Reclaiming the Jug

I have quite a suggestible brain.  This has its benefits - jet lag is almost non-existent, for example.  It also has its drawbacks, often in the form of food envy.  With some people, I know I have to find out what they're ordering before I even think about what I want, as I know I'll just end up wanting what they have.  So, the final chapter in the book I just read (One of Our Thursday's is Missing, by Jasper Fforde, in case you're wondering), had a mention of lamb risotto.  What a good idea for the rest of the roast lamb, said my brain.  You'll be please to know, this is the very last of the lamb. 

The roast lamb also came with gravy (well, I had to make it, but you know what I mean).  I don't have a fancy-pants gravy boat, so just used the normal measuring jug.  On several occasions in the last week, I've looked for the jug in the cupboard, then by the sink, then had a 'where on earth is it?' moment before I've remembered it's holding the gravy, in the fridge.  Tonight I had the brilliant idea of using up the leftover gravy in the risotto, thereby reclaiming the jug.  Well, it turned out to be a brilliant idea, but I was a little wary at first. 

The aroma - overwhelmingly delicious.  And the richness of flavour - yum.  Not the most appealing photos though...  If you're a foodie you'll probably tell me it's not a true risotto, but it's My Version.  Which is forever changing, but this is the first time I've used gravy as part of the liquid component.

I was about half-way through cooking before I thought of adding the broccoli - it's getting to That Stage in the veggie drawer.  And I like adding sweet potato and pumpkin (in this case, pre-roasted) and getting them to that mushy state.

I made tonight's dinner fairly early, as I had a mariachi rehearsal to attend.  My parents are staying, and assured me when I got home that it had been really delicious - thankfully they had left enough for me to have dinner, and still freeze 2 portions.  My freezer is getting nice and full again.

Today's photo:

Everybody sing, now: raindrops on roses... next, to find a kitten!

Hairstyle (2) and Leftover Lamb (2)

On Saturday, it will be my mariachi debut (check out the website for details, although I don't know exactly when we'll be on).  I'm the only girl, so in one way it makes it easier - I don't have black pants or a white shirt, which caused some distress at first, but I can get away with black skirt and top, and I'll be borrowing a jacket.  They're providing earrings and a rose for my hair, but I need to have my hair pulled back to the side.  Obviously, the side that isn't the same side as the violin.  Today I gave it a test run, and it's more user-friendly than I expected.  Apart from a little pull to the side when I first fixed it, it feels just like my normal hairstyle.  Hairpins are required to keep the not-long-enough bits looking neat, but it's still in place as I write after several hours.

It's hairstyle #2 - so many I could do, I just don't.  The last new one was in February - I'm aiming to do more with my hair, I promise.  I wish my nose wasn't so weird, too.

Tonight was another leftover lamb dinner - this time, pizza with roast lamb, sweet potato and pumpkin.  Bonus - there's enough pizza dough in the freezer now for another pizza in the future.

I confess, I don't use 'strong' flour when doing bread dough.  Maybe that's a New Thing for the future. Coriander was just at hand, so I sprinkled some on top - more for visual appeal... but the pot comes with nutritional know-how so I felt virtuous.

Today's photo:

I only went outside today to go to the gym, and to take out the rubbish.  And to take this photo - raindrops on rose leaves. 

Lips and Leftover Lamb

I'm a bit addicted to lip things.  Every bag seems to have at least one gloss or balm within it.  And it's not that I'm obsessed with how I look, it's more the feeling of dry lips I find uncomfortable - although if I haven't applied anything, sometimes I can catch a glimpse of a face to scare small children, so it's as much for them as for my comfort.  Even though it feels like I have lip balms coming out my ears, occasionally I'll discover my bag of choice is lacking in this department.  And so my collection grows.

When I needed to replenish my supply of silk oil (for the hair), the only package available was a promotional package including lip balm.  So I didn't really have a choice.  Silk oil lasts forever so tonight was the first I needed to use the new bottle - and I tested the lip balm as well.  Oh. My.  Most amazing balm in my possession.  No colour, so I'll use it more to condition, but it is just wonderful.  Who would have thought?!  All organic (a big plus), but made in the USA (transport - bit of a downer) and no SPF (also a bit of a downer - I'll have to use some other sunblock method as well).  But wow, this one is a winner.

