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Photos taken during an art tour with Knoll Galerie Wien.
Ground lamb and chickpeas in spicy cashewnut sauce
Many years ago, I won third prize in Politiken’s meatsauce competion (ten bottles of very nice redwine) for sending in this recipe :-).
Before and after that, it has been an old faithful dug out from time to time since then, and I last served it at my third house-warming party in early December 2016 (following a late-afternoon glass or two of glögg, some of my own interpretation of panforte, home-made marshmallows, and some goodies from Leysieffer in Friedrichstraße).
This time, I needed halal meat (2 kilos) which I had ordered in advance from the very friendly (and very reasonable-priced) Fleischerei Kasap, Kottbusser Straße 7.
I served it accompanied by aubergine in a tomato and ginger sauce, and white and brown rice.
4 tblsp olive oil
375 g onion, finely chopped
2 tblsp or more garlic, finely chopped
1 tblsp fresh ginger, chopped
2 tsp cumin, roasted and ground
2 tsp coriander, roasted and ground
1 tsp turmeric
Chili in some form or other, to taste
2 bayleaves
1 kilo ground lamb
500 g tomatoes, peeled and chopped
3 tblsp cashew nut butter
500 g dried chickpeas, soaked and boiled (keep approx. 1,5 dl of the water)
Brown the onions slowly, stirring regularly, till they start to caramellise (takes about 20 minutes)
Add garlic and ginger and fry, stirring, for another couple of minutes.
Turn up the heat a bit, and add the spices, fry for about a minute, mixing well.
Add the meat and stir till it is no longer red.
Add salt and freshly ground black pepper, tomatoes, cashew nut butter, chickpeas and water.
Turn heat down and simmer 45-60 minutes till the dish has thickened. Stir from time to time and add more water if needed.
Der, die oder das?
Maskulinum – Der:
…..er: Wenn ein Beruf: Der Bäcker, der Lehrer, der Politiker, der Koffer, der Pullover ABER das Fenster
…..or: Der Motor, der Doktor, der Traktor
…..ling: Der Lehrling, der Säugling, der Frühling, der Schmetterling
…..ismus: Der Tourismus, der Komunismus, der Terrorismus
…..ist: Der Polizist, der Terrorist
…..and/ant/ent: Der Doktorand, der Proband, der Lieferant, der Demonstrant, der Student
…..eur: Der Friseur, der Masseur
…..loge: Der Gynäkologe, der Urologe, der Meteorologe
…..et: Der Poet, der Profet
Tage, Tageszeiten: Der Mittwoch, der Mittag, der Abend (ABER die Nacht)
Monate, Jahreszeiten: Der Januar, der Sommer, der Frühling
Himmelsrichtungen: Der Norden
Niederschläge: Der Regen, der Schnee, der Hagel
Luftbewegung: Der Sturm, der Wind, der Orkan
Automobilmarken: Der Honda, der Wagen
Viele Geldnamen: Der euro, der Dollar (aber die Krone)
Edelsteine: Der Rubin, der Opal, der Diamant, der Safir
Alkoholische Getränke: Der Wein, der Cognac, der Sekt, der Schnapps (ABER das Bier – und das Wasser)
Nomen ohne Ende von Verben: Der Tanz, der Schlaf
Femininum – Die:
90% …..e: die Flasche, die Tasche, die Lampe, die Decke, die Küche. ABER: Der Kaffee, der Tee, das Fräulein
IMMER die:
…..ung: : Die Zeitung, Die Wohnung, die Heizung
…..keit: Die Möglichkeit, die Pünktlichkeit
…..heit: Die Gesundheit, die Krankheit, die Kindheit
…..schaft: Die Freundschaft, die Nachbarschaft
…..ik: Die Politik, die Republik
…..ur: Die Kultur, die Natur, die Literatur
…..ei: Die Bäckerei, die Polizei, die Fleischerei, die Metzgerei
…..ie: Die Melodie, die Familie
…..(t)ät: die Kriminalität, die Diät, die Pubertät
…..(t)ion: Die Agression, die Revolution, die Demonstration
…..thek: Die Bibliotek, die Diskothek
…..enz/anz: Die Bilanz, die Intelligenz, die Distanz
Viele (aber nicht alle) Namen von Blumen, Bäume und Flüße (in Europa meistens die, Rest meistens der)
Zahlen
Motorradmarken (die Honda, ….)
