My version of Potato Sabzi

I experimented a little and my family loved it.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

Potato sabzi.

You will need:
~ 2 potatoes sliced into triangles
~ 1 finely sliced onion
~ 1 tsp chopped coriander leaves
~ 1/2 tsp each cumin seeds and onion seeds
~ 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
~ salt to taste
~ 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
~ oil for shallow frying.

Things to do:
+ heat oil in a pressure cooker. Saute cumin seeds and onion seeds till their splutter.
+ add onions and saute till translucent. Add turmeric powder, red chilli, and the potato slices. Saute well till oil separates.
+ add coriander leaves, salt and one tbsp water. Close lid and let it cook for two whistles.
+ check seasoning, dry excess water. Serve warm immediately with rice, khichdi, dosa or chapatti.

My recipe for Mint'o Carotene

I made this as a summer drink. Truly refreshing.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

Mint'o Carotene.

You will need:
~ 1 large carrot diced evenly
~ 2:1 cup of cold milk and water each.
~ 1 tsp mint leaves
~ 1 tbsp sugar
~ salt and black pepper powder to taste

Things to do:
+ put all the ingredients in a blender, and run on speed one for thirty seconds or till smooth.
+ pour in a large glass. Serve chill.

* you can strain the liquid if you don't like the fleshy texture but in that case, avoid water and use creamy milk.

Ajmer: Unique in Every Sense

Visiting Ajmer has been one of the most cherished wishes of my heart. The historic and revered shrine of the blessed Sufi saint Hazrath Moinuddin Chishti has proved to be my touchstone through various ups and downs of my life. So, when I finally got to see the city, it was amazing in every way.

Drive: My family travelled to the blessed city by train. It was an overnight journey but hassle free on the whole. But the other means of travel too are very well maintained and comfortable. I personally recommend a trip through the road meandering the hillock connecting Ajmer to Pushkar. It is an experience in its own. With the airport also getting ready to commence come 2016, it promises easy access to foreigners and the busybodies. But if you would ask me what drives this enigmatic city, I would say its the very air it holds, the people it shelters, and the aura of piety it exudes. Words can't define the hospitality and love the city offers. Suffice it to say, the city is rightly nicknamed as The City enveloping

Design: Its very appearance inspires regality and peace. Every fort, archway, monument and ensemble speak of the various kings and thrones the city honoured through centuries, and the place of pride it enjoyed during their reigns. Even nature has cradled it with love by enveloping it in the bosom of the Aravalli hills and the bank of the artificial lake Anasagar. The massive rocks of Nagpathar range that protect it from the Thar desert are a marvel on their own. But it's the meandering roads of the city, the impressive development of civilization, and the lore of the local folks that actually captured my heart. It makes you forget every bane of your life. And the energy and calm that embraces you at the Blessed Sufi's shrine, and the Taragarh hills' fort actually transport you to a different plane. It feels like a threshold of miracles and answers.

Connect: Art, Architecture, Adaption, Culture, Education, Geography, History, Science, Religion, Tradition, you ask for it, and it has it. Like the beautiful intricate patterns in its heritage sites, the manner the city is connected to every aspect of humanity, civilization and timelessness... It leaves you spellbound. Situated very conveniently midway between Mumbai and Delhi on the Golden Quadrilateral National Highway, Closely and comfortably connected to other cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, and Pushkar, and an important base point for pilgrimages, tourism and archaeological research; trust me,

I've never seen another city so blessed in every way, every aspect and every sense of the word. I thank #madeofgreat campaign initiated by Tata motors, for this prompt which allowed me to share my experience with others.

To find out more about the campaign visit http://www.madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/

My version of Bread Omlette

I first had during a train journey and immensely loved it. I tried to recreate it at home, and this is my recipe for it.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

Bread Omelette.

You will need:
~ 6-8 bread slices
~ 2 eggs
~ 1 finely chopped onion
~ 1 grated potato
~ 1 tsp chopped coriander leaves
~ 1-2 roughly cut green chillies
~ salt and black pepper powder, to taste
~ butter for basting.

Things to do:
+ preheat oven or sandwich maker. Butter up one side of all the bread slices.
+ mix together all the other ingredients well till eggs are well aerated.
+ heat a shallow frying pan, melt butter and fry omlette till soft and done.
+ cut omelette into sizes equal to the bread slices and place a slice of omelette on half the slices. Cover with the remaining slices.
+ grill till golden and crisp. Serve warm immediately with any sauce of your choice.

