They're Dropping Like Flies Here.






Tuesday 15/1/2013

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Diary and Notes

I don't know if you've been keeping abreast of current affairs but it seems one of my favourite shops has closed. Whether or not this is a permanent affair is not yet apparent, but I hope it isn't.

HMV going into receivership, you say?

No - much more serious, the Khawaja Bros Mini Market in Chorlton has shut, hopefully temporarily. They appear to be having some major work done at the front, possibly due to the very pot holed and dangerous pavements of Chorlton being made more so by their vegetable boxes, full of fresh horseradish and Pakistani Mangoes spreading out almost to the main road. This is a fantastic shop (read the reviews here ) and I walk past it after getting off the bus on my way home from work. No more popping in for some giant naan breads or emergency paneer.

Of course if you don't live in Chorlton, this probably doesn't matter, but this isn't the only shop which is currently shut. The newsagent where I buy my Sunday paper has closed down, along with the Kebab shop only two doors away. All over Chorlton shops seem empty or being taken over by charity shops and fried chicken take aways. Something a little worrying is going on and I don't think this is limited to Chorlton - it's happpening everywhere.

Slowly, our high streets are dying. Slowly the march of progress towards the great homogonised Utopia of internet shopping and giant supermarkets selling no end of crap continues. We are doomed, doomed.

I am of course being a little hypocritical here. I do shop in supermarkets, as does almost everyone. Also, today I bought a food item online - but I'll write more about that more when it arrives.

I am lucky I live in Chorlton though - one of the few places left where you can still walk from your house to a butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, a vegetarian cooperative, cafes and a range of other local shops selling a range of things.

I'll miss is when it's all gone, but go, I am sure, it all will.

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For dessert I made a sort of mixed up pear cheesecake. It was very tasty.

Menu

  • Koftas
  • Chips
  • Greek Style Courgettes
  • Pitta Bread
  • Yoghurt with Cucumber and Mint
  • Pickled Hot Peppers
  • Salad




    Ingredients*

    Koftas
    450g Minced Lamb
    1/2 tsp Powdered Garlic
    1/2 tsp Nutmeg
    1/4 tsp Black Pepper
    1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
    1/4 tsp Salt
    Little Flat Leaf Parsley (Chopped)
    		 Greek Style Courgettes
    1 Courgette
    1 Tomato
    1/2 Onion
    1/2 Red Pepper
    1 Clove Garlic
    1 TBSP Olive Oil
    1 tsp White Wine Vinegar
    Salt & Pepper
    		 Mixed Up Pear Cheesecake
    100 ml Double Cream
    2 TBSP Marscarpone Cheese
    1 TBSP Sugar
    1 tsp Vanilla Extract
    2 TBSP Pear Puree
    4 Digestive Biscuits
    Giant Chocolate Buttons

    Note: The chips were home made but as I was using the large grid on my chipper, they look exactly like chip shop chips. I was going to make little fried potato discs, but Isis started moaning and I gave in to her demands.


    Preparation

  • Koftas: Mix everything together really well then form into small balls (about the size of a satsuma). Thread onto a skewer then form into sausage shapes. To cook: They are easiest (and least messily) cooked in a hot oven (200c). They need to be on a grill or suspended above a tin by their skewers so that they don't sit in any fat which drips off them. Cook for about 12mins.
  • Courgettes: Dice the onion and pepper. Sweat slowly in a little olive oil until soft then add a clove of garlic (minced). Cook a little longer then add the courgette - chopped into chunks - and a little wine vinegar. When the courgette is soft, add a chopped tomato and cook for a minute or two more.
  • Cheesecake: Put the cream, sugar and vanilla in a bowl and whip until stiff. Whip in the marscarpone. Crunch the biscuits in a mortar and pestle and mix in. Swirl in the pear puree. Put in glasses and chill. Serve with a giant chocolate button on top.

    Today’s Ratings:

    Isis: Chips, Koftas Cheesecake- yum.
    Eve: Chips, Pitta Bread - yum.
    Olias: Sucked on a chip and gummed vegetables and kofta. Went bonkers for the cheesecake.

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    JCBorresen@GMail.com