Here's the long-promised recipe for my favourite homemade cookies, with a hint of cinnamon:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup low-fat spread/butter
1 1/2 cups self-rising (or plain) flour
1/2 spoon vanilla extract
1 spoon cinnamon powder
A pinch of salt
For dusting:
A few spoons of sugar
1/4 spoon cinnamon powder
Method:
1. Mix well the sugar and spread/butter in a large bowl, till smooth without any lumps.
2. Add the vanilla extract, cinnamon powder, salt and flour to the beaten sugar and spread/butter mix.
3. It should form a fairly stiff dough, not sticky.
4. Roll bits of the dough into 1 inch balls, gently flatten them and roll lightly in the sugar-n-cinnamon dust.
5. Pre-heat the oven to 175 degrees centigrade, for 4-5 minutes.
6. Place the cookie dough on flat, baking-paper lined trays, a few inches apart, and place the trays in the oven.
7. The cookies should be ready in 18 minutes. Leave to cool. They do not need to turn brown.
8. If firmer cookies (i.e. biscuit-like consistency is preferred), leave in the oven for a further 3 minutes.
9. Try adding crushed nuts, like Brazil nuts or Hazel nuts, to the cookie dough, if you like a bit of variety. I have tried both, and they are yummy!
10. Do not leave out the pinch of salt, as this is what allows one to keep the quantity of sugar low in this recipe.
I made a fresh batch of these cookies a few minutes ago...and am now watching "What a Girl Wants" on the telly. Couldn't have asked for a better way to spend Saturday evening, as Colin Firth is second only to Hugh Grant, in my opinion:-)
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Axl n Slash - suddenly in the news this weekend
Its nearly 2 decades since I first heard and watched a Guns N Roses music video. I thought way back then that they sounded amazing!
I was quite upset when I came across the bad press given to Axl Rose this weekend after the disastrous performance in the Reading Festival, U.K. Axl and the new line-up of his band Guns N Roses were slammed by the British media mercilessly. I believe it is quite unfair, as the British press can be extremely hard on certain individuals...while still glossing over any wrongdoings by their own favourite celebrities. For instance, Sir Paul can do no wrong in the eyes of the British press. Huh???
Last year, I read the unauthorised biography of Axl Rose, as I wanted to understand the man behind the music. Well, it explained a lot of things...One has to understand that some people in this world do have problems getting through life, due to a variety of reasons. Many of these could be issues from childhood that need to be resolved. This does not make a talented artist any less talented.
Almost as if by coincidence, I was watching CNN just now, and there was a half hour program, Talk Asia, featuring Slash, the guitarist of the band in its heyday. The anchor did question Slash on the issues surrounding his rift from Axl, and Slash did not give a direct answer. They had not spoken to each other for a good 14-15 years. All Slash said was that there could always be a possibility that he and Axl would, one day, come together, for the sake of their music. As one of the band's biggest fans, I would always look forward to that day...It is hope alone that makes life worthwhile for some.
For those who've forgotten what GNR sound like, here's a link to my all-time favourite song, November Rain, from what is perhaps the greatest rock band in the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE&ob=av2e
Here's to the music of GNR!
I was quite upset when I came across the bad press given to Axl Rose this weekend after the disastrous performance in the Reading Festival, U.K. Axl and the new line-up of his band Guns N Roses were slammed by the British media mercilessly. I believe it is quite unfair, as the British press can be extremely hard on certain individuals...while still glossing over any wrongdoings by their own favourite celebrities. For instance, Sir Paul can do no wrong in the eyes of the British press. Huh???
Last year, I read the unauthorised biography of Axl Rose, as I wanted to understand the man behind the music. Well, it explained a lot of things...One has to understand that some people in this world do have problems getting through life, due to a variety of reasons. Many of these could be issues from childhood that need to be resolved. This does not make a talented artist any less talented.
Almost as if by coincidence, I was watching CNN just now, and there was a half hour program, Talk Asia, featuring Slash, the guitarist of the band in its heyday. The anchor did question Slash on the issues surrounding his rift from Axl, and Slash did not give a direct answer. They had not spoken to each other for a good 14-15 years. All Slash said was that there could always be a possibility that he and Axl would, one day, come together, for the sake of their music. As one of the band's biggest fans, I would always look forward to that day...It is hope alone that makes life worthwhile for some.
For those who've forgotten what GNR sound like, here's a link to my all-time favourite song, November Rain, from what is perhaps the greatest rock band in the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE&ob=av2e
Here's to the music of GNR!
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Amazing homemade Naan bread! And my take on Paneer Masala...
I decided to make naan breads at home today, and it was dead easy, simply unbelievable! Here's the recipe:
Ingredients:
2-3 cups self-raising flour
2 spoons low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 spoon baking powder
salt to taste
1 spoon olive oil
1 spoon sugar (optional)
Method:
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, mix well.
2. Add the milk, yogurt and oil.
3. Slowly mix well, until you get a soft but not sticky dough.
4. Cover with cling film, and store in a warm place (or on a window ledge which gets direct sunshine!) for 1-2 hours. The dough should rise slightly.
