DILL SE DIL TAK!!!!!!

Many things 'happening' in BLOGGYWOOD...... All are happy (at least many I know & I wish the same for others too) ...... on their milestones achieved....

Like Simply Food is all happy on their reach out to the masses..... & few others like Renuka from Love of Cooking & Sushma of Savi-Ruchi ....... are happy with their additions to their pricey possessions.... the bloggieroll contests they won.... the nice tote bag that Sushma won & the party cooking book of THE Sanjeev Kapoor, that Renuka won..... Same Pinch Renuka!!!! ;-)

I am so happy for all their achievements & additions to their happiness...... KUDOS TO YOU ALL & I wish u & all, many more such happiness & celebrations.... GOD BLESS!!!!

As for me, I did nothing more than just..... Oh! forget it..... better not start..... Yes!!!! I did something nice too.... On January 30, late evening, I watched the news flash on TV, which said the moon happened to be at closest distance from earth & thus appeared bigger & brighter.... at
its fullest.... I wanted to check it out too.... I went out to look.... YUP! I saw it more soothing than what most others did.... They saw it RED!!!! People did even mention that they could see the craters with their naked eyes.... But I just saw this...calm & quiet!!!!! It looked bigger & cuter...... I loved it & wanted to capture that moment..... & so I did.... After I clicked that pic, I kept laughing for half an hour.... Kuku wondered why!!!! & if I had lost some of my screws out near the gate..... while I gaped at the moon!!!!! When asked, I told him, that people would mistake it to be my roti.... with a reflection of light on it.... And I don't know why the thought tickled me for half an hour & I sat there laughing like crazy.....!!!!! May be those were the adverse effects of the moon, on me......!!!!! LOL ;-)

This is what I saw..... Isn't it cute??????

Now before I could write this post, I stumbled over an article or something, here, which said this......
{The full moon on January 30th will fall in the sign of Leo. The next couple weeks will bring a time for you to focus on leadership, amibtion, appearance, children, hard work, determination, sports, music and special hobbies.}

So I guess this was happening..... I don't know about the rest of the things that was mentioned, but this, YES!!! I was totally into card making..... I wanted to make better ones than I did earlier..... Ones, that looked kinda professional..... at least somewhere near it..... I will post them in my future ....... SO may be the moon had its affects on me to let me seriously think of card making.....

Card making was kinda haunting me & I was madly in need of equipments to give my skills a shine.... I was totally impressed by Stampin up! But in vain.... Due to the laws & restrictions, they were not into business here in India...... I was sad again..... but still did not stop hunting for my supplies..... I finally heard of finding my stuffs at Staples..... I keep my fingers crossed & wish I would!!!!! I have not been there as yet.... I would & once I do, I would post about it too......

So now regarding my prep for today's posting..... I came across this event regarding herbs & its uses, at Weekend Herb Blogging..... I loved it totally.... So I thought of posting for it......

I love saag or soppu or just leaves, edible ones, of course ;-) ...... And among them my first & best favorites are the DILL LEAVES..... Sabsige Soppu in Kannada & simply hara saag or in particular Sowa or Soya in Hindi.....

You can certainly learn more about DILL LEAVES here, below.......

1) Dill as in WIKI
2) Dill & its Names
3) Dill & its Values
4) Dill & a Side Effect

There are so many things different to these leaves..... which keeps it above the rest of the edible leaves..... The aroma is certainly one of them... Very DIVINE!!!!! I get carried away easily by that aroma..... I do not mind associating it with KUKU...... Because that is the kind of impact it has on me..... I simply love it!!!!!! DIL SE!!!! The look, the feel, the taste & the aroma................. DILL SE...... DIL TAK (डिल से...... दिल तक)!!!!!!

So here goes the recipe for it.... Very simple, easy & user friendly........

