Slow Cooker Nepali Mutton Curry with Spinach and Cauliflower

Nepali Mutton Curry with Spinach and Cauliflower

In 2001 Chris and I travelled to Nepal.  It was a fantastic place, we did some great trekking, and thoroughly enjoyed their local fayre.   Unfortunately our holiday was cut shot by the killing of the Nepalese Royal family.   As the news spread, all the men shaved their heads and we even saw the funeral pyre, as it is custom to burn the bodies immediately.   We basically got the last flight out of the country!   I feel for them as tourism has been majorley effected, but I would definitely be back in a heartbeat!

This is a variation to the original recipe I did here but with peas and cauliflower.

Ingredients
tbsp Oil - tho I use 1 Cal

1kg mutton
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves                                                        
4 cardamom pods, bruised
1 tbsp sliced ginger
1 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp garam masala
3 green birdseye chillies (to taste)
4 garlic cloves chopped                                           Frozen peas (optional)                                  
1 small cauliflower
160g spinach

Put the mutton in a bowl, combine all the other ingredients, except the cauliflower and spinach. then add to the mutton and mix with your hands.  Leave to marinade from 4 to 24hrs.

Preheat the slow cooker to low.  Heat oil in a large frying pan, add the marinated mutton and seal.  Add to the slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours.   Add the spinach and cauliflower and peas (if using), stir well to coat, and then cook for a further 45 mins to an hour.

Enjoy!
Annie x

Walkers NEW Hoops and Crosses :)

As a QPR fan my ears prick up at the mere mention of the word "Hoops" (my teams strip are blue and white hoops).  I was very pleased therefore to accept an invitation to review Walkers new product "Hoops and Crosses".

I was sent this cheeky monkey - which Scarlett has adopted, and the kids and I set about sharing the packet.  Maybe I should have tried them on my own, cos we ended up with this little lot after shopping last night!

To be honest though, at 85 calories a bag, and being made from Wholegrains, with no artificial colours of preservatives, I'm not worried about treating the kids with this kind of snack.  They are also suitable for vegetarians.

I may have to snaffle some out of sight for my own late night indulgence :)

Annie x

Baked Courgettes Stuffed with Lamb and Tomatoes

I've been a subscriber to Easycook Magazine for as long as I remember, I love it dropping through the letterbox, then everything stops as I have a leaf through.  I generally find something there and then to cook for that night's dinner, and the last edition was no exception.

I immediately liked the look of the Baked Courgettes Stuffed with Lamb and Tomatoes.  It was for 4 people, but I easily halved it for Chris and I, and added a birds eye chilli to the tomato sauce to give is some zing.  It was WOW!  And only 200 cals per portion!  Had it twice since.

@EasyCookMag have given me permission to blog it, so here goes.

For 2
2 large courgettes, halved lengthways (mine were not that big unfortunately, out of season)
1 tbsp olive oil
small handful coriander leaves

For the Tomato Sauce
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
half tbsp olive oil
half tsp each ground cayenne pepper, cinnamon, coriander and cumin
1 x 400g chopped tomatoes
1 green birdseye chilli (straight from frozen, I keep them there now)

For the Stuffing
250g lean minced lamb
1 tsp each ground cumin, coriander and cinnamon
half tsp cayenne pepper

1. Make the tomato sauce
Turn oven to fan 200C/conventional 220C/Gas 7
Fry the garlic in the oil for 2-3 minutes until soft, add the spices and fry for 1 min more.  Add the tomatoes, 1/4 can of water (use the tomato can), birdseye chilli, and simmer for 20 mins, until thickened.  Season.

2. Bake the courgettes
Scoop out a little flesh from the courgettes with a teaspoon to make a shallow cavity.  Lay them in a baking dish, drizzle with oil and bake for 15 minutes, until golden.

3. Make the stuffing
Lightly mix the lamb with the spices and some salt, with your hands, until just combined.  When the courgettes are ready, pile the lamb into the cavities and drizzle on the sauce.  I found it easier to form long sausage shapes with the lamb to fit the length of the courgette cavity.  Bake for 15-20 mins, until the sauce is bubbling.  Top with coriander and serve.

We served ours with a Greek Salad and it was divine.  Perfect for the Summer evenings that lie ahead - we hope!

Annie x

Thorpe Park with a 5yo and a 9yo..........

This is an unsponsored post, which I felt compelled to write.

The girls riding Rocky Express for the fifth time!

This year we took the plunge and got our Merlin Passes.  We got a really good deal back in January, at £75 per person, and we've already done Chessington (twice), Legoland (twice), London Eye, Madame Tussaurds (twice) and Warwick Castle.

Yesterday we were due to meet with 2 other mums @mediocre_mum and @ChelseaMamma and their families at Thorpe Park.  From my memory it was mainly a water park - which was fine as it was due to be a hot day, but having googled suitability for a 5yo, everything I found online was suggesting that it really was for older children.

Well, I can happily report that this was not the case for us at all.   There were far more than just water rides, and we thoroughly enjoyed Depth Charge, Rumba Rapids and Logger's Leap, and as the rides are restricted depending on height, with our 5 year olds being between 1.1m and 1.2m, there were loads of rides that they could go on.

The map provided gave a clear indication as to what was available, so we didn't promise a ride only for them to be disappointed when we found they weren't tall enough.

They were even allowed to go on some of the rides without us!  The Rocky Express they went on 5 times - as pictured, and the Flying Fish they went on 3 times.  Proper little ladies.  My husband was able to take my 9yo off to do some of the bigger rides so between all of us we all got on the rides we wanted and managed to stay from 10am to 5.30pm without anyone moaning about queuing or being bored.

