Dinner for ten.

There aren't many drawbacks about living the good life, being almost self-sufficient in fruit, vegetables and  wine, with the bonus of jabali (wild boar) every so often, but it means that because we don't go out very often we don't see friends very often either.  Some live as we do, growing fruit and vegetables and wine making but with live stock as well - chickens and rabbits mostly although some also have goats.   One couple we haven't seen since fiesta here in May although we can see the roof of their cortijo in the valley below.  We only go out about every 10 days or so, maybe not even that much, and they do the same.  But not on the same days as us, and not to the same shops.

So we decided to have a get together last night for 10 friends  - a curry night as we all enjoy  spicy food - and to catch up with with everyone.  I am the onion bhaji specialist, John is curry king.  Yesterday morning I made 72 bite-sized bhajis  (7 finely shredded onions, garlic, ginger, chillis, gram flour and curry paste plus water)  We had those as a starter with a large platter of poppadoms plus mango chutney, lime pickle, yoghurt and mint dip and chopped tomatoes.  All home made apart from the poppadoms which came from an Indian shop in Paris - thanks Mat.

Next a quick batch of bread dough to make naan bread with sultanas in (should have been sliced almonds too but couldn't find any on the shelf)  while John spent the afternoon brewing curry sauces.  A large selection as not everyone likes the same heat in their curry so we had a vegetable one,  bombay potatoes,  chicken madras,  prawn puri,  pork podina (marinaded in yoghurt and mint) and jabali vindaloo (marinaded in red wine and garlic to start with.)

Plus a large bowl of pilau rice with many added extras, so tasty and fluffy.  I can't recommend highly enough this book......it was a Christmas present a few years ago and it's wonderful.  Follow his instructions for rice and it's impossible to have sticky boring white stuff ever again.

But back to last night,  plenty of food, lots of variety of flavours and heat and enough left for us for another meal.  Then to follow strawberry flan with ice-cream and cream.  Yes, more strawberries and I've picked more again today.

Everyone bought wine with them so plenty to drink too.  Then as we sat talking later on, the conversation got round to 'where can you go if you want to go dancing'.   'Wait for fiesta'  was the general opinion but we put on the music  and the terrace became our dance floor for the next couple of hours.  Photos were taken but not yet looked at.  They may appear here if not too embarrassing!