Murgh makhani and other Indian feats

Yesterday was an unexpectedly Indian kind of day.

Morning walk yielded this neighbor's artwork, a little early for Diwali, but maybe it's a welcome to visiting family. Stenciled chalk.

Then I followed through on a plan to make the fairly modern Indian dish, butter chicken, murgh makhani. It's rich with butter and cream, for me whole milk, and takes a bit of doing, not high-level skills, just time.

I followed the Bombay Chef on YouTube for this but had to adapt the ingredients to what I had. Instead of fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, big chunk, a la America's test kitchen where I first saw that substitution.

I didn't have crushed methi leaves, just the seeds (aka fenugreek) so I crushed a few of them. I did have all the spices, chili powder, garam masala, all that, why are you not surprised.

First you marinate, really rub, the chicken pieces in spices, leave a while, then make what I call the sauce, Indians call the gravy.  

This involves another slew of spices, garlic paste, I used minced fresh, ginger paste, I used minced fresh, tomatoes, I used paste, onions, he used shallots, butter galore, cream, whole milk for me, sugar,  malt vinegar, cashews, lengthy simmering, blend till smooth, add in the chicken now fried, and heat all over again, then taste. Wow. Worth the work. 

Container, minus one emergency helping for the cook in case there are no leftovers, now in the freezer, ready for next week's Handsome Son dinner Chez Mom. To be served over jasmine rice.

Later I went out with my spade to dig up that errant sedum I'd promised to my neighbor, Aditha. She instantly ran out to help and I explained it was for her anyway, so she and her husband happily transplanted it across to her side of the little front area. 

So it's now out of harm's way, too close to the sidewalk before, being trodden on by kids playing, threatened by landscapers edging.

Indian art, cooking and neighbors gardening, not a bad day.

Today I still have to eat, here cream of  tomato, chickpea, cashew.  Thai basil starting to grow again in the house, ready to garnish everything that gets within range.

Unhemmed napkin playing a finished one on this blog.

And Neighbor Gary is coming over to replace the ceiling light later. 

Later Textiles and Tea. All good.