I loved Nemesis Inferno but refused Mr Monkey's Banana Ride - go figure!

If I was to add a criticism it would be that the queues for the food and drink took way too long,   It took the same time to get a hot dog, even though the queue was quite short, as the time for the older ones to queue and ride on Stealth - which looks awesome by the way!

We shall definitely be going back, map in hand :)

Annie x

Slow Cooker Chocolate and Hazlenut Cake by Scarlett Age 5

Our first dessert in the slow cooker.  It called for a 5L which I guess not everyone has, but if you do it was wicked, and lasted from Sunday through to the following Saturday.


Ingredients

250g plain flour
250g caster sugar
1 tbs baking powder
50g cocoa powder
500ml milk
180g melted butter
4 eggs lightly beaten
150g chopped dark chocolate
75g chopped hazelnuts

Topping

200g brown sugar
30g cocoa powder
400ml hot water

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt into a bowl.   Add milk, butter and eggs and stir until smooth.  Fold the chocolate and hazlenuts through, then pour the mixture into the slow cooker.

Combine the topping ingredients in a bowl then sprinkle over the pudding mixture.  Pour 400ml hot water over the top.  It looked a mess, but it's self saucing and ended up being fab.  Cook on high for around 2hrs.

Serve with ice-cream.


Enjoy!
Annie x

Kids Taking Over the Kitchen :)

My 8yo Jasper is a keen little cook.  He loves nothing better than trying out new recipes, and since the measuring and stuff is great for his maths (don't tell him) I openly encourage it.

This weekend we pushed the boat out though, and Jasper made the Sunday "family tea", a full on Roast Chicken, roast potatoes and steamed vegetables.  He did everything - bar putting the spuds in the hot oil - he did all the peeling, chopping, boiling & steaming.  He also made a fab gravy!


Scarlett slow cooked a yummy chocolate cake - our first dessert in the slow cooker, they were both very proud of themselves, as we were of them.

Next week 5yo Scarlett is cooking the roast and Jasper will be making the dessert.  I think this is great, that they are actively seeking to develop what is surely a life skill.

From a very proud mummy :)

Sale of Goods Act 1979 - Know Your Rights!

Back in my Financial Services days, Renault kindly paid for my to take my Finance Diploma.  Part of the course was Consumer Law, and it was a real eye opener.  I have used it on many occasions to get justice, most recently against Tesco and Argos, so thought I'd share.

Tsk Tsk very unhelpful, the Retailer is liable and must honour the guarantee.

The whole act can be found here - we are most interested in Section 14, subsection 2.  This deals with the "implied" quality and durability of a product, that the price tag assumes!

It doesn't matter if a manufacter only offers, say, a 2 yr guarantee, depending on the value of the product, the "RETAILER" has to offer guarantee over and above that, even up to 5 yrs.  In other words, you can't expect a £20 product to ge given a 5yr guarantee, but if you bought an expensive electrical item, say a £2000 TV, then you would expect it to last longer than 2 yrs, and the retailer must honour this.

You have to go straight to the top tho, as the Customer Services staff on the ground are mostly unaware of this fact, and everyone is happy to not share this news around!

My recent grumbles where I had to quote said Law were as follows.............

Tescos - I bought a £39.99 HP printer from them online, and it started playing up within 12 months - the implied guarantee.  I had appalling service initially from their Hatfield store, who wouldn't accept my receipt being on my phone - an email receipt - as it wasn't printed out!!!!!!  NB:  the complaint
was a printer!

They merely directed me to several 0845 numbers, which eventually led me back to HP themselves. Circumstances were that I had to go home as I had to be there for something, but I was certainly not putting up with that. 

I tried to deal with on twitter, as you do, but they weren't up for acknowledging the law, so ended up ringing the Store Manager.   After about 3 minutes stating my case, and the Sale Of Goods Act, I was told that a new printer was waiting for me when I was ready. 

It appears that the staff have been told that this is Tesco's new policy, to direct you back to the manufacturer,  but do not fall for it, even Tesco are not above the law!!!

Argos - I had a Morphy Richards Microwave in Red, great little product, and it matched the kettle, toaster and breadbin.  I didn't take much notice of the 1 year guarantee when I bought it, as we always assume it will last longer, and you are buying into a brand.   I do however always staple receipts into the instruction booklets.

15mths later and the microwave started sparking and making funny noises.  Here is where knowledge is invaluable.  A lot of consumers may assume that as it is outside the 12 month guarantee, that they should have taken Argos up on their extended warranty at the time and kick themselves!  No No No folks.

I rang the store this morning to discuss the faulty product.  They first said just come into store, but I explained I would rather speak to someone first, in order to avoid a shouty match in store, which isn't good for anybody.   Again, I quoted the SOG Act, and thankfully I got a lady in the know who said that she would deal with it.

I went in store and they offered me £40 back against a product which was initially £49.99, this I took to be fair and set it off against a replacement. 

I hope this helps anyone, again its down to judgement about what you are paying for and predicted length of life etc.

As an aside! 

It turns out Morphy Richards don't make microwaves, they licence Argos to sell their brand.  This upset me as I believed I was buying into the brand.  I have the kettle, toaster and breadbin, so obvioulsy wanted the microwave to match.  See an excerpt from Morphy Richards Customer Services above.

Hope this helps consumers out there.

Annie x