Namen von Schiffen: Die Titanic
Nomen von Verben mit der Endung …..t: Fahren – die Fahrt, Seen – die Sicht, die Vorsicht, die Nachricht, Schreiben – die Schrift
Neutrum – Das:
…..at: Das Sekretariat, das Referat, das Plakat
…..o: Das Auto, das Radio, das Büro
…..ment: Das Medikament, das Fundament, das Parlament
…..chen/lein: Das Brötchen, das Würstchen, das Fräulein, das Schwesterchen
…..um: das Album, das Zentrum, das Studium, das Museum
…..zeug: Das Spielzeug
Buchstaben: Das A
Bruchzahlen: Das Drittel
Farben: Das Rot, das Grün
Namen von Hotels, Kinos, Restaurants
ALLE substantivierte Verben: Das Essen, das Trinken, das Schlafen
LUNCH!
I first met Sulaiman in February 2016 when my new flat in Berlin was being renovated and he was one of the workmen. I learnt that he had fled from Syria in July 2015 and was curious to know more, also about his current situation, in case there was something I could do to help. Back then, between his almost-non-existent, and my rusty, German, communication was difficult but the other workmen helped, and I also got help from another Syrian who already had job, accommodation, and good German.
Sulaiman was desperately looking for somewhere to stay other than in a camp where life can be extremely difficult. His wife and daughters were in a camp in Lebanon, waiting for a visa to join him in Berlin.
It made a big impression on me that he was able to turn up every day with a smile on his face, and it was a pleasure to listen to the quiet Arabic-German language exchange whenever they were working in my flat.
Since then, I have heard more about his flight from Damaskus, where he had his life, and where he lost everything (except his wife and daughters of whom he is clearly very proud), and at one of my house-warming parties he told some of us about his gruelling journey – on foot, then like sardines in a tin in a truck for four days, then likewise on a boat until they were picked up by a container-carrier, then by train from Italy to Berlin, then “living” outside LAGESO (the German authority for refugees) for many days to have his case processed. In other words, a “classic” story which we all hear about all the time, directly and in the media.
His initial accommodation was in one small room which he shared with five other male refugees of different nationalities and without going into detail, tensions arose on a daily basis. The situation was becoming untenable and through his employer, he found a room which he was able to use all by himself, very small (from what I have heard, tiny does not cover it) but at least he could be private and get a full night’s sleep every night and thus be able to hold on to his job.
Sulaiman went to German class every day, but said that the teacher was not very good (there is a severe shortage of trained German teachers here) and he felt he learnt a lot more during the workday. Any which way, communication has become a lot easier.
Needless to say, he was sorely missing his family – wife and two daughters aged six and seven. Earlier this week, he sent me a text message to tell me that a couple of weeks ago, they were FINALLY reunited in Berlin. In terms of collecting heart-warming moments in my life, that one certainly comes close to the top of my list.
Today they are coming to lunch! I am so looking forward to meeting them. I also have not seen Sulaiman for a while since there is not much more work to be done in may flat, and the most recent house-warming party is already a couple of months away.
How do you pick up where you left off after 18 months, especially considering what they have been through in the meantime? How do you heal, individually and as a family, while at the same time tackling the emotional, practical and financial challenges ahead? How are the girls coping? How about accommodation? I am hoping to learn a lot more about that in the future while finding out how I can help. But first: lunch.
By the way, if you are in Berlin and looking for halal meat, Istanbul Supermarket, Kottbusser Tor, is good. There is also a butcher round the corner in Kottbusser Straße. (I am not sure I approve of the method, but until I know how strict – or not – my guests are, I am willing to use halal-butchered meat).
This is some of what we are having:
IN PROGRESS ……..
CHICKEN BRAISED IN SPICES
Ten chicken pieces (I am using thighs and drumsticks)
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground Ceylon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Olive oil
2 brown onions, sliced
100 grams ginger, cut into matchsticks
5 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
2 small red chillies, or to taste
2 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
5 sprigs thyme, leaves only
1 lemon, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons honey
300 ml chicken or vegetable stock
½ bunch coriander, leaves only
Coat the chicken pieces in the mixture of salt, cumin, cinnamon, pepper and turmeric.
