BLAST from the PAST

It's good having my husband back with me, for many reasons. I do hate cooking for one. Let me correct that statement, I hate eating alone. There is no fun sitting down to a plate of food with no one to share it with, to ask if it's ok and how I could better it. I know many people do this everyday, and it must be so hard.
For one there is no one to discuss what to have for supper, to ask what they fancy or don't fancy. So left with the decision I would find myself living on a diet of sandwiches I'm sure. But then again on the positive side you can eat whatever you like without any pressure of producing food at a particular time. You can eat when, what and where you eat. When alone this is usually from a tray on my lap.
Last week I started off pretty well. I made a Nasi Goreng, minestrone soup, a mushroom omelette and then I ran out of enthusiasm for cooking for one.
Then a friend arrived with 2 thick slices of cooked ham which she had cooked. She thought I might fancy them for one of my solo sandwiches. However I decided to take a trip down memory lane and cook something I rarely eat, have rarely eaten since I left home. I would cook ham, egg and chips! Healthy, no, tasty very. I knew I was going to enjoy this.

With the yolk just right, the addition of baked beans I sat down to enjoy my retro tea. I did have it on a tray, in front of the TV and I enjoyed every bite. I knew I wouldn't be enjoying this again for a while which I think made it even more delicious.

So as much as I love all kinds of foods, Indian, Chinese (luckily), Sushi, Thai etc it's still good to take a trip back to my early childhood food and remember how much things have changed, how our food tastes have moved on. But it confirms that foods like music, have the ability to take you back to a time and a place. This time back to a yellow formica covered kitchen table enjoying the meal with my mum dad and brother. Sadly no longer able to sit round a table with my parents and with my brother being far away, and really not to sure they would have the same taste for "foreign" foods as I have but with these memories it keeps times like those alive. For this I am thankful.

ALONE in SHANGHAI

My husband is out of town, which is not unusual, however he is not often away over a weekend. I don't mind being here on my own in the week as there is always lots to do, but the weekend is different, especially when it is grey outdoors. So I cooked. Got to get priorities right and a pot of soup would be great to have around when I couldn't be bothered cooking for one. It's not so much fun cooking for one. Using what veg I had in the fridge I made some "minestrone". Well sort of minestrone I was using up what I had added a tin of tomatoes and a tin of butter beans. It was tasty, and there is lots of it so I won't starve, lol. I also pickled some beetroot and put onions into soak to be pickled tomorrow. A very fruitful day.

When I got up this morning the sun was shining so decided a walk was in order after yesterday's day of inactivity. It was lovely to walk through the gardens and see Spring was well and truly under way. There was even the smell of fresh cut grass which was so nice. I love to see the Spring emerge and bring with it thoughts of lovely warm days ahead.

I headed over to have a coffee at a local Mall. They serve delicious coffee, and I am happy to say I resisted all the delicious cakes and pastries on offer. Not something I often do. Maybe the sunshine reminded me that summer wardrobe would be out soon, so nothing to hide behind. I have to say they were very tempting though.

As I continued through the mall I was surprised to find a new shop had opened and believe it or not it was the equivalent of UK pound store, or US dollar store. It did take me a bit to work this out, but once I had I then realised there was a lot of bits and pieces in there that I hadn't realised I actually needed to buy! Well they were only 1yuan. It would be rude not to.

I headed back out into the sunshine but on the way home I had to cut through yet another mall. You have no idea how many malls there are in Shanghai, it seems like a new one opens every week. Of course there is always something to catch your eye. This time some lovely sandals which would be perfect for summer. Only problem was that this time it was not a 1Yuan store but the name HERMES was over the door. I wondered if I dared go in and ask the price, I knew it was going to be too much, but still had to know. 5750 RMB or 575 British Pounds. This is the two ends of the Shopping experience and I know the items I had purchased had come from the bottom end today, and I'm sure my husband was even happier. I could have bought 575 items for the price of the pair of sandals. However, I do know of little man who hand makes shoes and I am wondering............, 

Well you never know.

As I returned home feeling happy after my walk and happy with contents of my shopping bag. I wonder if had would have been any happier had I purchased at the higher end today. You know, probably not, well not for long anyway. 

