Sprouts and Cracked wheat Khichdi

While most of the folks are done with Navratri and the fasting that goes with the territory, it is just the beginning of the fasting season for the people of Odisha. As the holy month of Kartik has already started and Margasira is next in queue, quite a few Odia folks will be scouting for 'no onion-no garlic' recipes. Not that Odia cuisine lacks such dishes, there are more then enough to last through these two months, but sometimes a little change is very much welcome.

This simple recipe is actually inspired by the 'Kanika', an aromatic and mildly sweetened rice preparation. I have given it a really healthy makeover by substituting the rice with cracked wheat or daliya and adding the goodness of sprouted lentils. It turned out to be a winner in all aspects and I enjoy this for lunch with a glass of spiced buttermilk.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1/4 cup daliya
• 1 cup sprouted lentils ( i mix green moong and kala channa)
• 1/3 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 dry red chili
• 1/2 tsp ghee
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 1 green cardamom
• 2 cloves
• 6-7 peppercorns
• 12-14 rasisins
• salt to taste
• pinch of turmeric

Cooking - Dry roast the daliya till it gives off a mild fragrance and turns brown by a few shades. Keep aside.

Heat the ghee in a pressure cooker. Add the red chili, cumin and spices. Roast till fragrant. Throw in the raisins and saute for 10 seconds.

Wash the sprouts and the daliya. Add to the cooker.

Add about  1 1/2 to 2 cups water, the turmeric, salt to taste and close the lid. Cook for 3-4 whistles on medium flame.

Keep aside till steam escapes. Open the lid and cook uncovered for a few minutes if it is too watery.

Serve warm with buttermilk. 

9th FBAB Meet-up (Food Tasting @ Bungalow, Whitefield)

It is rather unusual to stumble upon an oasis of peace amidst the mind-numbing cacophony of vehicular traffic in Whitefield. And just as one is getting adjusted to this bounty, a quaint white building looms into one's field of vision. Nothing spectacular about the facade except for the neon lighting sign which spells out "The Bungalow".

But just as one steps through the very dated looking and rather small wooden doors, one is magically transported to a bygone era where reality sharks had not yet made their fortune and living spaces were much larger and had a lot more character. The ambiance is that of an old Bungalow with lots of overhanging balconies, incandescent bulb lighting, brass fixtures, colonial style furniture and multiple knick-knacks that one can only hope to find in a grandmother's attic.

It was a very enthusiastic group of food bloggers and reviewers that gathered at this place on a Sunday night to taste the food and catch-up with the latest happenings in the food world. With a really relaxed ambiance heightened by all the sumptuous food and languid conversation, Bungalow actually managed to help us lose track of time and yet relish each moment of it.

Coming to the food and drinks, we were welcomed with a rather simple Tamarind drink that just managed to get my mouth all tingly. Then the starters arrived and all hell broke loose on my palate. Be it the succulent Nawabi Murgh kebab or the delicious Pesto Paneer, each one was a lovely amalgamation of flavors and textures that had my taste-buds crying for more. Then there was the finger-licking Basil Chicken, another very delectable deep fried chicken and prawn starter and some pastry kind of a thing stuffed with veggies and cheese which were really good. Apart from these there were some amazing Dimsums, lusty mocktails, assorted veggie kebabs and a juicy Fish Paturi on the menu.

But the best part was the amazing thin crust pizza baked in a wood fired oven. Be it the vegetarian version with Mediterranean toppings or the very Indianized Mutton Kheema pizza, I could not resist going for second helpings. These was a live pasta counter and I tried one with white sauce. Turned out to be good.

Next I targeted the soups and salads section. An amazing variety of Classic salads with assorted breads and a hummus or harissa dip to go with it made it tough to narrow down the choices. I choose the Almond and Broccoli soup with a Greek salad, Caesar salad and veggies tossed in blueberry dressing. While the salads were really yummy and fresh, it was the drool worthy soup which still continues to haunt the dark alleys of my mind.

All that delectable food ensured that we went for the Main Course with rather full tummies and ended up just nibbling at it. But still the luscious 'Rajasthani Laal Maas' egged me on to take quite a few spoonfuls. The Awadhi Saag and Dal Makhani also turned out to be equally good.