Ingredients:

Dil Leaves (ಸಬ್ಸಿಗೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, सोवा साग) - 1/4 kg
Onion - 1 big (finely sliced)
Mustard Oil - 2 tbsp
Dry Red Chilli - 3, broken
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - Less than a quarter
Salt to Taste

Clean & wash the leaves, thoroughly to get rid of dirt & grime..... Now chop them finely & keep aside.... Heat a wok or kadai, with oil. Once the oil is hot, add the dry broken chilli & sliced onions.... Fry till translucent..... Then add the chopped leaves & stir fry.... Add salt, turmeric & red chilli powder & stir to mix well..... Now cook it covered for minimum 3 minutes...... Then uncover & stir fry the contents for 2 to 3 minutes or till all the water evaporates & the leaves are well cooked......

Now serve this with piping hot dal & white rice..... Or simply serve it combined with rice...... AWESOME COMBO....... Just the rice & the dil leaves prep, tastes like heaven.....
(JANNAT!!!!!) ...... The taste is such that, it reaches your soul through your mouth..... as said in hindi, "woh zaika jo zubaan se utharkar seede aathma tak pahunche....." (वह ज़ायका जो जुबां से उतरकर सीदे आत्मा तक पहुंचे)

Hence this very healthy, flavorable & aromatic herb prep goes to the WHB #219, hosted by Briciole, which was originally started by Kalyn's Kitchen & organised for the past year or so by Haalo of Cook (Almost) Anything At Least Once .....



And this Ash...... made combo , makes its way to the COMBO EVENT, hosted for the first time by Pari of FOODELICIOUS...... Congrats & Wish u all the success Pari...... which I'm sure of...... :-)

WISHING ONE & ALL, HAPPY MOMENTS!!!!!

UNTIL NEXT, KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!

MAKE ROOM FOR MUSHROOMS!!!!!

On this occasion of our Nation celebrating its 61 st Republic Day, Let's celebrate the Heritage & sovereignty of our NATION..... let us think of those... who protect us from all odds & pay homage to them for their selfless service......

I sincerely wish, one & all Indians, give those 'UNSUNG HEROES' their due ..... for the selfless love & dedication towards the country & its people...... Let us all question ourselves, after all the sacrifice & service to the nation, what is it that they get in return..... nothing but those minutes of silence, which is a beginning of a life long silence for their families.....Families who sacrificed the member of their family, for 'us', gets only trauma, in the name of their sacrifice..... They would be remembered 'once', when the government honors them with recognitions posthumously........ After which again a total silence for years till the death of all their family members...... The mothers, the fathers, wives, sisters & children who sacrificed their beloveds for the country gets no benefits or privileges...... but a life of darkness & sorrow.......

Unlike, those lucky enough, to get the best in life, they never expected, after winning gold in the Olympics, which is just a game....... by just wasting few bullets ...... What a Life they all lead after the GAME????? A CELEBRITY LIFESTYLE....... Shame on all of us.... who air these discrimination's...... The rich gets richer & the poor gets poorer....... I am sincerely ashamed to be a part of this world..... who do not recognize people for what they deserve..... I hate myself for not being able to DO something about it..... than just write......

I was shocked to see the new version of the OLD, melodious & mesmerizing "Mile Sur Mera Tumara"....... Looks like it is only the BOLLYWOOD tunes (sur) that are synchronizing now...... The very composition lost all its charm, the feel of integrity.... Now it is totally an essence less glamorized song..... FUNNY & FOOLISH...............

I don't think anything is possible in this country minus bollywood & its so called celebrities..... The foolish public goes ga ga over them, by wasting their hard earned money, to give THEM the CELEBRITY status............ Initially when it all began, I don't think there were any 'celebrities' as such..... All those who were there, were Actors who excelled in their ART FORM, & who were dedicated towards this art.... But now ACTORS are a HANDFUL, rest are all HEROES & HEROINES, who portray those emotions on screen, which are meant to be inside the four walls & become the so called 'Hero' & 'Heart Throb'...... Why is ones husband or wive not a heart throb anymore????.... No wonder when this generation is questioned about any Hero, all they can answer is about some of these mentioned above... SO where do these UNSUNG HEROES stand????? .... Bloody Fish!!!!

