PREP TADKA MAARKE!!!!!

Hello!!!! I am very much alive...... It was my comp which ditched me & kept me away from catching up with the happenings around, for sometime..... I had to (oops! sorry, My hubby! No credits taken).... My hubby had to get few things changed in it, to get it back fixed & working.... He feels really bad & hurt, to see me without my Computer..... as I start drooping around, not knowing what to do..... ;-)

Now that it is back & since I had no challenges I was desperate to attempt, for my Craft blog, I thought it was time I posted here to save my nose..... ;-) Seriously, I felt ashamed looking at the archive, which showed just one post each for the months of April & May.... I really felt... "Chullu bhar paani mein dhoob maroon"..... I am sorry.... I know I am being unfaithful to this blog & all my supporters, who have made me grow till date... with my preps for consumption & postings too..... I thought at least to face myself, I had to post today......

So here I am with preps I thought would make an entry (last minute again! Shame! Shame!) to the Dal Event @ Veggie Platter....... I was looking forward to post since many days for this event, but it kinda got piled up... So here I am with Three Dal preps....... TODAY!!!!!


DAL TADKA!

This is a popular prep at my in-laws...... Very simple yet divine...... Goes well with both rice as well as rotis......

Ingredients :

Toor dal + Masoor dal - 1/2 cup ( I keep a mix of both)
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt to Taste

For Tempering -

Green Chilli - 2, finely chopped
Onion - 1/2, finely chopped
Tomato - 1 medium, finely chopped
Oil/Ghee - 2 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch

Method :

Cook the dal with the above ingredients as usual/ pressure cook..... Whip it lightly & keep aside...
Heat oil in a wok & add the cumin seeds...Allow it to splutter & add the green chilli, onion & tomato.... Stir fry till the onion turns pink..... Add asafoetida & stir for half a minute... Now add the whipped dal into the tadka..... Mix well & allow it to cook further for 5 minutes, covered.... Depending on the required consistency, add water...... Usually dal fry has a thicker consistency..... Now serve it hot with your rice or roti accompanied by any other dry sabzi......

Well I served it with Bhindi Bhoonjiya for the dry sabzi that day...... prepared similar to the Aloo Bhindi Bhoonjiya minus the Aloo (Potato). Savor!!!!!

Mango Dal!

I just wanted to try something different from the usual, hence added few pieces of raw totapuri mango, with the dal.......

Ingredients :

Toor dal + Masoor dal - 1/2 cup
Raw mango - 10 chunks (optionally peeled)
Onion - 1 medium (finely sliced)
Green Chilli - 2 small (slit lengthwise)
Garlic - 3 cloves (minced)
Tomato - 1/2 chopped
Methi Seeds - 4 to5
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli Powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt to Taste

For tempering -

Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 twig
Asafoetida - a pinch
Oil - 1 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/4 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1/4 tsp
Dry Red Chilli - 2 broken

Method :

Pressure cook dal with all the above ingredients & once done, lightly whip the prep with a whisk & keep aside...... Now heat oil for tempering in a wok & add all the ingredients in the order from mustard seeds, curry leaves, dry red chilli, asafoetida, & the masala powders..... Stir fry for a minute & add in the whipped dal mixture....... Let it boil for 2 minutes & then savor it hot with rice..........

Few months back, my gardener did the garden.... Changing the soil, adding manure & sprayed pesticide..... And just recently I saw, few tomato plants in few of my pots along with the flowers in them, which were the original inhabitants of the pot........... I was like WOW!!!! There were quite a handful, which were raw.... I called Kuku & we both marked them together...... But later, we forgot......

One morning as my maid left, I went behind her to close the door & saw her leaving with two tomatoes...... I asked her "from where?" & she replied "from your garden" & I was like "What???" My tomatoes I forgot about & my maid was happily savoring them... I asked her to spare them for a minute at least, to let them pose for few captures as a memory of my garden tomatoes..... And willingly she did & left one for me too..... So here are the captures.....

Are they not cute & glossy..... I felt so proud to see them grow in my pots.......

And after that day, whenever she found one in the garden, she plucked them for me..... I felt good.... One tomato, I sliced into rounds for a simple salad & the other I used in my regular dal....

U can see the bits & pieces of my garden tomato in this simple regular dal, which I prepare for my daily lunch.......

Hmmm.... So that's a lot of Dal stuff...... These are my last minute entry to the Dal Event @ Veggie Platter.......

That is it for now...... I would be back soon, & I see to it that I keep up to my schedule this time.....

UNTIL NEXT, KEEP THE FAITH!!!!

DEDICATION TO MOM!!!!!

Hello Everybody!!!! I know it has been not just days but almost a month since I posted..... I am really ashamed of myself, not being able to keep up my promises..... I know I have to work something out as far as this blog is concerned.....

Okay! We would settle these pretty-petty things later & Celebrate..... Yup! It is OUR MOTHERS DAY!!!!!

I am so happy... It is a very special day...... Every day is special as far as mothers are concerned... but this 'day' make us all realize Our Very Existence, Our Very Identity...... It is the mother, who gives it to us.... She inculcates all those values & emotions in us, that make us all, who we are today...... Our 'base' is not taught to us by our mothers, but gets naturally transmitted through the affection she showers on us..... We inherit from her..... And proudly pose them as adults.... Making Us who we are..... Our thoughts, understanding, sensitivity..... are all those pricey possessions we inherit from our mothers..... I DID!!!! & Proud to pose & flaunt them too......

