Quick Pulav and giving Thanks.

Earlier this moth, we moved (yes, A-G-A-I-N!) this time to another state- in a hurry. I packed and moved in under 2 weeks.

When I look back, I keep asking myself, did I really do that? 

4 years, all boxed up in a week. Furniture sold or trashed. Things dear to my heart ( read, anything that is used in the kitchen, like my beloved cast iron pan, my pizza stone and assorted stuff  passed on to friends) and one afternoon, just like that, we boarded the flight to start a new adventure in sunny Florida.

It was really difficult saying good bye to Dallas. I had a good friend circle, the location was SUPER convenient and the Indian stores! Oh those fabulous BIG Indian stores with anything and everything any Indian kitchen needs! I miss that the most! 

I still recoil in horror and dismay at the sad vegetables in the Indian store here, it pains me to see just one or two brands of Basmati or Sona masoori rice sacks and the prices, let's not even go there. Suffice to say, I doubt I will ever get a big fat bunch of Methi / Fenugreek leaves for 50 cents or even vegetables at a reasonable rate, here you pick a vegetable and they put a price to it, not that I object, but I like to know the price before I buy.

But there is always a silver lining, always. 

The weather, its perfect, right now. 

And then there is this view, 

I love waking up to this view everyday. 

I love to sip my tea and watch the sun rise, I just sit and gaze.

I love how there's plenty of natural light that fills the rooms and makes them bright.

We moved here just as it was Diwali. Which is my favorite time of the year. But this year, it was all a mess.

No Diwali lights ( well, just 4-5 diyas), no goodies made, no traditions observed. We had very little stuff  and that was a dampener. 

What is Diwali without chivda, chakli, ladoo, shev, karanji, shankarpali, right?  

Right! 

My parents knew that and they stepped in! 

Just in time for Diwali, on the day !

A whopping big parcel which made the Fed Ex guy bend, was delivered to our door at 10:30 am. 

We lugged it upstairs and waited. It was SO difficult not to rip the tape and just take in all the goodies inside, but I waited, knowing that li'll S would be thrilled to receive a big parcel from his beloved Ajji and Ajja. Those li'll hands got busy the moment he spied the parcel. 

A parcel from my parents is never just one thing, the box was packed and bulging. Among the goodies nestled books, 'kesar veldoda syrup', kokum agal, an apron and a must have in most home, 'Kalnirnay' Calendar and so much more! 

I was thrilled to get this cookbook. I have seen this book, 'Annapurna' and 'Ruchira' gifted to almost every new bride. 

The recipes are wonderful and you will find many scattered across blogs. 

The day our boxes arrived, we were super busy and late at night, all I had the courage to whip up was this quick pulav from 'Annapurna' with the addition of vegetables.

It is tasty and flavorful and a great option for a lunch box, a potluck or to make on a day you are expecting guests. Pair it with some raita / koshimbir or a veg. gravy and papad + pickles. 

For the 3 of us, I used

1 cup Basmati Rice (wash in 3-4 changes of water and soak in fresh water) 

1 Onion, finely chopped

1 small piece Cinnamon

2 Green Cardamoms

1 Bay Leaf

Ghee

* 1 Cup chopped vegetables ( My addition, I used Carrots, french beans and some peas)

For the Masala Paste:

2 small Garlic cloves

A small knob Ginger

A Hefty pinch Red Chilies Powder

1 Tomato

2 pinches / 1/4 tsp Fennel  /saunf seeds

Grind the Masala Paste ingredients and set aside.

Cook the rice (ensure that each grain is separate)  and spread it on a plate to cool.

Chop the vegetables in small and equal sized pieces and microwave with a couple of tbsp. of water to cook.

Heat ghee in a deep pot /pan.

Add in the spices (bay leaf, cinnamon and cardamom)

Once the spices smell aromatic, add the onion and cook till its is soft and light brown.

Add the masala paste and cook till it smells good ( basically the raw garlic smell must go away)

Add the vegetables and rice and mix gently.

Serve with papad + Pickles or a raita. 

                                   

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! 

I know I am thankful for a LOT! Most of all, for my wonderful parents for their thoughtfulness and love! 

Pin It

Thalipeeth and recreating the magic at home!

One of the nice things  of living away from the home country is that you learn to appreciate the variety of food that it ( home country) offers. The second best is to make it and glorify in the fact that you made it and more importantly, made it well!! 

When I was new to this country, I missed the variety of breakfasts / snacks made at home, the time I did not have to think twice about making anything (or how Mom made them) mixes, spices were (are still are) readily available and in the quantity required and the convenience! if we ran out of a couple of items, all we had to do was make a call to the grocery store and they would  take the order and have their delivery lad bring those things home and at no extra charge. 

Those are the conveniences I miss even today. If I miss out on an item in my shopping, I have to go a mile to get it  or make do till the next week or if I need just 1 or 2 cups of something, I have to buy 2 lbs. sigh! 

Eep! How did I go from a start of ' nice things' to whine!!? Let me go back on the  'nice' track....

One of my favorite breakfast items is thalipeeth , in fact I like it anytime, breakfast, lunch or dinner. It was one of my favorite lunch box items when in school. I'm sure my Mother also favored this. The flour mix ( BhajaNi)  is readily available and all it needs is adding salt, water, chiles, cilantro and onion, or to take a shortcut, water, salt, red chile powder, mix a dough , pat it with your palms/ fingers and shallow fry on a hot skillet and you are set in a matter of 15-20 minutes! 

