Southern Malaysian prawns

A real winner this one. Thanks to Mum for the recipe. Serves 4


1 tsp oyster sauce
1 tsp dark soy sauce
half tsp sugar
2 tsps rice wine or dry sherry
3 tblsp oil
85g shallots
1 and half tsp ginger finely chopped or grated
5 cloves garlic finely chopped
chillies to taste
1 tblsp yellow bean sauce
1 tsp curry powder
10-15 curry leaves
450g raw prawns deveined etc
salt perhaps but I think not

combine oyster sauce, soy, sugar, rice wine,and 4 tblsp water in small bowl...stir
  Pour oil into wok, medium heat, add shallots, ginger, garlic and chillies. stir rapidly for 1 minute
Add bean sauce. stir
Add curry powder, stir
Add curry leaves and prawns stir
Add oyster sauce mixture, stir
Cover, reduce heat cook for about 2 mins or till prawns are done
Remove lid, increase heat, stir once or twice then serve

Ian's Chili con Carne.

Ingredients:

1tsb cumin seeds
2 bay leaves
2 star anise
1 onion, chopped.
5 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
A small amount of ginger
1 red pepper, chopped into cubes
A splash of red wine
500g minced beef
2 tins chopped tomatoes
1 beef stock cube
3 teaspoons mild chili powder
1 tsb ground cumin
1 small square of dark chocolate
1tsb paprika
Kidney beans
1 glass of red wine (to drink)

Stick some olive oil in a pan and fry the cumin seeds, bay leaves and star anise for a minute or so, then add the onions and fry until just starting to brown. Add the pepper, garlic and ginger and fry for a couple of minutes. Add a splash of red wine and cook for another minute then throw the mince in.

Once the mince is browned then add the rest of the ingredients in order one by one, except the kidney beans. The stock cube can be crumbled straight in. Add salt and pepper to taste and then let it simmer for an hour. The kidney beans can be added for the last ten minutes. Serve with rice and Tabasco Sauce on the side for strength.

The chili powder I tend to use is Sainsbury's stuff so has a small amount of oregano, garlic and cumin in it, so if straight chili powder is being used then these may or may not need to be added. Obviously it can be made hotter by using hot chili powder, or adding chilies during cooking.