5. Divide the dough into balls, roll out into oblong shapes, using a little dry flour.
6. Pre-heat the grill, temperature of around 160-180 centigrade, for 6-8 minutes.
7. Spread a little olive oil on a baking tray, and place the rolled-out dough on the tray. Make small piercings with a fork.
8. Close the oven door.
9. The naan will start rising within a minute.
10. Switch off and remove from the grill after the dough rises in several places, and there are brown spots on the naan. Do not wait for the entire naan to turn brown!
11. Spread a little butter/ghee/low-fat spread and consume immediately.
12. If you like the naan to be brown on both sides, do turn the naan on the other side, and grill for a few more seconds. This is not recommended/necessary.
Though I did not prepare the following dish to go with naan today, it is something I make frequently. It is my take on Paneer Masala.
Ingredients:
250gms of fresh paneer or Indian cottage cheese(available in most large supermarkets or Asian stores)
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
1 large red onion
2 medium-sized tomatoes
2 spoons tomato puree
4-5 bay leaves
1-2 cups low-fat yogurt
2 spoons chilli powder
2 spoons garam masala
1/2 spoon turmeric powder
1/4 spoon asafoetida
salt to taste
Water
Chopped coriander
Method:
1. Cut the paneer into small cubes, fry them in a pan with butter/ghee/low-fat spread on low heat. When they start turning brown, remove from the pan, and keep aside.
2. Add some oil to the remaining butter/ghee/spread, and fry the chopped onion along with the bay leaves.
3. Chop the peppers into fairly large (1-inch) squares. Add to the onion frying in the pan.
4. At this stage, add the turmeric, chilli, asafoetida and garam masala powders, along with the salt. Cover with a lid.
5. Let the onion and peppers sweat in the pan for a while. Then, add the chopped tomatoes and 1/2 a cup of water. The quantity of water can vary, depending on how much gravy you prefer in the dish.
6. Let cook for 5-8 minutes. Add the tomato puree.
7. Add the fried paneer cubes to the pan. Give a good stir, then add the low-fat yogurt and after a minute, switch off the pan.
8. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
I use low-fat yogurt instead of cream (which is normally preferred) because of the high fat content in cream. This dish stays good for 3-4 days in the fridge, and tastes even better after 2 days, heated in a microwave, as the cheese absorbs all the spices and gets softer when popped in the microwave!
I've also been baking and will post my Cinnamon Cookie recipe shortly. Until then, enjoy cooking!
Ingredients:
2-3 cups self-raising flour
2 spoons low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 spoon baking powder
salt to taste
1 spoon olive oil
1 spoon sugar (optional)
Method:
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, mix well.
2. Add the milk, yogurt and oil.
3. Slowly mix well, until you get a soft but not sticky dough.
4. Cover with cling film, and store in a warm place (or on a window ledge which gets direct sunshine!) for 1-2 hours. The dough should rise slightly.
5. Divide the dough into balls, roll out into oblong shapes, using a little dry flour.
6. Pre-heat the grill, temperature of around 160-180 centigrade, for 6-8 minutes.
7. Spread a little olive oil on a baking tray, and place the rolled-out dough on the tray. Make small piercings with a fork.
8. Close the oven door.
9. The naan will start rising within a minute.
10. Switch off and remove from the grill after the dough rises in several places, and there are brown spots on the naan. Do not wait for the entire naan to turn brown!
11. Spread a little butter/ghee/low-fat spread and consume immediately.
12. If you like the naan to be brown on both sides, do turn the naan on the other side, and grill for a few more seconds. This is not recommended/necessary.
Though I did not prepare the following dish to go with naan today, it is something I make frequently. It is my take on Paneer Masala.
Ingredients:
250gms of fresh paneer or Indian cottage cheese(available in most large supermarkets or Asian stores)
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
1 large red onion
2 medium-sized tomatoes
2 spoons tomato puree
4-5 bay leaves
1-2 cups low-fat yogurt
2 spoons chilli powder
2 spoons garam masala
1/2 spoon turmeric powder
1/4 spoon asafoetida
salt to taste
Water
Chopped coriander
Method:
1. Cut the paneer into small cubes, fry them in a pan with butter/ghee/low-fat spread on low heat. When they start turning brown, remove from the pan, and keep aside.
2. Add some oil to the remaining butter/ghee/spread, and fry the chopped onion along with the bay leaves.
3. Chop the peppers into fairly large (1-inch) squares. Add to the onion frying in the pan.
4. At this stage, add the turmeric, chilli, asafoetida and garam masala powders, along with the salt. Cover with a lid.
5. Let the onion and peppers sweat in the pan for a while. Then, add the chopped tomatoes and 1/2 a cup of water. The quantity of water can vary, depending on how much gravy you prefer in the dish.
6. Let cook for 5-8 minutes. Add the tomato puree.
7. Add the fried paneer cubes to the pan. Give a good stir, then add the low-fat yogurt and after a minute, switch off the pan.
8. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
I use low-fat yogurt instead of cream (which is normally preferred) because of the high fat content in cream. This dish stays good for 3-4 days in the fridge, and tastes even better after 2 days, heated in a microwave, as the cheese absorbs all the spices and gets softer when popped in the microwave!
