Wearing my Teflon Coat

Last week saw the beginning for school for my Number 4.

He hopped into his school uniform with the excitement that comes for the beginners.

It is either that or anxiety.

Number 4 has been waiting and waiting for the day.

And so it came.......

And so off he went.......

Another one.

It makes me a mix of happy & sad.

Happy for him at all that is ahead.

Sad for me that it signals the beginning of the next part of him growing up.

But I still have another with me.

So off we went alone.

Just the littlest & me.

Imagine!

That for me is something I have not been able to do for over 10 years.

Just me and ONE child.

It was liberating.

Back when I had only one child I was a beginner too.

Bound by my own stress & worry & nervousness that comes as a new parent.

Not able to just purely enjoy the moment.

Always thinking about sleep time, whether I had packed the right snacks etc etc.

Not anymore......those things don't worry me.

I know it works itself out.

So we went to Ikea and I felt free.

Free to enjoy.

Free to take time.

Free to just be.

Free to let my littlest run....

Let the judgers judge.

Let the grumps grump.

Let the brows crease as people look at me letting my child climb & run.

He is doing no harm.

He is being a child.

He is still able to enjoy the freedom of living in the moment.

I will help him make that last as long as I can.

Much like I don't let the minutiae of parenting get to me anymore I have also learned to wear a teflon coat to protect me from the people who judge the way I parent.

Sometimes the teflon coat gets holes and I need to patch it up.

Sometimes I wish I had the quick responses to their barbs.

They always come later don't they....the comebacks.

Darn it.

Just once I wish I could deliver a line of awesomeness that silenced those judgers.

Never mind.

They're not really listening anyway.

MADHUR JAFFREY'S RED PEPPER CURRY (Lal Masale Wali Murghi):
This curry is a real long time fave- for most of my family. I know my sister cooks it fairly regularly too. 
my kids and I love to try and say it's name really fast- tongue twister style.
My sister gave me my copy of Madhur Jaffrey's classic- 'Indian Cookery' way back in 1992! It is still going strong despite being well splashed with cooking ingredients.
This curry is from that book. 
It is a great curry for kids as it is flavoursome but doesn't need to be hot- the chilli is optional and it tastes fab without it. 
Madhur like Charmaine Solomon is one of the best recipe writers for curries out there I reckon.  Both of their books have stood the test of time. 
Don't be put off by the list of ingredients! 
As long as you have a food processor it is a VERY simple recipe.


WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 large chicken, jointed - or pieces of your liking. You will get  a much tastier dish if you cook meat with bones. 
• 2 onions
• 1 inch piece of ginger
• 4 cloves garlic
• 25g ground almond
• 350g red capsicum 
•  2 teaspoons coriander
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon chilli (optional)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 225ml water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper

METHOD:
If your spices are whole grind them (it really is worth roasting them gently before you do this to release more flavour).


Place onion, ginger, garlic, red capsicum (or pepper), almond meal, & all spices in the food processor and blitz till a paste. 


Heat a heavy based saucepan to a medium heat & add oil.

Add the blitzed mix and fry gently. Stir until the oil starts to separate from the paste.


This will take about 10 minutes or so.  


Put the chicken in and stir to coat all pieces.


Add water, lemon juice & black pepper.


Reduce heat and allow to simmer gently for an hour or so.


Serve with rice.

I love this song by Mick Harvey...it seems appropriate. What works for some doesn't for others....compassion and understanding are good things to remember.