Here are the contents of my bag. All very useful I'm sure.

Monday tomorrow so normal social activities back to normal. Thankfully I do not often have to spend weekends alone here in Shanghai.

  

CURRIED GOAT

After spending a lot of time out of the kitchen, either through travelling or socialising in the many wonderful restaurants in Shanghai, it was nice to find the two of us home on a Friday night with a nice relaxing weekend ahead. The perfect time to pull that goat I had in the freezer out and put it to good use. Not a whole goat you understand, but a pack which I had been planning to turn into a goat stew or curry for a some time.

The magazines all seemed to have goat recipes in the last month or so, so no problem there. Realised most of the recipes needed overnight marinating. The day before we were going to eat it I took it out the freezer. Once defrosted I was surprised to see so many bones in it. Shouldn't have been surprised really as Chinese love bones. I pulled some lamb chops out of the freezer, if there wasn't enough meat on the goat then this was closest to it I had. I marinated overnight. The smell was encouraging. This wasn't an Indian curry which I am used to cooking this was more African, I think. It was called Carnival Curry, and it didn't come from one of my magazine recipes but from A Valentine Warner book which had lingered on my bookshelf for many years.

With cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg in the ingredients I knew it was going to taste good. After marinating there was a long slow cooking process, 2 1/2 hours in the oven. So although overall the time was long most of it was unattended leaving me to do other things.  The smells coming from the oven as the cooking progressed were delicious. Before the end of cooking I put some sweet potatoes into the oven and cooked some aubergines which I blended with garlic, olive oil and a touch of smoked paprika. I thought these flavours would go well with the curry.

There hadn't been quite enough meat so I popped the lamb chops into a pan just before the end of cooking.

The finished result was good. I loved the slightly stronger flavour of the goat, the mashed sweet potato and aubergine went well with it. A nice cold beer was all that was needed to finish it off. I was very pleased with the finished result, and more importantly so was my husband. I would cook this again for sure.

 

The recipe ingredient list is long, but I had most of them in the cupboard. 

Please don't be put off by the list of ingredients, it really is a very simple recipe and well worth pulling out all those spices lurking in the cupboard.

CARNIVAL GOAT CURRY  serves 10. ( I just cut the recipe down)

2kg boned leg or shoulder of goat or mutton, cut into 5cm pieces

6 fat garlic cloves finely sliced

6 fresh bay leaves ( I substituted dry)

2 cinnamon sticks

10 black peppercorns

2 tsp mild curry powder

1 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 nutmeg grated

1-2 hot chillies chopped with seeds

5 tbsp malt vinegar

sunflower oil for cooking

2 sliced onions

2x 400g tins tomatoes

1 heaped tbsp salt

1 heaped tbsp dark muscovado sugar

1 tbsp black treacle

150mls water

Put meat into a large bowl and add first 9 ingredients (through to chillies)

Add 3 tbsp of the vinegar and rub into the meat. Leave in the fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight if you can.

Pre-heat oven to 170c (325f)

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan add brown the meat. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Do in batches if necessary. Transfer to a large, flame proof lidded casserole dish. 

Peel and slice onions. Add more oil to the pan and gently fry onions until soft and lightly coloured. Tip them into the casserole with the meat. Use the rest of the vinegar to de-glace the pan. pour over the meat. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring it all to a boil. 

Cover with lid and put into the oven for 2-21/2 hours until meat is tender. 

SO GOOD TO BE BACK BLOGGING AGAIN. I MISSED IT............................

  

BACK BLOGGING

Thought since I have been away from blogging for such a long time I should come back with an updated page, a bit of a change, a bit of a re-vamp. Hope you like the new look.

My reasons for not blogging?

Well, I have taken on the role of President in Brits Abroad in Shanghai. Not a full time job but it has taken me time to fit into the role and as such a lot of time is spent on the computer it is sometimes an effort to sit down and start writing for this blog. It also involves a lot of networking and socialising. Now that was never going to be an issue! Also happy to announce a new Grandson who arrived 6 weeks early into this world so several trips home in the months before and a sooner than expected trip home than expected just before Christmas. All, I am happy to say is well and Oliver James is growing into a big strong boy.