I've also been baking and will post my Cinnamon Cookie recipe shortly. Until then, enjoy cooking!
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Volunteering at the London Moonwalk last month...
This morning, the 2010 Moonwalk took place in Edinburgh. I wish I had the energy to volunteer for this event as well! I was looking at running and walking events in the UK this year, when I suddenly chanced upon the Playtex London Moonwalk web pages a few weeks ago. At that point in time, the organisers were still looking for volunteers. So, all I did was click on the link, add my details and skills and interests, and chose the times I would like to volunteer.
The very next day, I received an email, confirming my application had been received and that I would shortly be receiving details of my volunteering stint. I was absolutely delighted to get them by post a few days later, informing me that I was to be a Marshall along the route! There was a booklet answering FAQs, so I knew what to expect.
The night of the London Moonwalk, I took the train from Essex up to London Liverpool Street. At the station in my tiny town, I met a handful of other runners and their family members and was chatting to them. The excitement had already begun for me. Once in London, I decided to have a good meal, and so, wandered into Ravi Shankar, one of the many Indian restaurants on Drummond Street near Euston Station. They had recently introduced 2 new dishes, and I was happy to try one of them. As I ate, I realised that as a new food blogger, my responsibilities increased with each meal that I ate out! So, I did my duty by informing the management that while the dish was good on the whole, one item had a bit too much salt in it. The reaction I got from the staff had me in splits later on: while some were plain stunned that a lone diner was making herself heard, the Manager was gobsmacked when I told him I am also a food blogger! But, they immediately took my comment into consideration, and thanked me for it. I wish them well.
From there, it was a short walk to Marble Arch, near Hyde Park where the organisers had sent up a huge pink tent. The atmosphere was awesome...milling with excited runners and volunteers. I made my way to the volunteer tent, where I was given my t-shirt, waterproof jacket, cap and a magazine to keep me occupied till the first runner made her way to where I was standing! All volunteers could also have tea/coffee and fresh soup. My team quickly got together, and were briefed by our team leaders. All that needed to be done was wait for the coach that would take us to our final positions.
Once at the stretch of the route which we were patrolling, the team was further divided into groups of 2-3 persons, as we were not to stand alone anywhere, for reasons of safety. My team was posted in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, near the Yacht Club. The three of us waited for a while, and before long, the first runner arrived...and then, a slow trickle, which then turned into a massive avalanche of runners over several hours of the early morning, that slowly trickled again into a dwindling number of walkers and then the last few...We were on our feet for a good 7 hours that night, helping runners and walkers cross one of the busiest roads of central London, for a good cause - fighting against breast cancer. We were witness to all kinds of emotions - from sheer exhilaration and happiness, to sorrow at the memory of the loss of a loved one, to tiredness and exhaustion. I spotted the ladies I had met earlier at the train station and they shouted out to me:-) I met a few Indian runners too, one of whom, a Bengali gentleman, asked me how I was - in Bengali! I smiled and waved back. I saw a grandmum n grandaughter hugging each other as they passed us, in tears, and we knew a loved mother was not there to see this and was greatly missed...
It was an unforgettable experience for me. The high points were the fantastic costumes some of the runners had created and worn, and the blasting of horns by passing drivers who wanted to salute the spirit of the runners. There were one or two ugly turns as well, as some drivers stubbornly refused to stop for the hordes of runners and walkers - nothing but bad manners, considering they also broke traffic rules: Zebra crossings had to be heeded. The Met Police did a great job of coming around often to see if things were running smoothly. Hats off to you officers! At about 4am, the organisers sent around fresh steaming hot coffee for the Marshalls along the route...And at about 7:30am, it was all over for my team. The coach collected us once again, and we made our way back to Hyde Park. We were offered hot tea and coffee once again along with sandwiches, including vegetarian options...which I think was rather thoughtful of the organisers. Thank you, Tina.
I would love to do this time and again, schedule permitting! The next one is coming up in Bristol, and for those who are interested, please check out the website below:
http://www.walkthewalk.org/home
I hope this blog post inspires readers to try and do their own little something for charities. Its not always about money; sometimes, just giving your time is enough...
The very next day, I received an email, confirming my application had been received and that I would shortly be receiving details of my volunteering stint. I was absolutely delighted to get them by post a few days later, informing me that I was to be a Marshall along the route! There was a booklet answering FAQs, so I knew what to expect.
The night of the London Moonwalk, I took the train from Essex up to London Liverpool Street. At the station in my tiny town, I met a handful of other runners and their family members and was chatting to them. The excitement had already begun for me. Once in London, I decided to have a good meal, and so, wandered into Ravi Shankar, one of the many Indian restaurants on Drummond Street near Euston Station. They had recently introduced 2 new dishes, and I was happy to try one of them. As I ate, I realised that as a new food blogger, my responsibilities increased with each meal that I ate out! So, I did my duty by informing the management that while the dish was good on the whole, one item had a bit too much salt in it. The reaction I got from the staff had me in splits later on: while some were plain stunned that a lone diner was making herself heard, the Manager was gobsmacked when I told him I am also a food blogger! But, they immediately took my comment into consideration, and thanked me for it. I wish them well.
