SAGPEHTA (Green lentils with bathua saag)

INGREDIENTS :

Green urad dal (split) - 1 cup

Bathua saag - 1 cup

Turmeric - ½ tsp

Salt to taste

For seasoning

Garlic - 5 to 6 cloves

Heeng - 2 pinches

Red chilli pdr - ½ tsp

Green chillies - 2 (slit lengthwise)

Mustard oil - 2 tsp

Desi ghee (clarified butter) to taste

METHOD :

· Clean bathua saag and chop it roughly.

· Pressure cook green urad dal along with chopped saag , turmeric and salt. DO NOT OVERCOOK THE DAL.

· To prepare seasoning, heat oil, add chopped garlic , green chillies ,red chilli pdr and heeng. When the garlic turns light brown, pour the seasoning over the pre pared dal.

· Garnish the Sagpehta with a dollop of desi ghee and serve.

TADKE WALE DAL-CHAWAL

INGREDIENTS :

Cooked dal (any variety) - 1 cup

Cooked rice - 1 cup

For seasoning

Onions (cut lengthwise) - 1

Garlic (cut lengthwise) - 4 cloves

Ginger (grated) - 1 inch piece

Green chillies (slit lengthwise) - 2

Cumin - 1 tsp

Garam masala pdr - ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Desi ghee (clarified butter) - 1 ½ tbsp

METHOD :

· Heat desi ghee in a pan and add cumin. When it starts to crackle, add the onions.

· When the onions turn pink add ginger, garlic and green chillies and fry for a minute.

· Now add rice, fry for a minute, add dal, salt and garam masala pdr and fry for 2 minutes.

· Tadke wala dal chawal is ready to serve.

You bring out the UP-walli in me....

I came across this poem while surfing and couldnt resist sharing it with my visitors....
I am sure all the UP - wallis and wallas will relate to it .check out the author too.

You bring out the UP-walli in me,
The zari, gota, sitaraa,
The sweet, sweet bataasha,
The lilt of my (m)other tongue,
simmering under these words in me.

I play for you. For the twinkle in your eyes
when I rant in Hindi.
Kya hai.

You bring out the UP-walli in me,
The toe rings and the nose pin in me,
The glitter and the large earrings in me,
The kohl around my eyes in me,
The love of wearing bangles in me,
The folklore and the folk music in me,
The jigar and the beedee in me,
The loud weddings in me,
The raunchy numbers in me,
The beats of dholak, the songs of naughty grannies in me.

You bring out the UP-walli in me.
The love of the epic in me,
The Mahabharat and the Ramayan in me,
The chastity vows and the infinite appetite in me,
The warrior-sage ancestor in me,
The meek minions and the mighty queens in me,
The banished one, the vengeful one, the dark one who rebelled in me,
The woman who had five husbands but loved only one in me.

They say my name means Seeta, daughter of the earth.
You bring out my name in me.

You bring out the UP-walli in me.
The blue neel in me,
the pink mahaawar in me,
the crimson gulmohur in me,
the yellow amaltash in me,
the cactus in me, the crotons in me,
the redolence of Eucalyptus, the scent of henna in me.

For you I’d mulch the mehendi leaves that hedged
our government bungalow in Jhansi.
For you I’d paint my palms and
I won’t complain.

Wild roses in Ranikhet,
Empty fireplaces in Benaras,
The smell-less smell of a desolate Noida fog,
The fragrance of raat ki raani in Karbi.
Like all these, I long for you.

Come sit on the floor beside me.
Eat kaddoo curry with soft kachauris
laid out on plates made of dried leaves.
Dip your finger in the yogurt to stir the boora,
Make love to me with our fingers sticky sweet,
Say hum when you mean I,
I’d raise my skirts and let you in,
caress you with fumes from the dhoop batti
that used to be lit every dusk
in my Nani’s house,
and pat you to sleep.

Come. Call me jaan, or raaje.

You bring out the UP-walli in me,
The surprise of heeng in hot daal in me,
The shock of ghee sizzling with whole, red chillies in me,
The bite of raw ginger sprinkled on aloo-gobhi in me.
The sepia dust storms in me,
The mango orchards in me,
The tales of dacoits and bandits in me,
The bhaiyya complex in me,
its self-deprecatory humour
but the hidden pride in me.

I play for you. For your gritted teeth and
shut eyes when I move over you.

You’re the only one I’d allow to call me Raani,
You're the only one I'd let overtake the kitchen,
Bring me breakfast in bed,
And sometimes wine.

