Tofu Masala ftw

Today I finally got around to making that Yeung Man Cooking recipe, and it's the kind where you need to be in the zone of process. Also have plenty of spices.

As you see, two counters in play, one for the spices, one for the two boards of veggies and tofu for chopping, mincing, dicing.  

I had to do  a couple of substitutions, crushed for sliced tomatoes, no shallots, used extra red onions, and I added in a handful of chard. I thought it would work okay and it did. I like my green leafy vegetables every day.

Since my adventure a while back when I got hot pepper somehow into my eye, hours after I'd handled it, I  now use kitchen gloves to handle hot peppers, also I chop them when they're frozen, so the oils aren't in action. Likewise I chop onions frozen, same reason.

Will Yeung never does these workarounds, he must be ironclad.

It's a lot of sequences, each needing a couple of minutes sauteeing, until the last stage of cooking covered for ten minutes.

That's when I put away all the spices and cleaned up the counters, and took a rest. But that sequential cooking is why it's so good. You literally experience layers of flavor when you eat, every forkful a bit different from the others.

This one is spicy, so if you're not spice friendly you'd need to dial it back. The coconut milk at the end is vital to take the raw edge off the spices leaving a lovely heat. 

I suppose other equivalents would work if you don't like coconut milk or cream. Other milks, maybe. Or dairy cream if you're not vegan. I'm not vegan, I just like how interesting and light to digest Will's dishes are.

And here's the last stage, before the tofu and red onions are reintroduced to the spicy sauce, then lunch 

This is really an Indian dish, though presented by a Chinese Canadian chef. 

I got three meals from this recipe. For Will it's one!

And I did some urgent winnowing too dull for pictures. It's that deep cabinet in the corner under the counter where stuff falls about and mounts up and gets a person really annoyed when she can't find things and they fall down the back out of reach.

Mostly its reusable containers from yogurt and cheeses, useful but I don't need that many. Also glass jars, lidless, lids, jarless, you know.

A large bag went into the recycling and now I have the number of containers I need, all with lids, so smug.

A late note about birds. As you know if you keep them, birds are social and ready to join in any conversation that's going. That includes when you're trying to do serious business on the telephone if you work from home as I did for many years.

One client stopped me in mid negotiation to ask "Is that a tape running or are you calling from a jungle paradise?"  I explained and he sounded so envious. 

And as I was about to finish this post, and make a pot of tea, this happened 

A present from dear Mary! As you see, perfectly timed to appear on the teatable with English Breakfast tea and sharp cheddar, Yorkshire style.  

Thank you for all of it! So good. And the fruitcake is definitely staying here, despite being 40proof! Perfect afternoon tea doings. I love it.  And you.

Happy day everyone, let's do like Jimmy did in his long life! And I note that the country's flags will be at half staff throughout January and beyond. That includes the inauguration..