From there, it was a short walk to Marble Arch, near Hyde Park where the organisers had sent up a huge pink tent. The atmosphere was awesome...milling with excited runners and volunteers. I made my way to the volunteer tent, where I was given my t-shirt, waterproof jacket, cap and a magazine to keep me occupied till the first runner made her way to where I was standing! All volunteers could also have tea/coffee and fresh soup. My team quickly got together, and were briefed by our team leaders. All that needed to be done was wait for the coach that would take us to our final positions.
Once at the stretch of the route which we were patrolling, the team was further divided into groups of 2-3 persons, as we were not to stand alone anywhere, for reasons of safety. My team was posted in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, near the Yacht Club. The three of us waited for a while, and before long, the first runner arrived...and then, a slow trickle, which then turned into a massive avalanche of runners over several hours of the early morning, that slowly trickled again into a dwindling number of walkers and then the last few...We were on our feet for a good 7 hours that night, helping runners and walkers cross one of the busiest roads of central London, for a good cause - fighting against breast cancer. We were witness to all kinds of emotions - from sheer exhilaration and happiness, to sorrow at the memory of the loss of a loved one, to tiredness and exhaustion. I spotted the ladies I had met earlier at the train station and they shouted out to me:-) I met a few Indian runners too, one of whom, a Bengali gentleman, asked me how I was - in Bengali! I smiled and waved back. I saw a grandmum n grandaughter hugging each other as they passed us, in tears, and we knew a loved mother was not there to see this and was greatly missed...
It was an unforgettable experience for me. The high points were the fantastic costumes some of the runners had created and worn, and the blasting of horns by passing drivers who wanted to salute the spirit of the runners. There were one or two ugly turns as well, as some drivers stubbornly refused to stop for the hordes of runners and walkers - nothing but bad manners, considering they also broke traffic rules: Zebra crossings had to be heeded. The Met Police did a great job of coming around often to see if things were running smoothly. Hats off to you officers! At about 4am, the organisers sent around fresh steaming hot coffee for the Marshalls along the route...And at about 7:30am, it was all over for my team. The coach collected us once again, and we made our way back to Hyde Park. We were offered hot tea and coffee once again along with sandwiches, including vegetarian options...which I think was rather thoughtful of the organisers. Thank you, Tina.
I would love to do this time and again, schedule permitting! The next one is coming up in Bristol, and for those who are interested, please check out the website below:
http://www.walkthewalk.org/home
I hope this blog post inspires readers to try and do their own little something for charities. Its not always about money; sometimes, just giving your time is enough...
Life without Facebook:-)
This is something I have been deliberating for the last few weeks. And here's the story in its entirety...
It all started when I decided I would let everyone know where I stood with respect to the countries competing in the ongoing FIFA World Cup...Yes, I do live in the UK, but (with all due respect to its citizens) I do not always support the national football team:-) In the match against the USA last week, I cheered the "other" team. I swapped my Facebook profile picture for the Stars and Stripes! And within hours, one of my so-called "friends"(a former colleague) wrote the comment "Traitor" on my own post cheering the Yanks on. What transpired during the game itself was debated in pubs across this country. And poor goalie Green was the butt of innumerable jokes and snide remarks. The game ended in a draw...
A few days later, it was the turn of Algeria against the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and the lot. Where did I stand? Well, as an academic researcher whose works centred on literature from north Africa, obviously, I wanted to cheer the Algerians. Coming from my country as I do, I am well aware of the hardships faced by sportspersons in developing countries. Lack of encouragement and more importantly, of resources, means talented players are challenged every single day. Despite all the internal strife going on, the Algerians did very well for themselves. That match too ended in a draw...
Yesterday, someone I hold very dear changed their Facebook settings, and I asked myself if I really wanted to continue putting myself through this daily agony? And the answer was a resounding NO. I was wasting far too many hours every month on this showcasing of one's friends (shouldn't it be "acquaintances"?), a lot of which appears quite banal and superficial...
And so, I de-activated my Facebook profile...And gained some peace of mind in the process. I hope to devote more time to this blog, and on my fiction-writing from now on.
It all started when I decided I would let everyone know where I stood with respect to the countries competing in the ongoing FIFA World Cup...Yes, I do live in the UK, but (with all due respect to its citizens) I do not always support the national football team:-) In the match against the USA last week, I cheered the "other" team. I swapped my Facebook profile picture for the Stars and Stripes! And within hours, one of my so-called "friends"(a former colleague) wrote the comment "Traitor" on my own post cheering the Yanks on. What transpired during the game itself was debated in pubs across this country. And poor goalie Green was the butt of innumerable jokes and snide remarks. The game ended in a draw...
A few days later, it was the turn of Algeria against the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and the lot. Where did I stand? Well, as an academic researcher whose works centred on literature from north Africa, obviously, I wanted to cheer the Algerians. Coming from my country as I do, I am well aware of the hardships faced by sportspersons in developing countries. Lack of encouragement and more importantly, of resources, means talented players are challenged every single day. Despite all the internal strife going on, the Algerians did very well for themselves. That match too ended in a draw...