After Thursday, I still have plenty of leftover roast lamb.  Tana Ramsey has a recipe for rogan josh using leftover roast lamb and this has been my first opportunity to give it a go.  I would be pretty happy to have roast lamb more often in order to have leftover lamb rogan josh.  It's really delicious, and super easy too. 

Just heat 2 tablespoons groundnut oil in a large pan over medium-low heat, add 2 medium onions and 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and diced, and fry till softened.  Add a red chilli (deseeded and finely chopped), 2 teaspoons curry powder, 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric, 3 teaspoons garam masala, 2 teaspoons each ground coriander and ground cumin; stir with the onions to form a paste.  Add 500g leftover cooked leg of lamb (diced into bite-sized pieces) and any leftover sauce from the roast; stir to mix thoroughly. 

Add about 300g tinned chopped tomatoes - adjust according to how much leftover sauce you had, and how runny you want your curry.  Also stir through 4 tablespoons natural yoghurt, and simmer gently 8-10 minutes, until the lamb is heated through.  Stir through 2-3 tablespoons hot and spicy mango chutney (adjust according to taste).  Add 3 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander.

Serve the lamb on a bed of rice, with an extra tablespoon of coriander sprinkled on top; scatter with 2 tablespoons lightly toasted flaked almonds.

As we know, I'm not a fan of rice, so I went global and used some leftover Turkish bread from Saturday night instead.  And I'm all out of flaked almonds so you just have to use your imagination - good thing I'm not requiring imagination for the crusty bread as well then!

Today's photo:

Not terribly artistic (as hoped yesterday), but it delighted me to see a rainbow as I got home from the gym, arching over the whole neighbourhood.  It's been a while.

Mint Sauce and Dinner Guests

Tonight I had several people from church over for dinner.  Three had been for dinner here before, but three had not - in fact it was the first social thing with those three, I think.  After finding out the dietary requirements for one guest (lactose intolerant, not a fan of seafood, allergic to prawns, Nando's mild sauce is too spicy) I decided to do a roast.  Thank goodness there were no vegetarians!

I worked out this afternoon that the last (and first) time I used my roasting tray was 4 years ago.  Needless to say, I'm not a big roaster.  I think I could get into the habit a bit more though.  It's so simple, so comforting, relatively healthy, so aromatic.  Being not in the habit, though, meant I was a tad nervous looking for a bit of meat to stick in the oven for a few hours and still be big enough to feed 7 people.  Lamb was the best option available.  It looks like I'll be having lamb for a little while - I remember seeing a recipe for rogan josh using leftover roast lamb so that might be Sunday...

Jamie Oliver promised to hold my hand through the whole process, which was lovely - except he didn't warn me about bursts of steam (which looks like smoke) escaping from the oven every now and then.  Maybe I need to have the seals checked, but this caused a few panicked temperature changes.  Eventually, the lamb was cooked and the roast vegetables roasted.  The gravy stayed quite runny - we were at the stage where everything else was good to go so I didn't hang about with too much cornflour.  Being a lamb roast, though, mint sauce was suggested.  I have a healthy mint plant at the courtyard door - how easy can it get?  Now that I think of it though, I don't recall actually eating any... I hope it tasted ok.  I'll have some leftovers, no doubt.  (Speaking of leftovers, a couple provided dessert... drool... just polished off the leftovers while writing this.  So I can wash up sooner, of course.  Raspberry and white chocolate croissant pudding.  Just in case you're wondering.  Recipe is on its way...).  Meanwhile, mint sauce is really unattractive and un-photogenic.  My apologies.

Dinner was wonderful.  For starters, it prompted me to do something with my holiday.  Well, for a day at least.  I'm still in the post-goal-achievement lull and feeling a bit down, so having people over was a great incentive to clean.  And these are great people, just having them around is good for the soul - great company, interesting conversation (I wish I could have videoed the evening - it felt rude to put quotes into my phone all night), and the sort of people around whom I can be Me.  I discovered we are all coffee drinkers - not that this is a surprise, but this was the first confirmation of fact.  My coffee machine has not had so much work before!  Yes, that is a Pride and Prejudice mug.  Given to me by a niece and nephew for Christmas, last week I posted a photo to Facebook of it, with coffee of course, in front of the tv with the menu screen for the BBC 6-episode series.  So many people liked it, and one of them got to use it tonight.  We're thinking of having a Pride and Prejudice evening...

Today's photo:

Separating the bulbs of garlic for roasting, I noticed the pinkness in the skin looks like veins.  After a bit of peeling, they look so delicate and fragile.