Aromatic Green Thai Curry

My better half (and no I don't mean Fitz) doesn't like spicy food so this version of a classic is aromatic rather than fiery.

Ingredients
For the curry paste:
Blend together:
Half a bunch of coriander (the stems have most of the flavour)
2 shallots
2 cloves of garlic
2 stems of lemon grass
Thumb sized chunk of ginger (peeled)
Juice of half a lime
1/2 a teaspoon of ground coriander
1/2 a teaspoon of ground cumin
6 dried lime leaves
1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For the curry:
4 chicken thighs (or equivalent in firm white fish)
1 large green pepper (diced)
1 large onion (diced)
1 can coconut milk
250g of mange tout or sugar snap peas
Rest of the coriander coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon sugar

Blend all the paste ingredients together and then fry in a hot pan.
Add the chicken and fry quickly for a few minutes then add the pepper and onion. Fry for a few more minutes then add the coconut milk, sugar and fish sauce. Bring to the boil then simmer for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
Add the beans (and the fish if using). Cook for a further 10 minutes (or until the fish is cooked). Sprinkle on the rest of the coriander and serve with rice.

If you like it spicy add 2-3 green chillies, finely chopped to the paste.

Roasted Squash Risotto

On a cold and icy evening with snow still lying on the ground I felt a need for a warm, creamy, satisfying meal. Fortunately a friend had given me a home grown butternut squash perfect for a risotto. Serves 2.

Ingredients
225g risotto rice
2 knobs of butter
glug of olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1/2 a butternut squash, peeled and diced into bite-size chunks
1 sprig of rosemary
vegetable stock & pinch of saffron
1/2 handfuls of grated Parmesan

Toss the squash with a good glug of oil along with the rosemary, salt and pepper in a hot oven, shake occasionally.
Meanwhile make the risotto. Melt the butter with a glug of oil in a wide pan and add the onion and garlic and fry until softened. Add the rice and stir. Add the stock gradually until the rice has softened. Add the roasted squash, the cheese and another knob of butter.