winter has arrived.....



So winter has definitely arrived in Cape Town...
I was sent these two pictures today of what our beloved city looked like this morning and thought I just had to share these with the world.
After the heat waves and laaaate summer, the words ‘Global Warming’ (accompanied by slight anxiety and alarm bells) come to mind – but that is a whole other discussion for another day.
It was as if some holly being flicked a switch and just like that it was winter… but who are we kidding? Just because its colder and wetter and darker, does not mean our dear true Cape Town winter has hit us just yet! It’s really only autumn and we can look forward to another four months of even colder and wetter weather.
Besides it’s not yet raining sideways is it?

Lets not be sombre though, there are great things about winter, Namely:
- Warm food like pasta’s and soups and curries (lots of it)
- A reason to stay in doors and watch your favourite dvds and series over and over… and not feel guilty
- Drinking copious amounts of red wine because it ‘keeps you warm’ and is ‘good for your heart’ (yeah right!)
- Wearing slippers
- Scarves and warm jerseys and jackets and tracksuits

While I am in the spirit of things I thought I might as well share my basic but reliable curry recipe. I hope I haven’t forgotten anything and excuse the measurements, I taste as I go along...

MY CURRY RECIPE

A FRUITY SPICY BLEND OF COMFORT AND WARMTH

Ingredients:
1 desert spoon oil
1 (large) onion chopped
4 tomatoes chopped
2 desert spoons of peach chutney
2 desert spoons of apricot jam
2-3 potatoes peeled and chopped (I advise par cooking these)
700g (at least) of beef goulash
Spices and herbs:
I large garlic clove crushed
Curry powder to taste (5 heaped teaspoons of medium at least)
1 teaspoon (heaped) of turmeric
1 teaspoon of cumin seed powder
A dash of garam masala spice (garam = ‘hot’ and masala = ‘paste’)
1 cube beef stock dissolved in a little hot water
A large handful of fresh coriander (chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste
Sambles (optional):
Save some chopped onion, tomato and coriander.
Slice up 1 banana and get some desiccated coconut.

Instructions:
Add your oil to a nice big pot and get that heating up
Add onions and fry ‘til opaque
Add all your spices and coriander
Add tomatoes – this will give you the juice
Add your jam and chutney
Add your potatoes and let the mixture cook for a few minutes
Lastly (always last with a curry) add your meat and cook for an hour more
Remember to always taste as you go along and if at the end the sauce is too ‘watery’ add a teaspoon of flour and mix to thicken
Enjoy with sambles and best served with brown basmati rice ☺

Comments

Seth said…
WOW - f*ck me, thoe pictures are awesome!

Ah i love winter too - when else in Africa can you wear coats & scarfs, the rest of the year is bloody hot, so winter is always a welcomed change for me!