Yesterday, someone I hold very dear changed their Facebook settings, and I asked myself if I really wanted to continue putting myself through this daily agony? And the answer was a resounding NO. I was wasting far too many hours every month on this showcasing of one's friends (shouldn't it be "acquaintances"?), a lot of which appears quite banal and superficial...
And so, I de-activated my Facebook profile...And gained some peace of mind in the process. I hope to devote more time to this blog, and on my fiction-writing from now on.
A few basic (and healthy) recipes
I have a really simple 5-powder mix of spices that I use for most non-gravy vegetable dishes:
Ingredients:
Salt: 2 spoons
Chilli Powder: 3 to 3.5 spoons
Coriander Powder: 2 spoons
Turmeric Powder: 0.5 spoon
Asafoetida: 0.5 spoon
Method:
Mix any proportion of this, and store in an airtight container. When in a hurry, heat some oil in a pan, add frozen vegetables of your choice (either mixed or individual like okra), add some water (if need be), and cover with lid, after giving a stir. The dish is ready to eat in a few minutes. To be served with rice or breads.
Paprika/Chilli Hoummous
Ingredients:
Half a can boiled chickpeas
Olive oil: 2 spoons
Tahini paste: 3 spoons
Lemon juice (freshly squeezed): 3 spoons
Paprika/Chilli powder: 0.5 spoon
Garlic: 1 clove, chopped
Salt: a pinch
Water
Method:
Use a blender to grind the chickpeas with tahini, garlic, paprika/chilli powder, water and salt. Then, add the olive oil and lemon juice, and blend for a few more seconds. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for upto a week.
I do the following for a quick-fix sandwich:
Heat some oil in a pan, throw in 2 spoons of the above spice-mix, then add frozen mixed sliced peppers. Leave it on the hob for 5 minutes. Spread some hoummous on slices of wholemeal bread, add the peppers, cover with another slice of bread, and slice through. Beats any shop-bought sandwich...as far as I know! You always have the option of adding lettuce leaves.
Spinach side-dish:
Ingredients:
Oil: 1 spoon
Dried red chillies: 4-5
Mustard seeds: 1 spoon
Cumin seeds: 1 spoon
Cumin powder: 1 spoon
Asafoetida: a pinch
Salt: to taste
Frozen Spinach
Water
Method:
Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and wait until they pop. Throw in the broken red chillies, and asafoetida. Give it a stir, then add the spinach and cumin seeds. Wait for the frozen spinach to start wilting. Then, add the salt, cumin powder, and water. You can add some cooked lentils, but these are optional. Leave on the hob for a good 5-7 minutes, and when the leaves wilt completely, they are ready to eat. For a bit of crunch, try adding some dry roasted nuts.
Ingredients:
Salt: 2 spoons
Chilli Powder: 3 to 3.5 spoons
Coriander Powder: 2 spoons
Turmeric Powder: 0.5 spoon
Asafoetida: 0.5 spoon
Method:
Mix any proportion of this, and store in an airtight container. When in a hurry, heat some oil in a pan, add frozen vegetables of your choice (either mixed or individual like okra), add some water (if need be), and cover with lid, after giving a stir. The dish is ready to eat in a few minutes. To be served with rice or breads.
Paprika/Chilli Hoummous
Ingredients:
Half a can boiled chickpeas
Olive oil: 2 spoons
Tahini paste: 3 spoons
Lemon juice (freshly squeezed): 3 spoons
Paprika/Chilli powder: 0.5 spoon
Garlic: 1 clove, chopped
Salt: a pinch
Water
Method:
Use a blender to grind the chickpeas with tahini, garlic, paprika/chilli powder, water and salt. Then, add the olive oil and lemon juice, and blend for a few more seconds. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for upto a week.
I do the following for a quick-fix sandwich:
Heat some oil in a pan, throw in 2 spoons of the above spice-mix, then add frozen mixed sliced peppers. Leave it on the hob for 5 minutes. Spread some hoummous on slices of wholemeal bread, add the peppers, cover with another slice of bread, and slice through. Beats any shop-bought sandwich...as far as I know! You always have the option of adding lettuce leaves.
Spinach side-dish:
Ingredients:
Oil: 1 spoon
Dried red chillies: 4-5
Mustard seeds: 1 spoon
Cumin seeds: 1 spoon
Cumin powder: 1 spoon
Asafoetida: a pinch
Salt: to taste
Frozen Spinach
Water
Method:
Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and wait until they pop. Throw in the broken red chillies, and asafoetida. Give it a stir, then add the spinach and cumin seeds. Wait for the frozen spinach to start wilting. Then, add the salt, cumin powder, and water. You can add some cooked lentils, but these are optional. Leave on the hob for a good 5-7 minutes, and when the leaves wilt completely, they are ready to eat. For a bit of crunch, try adding some dry roasted nuts.
