Gaining confidence in cooking

If you had said to me a few weeks ago that I'd enjoy getting involved with cooking, I would not have believed you. The thought of preparing food usually bring me out in a major stress. I guess that's because I just didn't know where to start and had absolutely no confidence in it. OK, so I can do some simple stuff like egg or beans on toast, but that was about it. My wife has always controlled the kitchen and that it.

Just recently, I've taken the plunge and got a colleague at work to help me with this issue. My pal Dave cooks some great curries and he encouraged me to experiement with him. Now, I've got to the point where I feel confident enough to get stuck in (besides, it kills off some quiet evening shifts at work!)

Here's a curry I cooked earlier this evening using some experiementation. Just had the give it a name.

Marty’s chicken curry“zing a ding ding” recipe

Serves 4-5

Ingredients

1 onion

1 large green pepper

4 mushrooms

1 clove of garlic

4 pieces of chicken breast

1 tin of chopped tomatoes (with herbs)

Lemon juice

Half teaspoon Turmeric powder

Half teaspoon ginger powder

Half teaspoon Garam Masala

Pinch to half teaspoon of chilli powder according to taste.

4-5 pieces of skinned, boneless chicken

3-4 small cups of Basmati rice

Method

Finely chop the onion, green pepper, mushroom and garlic. Place in a large frying pan or wok and fry until onions become translucent (add a drop of water if necc.)

Dice the chicken.

Add spices (turmeric, ginger, Garam Masala and chilli powder) and stir.

Squirt in a little lemon juice.

Add the diced chicken and stir in.

Empty the contents of the tinned tomatoes and continue to stir on low heat for approx 25 minutes.

Cook rice as required and serve.

Yummy!!!!

A Daily Mail "oops!"

I've hit a dry period for blogging this week, but just have to share something I read in The Daily Mail tonight whilst supping a pint at the local boozer.

Jonathan Aitken was a former cabinet minister of the last Conservative Government in the 90's and was, at one point my local MP when I lived in Broadstairs with my parents in the 80's. He had a spectacular fall of grace and ended up being jailed for purgery in 1999. I actually like the guy because I believe he genuinely changed as a result. (He spent 18 months in prison)

Today, in the UK press, it was announced that he has been invited to look at prison reform on behalf on the Tory Party. I hereby quote an extract from the Daily Mail the way it was reported (by James Chapman - Deputy Political Editor) : -

" Mr Aitken is the only former Cabinet Minister to have been jailed for more than 100 years"

Slight grammatical error there Mr. Chapman. Don't see you getting beyond deputy on this evidence. PMSL.

I wonder if this one will get picked up on "Have I Got News for You" this week?