Been using a single ring induction hob for years. They are very controllable and very efficient. So efficient and fast that I don't bother with the electric kettle anymore. Between that and a mini oven I can cook a full Sunday roast for two no problem and everything else in-between. The full sized cooker I have is just used to support the mini oven and once I get round to making a built in unit, the cooker will be going to the tip. I've seen twin induction hobs in Aldi and been tempted, but I just don't need a twin.

Nice one, mate.

Thanks Garp

Hi Guys. Hellish compliment from my partner the first time I made her a curry. She's from Birmingham and has loved BIR curries for years so knows a good one when she tastes it. I had told her I made a good curry but I got the impression, from her lack of interest, she was expecting a Sharwoods/Pataks kind of affair. Now, imagine her surprise when I served up her favourite Chicken and mushroom Balti for the first time. To say it was priceless is an understatement. She just couldn't believe I hadn't bought it from the local TA, especially as I served it up in a foil tray. I think only when she saw me make one did she fully believe I'd made it myself.

After that she coerced (another word for nagged) me to make one for her daughter and one her son who equally love their BIR curries. It was a Chicken Sag for her daughter and a Vindaloo for her son both of whom didn't believe you could produce IR quality curries at home (don't you just love proving people wrong) Funny thing though. When she told her son I was going to make him a curry, he replied "Oh, I prefer IR curries".

Anyway, when three curry loving Brummies say they are as good as anything they can get down there, I reckon that's as good as it gets. For those interested I use the  "Best 100 Balti Curries"  as the base.

Oh yeah, late 70s/80s curries. The best ever in my opinion. Thursday night out with the lads always finished off with a madras which was generally swimming in oil. Funny thing though. The following day everyone you went near usually said, "god you stink of curry". That just doesn't seem to happen nowadays. Something must have changed between then and now?

After seeing many TV demo's for ceramic frying pans, I finally bought one from ASDA. What a waste of money that was. Probably the worst cooking implement I've ever owned.

Yes, it was fine for the first few weeks, but gradually everything started to stick. The pan also took on a burnt look which just wouldn't wash off. Having become totally peed off with this so called non-stick item, I called the maker and spoke to some woman in customer service.

Now I would class myself a decent cook, but this person treated me like an idiot. First I was told I should only ever use vegetable oil which I use all the time anyway. Next, and check this out, when I said even eggs were sticking, she asked how I was trying to cook them. The same way I'd always cooked them. Add a bit of oil, warm up the pan and crack the egg. No no no. I was told I should crack the egg into the pan while it was still cold!!

Talk about being fobbed off. She had no interest whatsoever. After looking on-line I read that many others had had the same problems with ceramic pans. Fair play to ASDA though as a couple of months after I had bought the pan I just happened to mention the problem I'd had with it and despite having no receipt they refunded my money. Buy one of these pans at your peril. You might be lucky and get a good one, or you might end up getting your fingers burnt.