My version of an Indonesian/South African recipe.

I was watching Choice TV today and they featured a dish that a contestant in a cooking programme  claimed was a recipe from the 17th century,  from Malay/Indonesian slaves. As with all recipes, I read them and then to my family and some friends horror, I usually stick on my own take, because I refuse to go and buy every ingredient the recipe states. After all, I am about trying to keep things cheap and hey---what's wrong with a bit of substitution? I won't even name my 'dish,' because my South African friends will stick me on a  Braai.
Take: about 400gramms of minced beef (or lamb, chicken or pork)---Then stir-fry a couple of onions, chuck in  a teaspoon each of turmeric, curry powder, allspice, mixed spice, garam masala, a pinch of chilli powder and a few cardamoms and cloves. Add some salt and pepper. Brown the mixture and then add a half cup of sultanas and the same of mixed nuts and seeds (Pumpkin and sunflower). Spread the mixture into a baking dish and pour on top a mixture of three eggs, whisked with some milk, salt, pepper and turmeric. Bake at about 160C for 40 minutes but don't let it burn. Note that my measurements are not precise, so just experiment. This dish most definitely is for those of you who like the combination of fruity, spicy and meaty food. It feels a bit like a fusion of Asia and the Middle East or North Africa to me. Yummy, believe me. And quite cheap. You can serve it with rice and your favourite greens.
www.authorneilcoileman.com

Never assume anything about a Jack Russell.

Perdy, our Jack Russell is now just over three years old. Gone are the days of constant bedlam; the days of coming home to chewed up cables, table-legs, cushions turned into snow, strewn throughout the lounge, followed by a manic welcome that threatens further mayhem if she is not immediately taken for a walk.
Now, apart from a bit of jumping and whimpering on my return from work, she generally waits while I change into something more comfortable before heading off to a nearby park. Once there, she enjoys the freedom of being 'leashless,' mixing it with other dogs, usually those  far bigger than herself and finding smelly things to roll in, thereby necessitating a bath or at least a quick squirt from the garden hose. Of course my car is gradually turning onto a 'farm vehicle,' with the strange somewhat unknown smell of her park activities bringing a whole new meaning to the term, l'odeur de voiture.'
Once back home, Perdy sort of settles down in  the hope that dinner is not far away. She does remind us in her usual vociferous, sometimes in a head challenging manner that cannot be ignored. We are the masters--right? You can make a call on that one! Once fed, Perdy pops outside and either spreads herself in front of the sliding door, in order to maintain a vigilance; one in which she takes it upon herself to warn the neighbourhood about any human comings and goings, to say nothing of the cats that seem to tease her from just beyond the gate. I have to admire the patience of my neighbours. They rarely say much about her noisy barking, but I suspect she gets under their skins at times and we have observed them telling her to 'shut the f---up' when they think we are away. (That means we left the car up on the road.)
On the whole, I like to think that Perdy is a better behaved dog now. Spring is here now and I have started my little 'salad planting' challenge. I am looking forward to reaping the pleasures of freshly harvested greens. Imagine my reaction when I received the picture displayed below. So that is what the little 'innocent and well-behaved Jack Russell gets up to when my eyes are averted! The picture speaks for itself. My poor 'destroyed garden.'
www.authorneilcoleman.com

OMG---you little bitch!

 

Free Kindle App to read ROSKILL

If you want to download ROSKILL. just go to my website www.authorneilcoleman.com and click on 'Book Shop---click on Roskill, Kindle version and look at right hand at the bottom and there is a free Kindle app for your tablet. Download it and get my book.