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every now and then i like curry ketchup to go with bratwurst, as i don't get through much i mix curry powder with ketchup till i get the flavour i want and it tastes great

You can get the curry ketchup from germandeli.co.uk I have it and it is the same as I used to have in Germany x

Thanx relishmama and goldie1 - i will try this very soon - i'd be lost without my comfort food am not the best of cooks but wouldnt have thought it would cause me this much grief. never mind all fixed now!! thanx again

Hi Sharon,relishmama is right.If you want low fat sausages though,I always microwave them for approx. 3.5mins and this takes a lot of the fat and water out of them.Then I slowly grill or bake in the oven until crisp and brown and (slurp,slurp). They do tend to be a bit drier but they are tasty and not forgetting low fat.I just eat more cos of that!! Whichever way you do them don't forget,don't prick them

Hi Sharon, the trick is....... dont prick em.
just grill or in the oven.
It was actually Nigel slater who said to do for a long time on a slow heat and ignore the instructions on the packet. They should be dark and sticky all round and the skins wont burst, as all the juices go back into the sausage.
Ive never looked back

Hi I would really like to know how to cook sausages without their skins burstng - i have tried cooking quickly, slowly, room temperature and straight from the fridge - does any one else have this problem or is it just me (highly likely)

Thanks Sonia for the tip on garlic.it's just one of those things I've never known and I've probably thrown it out when I haven't needed to.

Dried garlic will last quite a while if kept in a cool place. You will know when it is 'past it' as it will start to turn yellow or brown on the outside and feel a bit hollow when pressed.

Does anyone know when garlic is unfit for consumption.They don't come with best by dates. Am I just being a bit naive or thick for want of a better word!?

mervyn, I don't know where you're based, but I was at Borough Farmer's Market yesterday and there was a stall there selling genuine German products. Proper senf was among them. Dunno if this helps?

thank you both for your replies, will try it.

that last advice might just set your microwave on fire.
Make sure you have a little pot of water in there too if you want to dry herbs in your microwave.

They would dry in the microwave. Put between paper towels and zap for 30 seconds till dry.

thanks, rumian, I've got a bay tree as well and trimmed it down and I didn't want to waste the leaves. I've got about 4 branches that need drying, do I hang them outdoors and roughly how long will it take?

if tey are single thread them on a string or if its a branch all you do is hang them upside down till they are dry I have a bay tree and just pick them when I need winter and summer alike never dry them

does anybody know how to dry fresh bay leaves?

I don't know if this is any help but I bought a bottle of Heinz curry ketchup from Morrisons last weekend .My kids love it on burgers and sausage butties, cheers Helen.