Cook in a Curry

All too often a boiled egg or plain scrambled egg just doesn’t quite cut it. My mother always says even if you’re eating something simple like dal and rice make sure it’s delicious, full of flavour and a meal to satisfy your belly and your senses. I honestly couldn’t agree more. Dal and rice in my household isn’t plain boring! Served with a dollop of butter on hot dal, spicy mango pickle to accompany the meal and crispy deep fried papad. That most definitely is a tasty meal. I think the same applies to eggs. Mix it up with a few spices and the result is a hearty, delicious meal. My all time favourite breakfast on a weekend is Anda Bhurji spiced scrambled eggs piled on buttered toast. So satisfying.

Most Indian regions have their unique way of cooking eggs with spices and the state of Andhra Pradesh is no different. This is a personal favourite and I think the combination of the heat from the chilli and sour tamarind make it quite moreish. Coconut milk is used sparingly to add the creaminess to the dish; the bland boiled eggs soak in all the flavours of the spices in the gravy. You can leave the eggs whole if you prefer though I like to halve them. Added to the dish last minute letting them steep in the warm curry. Serve with rice, flat bread or dosas as I did. Soft dosas soak in all the flavour and help mop up the egg curry. Simply gorgeous!

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Its the perfect start to a Monday morning when a friend in India rings to tell you she saw this http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/what-were-reading-275/

To say I’m elated is an understatement. But its lovely to see people enjoying what I write & wanting to visit the blog which I initially started out as a recipe diary where I could pen all the things I wanted to; without a word count! Thank you again New York Times for the mention!

I am hugely excited to be part of the Tilda Legendary Rice 40^th Anniversary celebration this Monday the 11^th of July 2011. I will be live on air on Sunrise Radio on 1458 AM which will be based for the day at the Tilda rice mills.

Listen in to my guest slot just after 11am cooking up delectable dishes from the Tilda Basmati range, sampling them and also talking through each dish along with the benefits of rice and cooking with basmati.

So get ready to tune in and join me, soak in the atmosphere, enjoy the live music & rice talk while sharing in the celebration!

There were 474 photos (to be precise!) in all taken during my trip spanning three cities to India recently. In Mumbai alone, I visited about 18 restos & a host of street food joints to relish what the city has on offer. For now though let me give you a taster of my ongoing love for all things Indian food. Click the more button to view the rest.

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Well have you heard yet? It’s abuzz everywhere in the north east including on Twitter.

Starting out in September as a bit of friendly banter between one of the directors of Jesmond Dene House and their head chef Pierre Rigothier on who makes better chilli jam. This has become the topic of conversation all over the region with over 25 entrants for the challenge; the hotel is now hosting an actual event including some of the region’s top chefs as their entries!

So brace yourself it’s going to be exciting, fun, competitive and a day to showcase the best chilli jam on offer. The event is taking place on the 21^st of November 2010 at Jesmond Dene House at 11am.

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Waking up first thing in the morning & if the first thought in your mind is about eating something hearty; my choice would most certainly have been spot on. I cooked this yesterday. The perfect late Sunday morning brunch. I love baked eggs but adding chorizo and chilli flakes gave it that extra something. We sat in the garden and mopped up the dish accompanied with cursty bread and corn on the cob. Was like sunshine on a plate!

Yes its 2010! Not sure where last year went! Do hope the coming year bring you loads of happiness, joy and pleasure in every which way. Sorry for not blogging for a while. Was just enjoying eating loads, meeting up with friends & family, vegging out watching films and writing recipes. Thats pretty much how the holidays are summed up by me.

But its the New Year and with that there is plenty more to come. As a private home chef, dates are booked up for a good few months, there will be ongoing recipe features and columns, an up an coming feature on kids cooking and how we can encourage healthy Indian alternatives to their daily diet. Also make sure to check out the updates on the radio slot @ BBC Radio Newcastle with Simon Logan on the Afternoon show. But i think the most exciting thing for me over the next few months is that I will be doing a live demo at the Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle. I have always been a huge fan of Terry Laybourne, more so what his establishments stand for. Which is great ambience, top notch service and most importantly food that speaks volumes in quality, taste & presentation. Also a little birdie tells me he loves a curry! Which is a bonus:)

The live demo will be for their Ladies lunch event and I’m equally excited to work with Pierre Rigothier and his team. For more details make sure to check out the website for Jesmond Dene House. Look forward to cooking some fantastic Indian grub over the new year.

All things Christmasy! The Living North Christmas Fair is something I know everyone in Newcastle looks forward to every year & for me it just reaffirms the start of all the festivities. There is a whole host of the best regional chefs

involved showcasing the produce and also offering recipes, ideas and tips to those who come along. You not only get to watch how dishes are cooked up but also get to sample the food after. And this year I feel fortunate to be a part of

it, I will be doing a live demo and showcasing some delectable Indian dishes that are easy to follow, fresh and full of flavour. I will also provide the recipe for you to try at home. The Fair is over four days and there are plenty of

exhibitors to choose from; fashion, food, interiors and many more. Make sure to be there so you dont miss out! For more info on the fair click on the link below;

http://newcastle.livingnorthfair.co.uk/home.html

This coming weekend is a busy one. Apart from all the clients I cater for in the run up to Christmas, I will also be part of the Taste Festival at the Metrocentre. I must admit I am really excited and looking forward to it. Just the idea

of having so many chefs cooking, sharing recipes, lending tips is not something you see everyday. Also the prospect of having so much local produce all under one roof is a treat. Apart from doing the demo, I for sure will be on the look

out for some Christmas gifts! Hope to see you all there!

I have attached some info if you would like anymore details;

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2009/10/27/treats-are-in-store-at-the-fifth-taste-festival-61634-25020310/