of cooking and fic recs

I worked from home yesterday, and took the opportunity to make the chicken tikka masala. It was really good, and I'd totally make it again (time permitting), but I had unfortunately built it up in my head to meet expectations it probably couldn't have met. :/ See, when I went to summer school in England during college one year (we were taking Shakespeare courses so stayed in Stratford-upon-Avon), my friend I went to an Indian restaurant that served the BEST chicken masala that I have ever had in my entire life. Now, Indian food in Britain is superior anyway, but this dish was beyond even that. And I'm afraid that since that time, I have done nothing but hope that I would be able to find something like it again one day -- and this recipe seemed extremely promising, because the picture of the dish at the end looked very much like what I had in that restaurant. Like I said, it was very, very good -- it just wasn't That Dish, which isn't its fault at all. The only change I'd make to the recipe is that next time I make it, I'm going to use chicken thighs instead of breasts. Breast meat is simply not as tender or moist as thigh meat, and I think the dark meat would soak in the spices/marinade even better.

Thanks to corianderstem, I am going to be able to meet Marian Keyes again today, w00t! I think she has a new book coming out very soon; unusual that she would be doing this talk with the book not officially out yet -- I mean, the fact that she is there and ready to sign the book is a big draw for people to buy it then and there at full price. Does that mean it'll be available early, or this really is just strange timing? Edit: Got totally lost downtown, and couldn't make it. :( So bummed.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend that you check out embe11ished's new story, In Vino Veritas. I'm really enjoying Draco's characterization, and the "patient" pace of the fic is perfect in light of the theme -- a different sort of fermentation is going on, indeed. ;) Plus, as I told her, I love learning about wine, even though I'm unable to enjoy much alcohol myself.