Amba Haldi Pickle

Recipe

1) Buy a mix of orange and white haldi root. Wash thoroughly. With a blunt knife scrap the black bits (if any). Avoid using a peeler, it takes a lot of the nutrients away. I let the skin be.

2) Chop it as you like. Place it in a mixing bowl. You need to work with this fast, it oxidises very quickly. I noticed a yellow tinge on my palms and fingers much later from handling haldi. I dont know how to avoid that, Im guessing rubbing a lil ghee or oil on the palms before chopping might help.

3) Add juice of 1 lime and some sendha salt. Mix well.

4) In a pan, heat some mustard oil until smoky.

5) Slit some green chillies and fry them in the oil.

5) Add mustard seeds, sauff seeds, couple methi seeds in the oil. This could burn in matter of seconds to take it off the flame quickly. And pour this tadka on to the bowl of haldi. Mix well

6) Add a pinch of red chilli powder.

7)Let it cool. Store in an air tight jar in the fridge.

This pickle will last a week or so in the fridge. And no need to put this out in the sun. This takes less than 15 mins. The quantity of lime juice and oil can be increased if you want more gravy. Indian food  recipes are forgiving. We cook by instincts and our tastes. Hence, how much quantity of spices you would like to use, I leave it to you.

Happy Pickling!

Coconut Rice recipe for the lazy

This is quick (lazy) version of coconut rice. I dont have ingredients measured, but worry not use your instincts and it will be fine. The traditional recipe, rice should be cooked in coconut milk.

But who’s got that kinda time?

What I found in my kitchen:

Leftover boiled rice

Coconut oil or Ghee

Fresh coconut grated

Urad dal and chana dal

Tamarind (Imli) soaked in water

Curry leaves

Mustard seeds

Coconut milk

Green chilli (can use red dry chilli instead)

Toasted cashewnuts

What I managed to whip up:

1) In a skillet heat some coconut oil, Add mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal and curry leaves.

2) Next add in grated coconut and roast lightly. Careful not to brown the coconut.

3) Add chopped chillies.

4) Next goes in about 3 tablespoons of coconut milk (just enough to coat the rice that you will be adding in later)

5) Add imli juice. This is optional. I used very little imli for a sweet sour balance.

6) When the sauce bubbles, add in the rice. Mix well.

7) When the rice is hot enough, switch of the flame.

8) Add a generous spoon of ghee

9) Season with salt and pepper

10) Garnish with roasted cashews and curry leaves

Note:

If rice is just prepared and steaming hot then add in the rice to the sauce and switch of the flame

instantly.  Also, use less of coconut milk, to avoid it getting soggy.

For my leftover rice, I needed the moisture from coconut milk so I added more.

Bon Appetite!

Buffets

Blood boil -o- meter on buffets.

1) Diners eating from their plates while walking back to their seat. 'Arre, ruk jao yaar'  The food isnt running away. You can wait a few seconds while you park your arse on a seat and them chomp away.

2) Food kept in the open. Look, I am all for fancy displays and that we first eat with our eyes. But my eyes get sore just thinking of the germs sitting on that food. Nope, cannot happen.

3) Food that looks like has been sitting on the stand since the neolithic period. The baked goods section, cheese and salami section more often than not is a victim here. If i were in their place, i would appoint someone (happy to volunteer) just to be not lose perspective and scrutinise the food display strictly.

4) Diners who chose not to move from their seats, and demand food items that are on display from the staff.

5) Cutting the line.

6) Touching food thats on the buffet spread by hand and then decide not to take it.

7) Overloading your already filled up plate, and then not eating it in the end.

why why why?

The irony

I find it odd that some non-vegetarians are opposing Yulin dog meat eating fest. Think about it, for animals that are your pets , you feel their pain. Somehow while gorging on a plate of tandoori chicken one doesn't think of that pain and suffering. 
Research says that plant based diet is a way to avoid /prevent a lot of diseases. But keeping the health reasons for vegetarianism aside and thinking purely on moral terms this doesn't make sense. For centuries now Muslims have been conducting animal sacrifice on Eid day. Americans celebrate thanks-giving with stuffing a large bird. And many many animals get sacrificed to celebrate festivities across the globe.  A friend thinks that i have been brainwashed after watching some PETA videos. A mention of these videos often make meat lovers cringe, they even resort to saying, thats extremism. I disagree. Its being in denial. Animals that grown, bred solely for human consumption in inhumane conditions to become a plate juicy fillet mignon, honey glazed duck, fois gras, chicken curry etc is acceptable. Is it just because you dont have them at your homes as pets that one doesnt feel its unfair ? Some accuse PETA for not being right. I honestly dont care. Animals regardless die. They are grown like inanimate objects, injected with god knows what chemicals to become fat and juicy.  The irony of an animal lover being a proud meat eater.

