Had the local winners of the Spiceblog Name that Obscure Reference and Suggest a Nice Dessert to Bring Over competition over last night . I was going to just give them their free small sized coke vouchers and send them on their way but they charmed their way inside with Erdinger beer and a home-made Chocolate and Berry pavlova.
Request was for curry, but put research project Lamb and Spinach Curry on hold to use the shotgun approach. Had
- Tandoori Lamb Chops
- Beef Curry with Coconut and Almonds
- Pork, Lentil, Spinach and Sweet Potato Curry
- Aloo Sag
- very small chapatis – had a "that's inches moment".
- Cardamom Spiced Pistachio Pilaf
- Cucumber and Yogurt Raita
- Tomato and Mint Sambal
Good luck if you think I'm going to type up the recipes for all those up – but you can try. I'd like to say it came from a ghee flecked copy of a Madhur Jaffrey book, but it was almost all from religously following one of those little $4 Women's Weekly supermarket cookbooks that are unfussily tried and true. Not something you'd have sitting on the recipe book holder when guests come round but they worked well.
Massively impressed by the Pavlova itself and the logistics – being brought ready for assembly with berries, cream, and chocolate shavings. Cream was even in a pristine 1970's green Tupperware container. Serves 8-10 size too.
A few puzzles came up-
1) Our kind Pavlova bringer had trouble keeping it from getting huge air bubbles, cracking or both. Any help?
2) Is clarified butter the only way to make ghee, are there vegetarian versions out there?
3) What's a good use for brown butter?
I found out the answer for 3) because it seemed familiar
– brains.
Next clever people that come along…