A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

katieowl_2

SDG31000 wrote: »

Mrs Chip would you mind sharing your daal recipe please? For some reason mine never turns out quite right and I love the stuff.

You are welcome to my recipe, which is the one I used for my Frugal Cooking course, as it's already typed from the handouts :rotfl:


Dal


400g Lentils – Red, green or brown lentils – rinsed thoroughly and picked over for bits of stone/twig etc
4 cloves garlic
Slice of root ginger
Green chillis – either sliced or de seeded and left whole so you can fish it out.
1 tbsp turmeric

Put all the above into a saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer over a low heat stirring regularly until thick and the lentils are tender. It will bubble volcanically as it gets thick so be careful about splashes! Season the dal with salt and pepper to taste when it is cooked. You should season all pulses when they are cooked because salt can toughen them up and make them take longer to cook.

While the dal is cooking prepare a ‘tarka’ topping of finely sliced onions and more garlic, fried in butter or vegetable oil, you can add some other seasonings too, red chilli (fresh or dried flakes), black mustard seeds will pop in the hot oil and are nice, ground cumin seeds are good too. Cook until the onions are golden and just starting to crisp up.

Pour the dal into a serving dish, pour the onions over and lightly stir through, top with some fresh chopped coriander leaves, and serve with rice, or chappatis.

There are lots of kinds of dal on sale in Indian supermarkets (and online too!) I’ve shown you how to make this with lentils, as they are easy to get locally, but if you want to experiment other kinds are called “channa dal” which is a split black chickpea, absolutely delicious, but takes longer to cook, “mung dal” is made with split mung beans – which are the seeds they make beansprouts out of, red lentils are called “masoor dal” in India, but there are six or seven other sorts.


OK??? Kate

Byatt

Hiya Kate, I think I forgot to say before.

I've broken another favourite mug. Why is it always the best ones and the most loved that break?

Had to go for blood test this morning, so that's done and dusted, I suspect Dr will not be pleased with bllod glucose levels.

My dumplings are tennis ball size.

I remember when first married, making stew which lasted a week, made in the pressure cooker and odds and ends added throughout, plus enormous dumplings. I was a dab hand at fluffy dumplings. It became less meat and more veg stew as the week went on.

fuddle

I can't wait till I can get my SC Byatt I'm at a loss without one to be honest. The one I had before hand was too small but it was a gift so I was determined to just put up with it but I was secretly pleased when it did go kaput. I'm waiting for nectar/amazon to email me my voucher code so I can use my nectar points for one.

That should be in the next few days, if not today

Mince and dumplings day was always on a Wednesday at my grandma's. I loved that meal and now sad I don't know how to make them. When you told me a few weeks back I couldn't believe I'd let all this time go by without trying them as they sound so easy. Hoping my family will take it to their hearts like I did when I was little. I'm wondering if DH mentions anything about lentils being sneakily added.

Byatt

I didn't know you could use Nectar points at Amazon.

I haven't had dumplings in for ever, but love them. You can add herbs too if liked. Let us know how you get on and whether hubby notice the lentils!;)

SDG31000

Grrrrrrrrrrrr......warning rant ahead!!!

When we were burgled my Barclaycard was taken. It's an additional card on DH's account and they didn't replace his card and at no time did they tell us that the account was going to be closed and a new one started. So now we get a bill saying that we didn't make last months payment, even though the phone system says that a payment was made for the same amount of 6th June. After 25 minutes of shouting numbers at their system I finally got through to a real person in India who can't talk to me or tell me anything about the account. DH is now on call for the next week and there is no telling when he will be able to sort this mess out. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

All I want is to talk to someone who understands me and that can tell me what the heck is going on. I don't want to make changes to the account in any way and they know my name as they have given me a card with it on, so why can't they just tell me???
It's a good job I've just put all the banana cake in the freezer as I could see myself eating rather a lot of it in frustration.

Mrs_Chip

Oh SDG I feel your pain! The thought of having to deal with banks over the phone is gives me the heebie-jeebies every time.

Thanks Kate for the recipe . I make mine slightly differently and not to a recipe, but it seems to work!

In a frying pan with 2 tbsp oil I fry a large sliced onion and 2 or 3 sliced garlic cloves until golden, then stir in a tsp each of ground coriander and cumin with 1/2 tsp turmeric.If I have it in I also add about an inch of ginger, grated. I add about 4oz of split red lentils and stir then add enough water or veg stock to moisten well. I simmer and stir every now and then, adding more liquid as needed. It will thicken and you will need to adjust the consistency to your liking. Season with s&p and a teaspoon of garam masala. If you want to you can make a tarka as in Kate's recipe

Possession

SDG I know it may not help but if DH can make a quick call, all he should need to do is give them authorisation for you to speak, they'll note it, and then they should be able to talk to you. I understand just how frustrating it is though.

ginnyknit

SDg, I know how frustrating it is, been through this a lot. Sheer stupidity and profits for the banks :mad:

Taking Dd and DGS out later so am hoping the rain holds off. Going to M7S outlet to pick up some bargains in the underwear department - Yay! big treat as I got a gift voucher from some dear friends. :T

Other than that alls quiet here, still juggling all my balls at once but at least the kitchen is tidy for once.

Hugs to all in need x

mardatha

I find cards and stuff so frustrating that we dont use anything like that - life is too bloody short to spend yelling at Calcutta, I even got rid of AOL and BT for that reason. You have my sympathy xxx
Slugs here are black, always and only.
Dumplings are dead easy Fuddle -= even I can do them
Seriously not liking the news just now and wondering what bits of the iceberg we ordinary peasants cant see.

mardatha

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/14/debt-crisis-emergency-measures-mervyn-king

CAN somebody explain this to me ? What are "City institutions" and where is he getting the money from? And does "improve their liquidity" mean they're brassic?
TY to whoever posted this, was it Fuddle? TY anyway.