* you can crispen  the bread slices even on a shallow frying pan.

My version of Fruit dosa

I have used bananas. You can substitute with any fruit of your choice.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

10. fruit dosa.

You will need:
~ 1 banana sliced into rounds.
~ 1 tbsp roughly ground roasted almonds/walnuts/pista/groundnuts
~ 1 tbsp grated jaggery
~ 1 ladleful of dosa batter.
~ a pinch of baking soda.
~ salt to taste
~ oil for shallow fry

Things to do:
+ Mix well batter, soda and salt till it aerates well.
+ mix together jaggery and nuts.
+ pour batter into pan in small rounds, cover with banana slices, top with but mixture, drop a circle of oil around the roundels and cover the pan.
+ wait for 1 min till aroma emanates, open lid, turn over, wait for 10 seconds. Remove and serve warm.

My version of Frozen Hots

A easy fix delight.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

9. Frozen Hots.

You will need:
~ 1 pack of high fibre digestive biscuits
~ Ice cream scoops of any flavour
~ chocolate sauce or honey for drizzling.
~ oil for deep fry

Things to do:
+ Break the biscuits randomly, put in grinder and grind to a coarse paste.
+ Heat oil nicely and keep ready for frying.
+ coat each scoop quickly in the ground mixture and fry for 10 seconds immediately.
+ take off heat. Drizzle with chocolate sauce or honey and serve immediately.

My version of Bread tarts

An easy recipe for those lazy days. *NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it. 8. Bread Tarts. You will need: ~ 6 any bread slices ~ 1 cup milk ~ 1 finely chopped onion ~ 1 finely chopped tomato ~ 1 tbsp boiled corn ~ 1 tsp chopped coriander leaves ~ salt and black pepper powder to taste ~ 1 tsp lemon juice. ~ Butter for basting. Things to do: + Soak the bread slices lightly in milk, press into tart shells. Cut extra. Blind bake. + Mix together all other ingredients. + top up the bread tarts. Bake for 5 mins at 180°c. Serve hot with any sauce of your choice.

My version of French Toast

A vegetarian variety of the rich breakfast recipe.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

You will need:
~ 6 bread slices
~ 2tbsp grated jaggery
~ 3 cup milk
~ 1 tsp activated yeast
~ 1 cup any fruit puree
~ 1 tbsp corn flour.
~ butter for shallow frying.

Things to do:
+ mix together all the ingredients well except bread and butter till it aerates well.
+ dip bread slices lightly but let it coat well.
+ melt butter in a pan, and shallow fry till it turns golden.
+ serve warm immediately with any sauce of your choice.

My version of Egg Halwa

It's a traditional Indian Cuisine.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

11. Egg Halwa.

You will need:
~ 2 eggs
~ 2 marie biscuit/ 1 tbsp sooji (without roast)
~ 2 tbsp sugar/grated jaggery.
~ 2 tbsp milk.
~ 2 tbsp oil
~ rose/vanilla essence
~ roasted nuts and raisins

Things to do:
+ Mix together all the ingredients well till it aerates well.
+ transfer in a deep pan, and stir continuously till it is well done and solidifies.
+ serve warm immediately.

My version of Custard Dressing

I made this dressing for a last minute fruit salad added to the menu and with no custard mix or eggs at home. *NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it. 6. Quick fix Orange custard. You will need: ~ a cup of milk. ~ extract of 1 orange. ~ 1 tbsp sugar, or to taste. ~ 1 tbsp corn flour. Things to do: + Boil milk in a saucepan. Add sugar and let it dissolve. + mix in corn flour in the orange extract. You can little water if needed. + add this solution to the milk and keep stirring briskly to avoid lumps or charring, till the liquid thickens. + remove from heat. let it cool to room temperature. + Pour over fruit salad and coat, or chill it before adding it to the salad. * you can use it as a dip for cakes, and candy sticks, or serve as mousse too.

My version of Banana Modak

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday
recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of
similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

5. Banana modak.
You will need:
~ 2 diced elakki banana.
~ 1 cup jaggery roughly broken into chunks.
~ 1 cup roasted groundnuts.
~ 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds.
~ 2 cup fine rice flour.
~ water, for making dough and steaming.

