Hi,

I'm celebrating a special birthday later this year (OK, my 60th) and I'd like to cook something 'special'.

Have you got a recipe that would fit the bill?

Regards,

Martin

Happy Birthday in advance

What sort of occasion will it be, e.g. intimate diner, buffet, sit down banquet (!) Any dietary loves or hates?

Mamta does have some menu planning at:

http://www.mamtaskitchen.com/tip_display.php?tip_id=4

Regards, Winton

It's funny, but I have been cooking Indian food for close on 18 years, and I'd say that in the last couple of years I have come to see Indian food in a completely different light. To cut a long story short, it really is a fantastic cuisine and very healthy IMHO - nothing like I initially thought it was (and I have takeaway and cookery books to thank for that). Watching Indian chefs on YT and having been an avid fan of MK for a long time my eyes have really been opened to something magical. I now find myself eating more of a vegetarian diet (purely because I love Indian veggie food) and I eat at least one Indian dish every day. I can now see why there are so many vegetarians in India, purely because the vegetarian food tastes so great!! Whatever you choose to cook on your BD, I wish you a happy one. :o)

Sid

I missed this thread somehow Martin!

Have you decided on a theme or is it going to be a mix and match? Is it a buffet or a sit down meal? How many people?

Hi again,

My guests will mostly have eaten indian meals in restaurants or prepared their own using proprietsry sauces.

Anything off the beaten teack might be too different to taste buds or expectations.

So:

Dish No1 will be Chicken Tikka Masala (already made minus the cream)

Dish No2 will be Coriander & Coconut Chicken (already made)

Dish No3 will be a fish dish

Dish No4 will be a lamb dish - thinking of a pasanda

Dish No5 will be Pork Vindaloo

It will be a buffet type do.

Vegetables will be Railway Journey Potatoes, Onion Bhaji, Mixed Vegetable Pakoras, Stuffed Aubergines.

Rice dishes - suggestions welcome

I've made & frozen Green Mango Chutney. I'll serve a yoghurt raita, Kachumbar, and a sweet chutney (suggestions).

Breads will be chapati, pappadoms & a couple of parathas. (all bought I'm afraid)

Now desserts - a very sweet one (Julabi?), a fresh fruit salad and a creamy one with Pistachios perhaps.

I'll probably have a sorbet between 1st & 2nd courses.

Just ANY suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks for your interest,

Martin

Love the sound of this, where can I find the recipe?

By the way, I'm going to be 60 this year too, eek!

Happy Birthday to you!

Hi Nancy,

Dish No2 is from Anjum Ananad (Green Coriander Chicken). At the end I blitz coconut milk and green chilli (to taste) but 1 finger chilli does it for me. Add to the chicken & simmer gently.

Have a great birthday yourself!

Regards,

Martin

Thank you

Good Wishes!

Wow! What a menu! You will be busy for a few days beforehand I can see :-), but it will be great. Pasanada will be good. If you have a slow cooker, Lamb do-pyaza will also cook very nicely in it.

For fish dish, may I suggest Mackerel Fishcake. They can be made now and frozen. Serve with green chutney that you have already made.

All your vegetable dishes can be made in advance and frozen, to be heated in the oven on the day, except for train journey potatoes. They don?t freeze well, but can be made the day before and kept in the fridge. Paneer dishes freeze very well though, something like Matar Paneer or Spinach Paneer.

Rice dishes ? Since you have such a rich menu, how about a simple rice dish like , Plain Pulao Rice or , Peas Pulao Rice , so people can enjoy the flavour of other things? You could fry the onions well in advance and cook the rice 20 minutes before you serve. Your guests will be impressed.

For sweet chutney, how about; , Tomato Chutney

Jalebi is lovely :-). With a rich Indian meal, I always make a fresh fruit salad served with a good vanilla ice-cream or sometimes a kulfi. People find it refreshing. Most of my Indian friends have a fruit salad of some sort after dinner too.

I hope you are borrowing a couple of Hostess trolleys from your friends to get all that food hot without effort.

I am sure you will have a great party. Here is a link to one of my less ambitious party table; http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamta1/6971700939/in/photostream or here; http://www.facebook.com/mamtaskitchen

I don't know why the picture I have posted of a buffet table not coming on the opening page of mamtaskitchen face-book. You have to click on photos to see it!

Hi again,

I like the idea of the mackerel but as it has potato in it this might be too heavy to digest along with Railway Journey Potatoes. Then I remembered that gorgeous Spicy Pan Fried Fish we did on your cookery course. Again with Green Mango Chutney .........perfect. I agree with your suggestion about the rices ..plainest is bestist! The fruit salad will also be the Fruit Chaat Salad we did on your cookery course. The icecream will be vanilla served with coriander & pistachio tuiles. That makes about 80% of my birthday meal derive from your recipes!

I'll waft the aromas towards Luton as an homage on the day.

Can't wait to be sixty!

Regards,

Martin

Have a wonderful party Martin. I hope you don't tire yourself out too much beforehand.

Best wishes

Mamta

Hey Martin, wish you a very happy 60th. And look at your menu it is vast and yummy. I wonder if i will have that energy or even teeths at that age.

Haaa, Rajneesh, 60 is not so old, believe me your perspective on what "old" is changes every year. Mum is older than that, and she has teeth, hair and is looking GOOD!

Happy Birthday to Nancy too...

Just think of the benefits of being sixty - From free prescriptions, cheaper/free travel to 10% off at B&Q and a free gas safety inspection! Make the most of it.

Sounds fantastic Martin! All the best! Have FUN!

Cheers

Steve

What a lovely bunch you all are. Thanks to everybody for their great ideas and well wishes.

Best regards,

Martin

Hello Mamta,

I am intrigued after reading Martin's post and your reply. What are ' train journey potatoes? I have gone through the recipes listed and so ar have been unable to locatea the recipe.

Regards

June

Ps Happy 60th Martin:) hope the day is fun and memorable

It is a potato bhaji (no.2)

http://www.mamtaskitchen.com/recipe_display.php?id=10073

and very tasty too!