Laccha Namkeen

When we live outside India we miss all the plethora of snacks that are readily available in India and make tea time exciting. I remember my mom making this for us when we were small. It was tuck to keep us fed in the hostel. My mother is a fantastic cook and I’m blessed to have her around so that I can eat her brains and make all these delicacies. Trying to create some of the magic of her kitchen in mine. This snack stays well in an airtight box. Who doesn’t enjoy potatoes and dry fruits along with chaat masala?

INGREDIENTS

Potatoes 4-5 medium or large

Almonds 1/2 cup raw

Cashewnuts 1/2 cup raw

Peanuts 3/4 cup

Raisins 1 cup

Curry leaf 1/2 cup

Black salt 1/2 tsp

Chaat masala 1 tsp

Powdered sugar 1/2 tsp

Ghee for frying

METHOD
1) Wash and peel the potatoes. Grate them all and then wash them well with water 4-5 times till all the starch is removed and the water runs clear. Then soak them in water with lemon juice for 20 minutes.

2) Take ghee in a kadhai and fry all the grated potatoes.

3)Fry the almonds, cashew nuts, peanuts, raisins and curry leaf one by one.

4)Mix all well lightly.

5)Add the chaat masala, black salt and the powdered sugar.

6) Store in an air tight container when at room temperature.

Soup for the Soul

A little science. A little  magic. A little chicken soup. Diane Duane

A big bowl of soup on a cold day or on the day you feel the onslaught of a cold is heaven. It seems like I’ve always  relied on this hearty bowl of chicken stock to clear up the cold and bring warmth.

Oftentimes considered  the easiest  thing to cook;a good soup is hard work. It’s the bones that make the difference. We take a bowl and throw in the chicken bones and some chopped onions and crushed garlic and ginger. The addition of cloves, bay leaf, black pepper adds flavor and heat to help with cold.  You need to add some water and let the broth boil. We allow the broth to boil and then simmer. Once we have a nice thick broth we strain the stock and add salt and pepper. The chicken pieces are deboned and the chicken meat is added to the stock. The pot is returned to boil. Once its steaming hot; you can serve it in lovely soup bowls.

The simple bowl of soup can be garnished with a sprig of coriander and enjoyed with some steaming hot chicken Momos and the spicy hot garlic chilli sauce.

Vacations

Photograph courtesy: Parnika Mathur

Vacations are a special time for families and the experiences we have are enriching. A month back we decided to travel to Chiang Mai with our children. This photo captures the essence of the trip for me. The orchids rich hues are invigorating and they speak volumes.  Each trip we make is an experience to cherish. The trip may be physically over but will come up time and again in our conversations we have with family and friends. We learn something new on each trip or try some new cuisine. The fancy hotels and the expensive shopping are just a part of the package. On these journeys to various places its not so much about the fancy places we stay in but rather about the new things we try out.
The sunglasses represents the fact that we were at a sunny destination. The photograph speaks volumes. It’s been said by Ansel Adam to the complaint, ‘There are no people in these photographs.’There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.

Relationships

Life is a great teacher and it throws us surprises when we least expect. Once we marry we believe that our partner will stand with us throw thick and thin. This is easier said than done. The expectations from woman are always more and when they fail to stand by us they think woman can be appeased with a gift. The greatest gift a woman will enjoy is the love, companionship and friendship of her partner. They are looking for a friend for their children. They want that comfortable, cozy home where understanding is supreme and voices need not be raised to get attention.

Jaipur literary fair

Have been hearing a lot about the Jaipur literary fair and so I decided to see things for myself. It was an amazing experience. The venue was nice and it seemed like people had come out in hordes to get an experience to cherish. It was a delight to hear the literary people sharing their views and interacting with the audience. It’s events like these that make you realize that people still enjoy titilating their sensibilities with books- a mans best friend. Every once in a while we meet someone who pushes us to go that extra mile in order to do something we enjoy.

Open mind

We stop learning the minute we decide we know it all. A person who is like a child constantly questioning to satisfy his curiosity is constantly evolving. If you read a book and put it away without asking a friend or colleague to explain what you did not understand as you felt they will make fun of you, you need to know the loss is yours and not theirs. Your knowledge quest remains unfulfilled. So never shy away from asking for help. You grow a little each day like a plant. Don’t stop that growth and remain stunted.

New Horizons

One can never be sure what life has in store for us. Each day is a new beginning and a new discovery. Just when we think we know it all a new opportunity comes along to allow us to explore ourselves. Just as we start getting comfortable and laid back in work we get a jolt to shake us up. I never knew I could ever sit and blog and share my thoughts. All I ever knew was I wanted to write and have people reading my work. Take each day and opportunity as a new beginning and you will never look back.