My Inspiration...

This Copper Pod Tree which grows right opposite my flat is a semi-evergreen tree and it was, is and will always remain my inspiration. It has been an indelible part of my childhood as its flowering period (It starts flowering in late February and is in full bloom in end March) coincided with the summer vacations which meant three months of utter bliss...

The assorted kids in my housing complex also provide much entertainment when the tree is abloom. The tiny yellow flowers fall off the tree and there is a perpetual carpet of yellow flowers under the tree, but the kids are connoisseurs, they will not pick the flowers that have fallen down, they will stand under the tree and wait for fresh flowers to fall and then run to catch it before it touches the ground, the way in which they catch the flowers makes for some interesting watching, given that the flowers are about half an inch in size, you would expect them stand like a fielder on the green with his eyes on the ball, ready to catch, but noooo, they have their hands spread wide apart like they are expecting a jackfruit to fall into their arms as you can very well see in the pictures I have included in this post.

I say its my inspiration because during the winter months it sheds its leaves and is absolutely bare save for the pods and is a very depressing sight to behold but come January it starts putting out new leaves and is as good as new acting as a reminder of "This too shall pass and better days are just round the corner". I always look at the tree when I'm depressed and it never fails to gives me the will to live and fight another day!!!

Macaroni a la Sen...

This dish began as Mac and Cheese and after a process of elimination (we did not have flour at home) ended as it is... tasted quite good...

Ingredients:
2 cups of boiled macaroni
1 large capsicum (roughly chopped)
1 tomato (grated)
tomato ketchup
jalapeno peppers (chopped and pickled ones)
olives (the kind that are chopped and pickled, I am quite lazy)
2 cubes of cheese (grated)
2 cloves of garlic (grated)
Olive oil

Method:
1) Mix Olive oil, capsicum and olives in a pan and cook on medium heat(I have been told never to heat olive oil all by itself)
2) Add the grated garlic ( adding the garlic at this point, ensures that it doesn't burn and also lends a nice sweet taste to the dish).
3) Once the garlic is nicely cooked and the raw smell dissapears add the grated tomato and cook for about 2 mins.
4) Add the tomato ketchup and jalapeno peppers.
5) Cook for a couple of minutes and add the macaroni and mix well.
6) Add the grated cheese and mix well till the cheese blends with the sauce.
7) Serve hot.

Cricket Mania...

Image sourced from here : http://www.prlog.org/10344187-worlds-first-free-online-cricket-game-howzatcom.html

Its quite surprising that the Cricket World Cup hasn't affected my sensibilities this time round, I guess I have matured enough to realise that its just a game and there isn't any need for me to get excited about twenty two men, six stumps, four bails, two bats and a ball. Though I must add that yours truly had once been a die-hard cricket fan, who burned the mid-night oil to watch matches being played in weird time-zones, my mom maintains that if I had that level of dedication towards my exams I might have ended up differently, but I digress. Cricket has been a source of euphoria, heartache and amusement,  I say amusement because of the things people do to ensure their side wins which can range from the hilarious to the downright stupid!!!

Case Study 1:

My friend's husband is a die hard cricket fan to such an extent that when his side is losing or being walloped by the opposition he just can't watch it...but ask him to switch the TV off and he will give you a look as though you just asked him to commit harakiri. Instead he keeps the TV on in the living room, paces around in the Study and every now and then tip toes back to the living room to see if the situation has improved.

Then there is also the superstition that kicks in around all important matches, take for instance the latest India-Australia match in the World Cup 2011. He fixed himself a drink declaring "This is too stressful... I need a drink". After a while he noticed that every time he kept the drink on the coffee table India lost a wicket, so the brave soldier did what every true son of the soil would do in a crisis situation, he put the country's needs above his own and kept holding the glass in his hand... the only hiccup to the soldiering arose when the liquid that he had ingested decided "twas time to leave"...will leave the rest to your imagination...

