mountain masala

new leonard cohen album "old ideas"

go listen over at NPR!

revitalising a dull ritual

i love it...

Training ordained pioneer leaders

Some excellent news from the UK. CMS (The Church Missionary Society) has approval from the Church of England to prepare people for ordained pioneer ministry. In other words, an church organisation with a long history of missionary activity and training is authorised to prepare people for ordination in a 'pioneer' role (aka fresh expressions, to put it simply) in collaboration with a ministry college.

news item here

of course the Church of England constrains itself in particular ways, but nevertheless they have been pioneering in how the church might be engaged in fresh ways in local, contextual mission and how people might be equipped to lead and serve in this way. (the Methodists over there have not been idle either...)

of course jonny baker has had more than a little to do with this and blogged about it here.

ripples.

listening to...

a new month/year and some new albums, mainly courtesy of www.emusic.com, but a couple on the Christmas list as well...

"Bon Iver" - Bon Iver - quite sublime. no wonder they were calling this THE album of 2011

"White Light" - Gene Clark - early solo album from one of the Byrds. Folk-country songwriting genius

"Distilled" - Stuart McCallum - noodling from the guitarist for Cinematic Orchestra

"Revelation Road" - Shelby Lynne - OK its country music, but there's a lot of spiritual stuff going on here, grief and loss...

"Songs Without Words" - Paul Armfield - wonderful singer/songwriter stuff

"When I Fall In Love" - Mehldau & Rossy Trio - piano-based jazz from a world talent - Brad Mehldau

"Citadel Band" - Loney Dear - a bit Decemberists, a bit Arcade Fire, a bit something else. fab.

"Vine" - Chris Cheek - saxophonist and composer's jazz combo

"Colour of the Trap" - Miles Kane - 60's style pop-rock from 1/2 of The Last Shadow Puppets (the other 1/2 being Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys)

"I'm Having Fun Now" - Jenny and Jonny - Jenny Lewis and partner do sensational pop!

"Let England Shake" - PJ Harvey - another 'best album of 2011'!

"Untitled #23" - The Church - seeing as I didnt get to the gig. One of their best!

Plus yesterday I found at JB Hi-Fi packs of 5 albums for $20 - so I bought Tom Waits and George Benson. I thought I'd play them alternately but it's messing with my head!

This lot will keep me going for a while.

 

 

 

food photos

playing with stylising food photos for the family cookbook which is in production...

food

blueberry muffins

moroccan chicken pizza and prawn & proscuitto pizza

nibbles...

moroccan salads

i've concocted a couple of moroccan-inspired salad dishes in the last couple of days and thought I'd write them down before they fade from memory. They both seemed to work well.

Orange and sweet potato couscous salad

Cook 1 cup couscous as per directions on pack and allow to cool.
Boil 1 1/2 cups diced sweet potato until it is softened but still crunchy.
Slice one orange thinly, cut off rind and quarter each slice.
Saute 1 small onion, diced, for 5 mins on low heat. Add  1 clove garlic, diced and a 2 cm piece fresh ginger, sliced thinly, and saute for another 4-5 minutes.
Chop 8-10 dates, preferably good quality ones.
Chop small handful of basil.
Mix all ingredients along with 1 1/2 tbsp zataar.

You either need to warn guests about the ginger slices or remove them before serving.

Eggplant and sweet potato salad

Cut a medium eggplant into 1.5 cm slices. Cover both sides with salt and place on paper towels for 20 mins. Pat dry and cut into cubes. Place in a bowl with 2 tbsp crushed coriander seeds and 2 tsp sea salt flakes. Fry eggplant in oil in a hot pan until just browned but not soggy.
Dice a zucchini into 1.5 cm pieces. Saute in a little oil over medium-high heat for 3-4 mins or until just starting to brown. Dont' allow it to get soggy. Rinse under cold water.
Boil 1 1/2 cups diced sweet potato until it is softened but still crunchy. Rinse under cold water.
Stir fry 1/2 cup raisins over medium heat in 2 tsp oil for 30-45 seconds, stirring constantly.
Slice 1 lemon and then cut slices into quarters. Saute in a little oil over medium heat for 30 secs, then add 1 tbsp sugar and stir for 30 secs, then add 1 tbsp honey and stir for 1 min. Do not allow it to burn.
Mix above ingredients in a salad bowl.
Add 2-3 tbsp Morocann spice mix, 3 tbsp crushed pistachio nuts and a small handful of chopped coriander leaves.Add 2-3 tsp light olive oil.

Toss the salad. Serve cold.