Anjanaas - A restaurant review

Great service, great food, unusual thali menu

 

Address: 57-59 Willesden Lane, Kilburn, London, Nw6 7RL

 

My son took me for Mother's Day and it was busy and buzzing. I had chicken tikka starter which was really succulent and soft. My husband chose the thali and loved the soup which came first. His only comment was there wasn't enough rice to soak up all the curry dishes in the thali, but he is on a diet so we didn't order extra. I gave him some of my pilau rice as the portion was plentiful, but then I have a small appetite these days. My son and I both chose the Khozi Varutha chicken curry which was hot....I asked for medium, so next time will ask for mild! I loved it as can take a hot curry but I didn't want to set off my head cold again as I was just recovering. It was too big for me and they happily boxed it for me to take home. My husband had the vermicelli pudding which came with the thali and it was very nice (I had a spoon). I had gulaab jamun and son had pistachio kulfi. The poppadoms were unusual and went down well. The house wine was fine.

Prawn Pilau - A family recipe from Northern India

This recipe was passed to me when I ran a dating agency in the 80's and 90's.  One of my clients who lived in Singapore asked all her medical friends for their favourite curry recipes.  So I thought I would share some with you.  I have had the recipe for about 30 years but am ashamed to say that I haven't made it yet, so there are no photos.  I have put it at the top of my TO MAKE LIST.  All I know about the lady who provided the recipe, is that she was a researcher at the Institute of molecular and cell biology at the National University of Singapore.

Ingredients for rice:-

2 cups of biryani rice
1/2 a teaspoon of yellow colouring mixed with a little water3 cinnamon sticks
5 cloves
3 cardamoms
1 large onion
3 tablespoons of ghee
salt to taste
sufficient water to cook the rice
2 sprigs of mint leaves
10 shallots sliced and fried

Ingredients for Prawn Pilau:-

1/2 a kilo of large prawns
2 sliced tomatoes
1 tablespoon of chilli powder (alternatives are fresh chillies or harissa paste or dried chillies)
1 teaspoon of turmeric
a small piece of ginger
3 cloves of garlic
5 shallots
10 blanched almonds
1 tablespoon of tomato puree
1 tablespoon of tomato ketchup
salt to taste
1 large onion, sliced finely
A little cooking oil of your choice

Method for cooking the rice:-

1. Wash and drain the rice.
2. Add salt and yoghurt to the rice.
3, Heat the ghee, fry the cloves, cinnamon, cardamoms and sliced large onion till fragrant.
4. Add rice, and fry for a while before adding water to cook the rice.
5. When the rice is cooked, add in the colouring, fry small onions and mint leaves.  Stir well.
6. Serve hot rice with the prawns.

Method for cooking the Prawn Pilau:-

1. Clean the prawns (slit to divide).
2. Blend the ginger, garlic and small onions.  Add this to the prawns and mix well.
3. Add chilli powder and turmeric.
4. Heat the oil and fry the large sliced onion.
5. Add prawns.  Fry for 4 minutes, stirring continuously.
6. Add in the ground almonds, tomato puree, tomato ketchup and sliced tomato.  Stir well and add in salt to taste.  Cook till dry for about 10 minutes.
7. Scoop rice on to a plate.  Fill the centre of the rice with prawn pilau.
8. Garnish with the mint leaves and crispy fried shallots.

Many of us wobble about making rice and I notice that this recipe doesn't specify how much water to use.  Personally, if I make a cup of rice, I would use a cup and a half of water and bring it to the boil, before simmering with a heat diffuser for 20 minutes with a tight fitting lid, and no peeping!!

Valerian

Valerian was often used to treat shellshock in the First World War.

It is one of the most powerful herbal remedies for a stressed nervous system.  It is thought to relieve anxiety  I believe medical herbalists use it for the treatment of severe insomnia and for reducing high blood pressure.  Valerian has a tranquillising effect and is mildly narcotic.  It can be drank as an infusion.  Using a concoction in the bath may ease skin rashes.

Valerian is a very powerful herb and must not be used to excess or with sedatives.

Root valerian can be placed in a rat trap to attract vermin.  Cats are attracted to valerian.

It's name comes from the Latin valere which means "to be well."  The Greek physician Galen named it "phu".  Quite appropriate as it doesn't smell very nice!

The plant isn't used for culinary purposes but it's believed over 400 years ago people in Northern England made soup from it.  It's best planted in moist soil in full sunshine or partial shade.

A light lunch option

Having a heavy dinner later?  What about this for a light lunch.  Spanish omelette with tomatoes in sesame seeds and olive oil with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Spicy Chicken Breasts and Spicy Rice

You will need:-

A white onion, sliced
Some sliced mushrooms
Olive oil and butter
A chicken breast for each person, preferably with skin to make it crispy.  Corn fed is best.
Mixed Mediterranean herbs or oregano
A handful of chopped coriander (cilantro)
A pinch of sea salt....Pink Himalayan if you have it
Ground black pepper
Lemon juice and wine

Melt the butter and olive oil in a frying pan then fry the onions and mushrooms.  Add the chicken, mixed herbs, seasoning, lemon juice and a splash of wine.  Simmer for 25 minutes to half an hour, until the chicken is cooked through.  Sprinkle on the coriander and serve with the spicy rice.