Oops! I have a head ache, with all my BP rising high........ I'm just pissed to an extent that I would have a breakdown.... I better continue later...... :-(

Okay! Hello again..... I came across this tag 'By the Book' of Jayashree & kinda liked it for its importance in all our lives.... Not just OLD or New..... Not just Old or Young..... It has seen a place in everybody's life...as far as I know & understand.... GUIDANCE of a Book, is taken by all..... Like a beacon is to navigators, so is our preserved & trusted Cookbook, to us, in our journey towards kitchen & its skills....... May be a printed book by a renowned chef or very often, hand written notes, passed on to us from the most experienced cooks in our life's... Maa or Mother in-law...... Or even a friend.... because I did...... I gave a handwritten book to my friend Sandhya, during her wedding, consisting of the preps that I prepared as a newly married & few guided by my Mother in-law....

And these books become a part of our life, unknowingly..... A PRICEY POSSESSION!!!! Losing it, would feel like we lost a member in our family or our close ones..... It becomes very close to heart & would wanna preserve it for our future generations too..... At least I would love to, but.......... Anyways.... Nothing to worry, if not my own, I would surely hand it over to some girl in my family who would deserve it.... as there are many in my family.....

So here I am posting about MY PRICEY POSSESSIONS, My Daari Deevige (ದಾರಿ ದೀಪ), My Beacon.........

Since childhood, I was always inclined towards collecting recipes for my future.... U know!!! AMS - 'After Marriage' Syndrome...... I never learn' t any cooking nor was keen on preparing something.... but was very much interested in collecting, recipes I came across..... Sources
being newspapers, TV shows & mostly magazines (Femina & Woman's Era)..... I pulled out recipes from all the magazines, that I could lay my hands on....... And I had a bundle of them...... After wedding, Kuku initiated to get it book bound for me, than preserving it in files & folders...... Hence I got it book bound..... So that is NOW, my own COOK BOOK....... Dhan Tana!!!!!

The other is the diary that I started just before my wedding.... Since I would leave my mom, I got most of her, lovely, sumptuous recipes, noted down for me..... in there.... After wedding, when it was time for me to leave my maa in-law, I got her interesting, rich & delightful recipes jotted down for me, in it...... So those are my two favorite, most expensive cook books, and rather, a very trusted source for MY NEW LIFE....... My New Beginning!!!!! For my new GRIHASTI!!!!!! I would lose myself if I have to lose them any day...... I LOVE & THANK MY GURUS!!!!!

But yes now I have another cook book, My Jeeta Jaagtha Cookbook..... My Kuku..... He had to be a chef, than get into Garment Business, I seriously feel.... He cooks really yum!!!!! He loves & enjoys it too...... So I would never dare to lose him too..... for my cookery references & other things, but of course ;-) LOVE & THANK HIM TOO!!!!!!

***I would love to get everyone tagged with this, as this is a very simple & a common tag, but of immense value & IMPORTANCE............ So I request everyone to write about it & let us know about it & flaunt it too, to kinda immortalize it..... So we can all be a part of each others treasured BEACONS!!!!!!***

Now after all this discussion about our trusted sources for our cooking skills, I would like to post something from it, but with a change of course.... Because, what I learn' t was a regular pulao, which I now prepare using the ingredients or rather the main Ingredient I like or have........ So it is the same method, but with any main ingredient of your choice..... Anything & everything is Awesome!!!!!!

Okay!!!!! Make Room For Mushrooms............. Because that is my main ingredient today........ which can be substituted with any other veggie of your choice......

Here's presenting to you THE MUSHROOM RICE...............

I love mushrooms & I am always in a hunt for different recipes, on internet... And when one posts one such prep..... I save it for future reference..... I have many such, yet to be tried recipes.... But surely will some day.....

Ingredients:

Mushroom - 1/4 kg ( cleaned)
Onion - 2 medium, (finely sliced)
Green Chilli - 4, (slit lengthwise)
Cardamom - 6 pieces
Cloves - 5 pieces
Oil - 3 tbsp
Ghee - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1/2 cup
Long Grain Rice (Basmati) - 4 cups
Water - 5 cups
Cashew - 10 pieces
Raisins - 10 pieces
Cinnamon - 1" piece
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to Taste
Kitchen King Masala - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Capsicum - 1 medium, (sliced for garnish)

Method:

Chop the cleaned mushrooms, to desirable chunks & keep aside.... Wash the rice & keep aside too.

