Greens in Yogurt ( Akukoora Majjiga Pulusu) and a chance to make a difference!

One evening, we sat at the dinner table, my parents, Lisa (my friend) and I. I was talking about something and laughingly, Lisa said, "tu pagal hai! poori pagal!" ( you are mad, completely mad!) Turning to my parents now going into the living room to catch the news, she said, " She is SO unlike you". 

" I am , aren't I? but then, why won't I be? , Lisa, do you know my story?", I asked.

"Sure, sure, I know your stories" She said and burst out laughing

" No, no, not the stories  I tell to amuse.. I mean 'my' story" I insisted

"What do you mean?" She asked, intrigued

"Let me tell you" I said, arranging my facial expressions and launched into 'my story'

" One rainy night in July, Baba and Aai woke up to a terrible thunderstorm and rain.They stood in the  sheltered part of the patio and looked out, awed by the fury of the rain. It almost felt like the heavens were crying. as they stood looking out, Baba's eyes fixed themselves on some object  under the street lamp. "Poor puppy", he thought, stranded in this storm and then he heard a wail. He jumped like he was shot! A wail, on this rainy night! My Mother also looked shocked and both of them moved out into the patio, to get  a better look. And as they stood, looking for God-knows-what, the 'puppy' moved under the street lamp and revealed a tiny... hand?

Baba grabbed an umbrella and rushed out and ran to the lamp post and stood there, the umbrella falling from his hands...

It was a tiny baby, wrapped in some cloth and abandoned under the lamp post. He picked up the baby and asked, "  koi hai?..arey, kiska baccha hai ye?..." (hello? whose baby is this?)  only to be met by silence and the pitter patter of rain.

He took the baby home and they both looked at the pretty face, now calm after being held and comforted.

Baba could not take his eyes off the baby and when he did, he simply said to Aai, " she is my daughter, now"

And that, Lisa, is how I became a part of this family."

By now Lisa's eyes resembled the dinner plates we had placed in the sink, " I.. I.... didn't know.." she faltered

I nodded, " not many do", I said.

She sat, her chin in her palm, frown on her face, brooding. 

Aai walked in and asked her why she looked so serious and out came the reason! My Mom burst out laughing! " kiski baaton mein aa gayi tum, Lisa!? Yeh to pagal hai, pura bakwas karte rehti hai, nautanki hai yeh ladki!" (Did you actually believe her? she is mad and  is always spouting some kind of nonsense, loves all kinds of drama) 

I was rolling on the kitchen floor, with laughter! HAH! she swallowed it!  Even if just for that one second! Her face! Oh! 

I made up that story on the spur of the moment, just to pull Lisa's leg, just to see a range of emotions flit across her face. But what if.............? What if any of this was true?

What if I had been abandoned? 

When I think of that possibility, my heart grows cold with fear. Not to have known parental love. nothing can be as harsh as that. Not knowing  why I was abandoned, why I was so unwanted or if I was saved from some tragic accident and was the only survivor, so many questions, no answers. 

At such times I look up and thank Him, for my parents, for their endless love and sacrifices  for me, for everything I have, for my little boy and for keeping me alive, so I can love him, the way I was loved.

But what of the many children who are orphans? Who have not known, what you and I, my dear readers, have know all our life and also at some point taken for granted? 

Take a look at the other side, read about how you can make a difference.

Take a minute to look at these cheerful faces, look into the innocent eyes and read the story behind each.  

Take 10 minutes out of your schedule and Chip in and show your support for Vaidehi Ashram.

There are prizes  that you could win for the contribution you make, apart from the 

warmth it spreads in your heart. 

Do your bit today.

And after your soul is satisfied with the good deed, come back to try this tummy satisfying offering I have for you today.

Source: Cooking at home with Pedatha 

1/2 cup Split Red Gram ( Toor Daal)
1/2 cup Bengal Gram (Chana Daal)
1 bunch Amaranth Leaves  or Spinach leaves, wash and chop finely
3 cups Thick Yogurt (plain), churned
1 Tbsp. Tamarind Pulp ( reduce amount if you are using Tamarind Concentrate)
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1 tsp.  Asafetida
3 Green Chillies , slit
1/2 cup Cilantro leaves , chopped fine
1 stem Curry leaves
2-3 Tbsp Ghee
3 Tbsp. Oil
Salt to taste


The Paste:
1/2 cup Fresh coconut, grated
2 inch Ginger piece
1/4  cup Cilantro leaves
3-4  Green chillies


The Tempering:
1 Tbsp Mustard seeds
6-8 Red chillies, nicked at tail, stalks retained


Cook the daals together in 3 cups of waater to a very soft consistency ( I use my pressure cooker). Add /2 cup water and churn well. Set aside


For the pastte, grind the ingredients to a fine paste, using  a little water.
Mix this paste into the  cooked daal and set aside.


In a  wok, heat oil and pop the mustard seeds. Lower the flame and add the red chillies


As the chillies  turn bright red, add the chopped greens. cover and simmer for 12-15 mins or until well done, stirring now and then


Add the tamarind, turmeric, asafetida and salt and simmer for a few minutes.


Add the churned daal mixture to which you have added the coconut paste, curry leaves, slit green chillies and cilantro leaves and continue to cook for a couple of minutes.


Finally, switch off the heat, stir in the ghee and yogurt *.


Serve with steamed rice.


