Thursday, May 21, 2009

I am Sorry MOM !!!


Another interesting forward mail.. found it really worth to share


As I got up today, I felt the smell of fresh coffee. I woke up to see
a cup of coffee with some biscuits kept at my bedside table. This reminded me of home. The old school and college days, when mumma used to wake me up by serving a steaming cup of coffee. The aroma, the taste, so refreshing, still so fresh in my memories. A sudden thought hit me, “I was in bed, so who prepared this coffee for me? Is it a dream?”

I pinched myself and that
hurts, which meant I was not dreaming. I walked out of the room with the cup of coffee, in search of my roommate. I asked him whether he prepared that for me, and the answer was YES. I was relaxed but somehow my heart wanted him to say NO. A no because I wanted to be in a belief that my mom prepared it for me. The whole scene reminded me of mom, and I missed her at that moment. I got ready for the office and all set to leave.

On my way, I was thinking about those days, when mumma
used to cook my every meal. All her possible ways by which she could stuff her son. I could not remember any single day when I slept without food. Maggi, chips, biscuits, all junk food was banned and I always cooked maggi when I was sure that mom was not around. But now, I no more enjoy cooking maggi for myself. Almost everyday I eat it, not because I like it, but because I am left with no other option at times. This very thought brought tears to my eyes and I decided to call up mom.

I reached office and gave mom a call. The
first thing she asked was, “Is everything alright?”. I was speechless. And I thought, how the time has changed.

When I was home with her,
she used to nag me by calling after every hour when I was ut with friends. In those days she never asked me what was wrong, as she knew that it was my habit even if I got home late and forgot to call. My call at this point of day to her, means that I am in trouble. Time as changed, she is still the same, its me who has changed. But I continued my conversation saying that I just called up to ask how she was, and how are things going on with her.

And we continued our
conversation. . Then suddenly an ice-breaker came when she asked, “Don’t you have any work today?” I as shocked and asked her why she asked that, in reply to which she said, it was almost 30 minutes, I have been talking to her. I hurriedly ended the conversation saying I have to attend a meeting.

I lied to her and deep down I know, she knows that I
lied to her but what else can I do? The lady with whom I used to have endless conversations, sleepless nights of gossips… has all ended. I am so occupied with my new life that I forgot to spend few hours with her. I roll backed the time and thought of every single day that I have not spent with her. This made me realize that there was not a single day when I was busy, busy in a sense to neglect my mom.

The lady who gave her whole life just for me, I could not even give
her the time that she deserved. I remembered how I used to tell her about all my daily happenings and how I always failed to ask about her day. It left me all in tears. I missed her and missed her to core. I was feeling ashamed, because it was a cup of coffee that made me realize her presence in my world.

We all are here, away from our family, living with our
friends, who are our new family.. We spend our lunch time with them gossiping about what’s going in and around, weekends, shopping with them and even festivals as most of us are staying too far from home. And when we call home, we are in a hurry to hang up as most of us are BUSY. Are we really that busy?

Think of the lady whom we have left back at home. She still misses her son/daughter at the dining table, although most of us enjoy our meals with our friends and colleagues. She still waits all day just to hear her son/daughter’s voice at the end of the day and we, we spend our time on phone with friends or girlfriend/boyfriend.

Is it really that we don’t have time or is it just we are too busy with our new life? I apologize to all the mothers in this world and thank them for what we are today..

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Another soup in a row!!!

Chilli Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

Butter - 4 tbsp
Broccoli (florets) - 1/2 kg
Onion (chopped) - 1
Carrot (chopped) - 1
Green chillies (finely chopped) - 5-6 (reduce it if you don't like it hot)
Salt to taste
Black Pepper (freshly crushed)
Water - according to soup consistency
Sour Cream - to garnish
Spring onions - to garnish

Method

1. Heat butter in a deep vessel.
2. Saute onion, green chillies, carrot, broccoli, salt and pepper.
3. Add water and bring to boil.
4. Simmer until broccoli is tender.
5. Puree the soup in a blender, add more water according to needed consistency.
6. Garnish with sour cream and spring onion, serve hot.

Another try for another paratha..

