A Newyear - 2014 - London

Happy New Year from LONDON -2014

Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday., mine truly was action packed . We welcomed the NewYear by watching the amazing display of Fireworks that London had to offer.

With the New year comes new resolutions and i did have a couple of things in mind like " i will string my wallet a lot tighter,exercise more yaada yaada yaada" and incidentally i happened to read this article 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10539135/Five-New-Year-resolutions-you-really-shouldnt-make.html

Resolutions are passé huh?!!! Here is to exploring and experimenting with more flavors and enjoying life.

I love Thai Food and flavors. And i love the pretty orange discs - Red Lentils. Sometime ago, i had Thai Red Lentil Soup at my favorite Soup shop and wanted to replicate the same at home.This soup is a casual meal in a bowl, with layers of flavor,perfect as a low GI energy fix and is wallet friendly too.

Here is how i made it.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 Cloves of Garlic chopped
1inch piece of Ginger grated
1 Onion - finely chopped
1 Carrot - finely chopped
1/2 a Red Bell Pepper - finely chopped
3 tbsp Thai Red Curry Paste
250gms appox.Red Lentils
1 stock cube
200mls Coconut milk
Spring Onions or Corriander for Garnish
500mls Water
Juice of 1 lime or lemon

Method:

1.Fry the Garlic and Onions in 1 tbsp olive oil until soft.Then add the Carrots and Bell pepper to soften along with the grated Ginger. Stir in the red Thai curry paste,depending how hot you want it you could increase or decrease the quantity.

2.Add red lentils and mix to coat in the paste.Add Water the stock cube and simmer for about 20 mins until the lentils are tender or You could Pressure cook the lentils separate in a Pressure cooker until done and then add to the softened Veg.

3.Stir the coconut milk to the simmering lentil mix, bring it to a boil and Done.

Remember: the stock cube and the store bought Thai curry paste have salt in it add accordingly.

Garnish with Coriander or Spring Onions and dash of Lemon to the soup adds that nice zing.

A Baking Heist and Home made Granola

A snack that’s sweet and chewy and a healthy one who would say no to it .

I’ve been wanting to bake some granola bars for the longest time, My latest infatuation with Cranberry's helped me bring all the components together – for a sweet and tasty bite. 

These bars cover a whole range of  food groups,they fit in the grains and nuts and the added dried fruit. And I'll be honest with you, these granola bars are really on the line between healthy snack and dessert food and on that line I did eat one for breakfast this morning. :)


Here is what i did :

• 2 cups Rolled Oats
• 1/2 cup Wheat Bran 
• 1/2 cup sliced Almonds
• 1/2 cup shredded Coconut (I used unsweetened but sweetened is good too)
• 1/4 cup chopped Walnuts
• 1 tablespoon Sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup of Raisins and Cranberry's
• 3 tablespoons Butter
• 1/4 cup Brown sugar
• 1/3 cup Honey 
• 1/3 Maple Syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

You can also add Dates, Apricots, Prunes

Method:

Preheat the Oven to 165°C.

Combine the Oats, Wheat Bran,Almonds, Walnuts,Coconut,Sesame. Lay them all flat on the Baking sheet and  Bake at 165°C for 8-10 minutes, just until toasty.

While that's getting done, In a pot over medium heat stir together the butter, sugar, honey,maple syrup and vanilla extract until the butter melts. Bring it to a boil then remove from the heat. In a bowl combine the dry granola mixture with the melted butter mixture so that all the granola gets coated. At this stage while the mix is till a little warm add the dried fruits.

Line a square pan with parchment paper. Press the granola mix into the pan. Press it down well so that it lies nice and flat and Bake at 150°C for 20-25 minutes.

Once done let them remain in the pan for a while until a little cool and then cut them into Bars.

Good for Groups

What's this?

Patani Sundal .... Thenga Manga Patani Sundal

Carrot Pickle

Carrot Pickle reminds me so much of my School Lunchbox which were lovingly packed by my Mum. I always preferred  a dry meal to be carried however the side had to be something interesting and the interesting side was something that made me glee with pride made me look forward to the lunch break.

It is absolutely quick and easy to make and it takes only a few ingredients and gets done in a Jiffy.

Ingredients:

3 medium carrots
A few slices of Ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon roasted mustard seeds coarsely ground 
1/2 teaspoon roasted Methi seeds coarsely ground
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
Asafoetida a pinch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoon olive oil

Method:
Peel the carrots and ginger and thinly slice them.
Ensure that the carrots and ginger have no moisture pat them dry to be sure.
Dry Roast the Mustard and Methi seeds until the seeds slightly change color and coarsely grind them.
Heat the Olive oil and add the coarsely ground Mustard seeds,Methi seeds,turmeric and asafoetida add it to the carrots and ginger with salt to taste. Mix all the ingredients together and add the lemon juice.
The Pickle is ready. You could choose to eat it immediately or after a couple of hours or it tastes best the next day.

This pickle is highly irresistible.You could also add sliced green chilis for added color.

Variation: Try adding this instant pickle to your salads the mustard give it a very distinctive taste along with the carrots giving it a great crunch.

Navarathri Nostalgia

...Written on the 17th of Oct 2012

They say the world in itself is a big city. It celebrates festivals of all hues. There are more than 10 billion souls cramped in here,but at this time of the year  I feel alone. Its a time of togetherness,bonding....and here in this metropolis all faces seem unfamiliar to me. With whom shall I share my excitement? To whom shall I narrate my loneliness?

Its that time of the year when Godess Durga embarks on her annual vacation, family,friends and pets in tow. A thousand miles away from home,in a land somewhat alien I cant smell the festivities in the air and the drumbeats reverberate in the nostalgic realm...
..Mahalaya, the day of invocation of goddess Durga in her Mahisasurmardini form.,the beginning of the ten days of festivity. Amma you used to wake me up the crack of dawn to listen to Birendra Krishna on All India Radio that was boradcasted in Bengal., saying that it was something that you did listen to growing up .. i made it a point to find it on youtube two days ago to continue with the tradition ( tho it wasnt 4am! )  it feels incomplete without listening to "ya devi sarva butheshu.." not for religious reasons but more for nostalgic ones.

I yearn for the doe-eyed beauties un and easy in crisp sarees and the many visits of Golu,Sundal,the list seems to be endless may be i should start with the padi building and the kalasam placement and the decor that goes with it and now My ears search for the strains of songs in the tongue I called my own.Lets not forget the Aarathi thats taken towards the end of the day.Ohh, the smell of fresh flowers, incense sticks, turmeric...
It is of course a religious occasion, but it's not the gods that I miss, it is the people and the atmosphere. They might celebrate it here, but I don't feel at home. Memories that I'll cherish forever.

Last year, I made myself a promise I'll be home when the drums start to beat. A promise broken, making another.

Good bye Belgium

..Written on 28/03/2013

Today I'm saying goodbye to my Home well almost... - Belgium & our Home here. It doesn't know if I'll ever see it again — it has no idea that this will be the last time I'll walk within its walls. It doesn't even recognize the sheer volume of memories it holds; how many tears and smiles and adventures it has seen, "Thank you for the Memories." 

It's time to move on; it's time for a new  start and a new life in the place we are so familiar with....LONDON