Greeting folks

Arrived in Sussex yesterday for a few days after a holiday to Italy. Am also catching up with my daughter who was lucky to meet Mamta and Kavey at their Covent Garden stall and who bought for me a selection of their pickles and sauces..... now even though I really like Italian food, I realise that rice and spicy food are my forte.

Tonight my yearning (after 3 weeks and risotto is just not the same)was made real with an added surprise... my daughter gave me the three jars - Chilli and ginger pickle (hot enough to give a good kick to the tastebuds but not to spoil the flavour),Tamarind Ketchup ( very tasty)and Lemon Pickle (devine).

All were too delicious to hog to oneself and the family were really chuffed when I offered it around.

I am also now the proud owner of one of Mamtas Kitchen apron.

Unfortunately my health suffered significantly as a result of being exposed to passive smokers in Italy and we head back to Australia on Sunday but today has been a good end to the holiday.

Ciao

June

ps writing this in your time zone is quite novel too:)

Glad you have enjoyed things, but a great pity about your health, hope you aren't suffering too much (or should that be at all !), sounds like the bounty was enjoyed by all thanks for sharing.... :-)

Steve

Oh I'm soooo sorry to hear about your health problems. :( I hope you feel better soon.

It was a pleasure to meet your daughter at the stall. Hope her photo came out!

I hadn't connected that it was her who bought the apron recently, as I do remember her visiting the stall and telling us she was buying for her mum. I'm so proud of our aprons as they're really well designed and robust - proper catering aprons from a company that supplies the catering/ hospitality trade.

I hope you like it too!

Thank you for your message! Oh and very glad you're enjoying the jars of goodies!

:)

The stall produce was great wasn't it! I too had a 'chutney-feast' with a friend on returning from the stall. Alas all the contents are long gone but the jars recycled (even down to the golden gauze) with more chutney made from Mamta's recipes. I keep on looking at them longingly but am trying to keep them for Christmas.

I hope the Sussex air has helped to restore your health and you have a good flight back to Australia. The chutney may be gone but the recipes and your apron will last for ever!

Hello JL

I wish you good health soon, very soon :-).

I am glad you liked my (Kavitas) pickles, she had worked very hard for putting he stuff for her stall together.

It is hard to typ on this keyboard, it keeps skipping etters!

Mamta

Thanks to all for the god wishes. Have had to use your NHS twice within 24 hours and I must say I am very impressed (they even lent me a nebulizer until I fly out). I suppose respiratory problems have a priority the world over.

I was discussing with one of the family members here of making small jars of chutney as a Christmas gift, and as she was able to taste it wil give her and me more incentive.... Plan on doing tomato ketchup, lemon pickle, chilli and ginger, plus also the cummin biscuits(yummy)....any other suggestions folks? Would try the tamarind chutney but not sure if the packet tamarind is the best choice as fresh tamarind is hard to find back home.

Kavey, yes the picture of mum and Astrid came out a treat, and the apron will definitely be put to good use

love

June

There are so many Indians in Australia, I am sure you can get Tamarind packets in Australia.

Take some from here, it is quite light.

Really pleased the NHS treated you well.

For all that we Brits criticise it (and there is much to legitimately criticise) it's still a fantastic institution on the whole.

Ever since my one-off stall I've been making chutneys and ketchups and jams myself! I'd never done it before that but now I'm addicted!

I've made blackberry jam (with foraged blackberries, just blackberries, sugar and a little extra pectin), mango and lime jam (with some mangos I was given as a gift - recipe on my blog, Kavey Eats), a green tomato and raisin chutney (recipe on my blog), a batch of spicy red tomato ketchup (recipe on MK) and two batches of spicy green tomato ketchup (using the recipe for red but omitting the optional red pepper). Phew!

And I've kept back some jars of my stall produce for ourselves and for Christmas presents, though some things I've sold out of!

Regarding the tamarind ketchup (listed as tamarind chutney on this site), it's actually made with blocks of tamarind pulp, not with fresh tamarinds so you should be all set to make this at home. I adore this sauce, with it's sharp, sweet, sour flavour! I had such fantastic feedback on the batch I made for the stall, though being picky, I think it could have done with being reduced a touch further to make a little thicker. You can make it in bulk (as I did) and then keep some in the freezer or in any cool, dark space. Open bottles should be kept in the fridge. Mum puts one jar's worth into a squeeze plastic ketchup bottle to make it easy to serve!

Do please be a regular visitor to our discussion boards - we love hearing from our site users not just about what they're cooking but general life chat too!

Best wishes for a safe journey home and catch up soon!

Kavey

Hmmm my mistake, as the tamarind ketchup was nice I wrongly assumed that the tamarind must have been fresh. Yes we do get the packets of dry tamarind back home and Mamta you are right Australia has a large Indian/Sri Lankan community and there are many specialty shops plus the larger grocery stores carry a fairly good selection.

Thanks for the other suggestions Kavey, will peruse the recipe search site now, something to while away the time:)

Once home and organised I will be in touch for further advice and to let you know how it goes in the kitchen.I know my husband will be happy to be the 'taster' always was asking....." anything from mamtas tonight hahahahahah"

Yes I am very grateful to your health service and will let them know too. We too have a subsidised service, but not as extensive. Thank goodness we and you do not have one like the one in the US!

June