7 weeks later, Unites States of America is finally settling in. I am home away from home. Should be no surprises that it took food to get me resolved. Food should be designated as a religion. It would be the best of all religions. I love food and I always knew this. Well, now I love cooking too. What more, I love cooking for others. So, past few weeks have been very very tasty....
I commit myself to my first ever 'Food Journal' - perhaps infrequent, but a dedicated delicious series of write ups for all my culinary stunts to amuse my dearly awaited great grand children, should they care to know me more.
Prologue -
What started as chips & milk whole day routines, extending to occasional maggi noodle days & rare mishap inedible cooking of dahi kadi and soggy rice has now been happily amended to delicious full course meals.
I have few new people who don't mind being guineas to my efforts and thankfully none of them have yet been seriously ill or offended yet.
So here goes, my beginning as a Cuisinier Délicieux
7 Feb, 2015. Rajmah! ( mother of all red kidney beans)
This is my first ... overnite soaked beans boiled along with tomatoes, cinnamon sticks, whole cardamom, cloves, salt & sugar. Toss garlic, green chilies, onion, tomatoes, turmeric, cumin powder, salt & sugar. Add the beans & crush them. Sprinkle fresh cilantro, dollops of butter .. serve with bread/rice ...mix with yogurt.... have it your style!
14 Feb, 2015. Fatafatti Chickener Thang! (Spicy Chicken in Thick Green Gravy)
My favorite! 5 chicken drums (leg pieces), cleaned & de-skinned, marinate over night with lemon juice, salt, little mustard oil, paste of garlic,chopped fresh green chillies, fresh coriander/cilantro leaves (dhone pata), fresh curd/plain yogurt & chicken tandoori masala... next day, saute garlic, green chillies, onion, tomatoes and lots of dhone pata in mustard oil, add the marinated chicken & cook until its completely boiled. Add water if needed. I had to add a bit. & Voila! crazy good meal ready. Serve with rice or just love eating it as is!
17 Feb, 2015. Palak Daal (Lentils with Spinach)
So this evening.. I had the option of going home & again getting into that inescapable chore of cooking meals... or get into the exciting & power packed university gym ... doing zumba & yoga ... free sessions smile emoticon ... i feel so fit, refreshed & healthy now... my palak daal is so delicious tongue emoticon... spinach & lentils make gr8 combination... boil yellow lentils (any daal would do), with spinach & green chiilies... in d next pan... heat mustard oil...add jeera (cumin seeds), crushed garlic, chopped onions & saute well... add crushed tomatoes, turmeric & red chilli powder, salt & SUGAR .. cook until oil seeps & add the boiled lentil (daal) to the pan... add some water ... boil and ensure the tomato onion masala is blended well with the daal... & taa di da di daa.... its done! quite exhausting my work out has been.
24 Feb, 2015. Cabbage Manchurian
so .. after 24 hrs of mind prep & 2 hrs of actual physical labor... my cabbage manchurian is ...very simple.. grin emoticon 1 whole cabbage... cut in large pieces & boiled, drain the water (you can use the water later as vegetable stock for other recipes). Mash the cabbage with hand keeping it coarse & add 2 eggs, 1 full bulb of garlic (lots of garlic) finely chopped, 5-6 chopped green chillies, some refined flour (for binding) & salt as needed. Make small balls & deep fry till golden brown crust. Inside remains tender. In a different pan, make the gravy... heat oil & add finely chopped garlic, large chunks of onion, fresh cilantro leaves, soy sauce, tomato ketchup & chilli sauce (i used green chilli chutney)...add sugar & salt..saute & add little water... keep the gravy consistency thick...when the gravy simmers...add the fried cabbage balls & needless to say... Spettacolare!! smile emoticon Note: Addition of minced boiled meat/shrimps to the cabbage also possible.
1 March, 2015. Powerpack 5 minute Breakfast
Special day beginnings. Burnt garlic & sausages, with onions, spinach & fried eggs...all tossed in the pan.. sprinkle cheese... happy start to my sunday!
6 March 2015. Happy Holi Meal...
Moong daal & cauliflower seasoned with fried chillies, cumin & mustard seeds. Adding love to it with a very generous helping of butter. Pahadi chicken ..marinate chicken with lots of cilantro, garlic, green chilies, yogurt, ground garam masala, mustard oil, salt & turmeric, deep fry with onions & tomatoes... Mix veg of beans, sweet corn and carrots tossed in noodles with basic spices & mash potatoes seasoned with mustard oil, green chilies, cilantro & onions (which should have been fried but never mind) ... Happy servings of plain rice ..plus very happy conversations.. the bong adda!
Only because I had good people around me to share my meals, did my food really taste good.. with love .. for food... for the love of cooking!
Bon Apetite Mon Ami...