Things to do:
+ boil about 2cups water thoroughly. Make a well of dry rice flour seasoned with a little salt. Pour a quarter of the water in the cavity and immediately mix briskly with a spoon to make a granular flour. Keep aside to cool.
+ when it reaches room temperature, add normal water little by little and knead with hands to make a pliable dough.
+ grind together groundnuts, jaggery and sesame seeds to granular texture. Take in a bowl. Add in the banana.
+ take a fist size chunk of dough, smoothen it out and flatten to thick saucer with your hands. You can use oil to grease your hands.
+ place a spoonful of the mixture in middle and carefully close into a crescent.
+ seal the edges by pressing the mouth lightly. Repeat for other pieces.
+ steam for 20mins. Serve warm.

My version of Karela chips

You got it right. It's Karela, meaning Bitter gourd, chips. Not Kerala chips.

Even though the latter is a tastier variety, even this tastes awesome if you have the penchant for bittersweet delicacies.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

7. Karela chips.

You will need:
~ 1 bitter gourd deseeded and sliced into roundels.
~ 2 tbsp corn flour
~ 1 tsp grated jaggery
~ 5-6 curry leaves
~ 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
~ salt to taste
~ oil for deep fry

Things to do:
+ smear a little salt and chilly powder over the roundels and keep aside for 10-12 mins. It will remove excess bitterness from the gourd.
+ make a paste of the remaining ingredients except oil.
+ squeeze excess water lightly from the roundels and coat the paste all over the roundels. 
+ deep fry immediately. Serve hot with any sauce of your choice.

My version of Apple Banana Smoothie

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

4. Apple Banana Smoothie.

You will need:
~1 cherry apple.
~ 1 elakki banana.
~ 1 tbsp grated jaggery.
~ 200 ml cold milk.

Things to do:
+ roughly chop the fruits and put in a blender with other ingredients.
+ run the blender on speed 1 for 30 seconds.
+ pour in a tall glass. Serve chilled.

My version of Choco paneer roll

Kids will love this. *NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it. 3. Choco-paneer Roll. You will need: ~ 100grams crumbled malai paneer. ~ 1 slab of chocolate grated. ~ 1 cup of grated jaggery. ~ 5 to 6 roughly chopped almonds/walnuts/pista. ~ Butter for basting. ~ 8 to 10 large pasty sheets. Things to do: + Preheat oven as instructed for grilling. + Mix together evenly paneer, chocolate, nuts and jaggery. + Grease the grill tray with butter. + Coat one side of each pasty sheet with butter evenly. cut the sheets into 6x6 equal squares. + Place 3 to 4 squares one over the other. Roll it out lightly using a rolling pin to stick them together. + place a portion of the mixture in a side, through its length, leaving a margin of 1 inch on either side. + Roll tightly into shape. Dampen edges and press lightly to seal. Repeat for other pieces. + grill for 5 mins or till golden. Serve hot. * alternatively, you can deep fry the rolls till golden too.

My version of Aviyal

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has thought of similar ideas, I claim on knowledge of it.

You will need:
~a cup each of Chopped vegetables of your choice.
~ 1inch ginger, 5-8 garlic, 3 green chilies
~ 1 and half tsp cumin seeds
~ 1 tbsp soaked rice
~ 1tbsp oil for cooking
~ 1 finely chopped onion
~ half cup tomato puree
~ 1 and half cup whisked yogurt
~ half cup coconut cream
~ salt to taste
~ 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
~ 2pinch of citric acid
~ 10 - 12 curry leaves
~ 1 tsp mustard seeds
Things to do:
+Dice into equal size (medium) a cup each vegetables of your choice. Also keep a cup of green peas with it.
+boil yam separately in salted water.
+Make a fine paste of ginger, garlic, green chilies(alter to your taste), cumin seeds and soaked rice.
+ Heat oil in a deep pan, saute onion till it turns translucent. Add the above ginger-garlic paste. Saute a few seconds.
+ Add in all the vegetables, saute again for a min.
+ whisk in together tomato puree, pre-whisked yogurt, and coconut cream. Stir thoroughly till boils begin to appear.
+ add salt, turmeric powder, and 1 and half cup water. Bring to a boil for 10mins or till vegetables are done.
+ check seasoning, add a pinch of citric acid if it's too bland.
+ Simmer for 2mins, remove from heat and serve hot garnished with few curry leaves and mustard seeds.

My version of Fruit Sandwich

I've decided to share what I know best- cooking. Here are my top 10
self created recipes.

