Thursday, June 19, 2008

Winter is here


Foggy Morning
Originally uploaded by Juju T
It's not too cold as yet, but it's really rainy. The closet in my apartment looks like it's having issues with letting outside moisture in, resulting in moldy coats. Not good. I really need to think of something more interesting to write about. but writing the blog at work, isn't very inspirational.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Morning in my new home


Morning in my new home
Originally uploaded by Juju T
After a couple of hectic weeks of packing, organising, cleaning, I have now moved into my new home in Summer Hill. I must say that the suburb is way better than the one I've lived in before and I am totally loving it. It has a very nice village feel about it and last weekend, a guy was playing jazz with his saxaphone in the rain and it was surreally beautiful. I am looking forward to unpacking the rest of my stuff and having friends over.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Rollercoaster ride of house hunting


Rollercoaster
Originally uploaded by Juju T
I have spent the last three weekends househunting and it ain't no fun at all. Imagine looking for a one-bedroom place with at least 30 people coming to see the property. One can't help but feel frustrated. That is how bad the rentals in Sydney are. But after all that, I managed to secure a place in Summer Hill ( a suburb just west of Sydney). It'll be good as it will be closer to my friends and I do love the area. Now I just have to start getting organised with packing, culling stuff I haven't used (had a dream about that last night) , and the removalists. Even though I was just getting used to Marrickville, moving to Summer Hill is exciting as it feels very much like moving to another country. (well more like a new routine). Marrickville has been very vietnamese and greek for me, and I do love having access to all the fresh produce. Summer Hill feels more European and it has a good deli and butcher in the village. I will move in about 2 weeks. Now I just have to think about what to do with the cat......

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The thought of moving

My apartment is on the market to be sold. That totally sucks ass. I've only lived there for almost a year (come 29 March). It's frustrating with rental market in sydney being so high and prohibitive. Sometimes, I wish that I have won the lottery and just buy myself a place to live. But like everyone, I have no such luck so I guess it's all about saving and maybe having a mortgage when I can.
I will be concentrating on moving to a place in Marrickville. Not too fussed about moving back to Newtown. It all comes down to price and availability. A lot of the places out there are dumps.

At least I can look forward to spending the weekend in Melbourne. Going there to celebrate my birthday's and M's was yesterday. So that should be nice.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Mughlai Chicken


Mughlai Chicken
Originally uploaded by Juju T
We've been having quite a bit of rain in Sydney. And that in turn has made the weather quite cool. Cool enough for a nice warming, Indian spiced chicken curry, Mughlai Chicken. It was delicous and I have a bit left for dinner sometime during the week!


Ingredients

2.5 cm fresh ginger, peeled
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon dried chilli
4 tablespoons of ground almond
half a cup of water
5 cardamon pods, bruised
1 cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
4 cloves
4 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
1.5 kg boned, skinned, chicken thighs, chopped into pieces
2 onions
200 ml of greek yoghurt
a cup of chicken stock
125ml cream
100g sultanas
1/2 teaspoon tumeric
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
75g toasted flaked almonds

Put ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, tumeric and chilli in a mortar and pestle and pound to a smooth paste. (You can also use a food processor if you like.) Then add ground almonds and water and mix to a paste. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a large pan on medium and then brown the chicken meat in batches. Once they have a nice colour, remove and set aside. Add the onion and cook until softened and slightly browned and then add the cardomon pods, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and cloves. Keep stirring to prevent the spiced onion mixture from catching. Add the pounded paste, and cook until everything starts to colour. Add the yoghurt, stirring gently until it becomes a thick sauce. Then add cream, stock and sultanas.

Put the browned chicken, along with all the juices that collect at the bottom of the bowl, back into the pan. The add garam masala, salt and sugar. Cook for 20 minutes or a gentle heat or until chicken is cooked through.

When serving, sprinkle with toasted flaked almonds.

Recipe from Nigella Lawson.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Sleepless in Sydney

My fault really. I went to bed about an hour after I've finished dinner. Indian. Needless to say, it was 2 am, and my dinner was repeating on me. So here I am awake, too late to go out, too early to go back to bed. Two hours later, I am still awake, still full and probably will be cranky tomorrow. SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT! New Years' Resolution, try to eat an early dinner. If not, then stay awake till after 3 hours to give food a chance to digest. *Burp*