Case Study 2:

My friend's uncle is one of the biggest cricket fans you can find on the sub-continent. At the workplace he is a force to be reckoned with, but as a cricket fan he quite hopeless and as superstitious as the next bloke. Way back in 1999 when she was visiting them during the annual summer vacations and the seventh edition of the World Cup was being hosted by England. She recounts being entertained by a fine display of near child-like behaviour in a sensible grown man. If during a match he sat in a particular pose and the batsman hit a six the pose was maintained at the risk of having to visit a chiropractor!!!

Also if by chance her aunt came into the room and a wicket was lost, her aunt was banned entry to the living room till the end of the match!!!

Holiga or Puran Polis

This is my all time favourite sweet dish, melt in your mouth Holigas (as it is called in my village) served with melted ghee... absolutely divine..

Ingredients:
For the dough:
2 cup maida
1/2 cup oil or pure ghee
Salt to taste

For Puran:
2 cups chana dal
1 cup grated jaggery (or as per taste)
5 cardamoms (powdered)

Method:
1) Make a soft dough, cover and keep aside.
2) Pressure cook the chana dal for 10 mins or until soft.
3) Remove from heat and throw away the excess water, if any and mash it.
4) Add in the jaggery and cook till all the water evaporates.
5) Remove from heat, cool and add the cardamom powder.
6) Make 20 portions of the dough and puran.
7) Flatten the dough and place the puran portion inside it, cover and roll carefully into thin polis.
8) Fry on a hot tawa, apply ghee on each side.
9) Remove from heat and serve with a side dish of melted ghee.

Note: You made add a bit of turmeric powder to the dough to give the holiga a slightly yellow colour, though I haven't added it.

Instant Rava Dhokla

Thank you Archana for the recipe!!

Ingredients

1 Cup roasted Rava (semolina)
3/4 cup butter milk
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp chopped corriander leaves
1 tbsp oil
1//4 tsp soda
1 pinch asafotida

Method:
1) Mix the ingredients to make a smooth batter and keep aside for 10 mins.
2) After 10 mins add little water to loosen the batter.
3) Steam dhokla for 10-15 mins.
For the seasoning, heat a little oil and add mustard seeds, once the mustard seeds pop, add the cumin seeds and curry leaves.
4) Pour the seasoning on the dhokla.
5) Garnish with chopped corriader leaves and serve.

Gajar ka halwa!!!

Ingredients:

1kg carrots (grated)
1/4 ltr milk
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp ghee
1 cup chopped dry fruits (cashews, almond, raisins)

Method:

1) Mix the grated carrots and milk and bring to a boil.
2) Simmer and cook till the carrots are well done.
3) Add in the sugar and ghee and cook till the moisture evaporates.
4) Add the dry fruits and cook for five minutes.

Masala Pav

Serves 3

Ingredients:
6 Pav (buns)
4 Tomatoes (medium sized)
2 Onion (medium sized)
1 tsp cumin-corriander powder
1 tsp chilly powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp pav bhaji masala
1/2 cup Tomato puree (or tomato sauce)
lemon juice
1 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp sugar
chopped onions and corriander leaves for garnishing
salt to taste

Method:

1) Heat butter in a pan add 1 tsp of oil.
2) Add onion, once the onions are translucent add the tomatoes.
3) Let it cook well and add sugar.
4) Add in all the dry masala and keep stirring till the tomatoes turn soft.
5) Add Tomato puree and cook well.
6) When the mixture reaches a gravy like consistency add in the pav and ensure that each piece is well coated with the mixture.
7) Remove from flame, add the lemon juice and mix well.
8) Garnish with chopped onions and corriander leaves and serve hot.

Random Updates...

Twenty five years, Rs. 250 crores of the common man's money spent, two extradition cases lost in the international arena, with no sustainable evidence being produced so far... Mr. Q walks free into the sunset as the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate recites Sahir Ludhianvi..."Woh afsana jise anjaam tak lana na ho mukin, use ek khoobsoorat more dekar chorna hi accha".

Mumbai Sightings!!!

Seen in an autorickshaw, it reads " Trust in God. I don't drive fast" and the small writing in hindi to the right, declares the reason behind the impeccable behaviour "Mummy manna karti hai na", which means "Mother has forbidden me from doing so!!!".