Brown the chicken pieces on all sides in the olive oil. Remove chicken and add onion, ginger, garlic and chili and cook for a couple of minutes. Add tomatoes, cumin seeds and thyme and cook for another couple of minutes.
Return chicken and add the lemon juice and zest, honey, stock powder and enough water to just cover the chicken.
Cover and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes. Uncover and simmer for another ten to 15 minutes or until the chicken is tender and cooked through, and the sauce is slightly reduced.
Stir in the coriander and serve with couscous or rice.
AUBERGINE-DATE STEW
100 g onion, chopped
At least one clove garlic, chopped
1 chili, chopped
1 lemon
400 g aubergine, cut in 2 cm dice
50 g dates, quartered
50 g hazelnuts, coarsely chopped and dry-roasted
1 tsp cumin seeds, roasted and ground
1 tsp sumak
1/2 tsp cardamom seeds, roasted and ground
1 tsp coriander seeds, roasted and ground
Olive oil
1 tblsp tomato paste
300 ml chicken or vegetable stock
Heat the oil and lightly fry cumin, sumak, cardamom and coriander. Add onion and garlic and simmer for a couple of minutes. Add aubergine and chili for another couple of minutes. Add stock and tomato paste, stir, cover and simmer for about ten minutes.
Add nuts and dates, stir well, turn off heat and let sit for ten minutes.
Serve with rice or couscous and yoghurt mixed with herbs (f.ex. mint).
London July 2016
Photography Berlin 2016
Wrocław, March 2016
How to make basmati rice in an OBH rice cooker
Rinse and soak 500 g rice as you would normally, till the water runs clear.
Put a little bit of oil in the bottom of the cooker.
Add the drained rice, salt and 800 ml water. Et voilà – the cooker does the rest.
Berlin Art Week and photography course September 2015
Saturday 12 September
Arrival. Spent a good part of the afternoon trying to find out what to do about my missing wallet which disappeared on the way from the airport to Bahnhof Zoo. Saw for the first time the less friendly and helpful side of Berlin that everybody talks about.
In the evening a self-indulgent dinner with two friends at Les Solistes by Pierre Gagnaire.
Sunday 13 September
Köpenicker Strasse, Engelbecken, Am Lokdepot, Park am Gleisdreieck
Monday 14 September
Tuesday 15 September
Day 1 of a four-day course in basic photography by Tomàs Correa @Pentaprisma. Highly recommended. Every day we met at a café for about an hour’s theory and then went out to practise and ended up having our photos evaluated.
Afterwards some more walking around Berlin, a.o. to the pomposity that ís Karl-Marx-Allee.
Wednesday 16 September
Day 2 of the photography course – Tempelhofer Feld (one of my favourite places in Berlin).
Later a gallery walk (posted as an event on internations.org) in the Potsdamer Strasse area.
Galleries visited during the evening’s gallery walk: Aurel Scheibler, Esther Schipper, Barbara Wien, Plan B, Nolan Judin, Guido W. Baudach, Blain Southern, Arndt, Tanja Wagner, and Exile.
Thursday 17 September
The photography course continued at Schöneberger Südgelände
Friday 18 September
Day four of photography course. Theory in Café Wahrhaft Nahrhaft, practice in RAW Gelände, an area which is soon to succumb to “development”.
Visit to Positions Berlin Art Fair.
Dinner in Tapas y Más.
Saturday 19 September
ABC Art Fair. Dinner in Greek restaurant Mandragoras.
Sunday 20 September
A meeting in a projektbau showroom in Stralau, and a walk around to see (again) if I might want to live on Halbinsel Stralau.
Berliner Liste Art Fair.
Dinner in Marinehaus Restaurant und Kneipe
Painting by Josef Petersen for sale
66 cm x 82 cm. From the early 1950s.
Josef Petersen was the grandson of the Norwegian Poet Johan Sebastian Cammermeyer Welhaven and I don’t know much about him, nor the painting, except it was first given to Mr and Mrs Harremoes, Lundtofte, Denmark, for the silver wedding, by Mr Carl Castenskjold. Mrs Harremoes then gave it to my mother, Marie Møller, f. Skovmand, when she moved to Buegården, Bagsværd, in 1984. Contact me if interested.