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Mint rice and a Carrot-yogurt raita
Mint Rice
Ingredients:
1 large bunch of fresh mint leaves
A few sprigs of fresh coriander leaves
4 bay leaves
1 chopped onion
3 green chillies, chopped
2 spoons Garam masala
Salt, to taste
2 spoons of oil (sunflower oil will do)
2.5-3 cups of cooked Basmati rice, depending on how green you'd like the dish to look!
Method:
1. Clean and wash the mint and coriander leaves.
2. Blend/grind the leaves and the chopped chillies finely to a paste, with a few drops of water.
3. In a pan, heat the oil, add the chopped onion and bay leaves.
4. When the onion turns golden, add the paste, garam masala and salt. Give it a good stir.
5. When the paste starts bubbling, lower the heat, and add the cooked rice. Mix thoroughly.
6. Alternately, you can refrigerate/freeze the prepared paste for use later. Do note that the rice needs to be freshly prepared for this dish.
7. If preferred, you can add fennel seeds (saunf, Hindi) to the paste while cooking, for an added zing. You might also want to add fried cashewnuts to posh up the rice!
I normally pair this Mint Rice with the following Carrot Raita, as the nutritious carrot provides a crunch to the meal while the yogurt soothes the palate after the spiciness of the chillies n masala:
Ingredients:
1 cup beaten low-fat natural yogurt
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 green chilli, slit
Salt, to taste
A few sprigs of coriander, for decoration
Method:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Leave to rest for half an hour before serving, decorated with coriander.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch of fresh mint leaves
A few sprigs of fresh coriander leaves
4 bay leaves
1 chopped onion
3 green chillies, chopped
2 spoons Garam masala
Salt, to taste
2 spoons of oil (sunflower oil will do)
2.5-3 cups of cooked Basmati rice, depending on how green you'd like the dish to look!
Method:
1. Clean and wash the mint and coriander leaves.
2. Blend/grind the leaves and the chopped chillies finely to a paste, with a few drops of water.
3. In a pan, heat the oil, add the chopped onion and bay leaves.
4. When the onion turns golden, add the paste, garam masala and salt. Give it a good stir.
5. When the paste starts bubbling, lower the heat, and add the cooked rice. Mix thoroughly.
6. Alternately, you can refrigerate/freeze the prepared paste for use later. Do note that the rice needs to be freshly prepared for this dish.
7. If preferred, you can add fennel seeds (saunf, Hindi) to the paste while cooking, for an added zing. You might also want to add fried cashewnuts to posh up the rice!
I normally pair this Mint Rice with the following Carrot Raita, as the nutritious carrot provides a crunch to the meal while the yogurt soothes the palate after the spiciness of the chillies n masala:
Ingredients:
1 cup beaten low-fat natural yogurt
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 green chilli, slit
Salt, to taste
A few sprigs of coriander, for decoration
Method:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Leave to rest for half an hour before serving, decorated with coriander.
Sitting up all night, waiting for a crime to happen...
Its now 2am on a sunday morning, and I am probably the only one still awake in the entire neighbourhood! Well, there is a reason for this madness, I can happily declare. A few hours ago, as I left the supermarket with my weekly shopping bag, I realised there was a "dangerous dog" let loose by its owner, which was running madly along my usual path back home. So, I took a detour, along the car park - something I would normally never consider. I could sense someone watching me intently, and as I gazed up, I noticed the driver of a parked van staring straight at me. I thought no more of it, and walked past his van. A few minutes later, as I turned into the small road that leads to the cul-de-sac where I live, I noticed the same van hurrying past me, and turning into the very cul-de-sac where I live. Surely this was just a strange coincidence? Or so I thought at that time. However, within seconds of my entering my house and locking myself in, I heard the man drive off...
In the next half hour, I went about my usual chores - got my pizza toppings ready, switched on the oven, did the dishes while the pizza was getting fit for consumption. And then it struck me! I hit panic mode...what if the guy was a Registered Sex Offender? What if he planned to break in at night when everyone was asleep? What if I was murdered in bed? And finally, what if he was just visiting one of my neighbours? So, I went about knocking on my neighbours' doors. Spoke to 3 of them, all of whom advised me to "be careful and lock all doors and windows". A couple of other neighbours were away. And I trekked back to the supermarket, to see if I could speak to one of the Police Community Support Officers? Unfortunately, none of them were about. But, I did get to explain to the security officer, who took my concerns seriously and got me to speak to the Police department, who immediately logged the details on their system. I was asked a dozen questions...and finally told to go home, and call 999 if I hear any strange noises!
Back home, I promptly double-checked the latches on all windows, and bemoaned the lack of iron grills along windows, as is the case in the country of my birth. Glass can be broken easily by any determined burglar. I'd also switched on 2 lights in the house, and the telly, and my laptop. And then, there was a knock on my door. I was terrified! But the lady on the other side of the wooden door was a Police Community support officer, who had been told to check in on me by the operator. We had a long chat, and I received some really sensible advice. She suggested that another possibility could be that he had come this way accidentally and had stopped to check his SatNav or the map...Well, it somehow didn't sound convincing enough to me. I was also given phone numbers to call in case I hear unusual noises in the night.