Spicy Rice

You will need:-

Butter and olive oil
Half an onion, sliced
Salt and pepper
Chopped Kenyan Chillies
Diced carrots (2 carrots)
A few sliced mushrooms
Basmati rice
Water to cook

Fry the onion in the butter and olive oil Then add the carrots as they take longest to cook, followed by the chillies and mushrooms.  Take add the salt and pepper.  Take a cup of basmari rice and stir gently into the mix, taking care not to break the grains.  Once the rice is coated in oil, add a cup and a third of water.  Bring to the boil and then cook on a very low heat (preferably using a heat diffuser) for about 25 minutes with no peaking. Don't forget a tight fitting lid. Personally I like to put a tea towel between the pan and the lid to seal in the steam.

A Quick Midweek Supper with Chicken Livers and Bacon

You will need:-

Chicken livers
4 bacon rashers, chopped
1 large white onion, diced
A couple of bay leaves
A tin of ratatouille
Salt and Pepper
1 teaspoon of oregano
A splash of Worcestershire sauce
Olive oil to cook or rapeseed if you prefer

Sweat the onions in the oil for a few minutes, then add the bacon followed by the chicken livers.  Add the other ingredients and simmer on a low hob for about half an hour.

A Winter Warming Drink

Suggested ingredients:

1 orange
Several cloves
A splash of port
A cinammon stick
A teaspoon of allspice
3 teaspoons of sugar
25ml of rum
25ml of brandy

Stick cloves into an orange.  Cook it in the oven for 15 minutes, on a tray, at 180C.
Cut it in quarters and put in a saucepan with port, cinammon, allspice, sugar, rum and brandy.  Don't bring to the boil if you want to retain the alcohol.  Serve warm in a pretty mug.

Mint Tea

Mint tea can be used as a relief from heartburn and other stomach complaints.  If your symptoms persist, consult a doctor.

Ingredients:

2 oz (50g) of fresh mint or
1 oz (25g) of dried mint
1 pint (600ml) of water

There are many types of mint.  Peppermint and spearmint are quite easy to find.

If using fresh mint, remove any large stalks and chop the leaves.  Place the mint in a teapot and add boiling water.  Leave for 10 minutes to infuse.  Then pour into a mug with a tea strainer.  It will keep for about 48 hours in the fridge and can be reheated in a saucepan.

Lavender Ice Cream

This unusual ice cream is nice served with brandy snaps.

Ingredients:

6oz of good quality honey, possibly lavender honey
3/4 pt of double cream
1 tablespoon of lavender flowers

Heat the honey in a small saucepan until it is clear.  Crush the lavender flowers and add them to the honey.  Add the cream and mix.  Transfer to an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

If you don't own an ice cream maker, then whisk the double cream until it is thick.  Add to the honey and lavender flowers and freeze, stirring every half an hour or so in order to break down any ice crystals.

Eating out at La Patagonia in Camden Town, London

Meat Eaters Will be Happy

 

We went with our son for his birthday and were impressed by the food, the wine, pleasant service etc. We had a mixture of starters and shared them. All very nice. The steaks were cooked to perfection. Even my husband was impressed and he doesn't normally like steak. There was a good choise of desserts.  Service was attentive.  If you like a properly cooked steak, this is the place for you.

A nice red wine, full bodied

A pickled aubergine starter

Empanada with three different fillings

A spicy sausage starter

Rosemary and Sage Hair Rinse

This is particularly good for dark hair, giving it a healthy glow.  There are anti-bacterial properties in rosemary which might help keep a dandruff free healthy scalp.   Sage should make the hair nice and shiny.

It will keep for about a week in the fridge.  Make the day before you need it, to let it infuse.

2 oz approx. of fresh rosemary
2 oz approx. of fresh sage leaves
1 pint of boiling water

Using a pair of kitchen scissors, snip the rosemary sprigs into a pyrex bowl.  Add the sage leaves and pour the boiling water on them.  Leave to infuse for 3 hours but preferably overnight.  Strain the mixture, using a plastic sieve, into a jug and then pour into a storage bottle (perhaps an old vinegar bottle).

After shampooing and rinsing your hair, tip some of the herb rinse over your hair and leave for half an hour.  Then rinse it off and dry your hair.

Mint and Rosemary Cologne - Home Made

Eau de cologne is easy to make from a blend of your favourite aromatic oils with water and alcohol.

They make a perfect gift for friends, male or female.

