Unsecure chicken perches

[patsylabrador]

My neighbours are Hindu & Sikh and today the lady of the house took me to a big Indian supermarket to get some supplies for Diwali food prep. It was really fun, I love the frenzied food shopping before celebrations, there was a massive croud of excited men & boys at the fireworks counter. There were lots of brightly coloured tealight holders which I think are called divas and I regret not buying a couple. They're very pretty. I did not know there was such a variety of lentils either, neither of us had a clue what some of the products were. Quite a lot of fruit and veg I didn't recognise. We had a funny little moment when someone spoke to her & she asked me what he'd said, she had no idea what he said. She thought he spoke in Gujarati which she doesn't speak but I had less idea. I bought some big bags of cinnamon sticks & star anise for Christmas & a block of sugar which I think was called jaggery & my neighbour says is great for caralamising stuff.

It was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

[LolaLayla]

Sounds like a really interesting afternoon

[Cinnamon]

O love exotic supermarkets - we have a great Japanese one here,a Chinese one,some Indian ones & a wonderful Italian one.

They are always surprising!

[Space Chick]

The Indian supermarket that is nearest to me is really anti non-Indian folk shopping there I send an Indian friend to get things for me

 

I love Diwali I think it's a lovely festival, I have a fab Hindi friend in work and I love learning from him

[snowberry]

I was in London for Diwali last year & the atmosphere was fantastic! I have to shop online for my spices, pappadams etc as Cornwall is not known for anything more diverse than Tesco

[poachedegg]

Our lovely new next door neighbours are Hindus and this evening brought around a dessert they had made to celebrate Diwali

[Willow]

we have a great Japanese one here

 

Where is that ?

 

Chinese and Indian supermarkets I know but Japanese locally ?

[craftyhunnypie]

Did you not buy any Indian sweets? They are yummy, as is Kulfi (Indian Ice cream) Not sweets as we think of sweets - more of a condensed milk sugary ball type thing. Beautiful. Indain rice pudding is nice too, with cardamon pods in.

I don't recommend trying Pann leafs. Had one once. A sort of leaf filled with rose paste & lots of herbs. Meant for energy, well being & to freshen / fragrance the mouth. Absolutely vile!

 

Emma.x

[snowberry]

I've heard of Chinese 5 spice, but I'm after Japanese (5) spice & have had no joy in getting it from my lovely Chinese supermarket; has anyone else heard of it?

[Goosey Lucy]

I've heard of Chinese 5 spice, but I'm after Japanese (5) spice & have had no joy in getting it from my lovely Chinese supermarket; has anyone else heard of it?

Amazon havethis Japanese 7 spice powder, is it what you are looking for?

[Alis girls]

i work in a bit Asian area and the patients often bring in sweets and I have a growing aray of Indian clothes - a lovely sarong with bells on (jingle all the way) and a skirt and short blouse thing ( not sadly likely to wear as my tummy is chubby)

[snowberry]

I've heard of Chinese 5 spice, but I'm after Japanese (5) spice & have had no joy in getting it from my lovely Chinese supermarket; has anyone else heard of it?

Amazon havethis Japanese 7 spice powder, is it what you are looking for?

 

THANK YOU GL! That's exactly what my recipe has been calling for

[Goosey Lucy]

You're welcome, Snowberry

[patsylabrador]

The little girl next door who is only 4 called for me today to come and see her front doorstep which she had decorated with her mum with coloured sand. They put out candles and sprinkled it with flower petals. She gave me a handful of petals, it was nice to be included.

[Space Chick]

That's a lovely story

[Chicken shack]

Sorry but I hate Diwali. The fire works go on every night for weeks on end something I now don't have to put up with. My poor cats used to be in a state of terror.

[Cinnamon]

we have a great Japanese one here

 

Where is that ?

 

Chinese and Indian supermarkets I know but Japanese locally ?

 

It is in Reading,a very tiny shop,but stocked to the brim with Japanese & Asian goodies...its,also a noodle bar.

On one of those roads that link Broad & Friar streets,possibly the one that for a alongside M&S,but I can never remember!

[patsylabrador]

Chicken shack, that is a very fair point. There is a side of Diwali which is unpleasant, the young men get drunk and fire off fireworks into the street. It's hard to police, very crowded and chaotic, on the one hand people are being warm and friendly and then others so ridiculous they have to be arrested. Neither OH nor son working it this year so I'm just going to enjoy my neighbour's more sedate celebration.

[snowberry]

It's firework season anyway

[Willow]

How lovely they are including you in their celebrations.

 

 

It is in Reading,a very tiny shop,but stocked to the brim with Japanese & Asian goodies...its,also a noodle bar.

On one of those roads that link Broad & Friar streets,possibly the one that for a alongside M&S,but I can never remember!

 

Thanks Sarah I shall have a good look next time I'm in Reading!

[Cinnamon]

Its a great place for REALLY unusual stocking fillers - like shrimp flavour fizzy drinks & the like

[Saronne]

We went to the 'switching on' of the Diwali lights in Leicester a couple of Sundays ago, which claims to be the biggest Diwali event outside Mumbai. The atmosphere was fabulous. There were dancers and Bhangra music and stilt walkers. Lots of food to be had and people were so friendly and inclusive.