That was three and a half hours ago...and here I am, waiting to see if there is any attempt to commit a crime tonight. The wait is long and agonising. There is a lot going on in my mind right now. But topmost among it all is the realisation that living in the countryside is not all that glamorous as it is made out to be:-)
In the next half hour, I went about my usual chores - got my pizza toppings ready, switched on the oven, did the dishes while the pizza was getting fit for consumption. And then it struck me! I hit panic mode...what if the guy was a Registered Sex Offender? What if he planned to break in at night when everyone was asleep? What if I was murdered in bed? And finally, what if he was just visiting one of my neighbours? So, I went about knocking on my neighbours' doors. Spoke to 3 of them, all of whom advised me to "be careful and lock all doors and windows". A couple of other neighbours were away. And I trekked back to the supermarket, to see if I could speak to one of the Police Community Support Officers? Unfortunately, none of them were about. But, I did get to explain to the security officer, who took my concerns seriously and got me to speak to the Police department, who immediately logged the details on their system. I was asked a dozen questions...and finally told to go home, and call 999 if I hear any strange noises!
Back home, I promptly double-checked the latches on all windows, and bemoaned the lack of iron grills along windows, as is the case in the country of my birth. Glass can be broken easily by any determined burglar. I'd also switched on 2 lights in the house, and the telly, and my laptop. And then, there was a knock on my door. I was terrified! But the lady on the other side of the wooden door was a Police Community support officer, who had been told to check in on me by the operator. We had a long chat, and I received some really sensible advice. She suggested that another possibility could be that he had come this way accidentally and had stopped to check his SatNav or the map...Well, it somehow didn't sound convincing enough to me. I was also given phone numbers to call in case I hear unusual noises in the night.
That was three and a half hours ago...and here I am, waiting to see if there is any attempt to commit a crime tonight. The wait is long and agonising. There is a lot going on in my mind right now. But topmost among it all is the realisation that living in the countryside is not all that glamorous as it is made out to be:-)
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Starbucks inside a public library...
Monday's Newsnight programme (BBC2) featured a discussion on the state of Britain's public libraries and their future. The Culture Minister opined that more Public-Private-Partnerships were needed, and that one way of increasing the footfall numbers would be to introduce more coffee shops INSIDE failing libraries. Well, as someone who has been using public libraries here in the UK since 2003, I do not see this as a very sensible suggestion.
I have analysed the situation in two north London public libraries over a period of 5 years, from 2004/5 to 2009 and there has been a dramatic change in the scene over these five years. Earlier, there were only the very seriously-motivated who came in to the library; some on a daily basis, others who dropped in only over the weekend. The libraries were oases of calm: a rare feat, considering one was bang in the middle of a busy shopping area, while the other was one street away from yet another busy main road. It was perfectly possible to work undisturbed for hours together, be it learning a new language or researching for a work of fiction...All this changed gradually. First came the new sections reserved only for "Teens" and "Children". Needless to say, the Children's area was a noisy one - with occasional singalong events for toddlers and mums alike! It got worse as months passed by - on some mornings, it was virtually impossible to make one's way to the issue desk, due to the baby buggies abandoned haphazardly. And in the afternoons, the library was mobbed by loud teenagers who dropped in after school. Whatever happened to discipline and silence inside libraries, for heavens' sake???
More recently, these libraries have become popular "hangouts" for yobs. On several occasions, I have witnessed Community Police Officers making their way to the upper floors of these two libraries, to reprimand the unruly gangs. Announcements over the public system, imploring these young people to keep calm were made in vain. The situation deteriorated even more, as drugs were openly peddled just a few feet away from these libraries...
Its all very well to say that libraries need to reinvent themselves, to become more attractive to today's generation. To increase the number of members, and thereby the revenue, libraries do have to improve the range and quality of services offered. The initiative to have special events for toddlers and younger children (and the Mums) has been applauded by all. So too, the range of short courses in IT and Business support services. All these are commendable efforts. Yet, by having coffee shops inside libraries, aren't we damaging the very essence of "the library"??? One is talking of open spaces on the main floor of the library, not specially demarcated areas of libraries that would be converted into "coffee shops". I honestly think the authorities and the people of Britain need to appreciate what they truly have in this country.
I come from a country where "free" public libraries were almost unheard of. Till the turn of this century, only the privileged had access to libraries outside their academic institutions. Circulating libraries as well as those run by foreign missions like the British Council and the USIS (United States Information Service) libraries had fairly steep membership fees. In comparison, public libraries in Britain today offer much more to their non-fee-paying members. To change these into "coffee shops, with additional book lending facilities" would be a real shame.
I have analysed the situation in two north London public libraries over a period of 5 years, from 2004/5 to 2009 and there has been a dramatic change in the scene over these five years. Earlier, there were only the very seriously-motivated who came in to the library; some on a daily basis, others who dropped in only over the weekend. The libraries were oases of calm: a rare feat, considering one was bang in the middle of a busy shopping area, while the other was one street away from yet another busy main road. It was perfectly possible to work undisturbed for hours together, be it learning a new language or researching for a work of fiction...All this changed gradually. First came the new sections reserved only for "Teens" and "Children". Needless to say, the Children's area was a noisy one - with occasional singalong events for toddlers and mums alike! It got worse as months passed by - on some mornings, it was virtually impossible to make one's way to the issue desk, due to the baby buggies abandoned haphazardly. And in the afternoons, the library was mobbed by loud teenagers who dropped in after school. Whatever happened to discipline and silence inside libraries, for heavens' sake???