Moving on to the desserts, I just settled for the yummy pancake and some Baskin Robbins icecream (Yup...pinch urself if you think that this is a dream) !! A big round of ovation for the guy who plated that pancakes so well that they resembled some piece of art . Somehow he managed to make each plating look quite different from each other. Plus thanks to each one of the service guys who managed to take really good care of us and even our kids.

Another brownie points to the Bungalow guys for their awesome range of mocktails. I tried the Lychee cola and the Virgin Mojito and both were good. Some of my bloggers friends were also going gaga over the Guava cooler but I was too stuffed to try one.

After having downed so much of great food and relished their incomparable hospitality, I am convinced that I need to come back to haunt this 'Bungalow' for an encore.

Rating - 4.5 / 5 . It is worth spending Rs 700 (inc taxes) for this unforgettable experience.


 

MCcain ki Smile(y) wali Recipe

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. And being married into a 'totally' foodie family, food is my weapon of choice when I want to set things straight. So whether it is spending hours cooking that delectable biryani or the Dal Makhni just the way it is supposed to be done, or experimenting with quick fix microwave recipes, a good portion of my day is spent romancing food. And I have come to the conclusion that along with the great taste, a little something extra is what brings on the smiles on my family's face.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and the my family enjoys a hearty version of it with quite a few variety of dishes on the table. While my inlaws dote on Mcain Masala dosa, a yummy version of the traditional dosa, Replacing the alu masala with a few Mcain smileys tossed up with grated veggies, hung curd and some chatpata chutney, it saves time for me and is more healthy than the regular one.

Ditto for the kid, who loves his vegetable sandwich. A simple hung curd dressing with crisp veggies and the added crunch of a few crunchy smileys is enough to light up his face with a beautiful smile. I am hardly surprised that my husband ends up fighting with him over the sandwiches.

My husband being one for burgers, a make him a quick one with the delicious Mcain  vegetable patty being at my disposal whatever the time of the day. Chopping a few onions and tomatoes and assembling the burger with a cheese slice, chopped veggies, a fried patty and a dash of mustard sauce take up hardly 5 mins. That keeps him happy and even I am reassured that my family gets to eat sufficient veggies and proteins .

While they may have their differences in terms of foodie fixes during the meal times, my family is unequivocal about the snack of choice when a favorite movie is playing on the screen. It has got to be the Mcain French fries, Made from the freshest potatoes, it is just so crisp on the outside and wonderfully light and fluffy on the inside. I just need to ensure that I buy an extra large packet if a cricket match or a nice movie is going to be telecast and my life is all set. The steady supply of snacks ensures another steady supply of smiles. Never mind even if India is losing the match.

But Mcain turns out to be the biggest rockstar when my MIL's friends or even my friends come to visit our house. I end up making my favorite Aloo Tikki Chaat with the delicious Mcain Aloo Tikki on popular demand almost every time. And the ladies can never have enough of it.

Another favorite of mine is the Smileys served with an avocado-chocolate-chili dip that happens to be a hit with my gang of girls.

Thanks to MCcain I now have a recipe that can bring on the smiles at any occasion !! Have you discovered your smile(y) recipe yet ?

Durga Puja 2015 (in Bengaluru)

My childhood memories of Durga puja are numerous. Watching the elaborate pandal near my house shaping up over a period of a month or so, the subtle smell of 'gangashiuli' and other winter blossoms in the gradually chilly evening air, the lotus/lily blooming in a nearby pond, the purchase of festive clothes and finally the annual visit by my 'piusi' or my father's sister. Being in Bengaluru I miss all of it. The pandals are just plain and unobtrusive, the only smell that rents the air is that of dust and pollution and buying clothes is no longer fun in a city that is driven by sheer materialism.

Being away from home, one does not have much to do during the puja. Hence we decided to go pandal hopping in the areas nearby Marathahalli. And realized that there is no dearth of pandals in Bengaluru. These are some of the ones I manged to cover -

The above pics were clicked at Sishu Griha school grounds, Near Thippasandra.

