The Journal

Author: Lakindu

  • Katsu Curry

    Katsu Curry

    Might as well already add this to your list of top five comfort foods. I actually saw this dish posted from an account I follow on IG and decided to give it a shot (probably the first time I’ve utilized social media in a healthy way) and I’m sure glad I did.

    The recipe and steps below is an amalgamation (fancy word for the day: check) of a couple of different recipes I found across the World Wide Web, which will be linked below. There were so many different ways to make and customize this.

    I’ve written down how I made it, going with the Katsu curry instead of sauce. Do keep in mind that I am only a budding amateur home chef lacking the consultancy of a talking mouse and this is intended as inspiration as opposed to a strict recipe.

    Happy cooking.

    Ingredients

    • For the protein
      • Chicken breast (Pork can be used as well)
      • Plain Flour
      • 2 Eggs
      • Panko Bread Crumbs
      • Vegetable Oil
      • Salt and Pepper
    • For the curry sauce
      • 1 Yellow Onion
      • 2 Small Carrots
      • 600ml Chicken Stock
      • 2 tbsp Katsu Curry Powder (Golden Curry cubes were used in many of the videos I seen but weren’t available locally)
      • Spring Onion

    Steps

    1. Butterfly the chicken breast (esentailly halving it) and pound both halves to thin them out.
    2. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.
    3. Set up your breading stations: one for flour, one for the cracked and beaten eggs and one for the Panko breadcrumbs
    4. Use the wet hand dry hand method to coat the chicken in flour, eggs and breadcrumbs in that order.
    5. Heat the vegetable oil and fry the chicken on both sides until golden brown.
    6. Slice the chicken and it’s ready to go.
    7. To make the curry, add some oil followed by the onions and carrots.
    8. Once onions and carrots have been cooked a little, add the chicken stock and let simmer.
    9. Add curry powder and let simmer for for some more time. The curry’s ready to go.
    10. Serve with rice and garnish with some spring onion.

    Linked below are the videos I used for inspiration and from where I learnt butterflying and the wet hand dry hand method.

  • Bohernabreena Reservoir

    Bohernabreena Reservoir

    Nice sunny day, itching to get out the house, an easy going walk with some nice views would do? The Bohernabreena Reservoir trail’s got you covered.

    I’d initially been here pre-covid but after coming across a guide on The Irish Road Trip, I just had to revisit.

    The guide linked gives an excellent breakdown of the walk, the different paths available and parking along with a little sprinkle of the Reservoirs background, so definitely go check that out.

    I’ll just add in a few of my own complimentary tid bits here.

    The shorter walk around the upper reservoir, as detailed in the guide, is pretty easy going and took me about a hour and half to complete, even at my slightly slower than average walking pace – I’d like to believe I owe this to my Sri Lankan genes.

    Around the upper reservoir there are some great spots to sit and relax if the weather permits. Few people were out fishing as well if that’s more your thing.

    The plan of action for the next time I’m back here is to park in the public car park, walk down and do half the loop, grab coffee at the paid car park and finish the second half of the loop before heading back to the public car park. This is just to get a bit more sun exposure.

    Gonna end this by blessing yous with some of my absolutely mediocre photography skills.