Mooli Parathas


Ingredients:

For Dough:
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Water - needed to make smooth fluffy dough
Salt to taste
Oil - to knead dough
Butter - to make parathas

For Filling:
Mooli/Radish (peeled/shredded) - 6 to 8 small
Onion (finely chopped) - 1
Green Chillies (finely chopped) - 4/5
Ginger (finely chopped) - 1" piece
Chilli powder - 3 tsp
Coriander powder - 11/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Garam Masala powder - 2 tsp
Coriander leaves - few sprigs
Salt to taste
Oil

Method
  • Knead the dough with wheat flour, salt, oil and water. The oil can be plain vegetable oil or sesame oil, don't use coconut oil. (same for any chappathi/paratha)
  • Peel and grate the radish. Squeeze and drain all the water from it.
  • Heat oil in a pan, fry onion, green chillies, ginger, radish, and all the powders, one by one. Finally, add the coriander leaves. Allow it to cool.
  • Divide the filling mixture into equal parts and shape them into lime-sized balls.
  • Similary, divide the dough into equal parts and make balls little larger than the balls made of the potato-mixture.
  • Make saucer-like shapes from each dough ball with both the hands and keep the filling inside it. Cover the filling with the dough, making the dough ball cover the filling from all sides.
  • Roll out the dough ball (containing the filling) like chappathi but not that thin. Use sufficient flour so that the dough does not stick to your rolling pin.
  • Roast the paratha on a hot pan both sides until golden brown (as in the picture). Use appropriate amount of butter for greasing the paratha.
  • Serve hot with curd and pickle.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Reality Hurts!!!

I got a forward mail from one of my friends, found it really interesting and to the matter of fact.. hope u guys also enjoy it with me..

ONE BEDROOM FLAT
Author: A Software Engineer

As the biggest dream of most parents, I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and had joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the US, it was as if a dream had come true. Here atlast, I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat. I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate, getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally, I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home, I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter, I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA. My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the Almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.

Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried, but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.

After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA. My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years. Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and y son was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode. Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?' I am still searching for an answer!!!


Really touching, but i feel its the truth...

Bored of Chappathi.. try out a paratha..

Alu Parathas


Ingredients

For Dough:
Wheat flour - 1 cup
Water - needed to make smooth fluffy dough
Salt to taste
Oil - to knead dough
Butter - to make parathas

For Filling:
Potato (boiled,mashed) - 3/4
Onion (finely chopped) - 1
Green Chillies (finely chopped) - 4/5
Ginger (finely chopped) - 1" piece
Chilli powder - 3 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Garam Masala powder - 2 tsp
Coriander leaves - few sprigs
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Salt to taste

Method
  • Knead the dough with wheat flour, salt, oil and water. The oil can be plain vegetable oil or sesame oil, don't use coconut oil.
  • Boil and mash the potatoes. Make a mixture of all other ingredients of the filling with the mashed potatoes. Divide the mixture into equal parts and make a lime-sized ball of each part. Keep aside.
  • Similary, divide the dough into equal parts and make balls little larger than the balls made of the potato-mixture.
  • Make saucer-like shapes from each dough ball with both the hands and keep the filling inside it. Cover the filling with the dough, making the dough ball cover the filling from all sides.
  • Roll out the dough ball (containing the filling) like chappathi but not that thin. Use sufficient flour so that the dough does not stick to your rolling pin.
  • Roast the paratha on a hot pan both sides until golden brown (as in the picture). Use appropriate amount of butter for greasing the paratha.
  • Serve hot with curd and pickle.

Broccoli Salad

I am an ardent fan of Sweet Tomatoes and I make it a point to go there often. The food is not only awesome to the taste, but also nutritious. Being a vegetarian, or rather, eggitarian, I treasure going there. You have so many varieties of salads, soups, fruits and bakery items in store in the buffet, that your belly would rather tell you - "NEXT TIME PLEASE" or "GIVE ME AN INTERMISSION".. haha

I found their Broccoli Salad really marvelous. It has a touch of sweetness, good crunch, is fresh and vibrant. In fact, it contains bacon, which I used to filter while having, so my recipe too refrains from using bacon pieces. Quoting the recipe for you my friends...

