Parcels of Peace

I walked past a shop window yesterday and saw a mobile of paper cranes made from all different styles of paper and I instantly had the need to make some. I haven't done this since I was a child and I regretfully admit I sacrificed a small tree in the process (albeit I will redeem myself next week by adding another tree to my garden in pots). I love these cranes and understand now why they represent peace - once you get over the paper cuts and frustration they are so therapeutic and peaceful to make. I have found an old vase as a home for my creations and I am just smitten with them.

You'll Need:

120gsm acid free paper (recommend different paper patterns - i am itching to yet find some!)

Instructions - http://www.origami-fun.com/origami-crane.html

patience....

Herbs for Life

Having accomplished the growth of my herbs without any green thumb causalities along the way, I came to the last of my chillies and coriander today and thought no better last supper for these guys than to cook them in my first curry on such a dreary Sunday. My reservations on curries the past have been the idea of taking something from a jar that is so mass produced that you have no real idea what you are consuming - so to put it lightly I've never been a fan.

Before I go off sounding likely a born and breed organic evangelist, I must confess my adoption of fresh produce cooking has only been a recent revelation of mine since discovering how simple it is to do, not to mention the many benefits rewarded. The less I've consumed from a package or box, the more flavor, sustenance and health benefits I've experienced for very little extra effort. This recipe by Jamie Oliver which can be found on his fabulous iphone App is anything but mass produced and has completely changed my perception of a curry being an oily concoction of gosh knows what and appreciating it for the lovely fresh flavors of authentic indian cuisine. I loved cooking this dish just as much as I enjoyed sharing it with a special someone tonight so I urge others to try it. WARNING: After preparing and eating this you will never be able to eat something out of a jar again.....neither will those who you share it with Xxx

Lamb Rogan Josh with Lemon Rice
600g lamb fillet
1 lemon
300g basmati rice
5cm ginger (fresh)
5 garlic cloves
3 medium red onions
2 fresh red chillies (hero of the dish!)
70g butter
8tsp natural yogurt (i use greek)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp rogan josh curry paste
2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp paprika
1 x 400g tin of peeled tomatoes
1 tsp black pepper
8 sprigs of fresh coriander (Jamie's recipe uses mint although I find the coriander works real well)

PS: This looks off putting at first because there are lot of ingredients. But if you consider most of them are dry spices, if you don't have already, once bought they can be easily stored and accessed in your pantry for many more times to come.

1. Place a a saucepan full of water on to boil.
2. Once the water is boiling add the rice, lemon zest and squeeze the juice of half the lemon into the water. Cook the rice according to the packet instructions.
3. Peel the ginger, garlic and onions. Halve and de-seed the peppers and chillies.
4. Add the ginger and garlic to a food processor and whiz to a puree. Take out 2 Tsp of the mixture and hold to one side.
5. Quarter 2 of the onions and add these to the food processor with one of the peppers and one of the chillies. Whiz again until you have a puree.
6. When the rice is cooked, drain and return to the saucepan with a lid to cover with the lemon half and a small knob of butter.
7. Take the lamb and slice into strips and place into a mixing bowl.
8. Add 2 tsp of garlic and ginger puree to the mixing bowl with turmeric, 4 tsp of yogurt, smoked paprika, black pepper and stir together.
9. Put a frying pan on a medium heat and slice the remaining onion, pepper and chili.
10. Once the pan is hot and the puree from the processor, the sliced onion, pepper and chili, the curry paste, garam masala and paprika.
11. Turn up the hear and stir together for a few minutes.
12. In a separate pan, place the marinated lamb on a hot pan to brown on both sides for a few minutes.
13. Once the puree mixture has browned up and the tin of tomatoes and simmer gently on a moderate heat - adding a splash of water if it starts to look dry.
14. When the lamb is cooked in the other pan - combine with the puree/tomato mixture and prepare to serve over the lemon rice.
15. Enjoy topped with a small spoon of natural yogurt an coriander....

Garden of Eden

There were so many things I was just buzzing to write about but I thought it best to start at the beginning with the basics. I think the most natural and gratifying thing someone can do is plant something, watch it grow and make use of your efforts produce.

I recently planted an herb bucket not only for the culinary convenience and indulgence of having access to fresh herbs on a daily basis, but to test my green thumb and plant something for the first time.

My expectations were not high however my enthusiasm was binding to see this venture through. There was not much gardening skill involved and the results were instant as I choose to plant pre-potted herbs, although once I had picked my selection of herbs with careful planning and potted them in the bucket I was smitten.

This tiny bucket of pre-mature green herbs became my enjoyment every evening when I would get home from work tenderly watering the bucket - scanning for any signs of additional growth. I left them to settle for 3 painful weeks before at last blissfully taking to the rosemary with my scissors.

8 weeks later my herb bucket is still going strong and is the gift that keeps on giving. My red chilies are now fully mature and those fiery suckers are so special added to a meal. The basil has grown so much I think I’ll have to cut it all back and make jars of pesto so not to waste it.

I challenge everyone to take up this simple pleasure, which is getting back to nature and enjoying the fruits of your efforts.

You will need:-
Plastic 25L bucket
High grade potting mix (Yates works well)
Herb Support Fertilizer
Pre-potted Herbs (I used Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Red Chili, Contentential Parsley, Coriander and Basil in this order)
Water
Love

Beginnings of a Petticoat for Jane

Inspiration comes from many sources at different times of your life. Mine came when I hit another 20 something age and found all my efforts to capitalize on all the opportunities favored upon me as a babe of Generation Y left me feeling a little lacking in inspiration personally.

I have always been one who wanted to embrace every prospect in life to learn and grow and had many fanatical careers I wanted to aspire to. My aspirations lead me to complete two degrees and land a corporate career that has granted many challenges and rewards and continues to do so.

I was very satisfied with my life and the direction it was heading. I was independent, earning my own way, had great friends, had a great love and the world was my oyster and many ways all these things still apply.

However just as soon as I was blissfully content I became as quickly restless. It was not progressive, more something that came to me one day when I was passing through a trance at the conclusion of yet another working day that I gazed over another fellow workingwoman on the ferry with calmness and content that was quiet unusual for the 6pm rush hour. This woman featured all the artifacts of the working day’s drain, blouse slightly creased and a pair of heels discarded in a Harrods bag, however she did not bear the same depleting stares as the rest of the commuters. I soon noticed the source of this woman’s content. Nestled in her lap were two pearly sticks rhythmically knitting from a small ball of beige twine. 1,2,3….1,2,3…

Inspiration hit me at that moment and has never left me since. The chance spotting of a lone commuter has spun me into a drive and yearning that I never thought to exist within me.

I never took home economics at school, rather history, biology and chemistry as they were regarded as good prerequisites for university so my domestic skills did and still do leave much to be desired. I had so many lost opportunities to watch and learn from the domestic masters of my grandmothers as generations did before, although as a child of the 80’s I was more interested Malibu Barbie and Nintendo.

The motivation of starting a Petticoat for Jane blog is to share my new found inspiration to undertake domestic challenges unbeknown and relatively taboo to many girls of my generation. I wish to share the appreciation of the simple pleasures in life and to prove that to be accomplished domestically does not mean choosing between a career or being a housewife, rather a personal indulgence that can be enjoyed by all occupations.