Winds from the East

Today I found an almost forgotten recipe.  It was tucked into a stack of cards that I seldom use.  But there it was faded and written in my childhood script.  It is called Indian Curry, but truth be known it is a very Americanized version of an Indian dish.  During the 1960's my parents had friends from India.  When they visited us here in the US, they would bring gifts.  So in my closet is a genuine silk sari and three glass bangels.  Gifts from a lovey lady named Pushpa.  Pushpa also gave us this recipe for curry.  What makes it stand out in my memory is that she said since beef was not available in India she would use lamb or monkey.  Just the idea of eating a monkey made me curious.  However, she adapated her dish to use our all American hamburger.  As I made the dish for dinner the memories of many days with our friends were as pleasant as the food.  So if you are up to something a bit different, try Pushpa's curry.

2 Tbls oil
2 large onions
2 Tbls of curry powder
2 large green peppers
1/2 cup coconut
2 lbs of hamburger
1 cups of peas (I use frozen)
22 oz of tomato juice
salt to taste

Grind onions fine and set aside.  Grind the green peppers and coconut together and set aside.  Heat the oil in a heavy pan or dutch oven and brown the onions.  Stir in the curry powder and continue browning stirring constantly.  Add the hamburger and brown.  Add the peppers and coconut mixture and brown well.  Add the juice and cover and cook for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.  Add the frozen peas and uncover and cook until nearly dry.  Salt to taste.  Serve over steamed rice.   (You can easily make half a recipe)