Chicken Country Captain

Saturday 5/1/2013

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Diary and Notes

It’s off home today and I am feeling pretty knackered. Still no shower as the water isn’t yet back on, also my blow up bed kept deflating every hour or so and I spent half the night pumping it back up. By 6.30 am when all the kids started dancing around noisily I was almost beyond saving.

Fortunately our good chum Gavin rustled up some fresh pancakes and syrup for breakfast and although by now I was very smelly and very furry I was feeling a little chipper.

While eating breakfast Gavin did enquire as to whether everybody we knew ate breakfast together as a family and I let him know that we all still do - don't we? Every one of us.

It’s about 180 miles back to Manchester with 3 small children squashed in the back seat of a small car which is also full to the rafters with over 100 bags of clothes which Toni has brought for our needs. There are so many bags that at one point Eve (who is only 3) said:

“We have brought everything, but can’t find anything.”

Wise words indeed from the mouth of a child.

We needed to get back as Isis was going to a friend’s birthday party, which starts at 4.30.

We head off about 10.30 with plenty of time to make it. By some strange miracle all the way home there is almost no fighting, no “She’s touching me...”, no screaming or arguing from anyone. All the little snotlings sit happily in the back playing nicely and being as perfect as if trained by Mary Poppins herself. Very odd.

The ride back was so uneventful that I shall write no more.

When we got home I unpacked all the 345 bags again and had a shower and a shave.

In 5 days we did 527 miles, stayed at three different locations and met 4 relatives, 6 friends and their 7 children (it should have been 1 extra relative and 2 children but they couldn’t make it) and unpacked 1235 bags from the car at least 20 times. Not bad.

Toni took the girls off to the party and Olias and I set to cooking dinner.

Menu

Dry Chick Pea Curry

Basmati Rice

Naan Bread

The chick pea curry I had made some time ago and was in the left overs part of my freezer. Also the naan bread I bought.

Ingredients*

Chicken Country Captain
1 Small (1.5kg) Chicken
3 Onions
1 Can Tomatoes
2 Cloves Garlic
1cm Fresh Ginger
1 tsp Dried Thyme
1 Tbsp Oil
Handufl of Sultanas
1 TBsp Curry Powder (I used Bolst's)
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Few Coriander Leaves
1 tsp Vegetable Oil
2 Green Chillis
Salt

Preparation

Quarter the chicken removing the legs and breasts (on the bone). Use the remainer to boil for stock with a little water. After the stock has been boiling for about 1/2 an hour begin making the country captain.

Slice two of the onions and fry until turning brown in the oil. Add the chicken pieces and brown all over. Next add the garlic, ginger, and curry powder. When the spices are nicely fried and coating everything add the canned tomatoes (chopped) and dried thyme. Put the lid on and allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the lid, taste to see if more salt/pepper/curry powder/thyme etc. is needed and add the sultanas and stir in. Keep simmering gently, turning the chicken occasionally and topping up with the bubbling stock every now and again to form a thick sauce (the chicken should be just perfect after another 25 minutes). Before serving, slice the third onion and fry gently until golden brown in a little oil. When the onions are brown layer over the chicken and garnish with fresh chopped green chillis and a little coriander.

Today’s Ratings:

Isis: Not really in the mood after too much party food. Ate a bit of naan and tried the sauce, said it was nice.
Eve: Rice, bread - yum. Chicken, chick peas - yuk.
Olias: Had a bit of bread but the rest was too spicy so we let him off. He had some fruit, rusks and cheese.

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*All quantities are very approximate and for a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids aged 4 years, 3 years & 6 months)

JCBorresen@GMail.com