Kibworth and Smeeton WI
When members arrived for our May meeting the hall was filled with delicious aromas – and that was before cooking was underway! Our speaker Shumaila Saleem explained that she learned to cook the traditional way, from her mother and grandmother, and sees herself as ‘guardian of the recipes’.
She said that every family thinks that their garam masala is the best! Shumaila gets annoyed and shouts at the television when chefs complicate things and use too many spices! Good Indian cooking is about fresh ingredients and selective use of spices. She cooked a Chicken Handi (named after the traditional shallow clay cooking pot) using cubed chicken, tomatoes, onions and gentle spices, saying “Heaven help anyone using the hall after us!”
Chatting while she worked, Shumalia displayed a lovely sense of humour. Our taste buds well and truly tickled, we tucked in to portions of warm pitta bread which acted as a plate for our samples. It was a mouth-watering conclusion to an excellent demonstration. Desserts were scrumptious cakes made by our members who were hostesses for the evening.
Elsewhere in the WI
Members have been busy as usual knitting, crocheting and sewing items for our local hospitals. Betty Elloy recently took another collection of monitor bags to Glenfield. These are cross body bags which enable patients to carry their heart monitors safely around. Pat Sharman delivered packs of tiny hats and blankets to LRI for tiny, sick premature babies.
Making knee blankets and twiddle muffs is an ongoing project which allows members to use their creativity. Staff and patients’ families have collected yarns to help and thank us. Before our summer break we will make a sheep-shaped key ring, guided by Beverley Taylor at our 11 June meeting, while on 9 July we will hear about the USA’s first self-made female millionaire from Danielle Burton.
From the WI, we wish everyone a lovely summer and we’ll be back in September!
Pat Sharman.
New Mental Health Cafe Opens
