Fancy a wee chat while we wait for our Book thread?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:03

Hi folks,
Any more to come on-line I wonder? Hasn't it been a nice day today?
Everyone had fun?

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:03

Why yes, it's been lovely. I've had a fun day. You?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:06

Great thanks.
Bumped into an old pal and her family on the beach and sat and chatted for a couple of hours and shared their picnic. Caught up on gossip and then home for a roast chicken dinner and, seeing as how Ali was cooking, it came with a lemon shoved up it's nethers and covered in tarragon!!!
Yummy.

sicker · Post by **sicker** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:07

Where are all the guests?

John

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:08

Had busy day - went up town to try and find some mustard oil, but no-one had even heard of it! Needed it for Indian recipie for goosegog chutney.

Anyone know where I could find some!?

Post by **wangi** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:08

need another 5 punters...

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:11

Poppy wrote:
Anyone know where I could find some!?

I guess you could make it, but I wouldn't know if it would be mustard seeds you would need or something else... I've not come across it myself. Chutney sounds lovely though!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:12

I'll have some of that K!

Beach Babe · Post by **Beach Babe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:18

so what's happened to the book thread then?

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:18

So you both get points for porty person bagging, then, ecm and poppy?!

Do you suppose everyone took a little too much refreshment on a sunny day at the beach?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:23

Yes - we bagged each other in McCalls the a day or after the first post on this subject - ecm being on leave at the time so we couldn't [fortunately!] do it at work!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:23

I think the whole thing has been a cruel hoax and Bob and our book thread host are off to a pub somewhere laughing at the thought of us all here blethering. But hey, we don't need them, do we?

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:25

yes, stopped off for a pint at Bedford and saw the belly dancing while chilling out to the moroccan music, great Sunday.

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:25

Well, funny you should say that, our illustrious host was last seen some time ago at the Bedford Arms...

Beach Babe · Post by **Beach Babe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:30

ah, so that'll be who we saw a wee while ago behaving in a drunk and disorderly manner

Post by **wangi** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:31

Well, I saw Bob along from the Belford - along as in the leaving direction. There were still a few bellydancers outside the Belford then (about 5, half five?)...

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:32

Bellybabe - you and your cohorts have hypnotised Bob with your snakey hips and jewel encrusted navels - shame on you all!

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:32

Well, i left with the family about five. Seems there were lots of portistas there but I don't know anyone!!!

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 19:34

ecm wrote:Bellybabe - you and your cohorts have hypnotised Bob with your snakey hips and jewel encrusted navels - shame on you all!

Cool!!!

BB

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 01 Aug 2004, 20:29

Bellybabe, as it's all gone quiet on the book chat, it's back to the chutney issue. I eventually bough 'Bengali olive oil' in Harvey nick's [of all places], but still have a week to find the real thing as the goosegogs are to be kept warm in the jar for a week coated in spices then the oil added. The problem is the book is an Indian cookbook published on 1954 - it says that one can order tamarind from the local chemist!!!

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 22:21

Poppy,

Hm... I found this info on google...which seemed strange...

History
Historically rape oils were poor quality, containing high levels of eructic acid and the meal contained high levels of glucosinolates. After WW2 breeders reduced the level of eructic acid to very low levels so the oil became a quality oil for human consumption and in the 80's the glucosinolates were also bred out so the meal became an excellent protein source for animal feed. Glucosinolates break down into mustard oil which gives mustard and other brassicas (including leaf brassicas) their characteristic bitter/hot flavour. It is very toxic and is one reason why brassicas have very few specialised pests.

And looking further, i found that mustard oil, from oil seed rape, is only sold in the UK for external use (masage etc) as it is believed there is some sort of health risk. It is suggested other vegetable oils are used in place of it in recipes.

Don't know if that helps at all?
Jewel encrusted BB!

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 01 Aug 2004, 22:44

Further to my previous post, it seems that there was a scare in 1998 when some people died in new Delhi, I think, after using contaminated mustard oil. However, whilst it comes with the warning I mentioned, it is apparently sold in Indian grocers, and wholegrain mustard is mustard that has not has the mustard oil removed, so it seems a little strange that it's thought to be dangerous as oil, but not when it's actually in mustard.

Make of this what you will!

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 02 Aug 2004, 09:59

Bellybabe

Thanks for this - I've had a look at Google too and got totally confused between rapeseed mustard oil and the real thing and whether the real thing is still banned!

Must do some more investigation before trekking down Leith Walk to visit the Indian food shops there. Or just compromese by adding mustard powder [although that's not easy to find either!] to the Bengali Olive Oil for a few days.

Wish I'd just made crumble now

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 02 Aug 2004, 21:02

BB

Had a look at 'deliaonline' and found a bit about oil being released from mustard when cold water added. So I got some mustard powder today ..... then left it on the bus!

Then I had a brainwave linking your wholegrain mustard info and delia's words of wisdom - I ground some mustard seeds in the coffee grinder, added cold water and ended up with VERY pungent substance which might well do the trick. What it will do to any coffee I grind from now on is another matter!

Thanksvery much for your help,
Poppy

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 02 Aug 2004, 21:10

Not sure I was any help really! But was going to say real foods sell msutard powder if you were having difficulty finding it - obviously not, as you've donated it to LRT!

Do we all get to sample it? Maybe when we take up Bob's suggestion of a pint and a trip to the sculpture?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 02 Aug 2004, 21:18

BB

Don't know when the chutney will be ready to eat. But if it turns out OK you're welcome to try some!

Is Bob buying the pint? If so, I'm sure ecm and I will be along!