CHILLI

Chilli ....dried or fresh is  the  'go to condiment ' , in many parts of the world .
(In all my years in the parental home Jakiw had  fresh chilli on the plate , it cured all ailments or maybe the fear of being made to eat it cured all ills.)
My youngest son Dale , eats very few meals without chilli and seeds . (it is hard to explain the addictive flavour of chilli  to people that prefer softer tastes)
Chillies are most often associated with Mexican , Indian , Asian and African cooking.
An indication of the heat level in  chillies can be estimated on the size of the chilli , the smaller the chilli the hotter it will be.
All meals can be enhanced by heat and taste of chilli .
Dried chillies can be used whole or crumbled while cooking .
Sliced fresh chillies  can be  used in stir fries  , salads  and garnishes.
Dried chillies add heat to stir fries and curries .
Dried chillies add zest to homemade pickles , chutneys and relishes .
Dried chillies can be added to bean dishes and guacamole , also great in marinades , sauces and dressings .


 

REVOLVING DOORS

It was good to spend time with my family in Melbourne , thank you Nicole , Paul , Polly , Shaun, Dee .Grandchildren Ella, Max and Jack.
It was in Alma Park Reserve , St Kilda East we welcomed  in the New Year .
Last night we dined at the old dinosaur "The Espy ", and once again enjoyed the best flat head fillets , (though Paul`s calamari  and Nicole`s Fajitas were cooked to perfection.) .
Seated at " our table " in the kitchen of the Espy ,  memories were recalled of Shane`s travel experiences with much humour and embarrassment .
Memories are foot prints  on the heart that keep loved ones forever young and near .

Paul and Dale fly out on Nicole`s 25th  birthday for an Asian sojourn .
 I arrived  home with bags in hand and Dale was all ready  with luggage packed to take off on his holiday.
Enjoy and stay safe .
Love
Mum xxx

TO DRINK TEA

Yum cha ....yes that`s right .it means to drink tea....
Try telling your wine and beer drinking guests that this is a traditional Sunday morning brunch , where small , sweet and savoury food ( dim sum ) are served with pots of hot Chinese tea .
Seriously any food any time of the day is great with wine , beer or tea.,

RETAIL SNOBBERY

Today I spent a good part of the day shopping for my daughter`s 25th birthday present .
It was forecast for a very hot day at 39 deg C , and I dressed accordingly with jeans , runners and a summer blouse .
I already knew what I wanted to purchase so it was just a matter of finding the best price .
Chadstone Shopping Centre was my destination.
The  Myers  experience was intolerable ....I waited and waited at the counter while one of the retail assistants finished touching up her make up in a mirror which also gave her full view of anyone waiting....the female assistant did look my way twice and I was ignored both times . Is this  treatment a rule in an exclusive department  of the retail giant ?..... ( when I managed my optometry outlet it was a rule that anyone who walked through the door was a potential sale and my outlet was highly successful.)
Fortunately for me another lady dressed neatly like myself stood looking at similar items , so I approached her for advice , she smiled and gave me her honest opinion .The lady wished me luck and went on her way , by this time the assistant`s make up was corrected and she asked if there was anything she could help me with..
She was no where near as helpful as the lady who was just looking and walking by.
I made two purchases today and both were in exclusive  shops that were dedicated to the brand I was after , it turned out they were no more expensive than the large  retail chain ( Myers ) ........I received attention as soon as I walked into the stores , given choice , and advice .
The wrappings and ribbons on the purchased gifts are amazing and very professionally finished , the ribbons are branded but it all makes for part of the tradition of giving and receiving special gifts.
Myers so missed out today on all levels .

USE BY DATE ..FOR DRIED HERBS AND SPICES .

Dried......herbs and spices , kept in sealed containers away from direct light will keep for 12  - 18 months .
Some will argue dried herbs and spices should be used in 6 months from purchase for the best flavour ......but that is dribble as long as they have been stored correctly.
Fresh herbs should be wrapped in a damp  clean cloth  or damp paper towelling and stored in the vegetable drawer of the fridge.
Preserving fresh or  dried herbs and spices in oils or vinegars is another great way to enjoy the flavours ,  adding an interesting twist to sauces and salad dressings.


 

OASIS BAKERY AND SPICE SHOP.....MURRUMBEENA

I never spent enough time at this wonderful shop , delicatessen , bakery ,eatery , spice stockist .....
Even with an excellent range of spices at home , the Oasis Bakery and Spice shop
 stock  a few that I don`t know ....
Can`t wait to go home and return to my kitchen .

 

THE ART OF FLAVOURING

The art of flavouring in cooking is to use just enough to enhance the dish ....not to over power the finished meal with the flavour of the herbs.
Ground spices lose their flavour quickly and should not be used in dishes that require a long cooking time , for soups and stews add ground spices in the last 20 minutes prior to serving.
Use twice the amount of a fresh herb to give the same flavour as the dried powered form.
Remember the flavour quality of dried or powered form is no comparison to the fresh herb .