Dal Fry

Ingredients:

Dal Fry

• Oil
• Moong Dal
• Toor Dal
• Green-chilli paste
• Ginger garlic paste
• Cumin
• Mustard seeds
• Asafoetida (Hing)
• Onion
• Tomato
• cilantro
• Salt
• Spices (Turmeric, Red chilli powder)

Directions:

1. Add water and both the dal's (Moong dal and Toor dal) to the pressure cooker. Cook it on medium heat for two whistles.
2. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan. Add cumin, mustard seeds and a pinch of Hing. When it begins to sizzle, add 1 tablespoon of green-chilli paste along with 2 tablespoons of ginger garlic paste.
3. Add chopped onions and wait till the colour turns a little darker. Add tomatoes and sauté it for a couple of minutes.
4. Add turmeric, red chilli powder and salt then sauté it for about 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the cooked dal and add water as per consistency.
6. Stir well and cook until it gets a good boil.
7. Top it with chopped cilantro's, lemon juice and a spoon full of ghee.

Every recipe has a story behind it. I share my apartment with three other roommates and dal is a time-saver for us. While others knew how to cook proper dal, I was a total newbie at it. It took me several attempts to learn how to prepare a well-cooked dal. The first struggle was to boil dal, there were occasions when the stove would be filled with water running out of the cooker. Eventually, after boiling it for a couple of times I understood the ratio of water and dal. Then, there were times when my dal was too watery, way saltier and at times tasteless. But, after all those failures today I have finally mastered the recipe. 

So this is my version of dal- simple, easy and tasty. Please try this recipe and let me know in the comments section how you liked it and don't forget to share your version of this recipe.

Until next time, Stay Happy, Stay Blessed!

Simple Spaghetti

Mixed Veggie Spaghetti

Ingredients:

• Oil
• Green-chilli paste
• Ginger garlic paste
• Italian Tomato Sauce
• Mushrooms
• Sweet corns
• Capsicum
• Onion
• Broccoli
• Spaghetti
• Salt
• Black peppercorns
• Oregano flakes

Directions:

1. Bring a pot of water containing one tablespoon of salt and few drops of oil to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook for about 10-13 minutes. Drain the spaghetti, rinse it with cold water and toss it with few drops of oil.
2. In the meantime, heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan. Add 1 tablespoon of green-chilli paste along with 2 tablespoons of ginger garlic paste. When it begins to sizzle, add chopped onions, mushrooms, boiled sweet corns, boiled broccoli, chopped capsicum, and sauté it for a couple of minutes.
3. Add about 2 huge spoons of Italian tomato sauce to it. Cover the pan with a lid and allow it to cook for about 4-5 minutes.
4. Add salt as per taste, few ground black peppercorns and oregano flakes to it. Sauté the sauce and add spaghetti to it. Toss the spaghetti well with the sauce and cook it for more 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and top with some grated cheese.

Over the past few months, I have learned how few ingredients when incorporated together can result in an amazingly yummy recipe. Food has always been a source of happiness for me and now, that I have started cooking it is more fun and stress busting.

Mushroom Spaghetti

Yesterday, I was too lazy to go grocery shopping and that's when I thought of experimenting with mushrooms and spaghetti and thankfully it turned out to be a success! So this recipe is just another cooking experiment, you can add different veggies to this or eliminate any from my recipe. 

Please try this recipe and let me know in the comments section how you liked it and don't forget to share your version of this recipe.

Until next time, Stay Happy, Stay Blessed!

Over a cup of tea

One fine afternoon, while experimenting in the kitchen I learned how to prepare a strong tea. A strong cup of tea accompanied with few biscuits serves as a perfect combination for my Dada dearest (Dada- My maternal grandfather) the strong aroma of tea intoxicated Dada; he left his newspaper aside and called my name. My experiment thus was a success.

While Raj Kapoor's Jeena yaha marna yaha was playing in the background, he supped up the first sip of tea. The expression on his face clearly stated how pleased he was with my experiment. He took another sup of tea and said, when I was a kid my mother used to make this kind of tea. A wave of nostalgia swept over him and he started sharing all those memories with me.