You bring out the UP-walli in me.
The proud grandfather and the generous parents in me,
The love of literature in me,
the scholar in me, the nerd in me,
the wannabe Anthropology intellectual in me,
the show-off-I-got-100-out-of-100 in me,

You’re the one I spin these yarns for,
At 4 am,
Overworked and sleep deprived.
Let me show off to you.

You bring out the UP-walli in me.
Hand pump water with a tang of metal in me,
Sugarcanes eaten on terraces
In dusty villages in me,
(hard teeth around firm flesh bursting with sweet in me),
Sugarcane juice running down my elbow in me,
The sexual innuendo in me.

The hot-white glare of the Taj Mahal,
The thick walls of the Jhansi fort,
The withered wooden door of my gaon house
Complete with iron knockers in me,
All nestled in me, marinating and
Roasting in me, always torturing me,
Never letting go of me.

Of naked feet on hard,
Cool, stone floors,
Of air coolers, of khus-khus
In summers,
Of peeling walls that smelt of wet earth
When sprayed with a hose,
Of blistering boulders with a whiff
Of heat.

You remind me of all these.
The forgotten, pushed away,
Hidden parts of me,
The lekin and the agar in me,
The abey and the oye in me,
The ab to ho gaya in me.

You bring out the UP-walli in me.
Let me love you.
(You do.)
Let me show you.
(Kyunki)
You do. Yes. You do.

* Gauche but earnest attempt, inspired by Sandra Cisnero's lovely, lovely 'You Bring Out the Mexican in Me'...and you.

TOMATO CHUTNEY

INGREDIENTS :

Tomatoes - ½ kg , chopped
Onions - 3, medium, cut lengthwise
Garlic - 10 cloves , cut lengthwise
Ginger - 2 inch, cut into julienne
Green chillies - 4, slit in half
Fresh coriander - 4 tbsp, chopped
Garam masala pdr - 1 tsp
Mustard oil - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

METHOD :

• Heat oil, add cumin. When it starts to splutter, add chopped tomatoes and salt. Cover with a lid and cook till the tomatoes become tender.

• Now add chopped onions, garlic and ginger juliennes. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Add green chillies and garam masala pdr. Cook for 2 minutes or till all the ingredients are cooked.

• Add fresh coriander. Switch off gas cover with lid and let it stand for 2 minutes.

• Tomato chutni is ready to serve.

ALOO METHI

Fenugreek potatoes

INGREDIENTS :

Potatoes - ½ kgs (boiled)
Onion - 1 medium , chopped
Dried fenugreek leaves/Kasuri methi - 2 tbsp
Cumin - 1 tsp
Turmeric - ½ tsp
Green chillies - 2 , chopped
Mustard oil - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

METHOD :

• Cut potatoes into cubes. Keep aside.

• Heat oil and add cumin. When it starts to splutter add green chillies, turmeric and chopped onion.

• Sauté till the onion turns pink. Add the potato cubes and salt and fry till its golden in color.

• Now add Dried fenugreek leaves/kasuri methi and fry for 2 minutes.

• Aloo methi is ready to eat.

GOBHI PARATHA

INGREDIENTS:

Wheat flour - 300 gms

Salt - 1 tsp

Water as required

For the filling:

Cauliflower - 1 medium sized

Ginger - 1 inch piece (grated)

Green chillies - 2 ( finely chopped)

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Garam masala pdr - 1 tsp

Fresh coriander leaves - 2 tbsp (finely chopped)

Salt to taste

Wheat flour - 50 gms (keep aside in a flat plate)

METHOD:

· Mix salt in the wheat flour and knead into soft and pliable dough. Keep aside.

· Grate cauliflower.

· Mix together all the ingredients for the filling except salt.

· Divide the dough into equal sized pieces.

· Take little amount of filling mixture (sufficient to fill 4 parathas) and add salt to it.

· If you add salt to the entire mixture then the mixture will turn soggy.

· Now make the parathas in which ever shape you like.

SERVE WITH ANY PICKLE OR CHUTNI.

METHI PARATHA

INGREDIENTS:


Methi leaves - 1 bunch (finely chopped)
Wheat flour - 300 gms
Besan - 2 tbsp
Green chillies - 2 ( finely chopped)
Garlic - 6 cloves (finely chopped)
Salt to taste
Water as required

METHOD:

• Dry roast besan till it turns a very light brown.
• Mix together wheat flour, roasted besan, chopped Methi leaves, chopped green chillies, chopped garlic and salt to taste .Add water and make smooth dough.
• Now make the parathas in which ever shape you like.

SERVE WITH ANY PICKLE.