*NOTE- these recipes need not be unique to me. These are everyday
recipes with a few moderations I've made. If someone has already
thought the same idea, I claim no knowledge of it.

1. Fruit sandwich-
You will need:
~ a bowl of any tropical fruit of your choice.
~ 5 to 6 chopped almonds/walnuts/pista.
~ 1 cup of grated jaggery.
~1 cup grated processed cheese.
~ soft butter for basting.
~ whole wheat/multi grain bread.

Things to do:
+ Cut and chop all the fruit in equal size. Let them be small enough
to be chunky after cooking.
+ mix in evenly grated jaggery and cheese to the fruit medley.
~ Preheat sandwich maker/oven as directed.
~ Grease grill/sandwich makers' inner walls with butter.
~ Butter up the outer sides of bread evenly.
~ Place a spoonful of fruit mixture on top of one bread's unbuttered
side. Spread to make an even layer equal to bread's thickness.
~ Place another bread over it. Butter side up. Repeat for other slices.
~ Grill for 5 mins or till bread turns golden.
~ Remove. Serve hot with chocolate sauce.

* I have used apple, pineapple, jackfruit, banana, grapes, and orange.

Bats in my home town

With the rain finally holding up, and the rain clouds abating, sun finally shone through the winter mist driving away gloom, chill and distress.

It was the perfect day to venture outdoor for some sunshine, cheer and shopping. But on my way back I witnessed something that rendered the air a rather spooky feeling and had me transported to the world of Twilight Saga.

It was about an half hour before dusk. Just a block away from my home, I looked up to see some birds return to their home in flocks as usual. And lo! What should I behold? A Bat was looming a dozen or so feet right above my head.

I'm dead sure it was the nocturnal creature. For who can mistake a Bat's wings. It seemed to travel east with two ravens, but never have I seen a Bat so close before. Plus,there are notorious for their hideous nature, their dark and damp living conditions, and being out only after dark.

So seeing them in falling daylight and for the first time in my town left me unsettled. Was my town now attracting blood thirsty vermins? Has the incessant rain of a fortnight dampened our conditions so? God! Help us!

And just as I was ready to shake my head of these disturbing thoughts, for what else can I do?, I saw another smaller Bat circling the sky lazily. How was I to ignore it again?

I had to only turn around the corner and face the horizon. There right before my eyes, even as sun set calmly behind me, the full moon loomed eerily in the sky- a deep bloodshot red, and looking sinister and brooding.

Isn't it how vampire colonies, haunted houses and evil grounds depicted in movies and novels?

Maladies of Rain II

Even my town was not spared of last months cyclonic heavy rainfall, and practically the whole town went to slumber for the better part of the fortnight with the business going slack, no sunshine to dry the roads and rooftops even when rain abated, and believe me when I say, the cold indoor was so freezing even the clothes we wore and our hair were damp because of the mist.

Its a benevolence of the Almighty that the situation did not escalate to disastrous proportions, and no lasting damage was done.

Its a pleasure

I am new to this platform, and would love to make friends. I keep my blogs short, as I'm a mother of two girls, a housewife, and an extremely busy woman.

As a gift of love towards my readers, I present to my readers another philosophy I truly believe in:

"All that glitters is not gold...
  And that's ugly is not dirt either."

Do tell me your thoughts on it.

The maladies of rain

Its been raining cats and dogs in South India for better part of last month, and honestly there's no better word to describe it than wrathful.

Mother nature drenched us mercilessly under the superior command of the Almighty, and the respites were too far and few in between.

My hearts and hopes are with the afflicted, but what astounds me about the entire situation is the laxity of authority, the lack of preparation, and the lessons not learnt over the years.

We all know this land lies in the cyclone belt of Asia, and every year numerous cyclones visit us in quick succession and without fail. So, why are no one making efforts to better prepare for these monsoon visitors? Why do roads get clogged every year, why are homes flooded and with no effort to counter it? Why are sea shores encroached and no officer clears it (give the poor people better and safer places to dwell?)

Its high time we wake up, gear up, and put an end to these maladies before the next season of cyclones and heavy rainfall.

For a start

Life is full of surprises, struggles, sacrifices, lessons, and love. Not everyone we meet can like us, neither can we do so.

What we can do is love those who love us, forgive and forget our wrongdoers, and protect, nourish and keep together our loved ones.

Life is to make things better, not bitter.