masla dabba

If you want to learn how to cook the best curry then there is one piece of kit that you really should have....a masala dabba. A masala dabba or 'spice box' is a traditional Indian spice tin used in most Indian households.

Dabbas are round stainless steel tins that contain about 7 smaller stainless steel dishes and a little spoon. You simply add each spice to the smaller dishes so that next time you want to cook a curry there is no need to pull out 7 individual post of bags of spices. Simply take the lid off you masala dabba and you have all the spices you need in front of you!

Chimney Starter

Where Can I Buy A Chimney Starter?

I can be surprisingly hard to buy a chimney starter. One of the cheapest and most reliable places to pick one up is good old Amazon. Here are some links:

What is a Chimney Starter?

A chimney starter is a great addition to any household that like to bbq. These relatively simple devices make the often difficult job of lighting a barbecue much safer and quicker. When used correctly they should eliminate the need to blow the flames, use light fluid, firelighters or petrol. Once you have a chimney starter all you will need to light your grill is a couple of sheets of newspaper and a match.

In addition chimney starters are great for those situations when your bbq is running low on coals. All you do is simply light some more in the chimney then add to your bbq once ready - no more smoky charcoal tasting food!

How To Use A Chimney Starter

The basic design is very simple and usually consists of a tall metal cylinder about 30cm in height. A grill or holed plate is usually fixed inside about one quarter of the way up the cylinder. To light your chimney simply fill the cylinder above the grill/plate with charcoal or briquettes. In the section under the grill simply place a few pieces of scrunched up newspaper and light. The flames from the paper will rise, lighting the charcoal and within a few minutes most of the charcoal should be lit.

The grill and holes in the cylinder allow the air to intensify the fire speeding up the process of lighting all of the charcoal. Once all of the charcoal is alight you simply pick up the starter using the handle and carefully pour the coals over the bbq grill