Joan's Broccoli Madness Salad

Ingredients

Dressing:
Mayonnaise - 1 cup
Sugar -1 tbsp
Apple Cider vinegar -2 tbsp

Salad:
Broccoli (florets) - 1/2 stems
Cashews - 1/2 cups
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Onion (red - chopped) - 1/4 cup

Method
  • Wash broccoli and cut into florets. Chop off hard stems.
  • In a bowl, add broccoli florets, cashews, raisins and onion.
  • Mix the ingredients of dressing in another bowl.
  • Toss the salad mixture with the dressing.
  • Cool in fridge for few minutes before serving. Serve.

Ellu Urundai

I made this simple recipe on my birthday !!!

Ingredients:

Black sesame seeds (ellu) - 200g
Jaggery - 100g

Method:

1. Wash the sesame seeds and roast them in a dry pan until they splutter.
2. In another pan, make a syrup out of jaggery, by heating it with little water.
3. Check the completion of the syrup formation by dropping a bit of the syrup into a bowl of water; it should become solid instantly. If so, remove the syrup from heat.
4. Add sesame seeds into this syrup and make small lime-sized balls out of it. Better if done when the syrup is not yet cooled. Grease the hands with butter before doing this.
5. Serve hot or cold as a simple, but elegant dessert.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Soup time!!!

Spicy Green Peas Soup

I thought one day, that it would be nice to have a warm soothing soup.. on investigating on several websites, I formulated a new recipe and that was just superb for me.. try it out friends..

Ingredients

Green peas (boiled) - 500 grams
Ginger (1" piece) - 2
Garlic - 8-10 cloves
Green chillies - 2
Butter - 3 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Onion (finely chopped) - 1
Bay leaves - 2
Salt to taste
Fresh cream (garnish)

Method

1. Boil green peas and blend it to make a smooth puree.
2. Grind ginger, garlic and green chillies to make a paste.
3. Heat butter in a pan, add cumin seeds and bay leaves.
4. Add onion and sauté till light pink.
5. Add ginger-garlic-green chilli paste. Sauté for 1 or 2 minutes.
6. Add peas puree. Stir continuously and cook for five minutes. Add water if needed to bring the soup into your consistency.
7. Salten the soup, remove bay leaves and simmer for 5 more minutes.
8. Garnish with cream, serve hot.

This soup is good when in thick consistency, however its all up to you.

Palak Aloo - type 2

I tried another way about for this recipe, after referring many websites. This also came out quite well. Maybe you guys can also give a try.

Ingredients

Black Sesame seeds (roasted) - 1 tbsp
Spinach (chopped/boiled) - 2 cups
Potato (boiled) - 2 large
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Green chillies - 4
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1 tsp
Yogurt - 2 tbsp
Oil
Salt to taste

Method

Cook the spinach by sprinkling little water and salt. Cook the potatoes too and cut them without removing the peel.
Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and when they splutter, add asafoetida, green chillies and potatoes. Stir and add salt. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Add turmeric powder, again cover it. Add spinach and stir. Cook for few minutes. Add coriander powder, cumin power and yogurt. Remove from heat and add roasted sesame seeds.

This also goes well with Chappathi/parathas. This curry would be li'l more dry than the earlier type.

Aloo Palak - type 1

Try this out - came out quite well for me

Ingredients

Spinach (chopped/cooked) - 2 cups
Onion (chopped fine) - 1 small
Potatoes (boiled/peeled) - 2 large
Tomato (chopped fine) - 1
Green chillies - 2-4
Ginger - 1" piece
Lemon juice - 2 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Asafoetida - 2 pinches
Garam masala - 2 tsp
Butter (not oil)
Salt to taste

Method:
Cook the spinach by sprinkling little water and salt. If only little water left out after cooking, its fine, else drain excess water and then, grind it coarsely in a mixie (don't over grind it). Meanwhile, heat butter and fry the cut potatoes(big pieces) till light brown. Keep both aside.
In a deep pan, heat little butter, add the cumin seeds. When it splutters, add ginger, green chillies (split into 2) and onions. Fry till tender. Add tomato, fry a little. Add all the powder masalas (asafoetida not needed now). Fry till butter separates. Now, add the spinach and potatoes. Add salt and leave it to boil for few minutes. Add lemon juice, remove from heat.
Heat little butter in another pan, add asafoetida and add onto the curry.

Goes well with chappathi/parathas.