I’ve always cooked, I always enjoyed cooking too. So have my family, though I must admit this is one for me only. Its a damned side cheaper than the sauces you get in the shops, plus its not got pointless preservatives either. I use mine to add to Dhal at the table that I make for the the family that is mild enough for the kids but too bland for my pallet, it gives it a fine kick.

The next time I make it I’m going to char the chillies as I think it will give it a smokier edge. If you try it leave a comment and let me know how it worked out. Leave a comment and share if you improve on it too.

ingredients:

• 3 large fresh chillies
• 1 tea spoon unrefined sugar
• a pinch of raw sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
• 1 clove of garlic
• 3 table spoons of sunflower oil (or any other mild oil)
• 2 table spoons of white or balsamic vinegar
• 1 tea spoon of dried chillies

directions:

This couldn’t be simpler.

• boil the fresh chillies in a bowl of boiling water for 3 minutes. You can also add a glass jar upside down to sterilize it along with its lid.
• mix the other ingredients in a bowl.
• when the chillies are boiled, add them to the other ingredients and blend well.
• pour into the jar and let cool before putting in the fridge.

That’s it.

Enjoy!

It has for me the perfect attributes as follows.

• Great coffee, to define what I meen by Great Coffee it must be hot, strong, not to bitter, with enough soya milk to make it creamy, fair trade & organic, served in a large sturdy earthenware bowl.
• Engaging decor, something not to generic that looks like its could have been bought in the cafe wholesaler, either down the tacky retro modern isle or the cheesy sudo-vintage isle. I prefer solid, wholesome hand crafted decor that looks practical and conscience, natural, warm and friendly and not to precious, old miss matched, sofas, table and chairs and hand made crocory.
• Music thats condusive to eating and enjoying it, music you can talk over to your loved ones and still sit there bobbing along to.
• Great food, well presented, vegetarian or vegan & organic, served on beautiful plates in good mesure, with plenty for the kids to choose from at a price that is as palatable as the food is tasty, presented with love and character.
• Children friendly with stuff for them to play with, staff and other guests that dont mind kiddie activity, staff that dont pass ho drinks over children heads and place then in grabbing range.
• Interesting art on the walls for sale at prices that make it affordable to a normal budget, and they sell the crockery made by the wonderful Petra Meyboden at Puketai Pottery we came away with a few pieces and plan to build up our shelves at home with more as and when we find it.
• Happy helpful and knowledgeable international staff.

I long to go back there again an plan to (cash and work commitments willing) return around the end of February to stay across the road and spend a fine 36th birthday there.

My only areas of critisism are.

• Perhaps a small menu aimed at children.
• larger range of local artisan products for purchase

But I’m just being picky now.