BATHUA RAITA

INGREDIENTS:

Bathua ka saag - 150 gms

Curds - 250 gms

Salt to taste

For seasoning:

Black mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Whole red chillies - 3

Mustard oil - 2 tsp

METHOD:

· Blanch the bathua leaves in water and grind to a paste.

· Churn the curds and add salt to taste.

· Now prepare the seasoning. Heat oil, add mustard seeds. When they start to splutter, add the whole red chillies.

· Immediately pour it on the prepared curds mixture Bathua raita is ready.

BHINDI MASALA ...

INGREDIENTS:

Lady finger - 500 gms (slit in half, lengthwise)
Onions - 3 medium , cut lengthwise
Red chilli pdr - 1 tsp
Kalaunji masala - 1 tbsp
Amchur pdr - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Mustard oil - 2 tbsp

METHOD:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Add the onions, fry till they turn light brown. Keep aside.
• In the same pan add the remaining oil and add the lady fingers.
• Sauté for about 10 minutes or till they turn crispy.
• Now add Kalaunji masala , amchur pdr, red chilli pdr and salt.
• Mix thoroughly, add the fried onions.
• Sauté for a minute and bhindi masala is ready.

VEG CUBE SIZZLER

This sizzler can be accompanied by steamed rice or noodles.

INGREDIENTS

Assorted vegetables:

Carrots, Beans, Peas, Capsicum and onions – 250 gms (cut into cubes)

Cabbage – 4 to 5 full leaves

Potatoes - 4-5 medium sized (cut in shape for fries)

Paneer cubes - 100 gms

Tomato Puree - 100 gms

Chilly Sauce - 3 tbsp

Butter - 2 tbsp

Vinegar - 1 tsp

Salt, Pepper & Aji-No-Moto to taste

METHOD

· Fry the Potato fingers. Keep aside

· Sauté the Paneer cubes in a pan with little butter & pepper. Keep aside.

For Sizzler

· In a pan, heat the butter, add the assorted veggies and sauté lightly for 5 minutes. Ensure that the veggies retain their crunchiness.

· Add tomato puree, chilli sauce & vinegar. Mix well.

· Now add paneer cubes and stir lightly.

· Add salt pepper and aji-no-moto and stir lightly.

To Arrange Sizzler

· Heat the sizzler plate on the gas stove (till it is very hot).

· Carefully arrange cabbage leaves on the plate.

· Arrange the assorted vegetable of the cabbage.

· Arrange the potato fries on one side.

· Once arranged, lift the cabbage leaf carefully from one side and slide in a cube of butter and a tea spoon full of vinegar for the sizzle effect.

· Serve immediately while sizzling.

(For Non Vegetarians instead of assorted veggies use onion capsicum along with chicken or mutton seekh kebabs)

THANK GOD FOR NOW .... BUT , WHAT NEXT ??

It is the 4th day after the shocking incidents that took place in Mumbai. Audacious killers , hotels under siege , hundreds of hostages , gun battles in the heart of the city.
Some may call it India's 9/11 but it seems to be more than that.

Since 26th night I have sat glued to the TV. I just kept swapping channels to keep up with the latest reports.

This time i must say that the media has behaved very responsibly. Apart from a few unbelievable reports,they had managed to control their urge to sensationalize the volatile events and follow the requests made by the NSG and the police,not to give current information on their live telecast , of the activities of commandos , which have helped the terrorists in their plan of action.

I salute to the heroes and my heart goes out to all those people who have lost their near and dear ones in the recent terror attacks. May god give them the strength to accept their losses and carry on with their lives.

Today everyone is saluting to the "NEVER SAY DIE " attitude of the Mumbaikars. But my question to such people is - how long can you continue with this spirit ?

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH... its time that we get together and ask our so called leaders of the nation,to wake up. We have had enough of the blame games.

After every such incident a few things always take place.......

• All the ministers of the state and country including the cm ,pm, def minister,home minister etc.
• will strongly condemn the act
• The opposition will blame the ruling party, who in turn will blame neighboring country.
• The media will criticize the politicians for their statements,the police, for their inaction and the failure of the intelligence agencies.
• The intelligence agencies will claim that they were aware of some activities before hand but did not have the clearance, authority or the manpower to take any action.
• The general public will blame the authorities,politicians,police etc for their slow reaction.

....in this way the buck passing will go on and on after every incident.

But at the end of the day who is losing out every time......
it is the common man...
it is his loss every time and he is still expected to carry on with his life and be prepared to lose everything in the next attack.

In return he is given compensation ,and the promise of a job ,which are hardly ever properly fulfilled. ....isn't it high time to start looking for concrete measures .


