Happy Masala with Rice Accident

Spike and Giles... Together at Last

“Chicken tikka masala was created in the 70s. Turns out a chef made up a new dish combining cream of tomato soup with…” (1)

A friend of mine in London told me that story after I mentioned how I happen to love Indian food (Tikka Masala in particular) but know absolutely nothing about the cuisine or its origins. What little knowledge I have gleaned about the cuisine and the country are small impressions of spice diversity. Yep. Total n00b.

In a continued effort to prepare dishes myself (as opposed to frozen or eating out) the other night I was making dinner and opened a jar of tikki masala sauce. Um… From June 2013. (Note to self: check labels at all times.) Frustrated I was completely hosed, I grabbed my jar of Garam Masala spice, a can of coconut milk, tomato sauce, and tomato paste.

VOILA! Happy accident!

Of course, I can’t call what I made chicken tikka masala and shouldn’t be classified as such, but I will say this: sometimes the best recipes do happen accidentally or are inspired by an original dish. In this case, to avoid a major disaster. Which… Yeah, those have happened on occasion. See also: the reason why I haven’t used my tart pan yet. Anyhoo… I love little stories like these. Food is one of the ways to build out worlds and characters. So much cultural history can be found in what people eat. This particular story happens to span not one but three countries!

(1) The footnote to this is that apparently Chicken Tikki Masala’s origin is hotly contested. From this 2009 Times article, there’s a row over the dish. This 2011 Food Detective article digs a little deeper. Jury’s still out on the nom!

    Mood: It will be above 30 degrees this weekend. SPRING IS COMING!!!!
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I refuse to tell you. Nah!
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Tappity-tappity-tappity.
    In My Ears: STILL avoiding the f-bomb fish tank.
    Game Last Played: Sonic All Star Racing Transformed
    Book Last Read: Lovecraft’s Monsters anthology
    Movie Last Viewed: Looper
    Latest Artistic Project: National Craft Month
    Latest Fiction/Comic Release: Last Man Zombie Standing
    Latest Game Release: Freedom Flyer
    What I’m Working On: Primarily tie-in games work and novels.


March 7, 2014
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On the Importance of Good Chocolate

Aphrodisiac For Her

Today, I’d like to give a shout-out to a chocolatier of indeterminable size – DB Infusion Chocolates, which is located here in my fair city. This particular chocolatier has impressed not one, but three choco-lovers in my life recently, and I’m scheduling a trip back when the wintry special, that flavor of snowflakes — Peppermint – debuts. (That and I am recording a particular promise to pick up drinking chocolate here as a “Thank You” to that most excellent of writers AND hostesses with the mostesses, Lili Saint Crow, forevermore. :-p)

Hands down, at the moment my favorite chocolate of choice is the fall seasonal Cider Caramel. Is it messy? Ab-so-lutely. It has a fantastic complex of flavors founded upon that unlikely of textures, that surprising first floor – a dash of vinegar. Clearly, this is a lesson learned: take the sweet with the sour.

When was the last time you spoiled yourself? Hrmmm? Challenge thine tastebuds, be it chocolate or vanilla, dear readers. – YOU DESERVE IT.

    Mood: Must worship the gods of chocolate.
    Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Caffeine balance restored.
    Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: These Smurfs Were Made For Walkin’…
    In My Ears: The GTalk ding notification
    Game Last Played: Dragon Age: Origins
    Movie Last Viewed: MirrorMask
    Latest Artistic Project: In progress!
    Latest Release: “Fangs and Formaldehyde” from the New Hero anthology through Stone Skin Press
November 6, 2012
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