Isn't it true that the best plans and things that happen to you are often unexpected. Friday night, CBC and I were sitting upstairs watching Doctor Who on my laptop when his brother texted saying he had a spare ticket for a place on an Indian Vegetarian cooking day. Both intrigued, we found out more, and after some booking online, ending up booking an extra ticket for us both to go. Knowing nothing and having no time to look it up, we headed off to Putney on Saturday afternoon Sivananda Yoga Vendanta centre. We arrived a bit late due to CBC's Saturday morning teaching just as the theory had been covered talking about different foods and how they are good for us or what they do. This followed with demonstrations of cooking several dishes: Lentil soup, bulgar wheat and an amazing carrot and coconut chutney; amazing tahini salad dressing, curried vegetables and a sweet rice pudding. This was a great course for us to do right now at this time because CBC has turned vegetarian in the new year so whilst as you may know, we eat a lot of veggie food anyway, this meant we wanted to get some more ideas of how to make lots of dinners. The thing that stood out for me was the spices and how to get them to make your food taste amazing. Toasting seeds makes a difference; chancing your dish at the end (adding in the herbs and spices), all the different ingredients and how you put items together. At the end of the workshop we had a group Ommm (was unexpected but made sense because of the place) and a song which we'd missed at the beginning and then we ate: we were all served up on these metal trays and the quantity was perfect. I was pleasantly satisfied and yet not at all full. Nourishing your body with the right things in the right quantities was achieved with the portion. It was utterly fascinating and we're really glad we took the chance to attend. There were some real ayuvedic and yogic food people there who knew a lot! We all (me, CBC, his brother and friends) felt rather a fraud!
The dahl lentil soup will be the first thing I try as Dahl is my favourite Indian dish!
Have you been on any cookery course? How did you find them?
xxx
oh wow, this sounds so unlike anything I've done, but really interesting!
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried any cooking courses but i have tons of cookbooks. I love to try new dishes and my daughter Nicole has introduced us to many foreign cuisines.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great evening for both of you. I hope that you'll have great success with your new found recipes.
Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog.
Hugs,
JB
Mmm, come round and cook for me?
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic day, I love the sound of the chutney.
ReplyDeletei really like to do something like this..i love indian food
ReplyDeletekisses
What an informative and tasty time you had. Not for the first time do I wish I wasn't the pinickety eater I am.
ReplyDeleteLisa x
Dear Kezzie! I always say I am a bad blogger-friend, but you know, life is a race and we, or some, get caught in it, the chores, errands, etc! But I come here twice a month for sure, to catch up with the news :) It's really nice seeing your outfits and now this cooking day - I grew to learn Indian food, cause at first it was too spicy to me. As I am vegetarian, I would have loved this course you took! I think it's fascinating! I hope you are fine and I am looking forward to a concert this year :) Right now I am not in England, but when, I will tell you for sure!
ReplyDeleteDenisesPlanet.com
This sounds like such a fun day. I love Indian food!
ReplyDeleteI've never done anything like this... it sounds like a great experience and a good way to explore a new diet. Jx
ReplyDeleteI've never been on a cooking course but it does look like fun.
ReplyDeleteLizzie Dripping
Sooooo cool. I want to see a picture of CBC's brother! Is he single and ready to mingle? Ha ha ha! We could double date, Kezzie! Carrot and coconut chutney sounds divine!!!!! Mwah!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an enjoyable and productive course. I cook a lot of Indian food, now the kids are OK with curries (thank goodness, I trained them!) and I too love a dhal. Had leftover Bombay potatoes for lunch, as it happens! xxx
ReplyDeleteWe have a nice Indian restaurant near us and it's very good. This will expand your options for veg. cooking.
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