Near Kempfort mall, Murugeshpallya.

Sarjapur Outer Ring Road.

The very crowded one at AECS layout.

Some trinkets that I picked up -

Coming to all that was there to eat, I ended up tasting quite a few things like Mangsho kasha luchhi, Chicken kasha luchi, Chicken chaap with paratha, Kolkatta chicken biryani, Chowmein, Dahibara aludum, rasagulla, rasmalai and gupchup. And ended up with the realization that one has to kiss too many frogs before a prince charming actually turns up. A very relevant fairytale that one can only ignore at one's peril.

And no I did not click any food pics coz that is what I do everyday and I badly needed the break. The moment food arrives on the table, I end up taking a shot no matter what. Even my 3 year old excalims "Food has come. Bring Camera. Mama will take photo". Gosh, Am I so hollow that anyone can look through me ? No, I don't want to hear the all too obvious reply.

Finishing up with the pandal hopping spree, I realized that the spirit of Dusshera or Durga Puja is still intact even in this government forsaken city. Though it manifests itself in a very different way, "Maa" still makes her presence felt in the IT city. A big cheers to the Bengaluru crowd for their sheer 'joie de vivre' .

Real Joy Comes from Real Togetherness

Take a good look around yourself. It does not take much time to realize that the lines between the real and virtual world have become blurred. We spend hours on the messenger with a friend who lives in another city or even country but ignore the friendly next door neighbor who never forgets to smile at
you. Even if our friends stay within the same city, we prefer to connect with them over a online channel. And if we do meet up once in a blue moon, most of the time is taken up by clicking selfies and updating them on social media.

The situation is no better even within the four walls of one's home. Just recall the scene at dinner time. All the family members are engrossed in their own virtual world while eating the food in a mechanical manner. One or two might take a snap and post it on a social media channel but none of them  make any effort to appreciate the mother who has cooked the meal with much love and patience. In a way, this disconnect with the real world runs deep within the close confines of a family too.

None of us seem to realize that this behavior is slowly but steadily eroding our support systems and leaving us vulnerable to ailments like depression and hypertension. It is more so with the younger generation that is yet to forge those strong bonds that are so very essential for mankind to exist as a society. Aristotle very much meant it when he said that "Man is by nature a social animal". How much ever technology advances and we become more and more self reliant, we cannot afford to be completely cut off from others. The disadvantages of being isolated are many but most striking is the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

On the other hand, being together with people can be fun. Whether it is just sharing jokes/stories or even working towards realizing a common objective, human interaction is stimulating and makes up feel upbeat. One ends up making new friends, discovering a mentor or an agony aunt and in case one is truly lucky, even a soulmate. Also, we much more stronger when we knows that there is someone to lend a shoulder during the difficult times.

Unlike the virtual world where people try to project a very different image of themselves, real world interaction are much more genuine. One finds it easy to accept people with their faults and all.
Children who grow up in an environment that fosters togetherness turn out to be happier and balanced individuals. It fosters tolerance and makes them more open to people, places and situation that are different from what they encounter in everyday life. Ultimately it is these kids who will inherit the earth and hence imbibing them with the virtues of togetherness will only help make the world and better and happier place.


This post is written for Kissan. Watch this inspiring video that illustrates the virtues of finding happiness in togetherness -

Makeup Essentials for Pandal Hopping !!

Dusshera is here and it is pandal hopping time ! And yet another occasion for the gals and the ladies to doll up. While we all have our own way of doing it, this one is just a simple post for cutting out the clutter and getting the basics in one place, preferably a neat little bag, so that you do not have to turn the house upside down at the last minute.

This is a last minute post and done in a hurry even as I get my own stuff in one place. SO, please excuse any mistakes.

The essentials -

1. Foundation / BB cream -  One needs to be selfie ready all the time. Hence a little something to brush away those imperfections. Take a tiny amount and dot around places that need most attention, i.e., undereyes and around the nose and mouth. Blend it with light fingers/sponge/brush. Layer a little more if some areas still need coverage. Finally do not forget to blend at the jawline and the hairline. And yes, apply some of it one the neck as well.