Get together the following:-

15ml of any fresh mint (1 tablespoonful)
15ml of rosemary leaves (1 tablespoonful)
1 lemon
1 orange
50ml (2fl oz) of vodka - a cheap one to use as an alcohol base
115ml (4fl oz) rosewater

You will also need:-

A plastic sieve
Small saucepan
A bowl
A jug and storage containers

Wash the rosemary and mint leaves then dry them.  Place in a bowl.  Heat the vodka in a pan and pour over the herbs.  Wash the lemon and orange.  Grate the peel onto the herbs.  Warm the rosewater in a pan and add to the mix.  Cover it and keep in the fridge for a week.  Remember to stir it every day.  At the end of the week, strain the mixture through a plastic sieve into a perfume bottle and seal.  It should keep for two weeks in the fridge, and can be used in the bath, or as a splash on.

An Oasis in Maida Vale, London, England

THE QUINCE TREE at CLIFTON NURSERIES

 I was greeted by a friendly member of staff at 12.30, so I asked if it would be OK to just have a coffee as I didn't want lunch so early.  I was alone and felt very welcome.  The staff were attentive.  If I wasn't such a cold soul, I would have sat outside with a blanket in the garden centre.  As I live a short bus ride away, and don't have a garden, I might book lunch and pick up a plant or two for my window box.  I didn't find the coffee expensive at £2.95.  It's central London.  Would recommend but didn't try the food yet.

February walking in Kensington Gardens

Kensington Palace and cafe

 

Queen Victoria

 

Bird bath?

                                                         Flowers in Hyde Park


This was a morning walk in Hyde Park, stopping at Kensington Palace for lunch.  To the side of the palace is a cafe and gift shop.

HERBS - Curry Plant

The curry plant is mainly grown for decoration.  It has mustard coloured flowers.  The name Helichrysum is Greek and comes from "helios" (sun) and "chrysos.  It is unrelated to curry leaves which are used in cooking.

However, a sprig of curry plant can be added to rice dishes to give a mild curry flavour.  Don't forget to remove the sprig just before serving.  The leaves are silvery grey and look rather like rosemary.

Curry plants look nice in a sunny spot, giving off a fragrance, especially after rain.  It doesn't like the cold and grows well in a warm climate.

The dried yellow flowers are a nice addition to pot pourri.

A branch can be hung in cupboards to deter moths.

HERBS - Basil

Basil is a culinary herb with aromatic leaves.  The leaves are best torn with the fingers.  It can be used to make pesto, sprinkled over pasta dishes and os useful in sauces.

Basil tea can be made by pouring hot water on a tablespoon of leaves.  It is meant to help with cold and flu symptoms as well as digestive upsets.  It is supposed to help nausea.  (not suitable for pregnant women).

A pot of basil in the kitchen will keep the flies away.  It is rich in Vitamins C and A as well as iron and calcium.  It contains zinc and potassium as well as magnesium and selenium.

There are many varieties of basil growing in different countries.  It probably orginated in India but is now popular in Europe, particularly in Italy.  What could be simpler than mozarella cheese, slices of tomatoes with a drizzle of olive oil and a few basil leaves scattered on top?  Fresh leaves can be infused in oil.

Basil grows best in a warm, sunny but sheltered spot.

Look out for Greek basil with smaller leaves.  The flavour is less pungent.

CHILLIED PORK CASSEROLE

1 large onion, chopped
Few garlic cloves cleaned and crushed
Pork fillet cut into cubes
1 tin of tomatoes
Some tomato puree
Mixed herbs and oregano
White wine
Butter beans (tinned)
Quarter tsp of red hot chilli and a few chilli flakes according to taste
Salt and black pepper

Fry the onion and garlic cloves, then add the pork and fry until browned.  Add the herbs, seasoning and the tin of tomatoes, stir in some tomato puree and add a good glug of the wine to provide cooking liquid.  Add the chilli and leave to cook for 1 hour then add the butter beans.

Eileen's Potatoes
Here’s the recipe for almond potatoes. Slice some new pots, or other and boil for around 10 mins in salted water. Meanwhile fry a slice red onion with some garlic in a little oil for three to four mins. Add half a teaspoon or so of turmeric and a good handful of flaked almonds. . Drain and add the potatoes and some rocket, I used parsley. Pour in some double cream and reheat. Transfer to an ovenproof dish, check seasoning salt and black pepper and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for around 30 to 40 mins  190-200.  Enjoy.

A nice London pub off the beaten track

They call it the hidden gem!  Worth a visit when you are in London.  I wish I discovered it earlier.  It's called the Mitre in Lancaster Gate, near Hyde Park.

http://www.mitrelancastergate.com/

I went there for lunch last week with our Hyde Park walking group. My friend brought her two young dogs who were made welcome. Most of us had the mulled gin to warm us up. I had the fish and chips which was better than any I have had at the seaside! The peas were really tasty. I couldn't finish it as the portion was mansized. My friends had a variety of things but the fishcakes looked yummy.

We stayed at the Corus Hotel over Christmas and were unaware of this pub a short stroll away. 

  

The photo is of the mulled gin.  Great after a wintery walk.