A New Addition! -guest post

I’d like you to welcome today’s guest blogger- Fridge. Fridge is just new to blogging, so lets support her with lots of lovin’!

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Wow, my first attempt at blogging, how exciting! I’m only a new addition to the Carbis household too, and boy, am I getting a workout!! I’ve been filled up SO many times, and emptied as well! I am always FULL of different kinds of Tupperware, which I love. I think it adds a bit of colour to my complexion… I’m certainly enjoying being in such an open house- not like the clunky back dock at Joyce Maine. Talia says that she knew I was perfect when the men rolled me instead of carrying me. She appreciates the fact that I can look after myself like that.

Anyway, I’m really here to raise an important issue with you- appliance equality. A lot of appliances, and other kitchen products feel like there is always that one ‘special’ product that gets more TLC, more attention, and more use. Think of your poor blenders, wine coolers, mortar and pestle that never get used! The poor things have SUPPORT GROUPS to deal with the grief of not being used as often as they were designed too!! ‘Major’ appliances, like mix masters and microwaves never seem to be part of these… but they could be in your house, so watch out!!

I’ve attended a few of these meetings as a mentor because, well, I’ve had some issues with rejection in the past… and these are some ideas we thought of to help you make better use of your appliances!

1. Put us where you can see us! If you don’t have lots of bench space, that’s fine, but please try to put us at the front of the cupboard! Out of sight, out of mind!

2. Think, think about it! Why not PLAN to make a meal using one of us! If you can never think of a way to use a pestle and mortar, then why not make something like a Lamb Korma, buy the spices ‘whole’ instead of ‘ground’ and ground them up yourself! You’ll be suprised how easy it is- and how much it adds to the flavours of the dish!

3. Phone a friend. If you’ve got an appliance you don’t really use much, you could do an appliance swap! Ask a friend if they have something they don’t use much either, and swap for a week! The person who can think of the most ways to use the other’s appliance gets s home cooked dinner from the other one! This would be fun in a bigger group then 2 as well.

4. Google It. Maybe there are ways to use your appliances that you’ve just never thought of before? Have a search around the inter-webs and see what you can find!

5. Plan an outing. Never use that meat marinator? Then plan to have a bbq at the beach where you use it! Special occasions are the perfect time to use these things!

6. Give us away! If you really don’t think you’ll use us, then please put us in a new home where they will!

7. Use us unconventionally! If you really think you’ll never use your wine cooler AS a wine cooler, then use it as a vase! A container! A kids toy! A beer holder! JUST USE IT!!

Hopefully this has given you some pointed tips on how you use the products in your kitchen a little more effectively!! I will now leave you with a photo of my glorious self!

Thanks for visiting my site again! keep checking back for more updates!

Tags: appliance, fridge, guest post, kitchen, korma, products, tips

Lamb Korma- Jamie Style

For my birthday I got ‘Jamie’s Ministry of Food’.

His whole philosphy is about passing on recipies from the book so that we’re learning to all cook and eat healthier. The recipe for Chicken Korma on page 74 made me hungry, and on page 99 he includes the recipe on how to make the korma curry paste from SCRATCH! Of course, I’m automatically going to make the paste myself, and you know what? It turned out to be SO yummy! I can’t wait for you to try it and then let me know in the comments.

Korma Paste

2 cloves garlic

thumb sized piece of fresh ginger (I used a teaspoon of minced ginger from the jar)

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (I used regular pepper)

1 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 tbs groundnut oil (I used olive oil)

1 tbs tomato puree (Only a tbs?! I just used tomato paste instead)

2 fresh chillies (I used about a tsp of chilli flakes)

3 tbs desiccated coconut

2 tbs ground almonds (I just skipped this cause I didn’t have it)

1 small bunch of fresh corriander

For Toasting:

2 tsp cumin seeds (I just used ground cumin)

1 tsp corriander seeds (I just used extra fresh corriander, even though I know they have really distinctive tastes)

How To Do It (what you’re SUPPOSED to do):

Add spices for toasting (cumin and corriander seeds) to a really hot, dry pan. Lightinly toast for a few minutes until golden brown. Add them to a pestle and mortar and grind till fine. Add the rest of the ingredients. Wolah!

What I really did:

Mixed them all together. Wolah!

Also, once this is made, I just got some stir fry lamb strips (SO much easier then cutting the meat up myself), put them in the wok, and tossed them round. I didn’t cook them too much, cause I didn’t want them to go dry or anything… then I just added the curry paste and stired it round to get it all hot and the flavours going, and then added really small squares of potato, sweet potato and onion. Mixed all those round, added 1 tin of evaporated milk, and 1/2 tin of water (read: filled the tin half way with water and poured it in, I do NOT BUY water in a can, or at all….), and forgot to put in the cocounut essence (AGAIN), and then let it simmer for a while! Just add more water if it’s getting dry. Serve with rice. Yumm-o!

Would love to hear from people who actually use the CORRECT recipe, as well as those who wing it like me!!

Tags: birthday, curry, indian, jamie oliver, korma, lamb, present, Recipe, wingit