Heat oil + ghee in a cooker. Add the cardamom, cloves & cinnamon & saute` for a minute or two. Then add the green chilli & onions & fry till translucent...... Once done u may add the cashew & raisins too & saute for 2 minutes..... or till the raisins shape up...... Now add in the chunked mushrooms & saute further for a minute or two..... Then add the masala powders & stir fry further for 3-4 minutes.... Now add the rice in & saute for 5 minutes further..... When the rice grains turn translucent or kinda shiny, add in milk & ghee & mix it to combine well..... But with caution, not to breal the rice grains.... Tighten up the lid of the pressure cooker & allow it to blow 4-5 whistles..... Once done, turn off the heat & keep aside.... Once the pressure releases completely, uncover & transfer the contents to a wide mouthed vessel, which would allow you to mix the contents, without hassles...... Transfer it to a serving bowl & garnish with sliced capsicums.......

This prep does not need any any accompaniment as such, but can be accompanied with a plain simple raitha or any gravy of your choice.... I liked a dry to accompany & as I had few mushrooms, left over, thought of preparing them dry..... Hence presenting a simple & instant...........

STIR-FRIED MUSHROOMS

Ingredients:

Mushrooms - 200gm (cleaned)
Green Chilli - 2 to 3 (cut diagonally)
Onions - 2 medium (sliced in rings)
Capsicum - 1 medium (sliced)
Garlic - 2 to 3 flakes (minced or chopped)
Oil - 2 tbsp
Lime Juice - 2 tbsp
Salt & Pepper to Taste
Coriander Leaves - 3 twigs (for garnish)

Method:

Heat oil in a frying pan & fry garlic, green chilli, onions & capsicum for a minute. Add mushrooms & stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add lime juice, salt & pepper. Stir well & cook until done. Then, transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with coriander leaves & onion rings & serve hot.

It is said that Mushrooms are Nature's hidden treasures..... They contain certain minerals, that improve our immune system..... So I guess, they are not only pleasing on our palates, but are healthy too..... So MAKE ROOM for MUSHROOMS!!!!! in your diet & Enjoy these delights..... Delightfully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Screening MY BLOGFARES:

Oh! there is a kinda backlog..... on my unpublished list of TOFAS....... Since I''m posting after a lengthy gap, I could not flaunt or write about them, before this..... But is surely not late for me to go ahead with it.....

I thank Sailaja of Sailaja Kitchen for passing on her Happy 101, & also would thank Swarna from Kovaihot Kitchen, Indu of Kitchen Queen , Vineetha of Ruchi & Queen B of Queen Of My Kingdom, for sharing this cute & happy TOFA with me..... It means a lot to receive it from all these talented & yummy prep makers.... who not only prepare, but create new creations too...... which are so soothing to eyes & our grocery lists .... as they are all many a times very affordable & available at the nearest place.... So Thanks once again...... And Queen B had tagged me with 10 Things that make me HAPPY......

They would be........ as follows.......

1) Kuku!!!!!!!!!!! All the Way......
2) My Freedom ..... from my distress of course!!!!!
3) Shopping!!!!!!!
4) Outings & Food........
5) Romantic & meaningful Movies
6) Romantic & Emotional Songs..... Especially old melodies that kindles your emotions.... happy, sad or romantic......... ALL THE WAY!!!!!!
7) My Creative Arts...... When I indulge in them for my FAMILY!!!!!
8) Good, kind, genuine words & gestures
9) A SMILE!!!!
10) Healthy Flirting, with peeps I know.......... ;-)

Thank You Renuka, Vineetha & Spice for remembering me & sharing the Beautiful Blogger Award...... This is indeed one of my treasures too...... These moments are treasured forever.....

I am grateful to Vineetha & Spice for tagging me with 7 truths about myself, which are mentioned here..... with the Kreativ Blogger Award...... Dhanyavad!!!!!

I would also thank Vineetha & for she thought of me & my space, when she shared A Fabulous Blog TOFA & it really inspires me to make this space interesting & inviting.......

Heartfelt thanks to ONE & ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

ENJOY EVERY SECOND OF YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST!!!!!

UNTIL WE MEET NEXT, KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!

JAI HIND!!!!!!!!!