More recently, these libraries have become popular "hangouts" for yobs. On several occasions, I have witnessed Community Police Officers making their way to the upper floors of these two libraries, to reprimand the unruly gangs. Announcements over the public system, imploring these young people to keep calm were made in vain. The situation deteriorated even more, as drugs were openly peddled just a few feet away from these libraries...
Its all very well to say that libraries need to reinvent themselves, to become more attractive to today's generation. To increase the number of members, and thereby the revenue, libraries do have to improve the range and quality of services offered. The initiative to have special events for toddlers and younger children (and the Mums) has been applauded by all. So too, the range of short courses in IT and Business support services. All these are commendable efforts. Yet, by having coffee shops inside libraries, aren't we damaging the very essence of "the library"??? One is talking of open spaces on the main floor of the library, not specially demarcated areas of libraries that would be converted into "coffee shops". I honestly think the authorities and the people of Britain need to appreciate what they truly have in this country.
I come from a country where "free" public libraries were almost unheard of. Till the turn of this century, only the privileged had access to libraries outside their academic institutions. Circulating libraries as well as those run by foreign missions like the British Council and the USIS (United States Information Service) libraries had fairly steep membership fees. In comparison, public libraries in Britain today offer much more to their non-fee-paying members. To change these into "coffee shops, with additional book lending facilities" would be a real shame.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Quick n Easy Chocolate-Hazelnut cake
Hi everyone!
Was beginning to get a bit tired of my current efforts at job-searching, so I decided to bake something with the ingredients I have at home. The final product surprised me greatly...and how!
So, here goes:
Ingredients:
2 cups flour (I didn't use self-raising, ordinary flour will do)
1 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate powder (again, drinking chocolate will do, no need for 70% luxury chocolate, this IS a recession, remember?)
Chopped/crushed hazelnuts (buy them from any self-respecting supermarket, no trek to a health store)
2 spoons baking powder
0.5 cup yogurt (low fat, natural)
1-2 cups milk
Low-fat spread (5-6 spoons at least, I'd advice against butter)
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 Degrees Centigrade. Line an oven-proof dish with aluminium foil, then butter this foil. Keep aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, chocolate powder, baking powder and sugar.
3. Heat (not boil) the low-fat spread in a pan.
4. Add the chopped hazelnuts to the mix. Then, slowly add the melted spread/butter and mix well.
5. Add the yogurt, then 1 cup of milk. Depending on the consistency, you might want to add another cup of milk.
6. Beat well with a spoon:-) Told you, no patience with a whisk! Besides, this works wonders on the arms as far as exercising goes.
7. Pour the entire batter into the lined dish, and pop into the oven.
8. After about 20 minutes, do check on the cake...This quick cake takes roughly about 25-28 minutes.
Apologies for the lack of photos to accompany this post. Will arrange for them eventually!
Bye for now,
G
Was beginning to get a bit tired of my current efforts at job-searching, so I decided to bake something with the ingredients I have at home. The final product surprised me greatly...and how!
So, here goes:
Ingredients:
2 cups flour (I didn't use self-raising, ordinary flour will do)
1 cup sugar
1 cup chocolate powder (again, drinking chocolate will do, no need for 70% luxury chocolate, this IS a recession, remember?)
Chopped/crushed hazelnuts (buy them from any self-respecting supermarket, no trek to a health store)
2 spoons baking powder
0.5 cup yogurt (low fat, natural)
1-2 cups milk
Low-fat spread (5-6 spoons at least, I'd advice against butter)
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 Degrees Centigrade. Line an oven-proof dish with aluminium foil, then butter this foil. Keep aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, chocolate powder, baking powder and sugar.
3. Heat (not boil) the low-fat spread in a pan.
4. Add the chopped hazelnuts to the mix. Then, slowly add the melted spread/butter and mix well.
5. Add the yogurt, then 1 cup of milk. Depending on the consistency, you might want to add another cup of milk.
6. Beat well with a spoon:-) Told you, no patience with a whisk! Besides, this works wonders on the arms as far as exercising goes.
7. Pour the entire batter into the lined dish, and pop into the oven.
8. After about 20 minutes, do check on the cake...This quick cake takes roughly about 25-28 minutes.
Apologies for the lack of photos to accompany this post. Will arrange for them eventually!
Bye for now,
G
Monday, 15 March 2010
A new beginning...
Hello everyone!
After months of procrastination, I have decided to join the bandwagon of bloggers...Of course, I am assuming here that I do have something to say, and that there would be readers willing to be put through the torturous motions of not only reading my diverse posts, but being invited to comment on them, and engaging in meaningful analyses!
I hope to make you think, laugh, smile, pause and take a breath, and indeed cook as well!
Wish me luck,
Gina
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