NOTES:

• Substitute Spinach leaves if you do not have Amaranth leaves
• Use Chillies as per your tolerance level.
• *Take the wok off heat and then add in the yogurt. I let my curry cool a little before adding yogurt. I  manage to curdle yogurt in such cases and so am extra careful.  If you are unsure how to, just do what I did, let the curry cool.

Enjoy the weekend! Peace out.

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Punjabi Kadhi (Pakode Wali Kadhi)

Of late I have been using the laptop VERY sparingly. Things were going crazy around me. Though a  most useful thing to have around, the laptop is the worst addiction. I would 'just peek' and stay stuck, slowly my son also started demanding laptop and to own the truth, I let him. 

He was at that stage where intense curiosity was getting in the way of everything I was doing, cooking, cleaning, using the bathroom, going from one room to another and sometimes he would hurt himself, specially when I was mopping the floor, he'd run on it and slip. And so, one day, I put him in the high chair and played some songs, he liked those and very soon that became my passport. His lunch would go down easier. I could finish my chores without worrying. what I did not realize was, he was getting addicted. There came a day when he did not let me touch the laptop for anything except the songs he liked, he  kept himself awake till midnight, just watching those songs and that day I had it! The next day, before he was up, I bundled the laptop in the small closet upstairs and it has been here since then. I check whatever I want to occasionally (hiding in the closet)  and thankfully, my son has forgotten all about it! A classic case of  out of sight and out of mind!  I am over  my 'addiction' too. Though I do miss reading all my favorite blogs and  do not reply to my mail or orkut scraps, I am glad we are 'safe'!

A few weeks ago I borrowed 1000 Indian Recipes and spent many hours going through the recipes. I finally picked out Punjabi Pakode wali Kadhi  and tried it.

Now, you'd think I'd try something more novel with a 1000 recipes, but  I have a special weakness for yogurt  curries as well as a sentimental value and Punjabi Kadhi is a favorite!  Every time I traveled to Delhi, I'd call and let them know that I wanted Kadhi-chawal for lunch. Lots of it. 

Back home, I could never re-create the taste, never. But then, I wasn't  much into cooking and the source of the recipe was Lisa, who I can safely say, at that stage, about 6 years ago, could easily burn water.
I tried making Punjabi Kadhi a few times, but it was never quite like I wanted it. 

Then I chanced upon this book and  I really liked the recipe. There are some recipes, which upon reading  sound like they are 'just' what you wanted and to me his was one of those! 

Moreover, the author mentions that this is her Mother's version and is favored by her children over her version of kadhi! Mother always knows best?? Try this recipe and judge for yourself! 

Pakoda ( Fritters):

Makes  25-30 pieces

1/2 cup Besan (chickpea flour)

1 small Onion chopped

1 small Potato, peeled and grated

1/2 cup Chopped Cilantro

1 Tbs finely chopped or grated Ginger

2 tsp coarsely crushed Coriander seeds

1 tsp Kasuri Methi

1/2 tsp Ground Cumin

1/2 tsp ground Ajwain / Bishops weed

1/4 tsp Baking soda

2-3 Tbs Water

Oil to deep fry

Sift flour in a medium bowl and mix onion, potato, ginger, coriander, fenugreek, cumin, ajwain, soda and salt

Add water as needed to make a  thick batter

Deep fry the pakoras in oil ( carefully drop a spoonful of batter in hot oil)

Remove on to a tissue and keep aside

For the KADHI:

3 cups Plain Yogurt

3 cups Water

1/4 cup Besan

1-2 Fresh Green chiles (+/- to taste)

1 medium Garlic Clove

10-15 Fresh Curry Leaves

11/2 Tbs Ground Coriander

1/4  tsp Fenugreek seeds coarsely crushed ( I left them whole)

1/8 tsp Asafetida

1/4 tsp Turmeric

3/4 tsp Salt

3Tbs Oil

1/4 cup Minced Onion

2 Tbs Minced Fresh Ginger

11/2 Tbs Coriander seeds, coarsely crushed

1 tsp Kasuri Methi 

4- 6 Dry Red Chiles

1 tsp Cumin seeds

1/4 tsp Ground Paprika 

Chopped Cilantro

In a blender, blend together yogurt, water, besan, green chile and garlic until smooth and well mixed

Transfer to a bowl and mix in the coriander, turmeric and salt

Heat 11/2 T Oil in a large non-stick wok over med- high heat and cook ginger and onion till ginger turns golden brown

Add the coriander, fenugreek seeds  and asafetida and stir momentarily. 

Slowly add the yogurt mixture, stirring continuously and continue to stir  until it comes to a boil (reduce heat if it starts to boil over)

Reduce heat (med-low) and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally and watching carefully until sauce is smooth and traces of oil are visible on top and sides (30-35 mins)

Add kasuri methi and pakoras and simmer another 3-5 mins allowing pakoras to absorb the flavor

Garnish with chopped cilantro, cover and keep warm

heat remaining 11/2 Tbs Oil on a small pan on med- high heat and add the red chiles and cook till they  turn reddish-brown. Remove from heat and add cumin seeds (they will sizzle on contact). Quickly add paprika and pour over kadhi and mix VERY SLIGHTLY ( use a fork)  so that some seasoning/ tadka shows on top

Serve hot  with plain steamed rice or Jeera Rice.

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