The perfect curry.

This curry is the perfect lamb curry, for any occasion. Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• 500grams diced lamb leg
• 3 large potatoes - diced
• 2 large onions - diced
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander seed
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon of your favourite masala (my favourite is kitchen king)
• Extra chilli if your masala is not as hot as you would like your curry.
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 600grams of diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups of strong beef stock
• 1/2 cup of red wine
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil on a medium heat. Once hot, add lamb and potatoes and cook until meat is browned all over.
2. Add onions and cook until onions are soft, then add spices and garlic - heat until the spices' aromas start to become very strong.
3. Add stock, wine and tomatoes, cover and turn hear down low.
4. Cook for roughly 2 hours, until liquids have reduced and potatoes are soft and disintegrating. Season to taste with salt and pepper
5. Serve hot with basmati rice and popodoms

Curry and Knitts

So, it's been a while since I blogged....

Lots has happened, and I have been quite busy. Firstly, I was accepted and have now enrolled in Uni, and am currently selling everything of mine that has value to pay for my texts. I need $689. So if you see something of mine for sale, PLEASE BUY IT! I admit, I'm a little desperate.

I am really excited about uni. I can't wait to get my texts and start reading :) I feel my life moving forward now. I WILL make something of myself. I will make my family proud of me. I have been such a disappointment to myself and my family. I want them to have a reason to think of me in a positive way, and I want to set a good example for Jordis.

I donated some of my wool to the flood relief Auction at Kiss my serendipity, trying to do what I can to help. Me being poor, there is not much else I can do, so it is nice to know that other people will be donating on my behalf.

I was diagnosed with gall stones a few weeks ago, and have changed my diet to a vegan one in an attempt to avoid surgery and reverse some of the damage. I have been trying hard to find vegan dishes that i and my family like, and it has been fun. It is lucky that neither Jordis or Ryan are particularly fussy when it comes to veggies, so it gives me a lot of room to experiment. tonight was a wonderful red lentil curry, the recipe for which is thus...

1 cup red lentils (I soak mine overnight to make them softer... I like them that way, but if you like a firmer lentil, then just rinse them before hand)

1 400g can of red kidney beans, rinsed

4 cups of sweet potato cut into inch cubes

1 cup of sweet corn kernels.

1 sachet of Thai red curry paste

1 litre of vegetable stock

1 small can of coconut cream

half a red capsicum, diced

half a yellow capsicum, diced

1/2 tsp of masala spice.

The method is very simple. add the lentils, potato, corn, stock, curry paste and masala to a large pot and cook on medium/low heat for about 40 minutes, then increase the heat to medium/high for about 15 minutes, allowing much of the water to boil off. then, add the diced capsicum and coconut cream and simmer for a further 15 minutes, or until it is the consistency you want. It is quite a thin curry, but you could make it thicker by adding a cup less stock in the beginning. We had ours served in bowls with biryani rice. It was amazingly good.

lastly, I have been looking for Jean Greenhowe knitting patterns for ages, and i finally found some. they arrived today :)

I am particularly excited about the clowns. :) My grandmother knits them, and they are full of memories for me. My eldest sister owned one, and now, so does my daughter. I desperately want to make one, and i will be starting with this one.