 I am so proud of all 4 of my grandchildren and I am assured our family unit is now complete. A very happy granny.

So hopefully now I can get back to blogging and catch up with all my fellow bloggers.
Watch this space.................... Be back very soon.

A SUNDAY STROLL in SHANGHAI

One thing about living in Shanghai is that it never gets boring. Even after three years I haven't become complacent about living in this city. The buildings still amaze me, the lights on the buildings at night excite me, and almost daily I see something which astounds or sometimes shocks, but it certainly never bores.

Now the warmer weather has arrived, and it's still not too hot or humid, we love to walk along the river. The river is a five minute walk from the apartment. Sunday we did just this and in today's blog I want to show you a few of the sights we encountered on our walk.

          The first sight we came across I have to say shocked. I'm sure you will agree with me.

Turtle is a delicacy here. One I have never tried, and have no plans to anytime soon. It is very strange that people sell them at the side of the road. Where did it come from, and do people actually purchase them from people like this? I have no idea I only know I didn't see any takers when I saw them.

On we went to the river and the sight as you come through the trees is beautiful. One I could never tire of. The buildings on The Bund on the opposite bank and in front of us a busy working river. As we walk along the river we see a very normal sight here in Shanghai and that is people asleep wherever they find somewhere to lie down. There were so many people enjoying a nap in the sun. Not a bad place to nap really.

Then in front of me is one of the most iconic buildings in Shanghai. The one everyone recognises as being Shanghai. It appears in movies, in ads and in fact whenever Shanghai is featured this is the backdrop that is used. It used to be the highest building at one time but now it is dwarfed by all the new tall buildings springing up.

Now one of the most often  spotted western icons here in Shanghai.

It was the perfect place to stop for a coffee as it faces the river. A very pleasant place to sit and watch Shanghai people taking a stroll on a Sunday morning. With the sun shining I felt, as I often do here, as if I am holiday. We sat for some time taking it all in.

We eventually arrived at the Mall and I still find it hard to believe that the whole front of the building is restaurants. It is not unusual here in Shanghai to go for nice dinner in a Mall. Some of the really good eating places are located here. Even Mortons has a restaurant in a Mall. It's something you would never think of doing at home as they tend to be fast food outlets in these locations, but not here. I still find it strange to head to a Mall for night out in a restaurant. Don't think I'll ever really get used to it.

This is half way on our walk so we leave the river and head to another mall where I plan to buy something tasty for lunch. Perhaps what I saw on the shelves here was the most unexpected encounter of the day. And in case you're wondering I had to buy even although they were ridiculously  expensive. I couldn't not have. Right?

Soon we were home and making our way through the gardens of the complex where our apartment is located. This time of year they are beautiful. Everything is bursting into colour, the trees are brightest of greens and the grass lovely and lush.

                                                 

 As we wander past the pool I look forward to summer when the pool is open and I can enjoy it once again. Cannot believe just how lucky I am to be able to enjoy all of this on my doorstep.

Back home to enjoy a very European type lunch, eaten in Shanghai and prepared by a Scot.

 It's all here to be enjoyed, and I really don't think I have too much to complain about. Also I can't see myself every tiring of this amazing city which for a few more years I will be calling home.

MY SHANGHAI MONDAY

Today was wet and miserable, but I was not complaining. It was the perfect excuse to stay at home and recover from a very busy weekend. A weekend of overindulging in food and drink and staying up way too late.

A quiet Friday night with friends enjoying a rare treat of good old British Fish and Chips, cooked by myself, ended up with a 3-00am finish, too many empty bottles, but it was so much fun.

Now this wouldn't have been so bad if we were having  a quiet Saturday night at home. However we had to be ready to have dinner at a friend's house on the Saturday night. Some great food and wine and very relaxed, but again a late night although only 2-00am this time!!!

If that wasn't enough we were taking a colleague of my husband's for brunch on Sunday morning. Getting out of bed was a bit of a struggle, but we both pulled through and managed to fulfil our commitment. It was an Indian brunch and although I didn't think I wanted it I did enjoy it once I was there. What's not to love about Indian food. But the afternoon was spent on the sofa catching up on second series of Broadchurch.

