome. The essence of BIR.

The bottom line is the BIR oil had zing which I've not found. The reclaimed oil is better than plain.

On my list is to buy fennel essential oil - each time i think to buy I feel it too wacky