He shared his childhood stories, how different he was as a kid: Decorous with respect to work and humorous when it came to fun. Losing his father at a very tender age was difficult, but he let that time pass by with hard work and positive approach. Although dada was youngest in the family he had to look after many household jobs like managing the household accounts and many similar tasks.  Further, he spoke about how he solely hit 5 boys who nagged his elder brother.  Family has always been dada’s weakness.

The chitter-chattering went on till the last sip of tea. Until we meet over another cup of tea this beautiful afternoon will be bookmarked in my version of life.

Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.

-Corrie Ten Boom

source: image- http://www.gettyimages.in

2016

I can clearly recall 1st Jan’16: New Year party with family and post-party hangover. What an amazing beginning of leap year it was! But, who knew this beginning was just a trailer and there were lots left to be cracked down ahead. 2016 wasn’t any near to those previous years; it was a ride through peaks and valleys.  A year I would bookmark and read again and again.

It started pretty well like those normal New Year beginning days but … Things changed! Manali was the turning point in my life. Dreams changed, People changed, Destination changed and everything around me was changing. I started discovering myself in a new way. It seemed like a chapter in my life was ending and I had to cut off few anchors to accept this change and move ahead in my life. It was the most difficult phase in my life.

While passing these difficult days, I made few hasty decisions, worked in wrong directions and ended up regretting things that had to do a lot with my future. Music and some me-time helped to cope up and I was back on track. Now, things are where they are supposed to be and I’m where I’m supposed to be.  I have no expectations with 2017. I just want to keep walking towards my destination and live life my way now.

2016 Thank you for everything and 2017 bring it on!!

Lesson learned : Expectation kills!

source: image- http://www.gettyimages.in

  

My Stress busters

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

- Anatole France

A year back, we had more number of pets than family members. I used to wake up on loud squawks of Lucky (my parrot) along with Jimmy (my dog) barking and humping on couch. I had a big fish tank in my living room, home for my cute red flower horn Lily and a small bowl besides the fish tank was home for my little turtle Cookie. Few months back, I lost three amongst these family members of mine. Now, the big fish tank is home for our new member: Peter (flower horn).

So now my morning begins with Jimmy barking and humping on couch and Peter plunging in the water. These two enduring creatures are my family members. I call them family because they feel me. When I return from college or work, a glance at them and all my weariness disappears. It might sound weird but I share an emotional connect with Peter. I just feel him and I keep playing with him. Flower horns are bright colored and have peculiar head. Peter is pink red grey colored and has a little growing hump.  If anyone has ever owned a flower horn will know how appealing and sharp-witted they are. When you move your finger on the fish tank glass they start following your motion and are very bright and rapid.

Whenever I feel low or alone, I spend my time with Peter. I believe he has some mood boasting powers. Like a good human friend, I feel he tries to understand what I’m thinking and feeling. Down there somewhere in my heart I feel someone cares about me and this connection makes me feel special. The companionship of a pet can also ease loneliness, depression, anxiety and can improve many health issues.

I would strongly recommend all my readers to adopt animals. You just share love once with them and they won’t forget that affection for rest of their lives.

If you have a pet, you're never alone.

A Phantom of Delight

Her face was far so fair,

Embellished by soft brown hair,

Broad of forehead, little of eye,

Brighter like the April sky.

A phantom of delight,

As is the meniscus-moon so bright.

Dazzling smile and charming voice,

Would trap thee and make you rejoice.

The li'l hole in her heart,

Was the only awful part.

The wound couldn't be heal'd,

And her weakness was revealed.

A soul so near to divine,

Reason behind the sunshine.

Faded in the calm and frosty air,

Over the valley deep and bare.

source: image- http://www.gettyimages.in

Into the Heavens

He feels her,

He touches her,

In daunting dreams at night.

She is beaten, burnt and abused

By the tornado of misdemeanors.

She weeps,

She whimpers,

When he pulls her into a blanket.

He does all drama of sin and disgrace

And leaves her without any trace.

Not to mourn

As he warned

Afraid of that perverted predator

She tangles the rope of pain

And steps into the new world called Heaven.

source: image- http://www.gettyimages.in