Guyana @ 50 - Seven Curry

One of the many pleasures of living in a multicultural society is the access to, and participation, that one enjoys in many settings, especially at festivals and on special occasions.

Eating a vegetarian meal in big, broad water lily leaves at a Hindu wedding or Pooja connects you with the multifaceted food culture of the land. No cutlery, just you, eating from a natural vessel that you balance in the palm of one hand while expertly mixing the food with the other and transporting it, without spilling, to your mouth.

This type of meal is referred to as 7-curry because 7 different 'curries' are made to be eaten with rice. Some people consider dhal/dal to be one of the curries while others don't. Either way, it is an outstanding meal.

7-Curry ©Cynthia Nelson

7-Curry generally comprises a combination of the following:

• Pumpkin
• Spinach/callaloo
• Eggplant & eddoes
• Potatoes or Potatoes & channa (chick peas)
• Katahar/breadnut/chatagine
• Mangoes
• Achar

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Leftovers - A Breakfast Feast

Clockwise: sauteed smoked fish, dhal, tomato choka & sauteed pakchoy

Bear with me as I muse again about breakfast. I have really been making an effort to eat this important meal. In addition to having cereal, fruit, yogurt, eggs etc. I have been eating leftovers for breakfast and boy is that a great idea! The leftovers often satisfy my desire for something savoury in the mornings and it is filling. I am good to go all day.

The other day I made everything you see on the plate below for lunch with a friend who is pesco-vegetarian. Next morning, I feasted on the leftovers!

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Khichri & Kedgeree - Good at Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner!

Khichri - a dish with it's origins in India has travelled to England, to the Caribbean and I am sure to other places where there are large populations of Indian migrants. In this week's column, read about the dish re-interpreted in England and it's place in the Caribbean.

Both dishes have their stars, for Khichri it is lentils and for Kedgeree it is smoked fish

Here's a more traditional-original version

Recipe

Check out Sailu's version.


Here is Kedgeree a well-known breakfast meal in England.

Recipe

Check out Nora's version.

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In search of a pot!

Boiled & ready for drinking. Look at the cream on top!

I ran myself ragged this past Tuesday in search of a pot in which to scald milk. I visited eleven stores before I found the kind of pot I was looking for – one with the capacity to hold a gallon of milk and the requisite heavy bottom. Four and a half hours after setting out from home, I returned, tired and hot, but triumphant. I had my milk-pot! Want to know why and how it all started? Click here to read the column.

I have friends and my mom's visiting. Last week, I wrote about my list of things for mom to bring for me, well, in the case of Aunty Sarah, it was a stunning surprise, among the things that I had requested, she surprised me and brought sweet treats - that I've never had before in my life - all the way from India. Gosh, some of us foodies really are spoilt! Here's what she brought:

I'm taking my time going through them.

This is one of my mother's favourite meals for dinner - dhal & roti. The dhal is poured onto the plate and the roti then torn to pieces and mixed together. Dhal, I love but dhal and roti, together like this, not my thing :)

Have a good weekend everyone!

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I've Cheated... I've been Unfaithful...

I come before you with my head bowed for I have flirted, cheated and obsessed about things other than my self-confessed true love... Here's the thing, though my head is bowed I am not sure of how ashamed I am. Does that make me a bad person? Does it mean that I need therapy? You'll have to click here to read the rest of the column.

In order not to give away anything, I'll just leave the pictures below. When you read the column, you'll figure it out. Go on, read the column. When you're done, come and share with me some of yours (don't worry, you'll understand when you've finished reading) :)

Photo credit: Eat, Drink & Be Merry

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Here is my dish that I have made for submission to the very worthwhile project being put on by my fellow BloggerAid friends. We are creating a cookbook and all the proceeds will go towards fighting hunger. You don't need to be a blogger to join us on this venture, just simply click here for all the details. If you have not heard of BloggerAid and want to know more, then come on over.

LAP CHEONG FRIED RICE

Click on the image to get all the details to this month's Monthly Mingle and your chance to win a free, signed copy of my book!

HAPPY LOVE DAY EVERYONE!

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