A friend had  given me their stock of bahjaNi when going back to India and after that my Mother got me some packets  when she visited and my Mother in Law also got me a couple of packets when she came last year. But those packets weren't much (just 250 gms each) and  were polished off in one weekend breakfast.

So finally the MIL came up with a brilliant idea, 'Make your own bahjaNi mix' ! Now we're talking! 

So on one weekday she  taught me a super easy thalipeeth flour mix. 

Here is what you need :

1 Cup Wheat flour (atta)

1 Cup Jowar (Finger Millet flour)

1/2 Cup Urad  flour

1/4 EACH Besan and Rice flour 

1 small cup (what we can call 'amti vati') full Coriander seeds

1 small cup / amti vati ( take off 2 Tbsp. from top) Jeera / Cumin seeds

In a wok, over med- high heat , individually roast all the flours. Do not mix the flours and then roast

Roast the flours lightly, just until the aroma wafts and they turn a shade or two dark

Roast the coriander seeds

Roast the cumin seeds

Cool the roasted seeds and powder them in a spice mill or coffee grinder

Mix  the cumin-coriander powder with the roasted  flour and mix thoroughly

Store and use as and when required.

To make  Thalipeeth:

I usually pick fistfuls of the flour and proceed.

Take 2-3 hefty fistfuls of the flour mix

Add a tiny drizzle of oil ( 1-2 tsp) 

Add salt as per taste

Add finely chopped green chile or red chile powder to taste 

Add finely chopped onion (1/2 medium sized onion)

Add finely chopped cilantro

I usually eyeball the ingredients, this is a very easy and forgiving  recipe. Tastes great every time.

Add water slowly to make a dough that is not too soft but pliable.

Divide the dough into balls (2-3 big sized or 4-6 to make smaller thalipeeth)

Smear oil or spray oil on a non-stick griddle and  pat a ball of dough on it, using palms and fingers, lightly pat the dough in to a circle ( I make thin thalipeeth) make a hole in the center and add a small drizzle of oil

Switch on the stove ( med-high heat) and cover and cook

My MIL cooks the thalipeeth on one side only. This makes the thalipeeth very soft and no, the dough does not remain uncooked.  

Covering and cooking  over a medium flame / heat setting ensures that it is fully cooked.

I prefer cooking on both sides, however,  I too like my thalipeeth soft and so, I cook it on the second side briefly, just until the side is lightly blistered

Serve hot with a  pat of freshly churned butter (loNi or makkhan) or a pat of butter and  a side of pickle  or thick home made yogurt

I use a pizza slicer to make wedges of the thalipeeth and serve with both butter and yogurt, my guests can choose the accompaniment they want.

I am thinking of re-visiting some of my old recipes and posting different versions that I have tried and liked.  Do you all have any special recipes that you have re-visited or re-evaluated?

Pin It

HAPPY GUDI PADWA!!!

Hope I don't get into trouble for using this pic!!

And a Potluck Lunch with Friends!!
All thanks to A, we got together to spend time together and enjoy a wonderful lunch!! A , is a mother of 2, and the baby is nearly 4 months and yet manages to organize a Pot luck! Hats off to her!!
Here is a peek at the spread...
A made Rice, Puri and Shrikhand (home made!!) which was very tasty and full of rich creamy goodness with lashings of saffron and cardamom! Bliss!!
M, made potato subzi which is a wonderful accompaniment to the puri
S, made Panchratna Daal ( talk about a ton of protein!! and delectable taste!!)
Now, all because of my absent mindedness.... my apologies .... I could not click snaps of the FULL spread...
K, made Boondi Raita, a classic to go with the jeera rice
M, made yummy green tomato chutney and 'vatleli daal'- a Maharashtrian speciality.
My own contribution was 'gulpagdi and kaayrass' or 'Appey' and bell pepper gravy to go with the appey and Tortilla / Jahtpat Samosa , Trupti, you angel!!! I love these samosas!! (again, no snaps as they were finished and ~grrr~ I forgot to carry my camera.....

Here is a look at the gulpangdi and Kaayrass:


To make Gulpangdi:
Use Idli Batter ( I use the no-fuss-no-grind method)
1 cup Urad flour
1 1/2 cup Idli rava
Mix and allow to ferment. Before making, add 3/4 tsp.cumin seeds , 1-2 Finely chopped Green Chilies, 1tbsp. chopped Cilantro, Salt to taste

This requires a special 'Tawa', which looks like this


Put a drop of oil in each slot and add batter. Cover and cook on a Medium flame/ heat. turn (it comes with a pointed wooden spatula) and cook on the other side. Serve with chutney, kaayras

For the Kayrass:

1 1/2 Bell Pepper (deseeded & fine chopped into small cubes)
Oil to temper
1/2 tsp. Cumin seeds
Pinch Asafetida
1/4 tsp Turmeric
1 -2 green chillies (slit lengthwise)
Few curry leaves
4 tbsp Roasted Peanut Powder
1 tbsp. Roasted Sesame/ Til powder
2 tsp. Dessicated Coconut Powder
1/2 tsp Tamarind pulp ( I use concentrate, which is a bit strong)
Jaggery( double as that of tamarind)
Salt to taste
Little Water to make a gravy

Heat Oil. Add cumin seeds.
Add the Chillies and curry leaves
Add asafetida and turmeric.
Add bell pepper and cook till the pepper is well cooked.
Add water, tamarind pulp, jaggery and bring to a boil.
Add roasted peanut and sesame powder and dessicated coconut.
Add salt.
Let it boil for a good 3-4 minutes. The idea is to let it thicken so that it reaches a chutney like consistency (however, do not mash the bell pepper chunks)

Serve with gulpangdi.

Pin It