CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS IN MUSHROOM & OYSTER SAUCE

•  I suppose chicken is every body's favourite dish, there are so many ways the bird can be prepared and it takes so little time to do it. Also the basic ingredients are the same for pork & turkey and you can add condiments according to your taste.

• 10-12 Fresh chicken drumsticks (with or without skin). Trim the fat.
• 1 large red onion-chopped
• 1 large tomatoe chopped
• 4 cloves fresh garlic-finely chopped
• 3cm fresh ginger-finely chopped
• 1 red Bell pepper choped in sticks (you can use red, yellow & green peppers. 1/2 of each to give it more colour).
• 4 cardammams, 4 cloves & 1cm.cinnaman stick grinded) or onr teaspoon garam masala powder.
• 1tblspoon coriander powder
• 1tablspoon cumin powder
• 1teaspoon turmeric (haldi) powder 
•  Olive Oil for frying
• In a large pan stir fry the above ingredients for 2-3 minutes and add chicken drum sticks. (chicken, pork or turkey breast). fry them for 10 minutes on high heat, moving them constantly, so that the juices are sealed and the chicken remains tender. Now lower the fire and add the remaining ingredients listed below and keep on stirring the contents, so that onions and tomatoes become soft and blend as a thick sauce.
• 
  
• fresh mushrooms (optional)
• 4tbl spoons soya sauce
• 4tbl spoonful mushroom sauce,
• 4tbl spoonful oyster sauce,
• 1tbl spoon crushed black pepper, 
• 1tbl spoon each coriander and cumin powder
•  salt to taste
• 150ml. fresh cream
• 1/2 cup white wine (optional)
• 2 hard boiled eggs to garnish (optional).

Simmer the pan for a few more minutes and adde fresh cream, stir in well so that all the contents are well blended and chicken is ready to eat. Garnish it with fresh coriander leaves and eat it with boiled or fried rice, crusty bread or nan bread, boiled potatoes. Choice is yours.

LENTIL SOUP TO WARM YOU UP.

We often prepare lentil soup, it is easy to prepare, tasty and every one likes it. When my two sons were small, they loved lentil soup with chapati or nan or garlic bread. The preparation is easy and you can also buy them tinned, in a super market.

 300gms. lentils. Soak for about one hour. Gently wash with your hands).
Boil until soft. Reserve one cup liquid.

Chop fresh ginger (2cm),
garlic (4 cloves),
large red onion- chopped
1 large tomato- cut into small pieces.(peeled or unpeeled)
1tbl. spoon coriander powder
1tbl. spoon cumin powder
1 tea spoon black pepper powder
1 Spanish Chorizo ( sausage) cut into cubes 
1 green or red chili (for medium hot just one dry whole red chili)

Pour sunflower seed oil/olive oil in a pot or pan and stir fry the above ingredients for two minutes.
Now pour in the lentils and the cup of water which is reserved (you can add more water if the consistancy is thick).
 Add the ingredients listed below and cook on low fire until the potatoes and carrots are soft.

Sausages for cooking (as many as you like)
1 potato (peeled and cut into cubes)
1 carrot (peeled and cut into cubes)
1 cube beef stock
1 cup white or red wine (optional)

Both red and white wine or a glass of sherry go well with lentil soup. In the photo is a bottle of Marques de Caranó Gran Reserva 2005 (Spanish Red from Cariñena-Aragon). A full Red wine.

Buen Appetito.