Twittering away

 

I have been caught up with a new toy - tweeting. 

I don't really know what I am doing but enjoy being a mad person talking to myself. And worse to others that don't reply to me!

But learning so much and reading beyond my usual Guardian brainwash.

So not gone or forgotten just playing. Join me @deemaspice

Happy Mother's Day!

This is Deema aged 16 - I think. 

Doubt she ever thought at this age that she would become the bestest ma to two people.

Somewhere

somewhere written by my award-winning journalist aunt. 
Deema's elder sister.

Stories of what it was like growing up in a small village in Sri Lanka during the 1930s. Recounting traditions, describing familiar places but revealing new depths and perhaps most importantly providing me with ever lasting memories of my mum's family.

Mr Robin

Nothing to do with food! But meet my newest friend. Mr Robin who kept me company yesterday whilst I was gardening.
He found his grub and I think was quite chuffed.

Rugger Bugger Food - Spicy Chicken Drumsticks

My eldest attended the first, of what I assume, will be many end of season rugby celebrations. Hyped, hormonal, fit boys getting together to celebrate a pretty good club rugby season. What they did, was best not imagined.

I was told I had to make his contribution of food for the party. And no, Asda's frozen saussage rolls would not do. Could I please make devilled eggs and roasted spicy drumsticks?

So I sent him with drumsticks made with Deema's Spice and 6 devilled eggs as I am a good ma.

I was told the eggs were eaten on the way. He did cycle to the club but again best not to ask. But I was told the drumsticks were a hit with the 'dudes'.

I forgot to measure everything but this is the recipe for 16 spicy drumsticks:
Breadcrumbs, 25g butter, 2 tablespoons of Deema's Spice, a dash of seasame oil, pepper, salt, 2 tablespoons of soya sauce and left over champagne usually white wine but it was our anniversary!

Mix it all together. Pierce the chicken and spread the crumbly mixture and bake. Pour more wine (or champagne!) once you turn over the chicken.

Voila Rugger Bugger food.

Nuts, tradition and Brasso.

Sunday 14th April was Sinhala New Year.

In Sri Lanka, people would have been preparing for weeks - cleaning the house, buying gifts and ingredients for food and planning. All to celebrate with loved ones, eating loads of delicious food, exchanging gifts and generally having a good time. 
Everyone follows the auspicious times and traditions liking light lamps, cooking milk rice, wearing the right colours - all great fun even at 3.02am.

In Edinburgh, I too had Sinhala New Year.

I was going to ensure the front of our house looked welcoming and clean. So I was going to paint our front windows and get new window boxes with loads of plants. 
Front windows are rotten and had to be replaced. So this is currently the welcome people get.





Never mind. I polished and cleaned the inside of the house just like my ma did. Brasso was bought as you have to make the brass shine. And I associate Brasso with New Year.

Next - time to make the goodies. Now I can't make all the fancy Sinhala new year delicacies - that needs patience and time. So I cheated and made my favourites. 
Iced Coffee with lots of brandy. Devilled eggs (not traditional but we love them), hoppers (sort of pancakes ususally eaten for breakfast), prawn curry (as I couldn't find crabs) with Deema's Spice, kiribath (coconut rice), pol sambol (coconut sambol) and love cake.

I have never made love cake before but my brother sent me a recipe and it didn't seem too difficult. It tastes bloody good but would have been better if I had used cashew nuts and not peanuts. Should have gone to spec savers said my eldest.

Hoppers

Hoppers need a special pan. I dont have one. They became pancakes. Ho hum. 
Kiribath is meant to be flattened and cut into diamond shapes. Mine was mush.

Kiribath

Pol sambol is made with fresh coconut. Desiccated coconut substitute was just lame.

But I was ready for the New Year: I had food, the brass was polished and the house was clean.

Not sure my ma would have quite approved but I know she would have laughed a lot.

Searching for headspace

The day job is over whelming. Not in the actual duties but in the politics. 
My key new skills are diplomacy and biting my tongue.
It is tedious to spend so long over an email of 3 paragraphs when all you want to say is less than 10 words long - 'F*Off it cannot be done'.
Anyway, this has meant that my lovely 'other job' of selling spices has had to take a backseat whilst I find some headspace. 
Sigh.