2. Pressed powder - This helps the makeup stay longer as it absorbs all the excess oil. Especially important if using eye makeup or a glossy lipstick as it prevents bleeding/feathering.

3. Lip liner & Lipstick - Line your lips with the liner and use a white eyeliner to subtly highlight the cupid's bow. Then take the liner and fill in. That helps hide the pigmentation which is common among Indian women, the lipstick also last longer and does not bleed. Go for reds and fuchsias as they are best for getting the festive look.

4. Eyeliner & Mascara - Use a waterproof liner as it might get sweaty inside the pandals and you do not want to look like a panda on a religious mission. Instead of trying and failing to get a straight line from the inner corner to the outer one (and making a mess in the process), try doing it from the middle of the eyelid to the outer corner. Then join with another line from the inner corner to the middle one. Do not forget the mascara for the wide-eyed look. Go for a transparent one if black does not fine favor with you.

5. Hair serum - Keeps hair shiny and tangle free. Plus helps a lot with those unruly fly-aways. And it is a must if you planning on using the iron on your tresses.

Apart from that, get all those accessories in one separate bag, preferably teamed up with the respective outfits. DO NOT forget to include the Chaand Baalis or the oversized Jhumkas are a must to glam up that saree or anarkali you are planning to wear.

I guess it is not much. Just some tips to save time and trouble. So, go ahead and enjoy the Puja !!!

Broccoli Butter Masala ( Navratri Special )

When it comes to 'sattvik' or 'niramish' fare, i.e., cooking without using any onion or garlic, many of us have a mental blockade. "Will it taste good ?" or even "there can be no substitute for fish/chicken/or any other meat of your choice", are some of the common nags that I have come across. But over a period of time I have explored the sattvik fare from various regions of India and most of it has turned out to be delicious. For example, let us take the Monday/Thursday meals cooked in most households in Odisha. Rice, dal with veggies, minimal spices and a ghee tadka, a sweet-sour chutney kind of thing, stir fried veggies and greens (either stir fried or cooked with moong dal). Simple and, nourishing yet delicious enough to qualify for an everyday meal. People who prefer rotis over rice can opt for a simple 'vrat ke alu' or 'kachey kele ki subzi' with rotis or parathas made with Rajgire ka atta.

Having tackled the first question, let us move on to the second one. But what is one supposed to serve if guests drop in ? Well, there are 'no onion no garlic' versions of most curries like the Navratan korma, matar paneer and butter masala (and it is also available on my blog) along with delicious sattvik 'no onion no garlic' biryanis that one can choose from.

The 'Broccoli Butter Masala' is just an addition to this list and the fruit of my efforts to marry Indian cooking with exotic ingredients. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 25 mins

Ingredients -

• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 medium sized tomatoes
• 10 cashews
• 15 raisins
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp fresh cream
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
• a pinch of garam masala
• 2 pinch turmeric
• 1 tsp butter
• 2 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp kasuri methi
• few whole spices ( 1 green cardamom, 2-3 cloves, 1" cinnamon, 1 bay leaf, 6-7 peppercorns )

Preparation - Boil sufficient water in a saucepan.Once it gets to a bubbling boil, add the broccoli florets and let it cook for a minute or two.

Remove and immediately dunk in cold water. Drain the water after 5 mins. This helps bring out the gorgeous green hue of the broccoli.

Soak the cashew and raisins in 1/2 cup warm water for 20 mins. Grind into a smooth paste.

Puree the tomatoes.

Make a paste out of the coriander powder, garam masala, red chili power and turmeric along with a little (2-3 tsp) water.

Cooking - Heat the oil and butter in a wok. Add the masala paste and fry for 2 mins.

Add the tomato puree and fry till oil starts to separate.

Add the cashew and raisins paste and cook for 3 mins.

Finally add the milk and 1/4 cup water along with the blanched broccoli florets. Sprinkle Kasuri methi on top.

Bring to a boil on low heat and let it simmer for a while till the broccoli turns soft and the gravy coats the florets evenly.

Add the cream. give it a mix and remove from flame.

Serve hot with puris or a simple pulao.