As a layman I can think of a few steps to be taken...

• Decentralize the STF - let it be situated in at least all the metros.Large and high speed aircraft should be made available to them.
• their response time in case of an emergency should not be more than 2 hours.
• VIP security is provided to all ministers .What about the safety of the general public ?
• Tightening of security - air ,water and land.
• For this adequate amount of high tech equipments and more manpower should be provided.
• is required.
• Coastal police does not have adequate resources and manpower to guard the coastal areas.
• More awareness among the general public is required.you cannot afford to think that such a thing will never happen to me.
  
• This time its your neighbor next time it could be you...

I hope this time we are able to rise from our stupor and do not let divisive forces weaken. It is time to stop differentiating on the basis of caste, region and religion and face these terrorists as one strong unified nation.

...Moods of a woman...

Saw this in a card a few days back .... couldn't resist blogging it .....


An angel of truth, and a dream of fiction,
A woman is, a bundle of contradiction....

She's afraid of a wasp, will scream at a mouse,
But will tackle her boyfriend, alone in the house.....

Sour as vinegar, sweet as a rose,
She'll kiss you one minute, then turn up her nose....

She'll win you in rage, enchant you in silk,
She'll be stronger than brandy, milder than milk.....

At times she'll be vengeful, merry, and sad,
She'll hate you like poison, and love you like mad......!

SPINACH CORN N' PEAS DELIGHT

This is one of my own mix and match recipes. I keep trying out different combinations . A pinch of this , a dash of that and my version of a recipe is ready .....
Its a pity that my guinea pig is my loving hubby .... who tastes all my experiments and gives me constructive criticism too !!


INGREDIENTS :

spinach leaves (chopped) - 2 cups
shelled green peas - 1 cup
fresh corn kernels - 1 cup
khoya/mawa - 1/2 cup
onions(finely chopped) - 2 (medium)
tomatoes (finely chopped) - 2 (medium)
ginger-garlic paste - 2 tbsp
chopped coriander leaves - 2 tbsp
lemon juice - 1 tbsp
green chillies(chopped) - 3
red chilli pdr - 1 tsp
garam masala pdr - 1/2 tsp
cumin seeds - 1 tsp
refined oil - 2 tbsp
fresh cream - 2 tbsp

METHOD :

blanch spinach leaves in 2 cups of water and make a puree.

boil corn in water with lemon juice.

heat oil ,add cumin .when they start to crackle,add onions.cook till they turn brown.

add ginger-garlic paste and saute for 1 minute.

now add tomatoes .cook till mixture leaves oil.

add green chillies, spinach puree.saute for a minute.

now add khoya/mawa.saute for a minute.

add green peas and corn kernels.

add salt to taste and garam masala pdr.

mix thoroughly and add 1 cup of water.

cover and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

stir in fresh cream and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

A Radish Dish !!

MOOLI(radish) KA SAAG

INGREDIENTS :

radish leaves - 2 bunches
radish (chopped) - 2 (medium)
garlic(chopped) - 1 tbsp
green chillies(chopped) - 2
fenugreek - 1/2 tsp
turmeric pdr - a pinch
mustard oil - 2 tsp

METHOD :

Heat oil,add fenugreek. When it starts to crackle add turmeric pdr., chopped garlic and green chillies.

When the garlic turns light brown add chopped radish.

Saute for a minute , when it turns a little soft add the chopped radish leaves.

Cover and cook for 5 minutes or till the water dries up . Stir in between.
your dish is ready ...

A Dream Of A Cream ....

HOME-MADE MOISTURIZER

This moisturizer is very good for dry skin. It’s especially effective in winters. Learned to make it from my mother-in-law. Hubby absolutely loves it. Keeps it in office too.

Few of his colleagues tried it and found it so good that they kept helping themselves from his stock. So last year I made an extra bottle for them.

As winters are beginning here, this Sunday we made this cream again and he has taken a bottle to office today…

INGREDIENTS :

Raw/unprocessed wax - 100 gms

Olive oil - 200 ml

Mustard oil - 200 ml

Aloe vera leaves - 200 gms

any fragrant oil of your choice - for fragrance

METHOD :

• Remove skin from aloe vera leaves. Chop the fleshy inner parts in to small pieces.
• Pour both the oils in a deep bottomed pan and warm them.
• Now add the wax and chopped aloe vera leaves. Partially cover the pan. The mixture will start to splutter and boil. If the foam starts to come up stir in between.
• Let it simmer for 2 minutes. Then switch off gas. Allow to cool a little. Then strain with a muslin cloth and store in a bottle.