According to me....... 'Love' involves many thoughts into it...... but 'Mother' itself are all those thoughts...... No other emotions or thoughts are required to get us carried away..... The very word Mother tends to kindle all my thoughts & emotion.... The thought of separation from her, kills me, a thousand deaths..... I hate the thought.... As I strictly believe, I hate to repent later over anything... I believe in living at that moment & correcting our thoughts & actions, when we have time in hand..... There is no point crying over spilt milk later.....

But what if we are hurt now???? But what if our emotions are not reciprocated to???? I don't know nor understand how to get over it???? I am just left to lick my wounds..... All thanks to my hubby who is with me, in all times of distress..... If not for him, I would have had a breakdown, for sure..... I guess at the end of the day, it is just the husband & the wife, who remain for each other.....

I do not have a BEST FRIEND till date.... because I never found the necessity, for one.... Before wedding I had mom & post wedding I have Kuku.... So I always thought I have two of the worlds best friends, for I share every single stupid thing & thought with them.... But since few days, my friendship with my mom is undergoing stress.... And it makes me very weak & depressed.... There goes not a moment when I do not remember her & yearn to feel her, to my hearts content.... I hope & pray that things would fall back into place, sooooooooooooooooooooon.................

But I will forever remember all those things my mom did for me.... She took all the shouting from my dad, at times of my acquaintance with Kuku, before wedding... She always came in between, as a savior...... She means everything to me & forever will.....

I still remember few childhood incidents, that gives me goosebumps till date.... One such instance was when, as a child lived in my native Puttur (Mangalore Dist.), It was a dense forest kind of land with many unknown & wild plants & vegetation, around our house & I loved meandering in the jungle, day in, day out..... And during one such meanders, I found some colorful berries hung down a plant at my reach.... I was, may be, in CLASS 1...... Those berries looked so tempting that I chewed a few, which literally burnt my tongue & mouth & I felt very lifeless.... And seeing this my mom, in an instance of grief, thought, I would not make it & she ate the remaining berries, thinking there was no point for her to LIVE after that..... But with God's Grace, ALL WAS WELL THAT ENDED WELL!!!!! That was her Motherly affection for me...

I can never forget many such instances that left marks of my mother in my heart, my mind & my soul..... I would always wish the best for her... be it whatever, & with whatever in my hand.... My mother can always count on me.... The two Passions of my life.... My mom & My Hubby..... I love them both so much, that I cannot think of losing even one..... My existence is with them.... Without them I DO NOT EXIST......

I take this moment to salute all those mothers, who drain their love & energy till the last drop.... Happy Mothers Day!!!!!

I made some goodies for her, best to my abilities & paraphernalia...... Here they are @ "Hastkala"...Ashaon Ka ..... Take a Peek!!!!

And today I post this prep that is my 'Mom's Special'........ I never attempted to learn this prep from her till date, but due to the distance that has formed between us & all those moments I remember & miss, her & her delicacies, I thought of trying this prep all on my own..... Might not be exactly what she prepares, but similar...... Because the Egg-licious Curry she prepares is Green in color... & so is mine..... ;-) Hence I dedicate it to her, on this Special Day...... My way!!!!!

If you are reading it, I LOVE YOU!!!!! AMMA...... I just want u to remember, that I would be there for you, ever, at times of distress & even if u just need an ear to listen to you & a heart to feel your pain..... I am there forever.....

Okay! I have drained out my emotions enough, let us continue with my posting for today...... So here it is...... Mom's Egg Curry.... Daughter's Way.......!!!!

Ingredients :

Eggs - 5 (boiled)
Cloves - 4
Oil - 3 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - a pinch
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Kitchen King Masala - 1 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp
Salt to Taste

Grind to Paste

Coriander Leaves - 1 cup, finely chopped
Green Chilli - 6
Grated fresh Coconut - 1/2 cup
Garlic - 6 cloves
Ginger - 1"
Dry Red Chilli - 2
Onion - 1 medium


Method:

Grind the above mentioned ingredients to a fine paste.... & keep aside.....

Heat oil in a Kadai..... Add cloves & dry red chilli & saute for a minute... Add the ground paste & stir fry on a low flame for 5 minutes...... Add all the masala powders & stir fry further for 2 minutes..... Add in the boiled eggs ( either cut into halves or full - If full, just poke in holes with a fork) Fry further for another 5 minutes..... Now add in water as required & cook covered for the next five minutes or so...... Goes well with any kinda rice prep or freshly made phulka rotis.......


Simple & Quick Jeera Rice


Ingredients :

Rice - 2 cups
Onion - 1 medium finely sliced
Green Chilli - 2, slit into two
Cumin Seeds - 1 tbsp
Oil/Ghee - 3 tbsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to Taste


Method :

Wash the rice & keep it aside..... Now heat oil/ghee in a pressure cooker...... Add in the cumin seeds & saute till brown... Now add in the slit green chilli & sliced onions & saute further for two minutes..... Now add in the washed rice, turmeric powder & salt..... Stir fry for 5 minutes..... Then add enough water ( 2:3 1/2).... Tighten the lid of the cooker & cook for 4 whistles..... Turn off the flame & allow the pressure to release, on its own....

Serve hot with raitha or the above prepared egg curry......

I would love to send this as an entry to PanchPakwan' s Mothers Day Cooking Celebration event......

There were many TOFAS, the acknowledgment of which were delayed... I am really sorry for the delay.....

I thank

Simply Food, Neetz Kitchen, Thattukada, Curry & Beyond & Sailaja Kitchen for spreading CHEERS!!!!! I am glad & happy to have received them.....

And would love to share & spread these TOFAS! further...... Anybody who stops by please accept them...... Let us spread Cheers!!! And be CHEERFUL!!!!

That is it for now......

UNTIL NEXT, KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!