Lesson being I'm not as young as I used to be.

So a wet Monday gave me the excuse to stay home and cook some healthier options than we had been indulging in all weekend.

Soup of course top of the list.

 Leeks, carrots, green beans, broccoli, soya beans, peas and courgette all cooked together for a very healthy soup. Feel healthier just making it.

Now a roasted vegetable creation. Red and yellow peppers, courgette, red onion, aubergine and lots of garlic cloves all roasted in the oven with some rosemary.

I always finish the vegetables off with a splash of balsamic as soon as I take them from the oven. Tonight we will eat them with roast chicken pieces. There will be enough for my husband to take for lunch packed into a pitta bread. I also love them on a toasted ciabatta with the edition of some pesto and goats cheese. 

I have to admit to loving bread and I know I should cut back but we do need some treats with all this healthy food going on. So I make my soda bread oats and wholemeal flour, I add some wheatgerm today to make it as healthy as I can. No artificial ingredients just fresh simple ingredients.

Now I'm on a healthy roll. I have a large piece of water melon which I decide to juice. I love this and as watermelon season is starting here in Shanghai I will be enjoying it for many months.

This year I have the privilege of being President of Brits Abroad Shanghai and tomorrow I am hosting a committee meeting in my home. So to finish I made some banana bread, a healthy version, and some small cranberry and orange muffins to serve. 

Not sure why but my banana bread seems to have exploded on one side. Not to worry it will taste just as good I'm sure.

So feeling very pleased with myself I feel and hour on my sofa with the newspaper and maybe a nice bowl of soup with a slice of my bread (small slice) is in order. I'm sure I can balance out the effects of a hectic overindulgent weekend within a couple of days. 

DELICIOUS CURRY SAUCE

Curry is a big favourite in this house. Homemade, takeout or indeed when eating out, it is always a consideration. As a result of our love of curry I am always looking for new recipes to try. My curry cookbook library has grown considerably recently. I love reading about the food, it's origins and how every region in India has it's own specialities.

Last week I found a scrap ripped from a magazine, I don't know when, but from the look of it some time ago. It was just headed Curry Sauce. It went on to say it could be used with fish, chicken or vegetables. I read further and found what was a simple, but looked like a great sauce recipe. Time to try it out and see if it had been worth keeping this bit of scrap for so long. The truth would be in the cooking.
Fortunately I had all the ingredients needed in the fridge or cupboard and I took some fish from the freezer. Dinner was sorted,  or so I hoped.

I set about cooking the sauce and I was delighted with the result. I did it early in the day thinking the flavours would be better if they were left for a while. Fish, when defrosted was sadly a bit wet and limp. No problem I'd salt it and put it into the fridge for a hour to firm it up. A useful tip I heard on TV once.

Time to put it all together. Rinsed the salt from the fish, slipped it into the sauce to cook. Put on the rice and turned oven on to heat up naan bread, also from the freezer.

The result was a very appetising looking dish, the reality was the sauce had indeed come up to expectation but I hadn't rinsed the fish properly and it was inedible. Just way too salty. I hate when this happens as I hate to waste food. So fish was removed from the sauce, more rice was added to the plate chopped bananas were put as a side, retro early curry days, and we mopped up the sauce with the rice and bread. I guess you can't always get it right.

However I do stand by the sauce, and I will make it again. The recipe has made it into my food recipe journal and the scrap of paper is now in the bin.

RECIPE

50g shallots,
3-4 garlic cloves
3cm piece of fresh ginger
1 med hot red chilli

Roughly chop then whizz in a blender with 2 tomatoes until smooth.

1tsp chilli powder,
 1/2 tsp of S&P,
1tsp turmeric powder.
 Add these to the above paste and blend again.

2tsp oil or ghee, 1 tsp black mustard seeds, tin of coconut milk, 200mls stock.

Heat oil add seed and wait until they start to pop. Add the paste mixture and fry until you can smell the spices. 2-3 minutes. Add coconut milk and stock heat through. To finish add chopped coriander to the mixture.
You can now add your fish,veg or chicken and let it cook through.

I hope you enjoy the sauce but have more luck with the fish!