SIngaporean Surprise

I had been to Singapore many times before, but this trip has been so special. Singapore has changed so much since the last time i was here.  What am I doing at this very moment ? I am seated in the balcony of my 19th floor room at hotel Pan Pacific. My feet up in the air and what do I see ?

I could sit here all night. Look at this. Lucky Ali's songs set the perfect mood. A hot cup of green tea makes every tired muscle of mine sway along with the beat.. 

I am amazed at the city that has  done so well. Its so cosmopolitan that sometimes you got to remind yourself that you aint in New York !

The Government is doing such a swell job. The public transportation , safety, infrastructure is at par with any mega city in this world. People are so warm and friendly.  They make you feel welcomed. 

I learnt that the Government charges a hefty tax/ fee on people owning private vehicles. So say if a car is on  S$10000, there is a fee of say similar amount for a license plate which is to be renewed each year. 

So the person who really wants a car will have it. The fittest survive, the others use the public transport. 

Thats a cool thing,  pollution levels & traffic would be kept under control. 

English being declared the first language , I see little toddlers speaking fluent english.  We all aspire for a change, very few of us let it happen. 

If you are a seafood lover, then do not fly out Singapore without having a feast at Jumbo, its at the East Coast and let me tell that the food in that restaurant would make you wish you were a cow with four stomachs. Its just out of this world. We ordered a feast comprising of crispy squids, fish in banana leaf, king crab , chicken in soya , pan choi in garlic , sweet buns, crispy chicken, prawns in hong kong.. and our order was totally normal. There were tables and tables around full with plates full of food.. 

Today , Marina Bay Sands is considered to be a man-made marvel. Its beautiful. With abundant rooms and a drink at its bar is in bucket list of many people across the world. I wouldn't want to stay there though, its a fish market to check in, a struggle to get into the lift and a battle to place an order. I am at utmost peace just in an adjacent hotel with the view.

Sentosa has so much more to offer than i was here last time. They inaugurated Marine Park on 7th Dec. It was buzzing with people. It boats the largest aquarium tank and viewing deck in the world. No trip to this is complete without walking until your feet bled at the Universal Studios.  However, it is smaller as compared to the one in Orlando. I was done by 4pm. The only advantage would be that you get try everything in a day. Orlando's theme parks leaves you upset for not having enough time to goof arnd.

I am sure when i am back , there'll be lot more to explore. Singapore never fails to surprise you.. 

Cok Guzel

“hey, is that the tallest tower in Istanbul ?” I asked sitting at the back of a car with three very special friends.  Got No response.

Galata Tower

I looked outside the window, as some Turkish pop created perfect atmosphere to the illuminated skyline. I could see the Bosphorus bridge, lights resembling floating candles, mosques lit up and dome buildings that could take your breath away.  My tummy resembled a dome too. My jacket button was hanging at its last strength. I couldn’t have eaten anymore. And where were we headed? A posh restaurant for a 7 course meal !  why don’t humans have four stomachs like cows ? I for sure would be making excellent use of it. 

The car comes to a screeching halt ! .. Damn, couldn’t the restaurant be two hours away.. its hard to breathe with tummy full of Istanbul street food I have gorged all day.

“Ahhh… the tower !!! why are we here.. ” I ask awestruck.

“Because you asked for it while in the car”…

“No, I didn’t… I just asked what is that beautifully illuminated tower called.. You guys are crazy  ”  I reach out to hug them

*beaming with surprise and happiness*

What happened when we climbed up the tower is an another story all together. *giggles*

But these are the kind of people I spent my two weeks with. They are darlings! There is so much love.. so much love that sometimes I feel I resemble a dome of love. That explains my excess 4 kilos on the weighing scale.

Have you ever loved a place even before visiting it ? Well, its not difficult. When you know the people, its easy to fall in love with the place they come from. I made great Turk friends while they visited India. Hence, even before stepping on their soil, i knew bits and pieces of their culture, nature and lifestyle. However, having spent 12 days in the country my expectations were exceeded by miles. 

Its 5.40 am. London is still asleep. (when i first typed this)

my search for tranquility ended here

I am wrapped up in my duvet marveling at the good times I have had. 12 hours ago, I was in another country. A country that takes pride in its numerous assets. For me, People are the Numero Uno.

Turkiye is special. I have had two memorable weeks in the land of blue mosque, grand bazaars, buzzing nightlife, Ottoman history and Ibiza’s equivalent Antalya. *hipshake*

Pumpkin family

I met a  Norwegian couple, who have lived in Australia, Germany before.. now settled in a beautiful hilltop house in the country side with a mesmerizing ocean view. They transform odd shaped water pumpkins into exquisite art work. This couple in their 60s decided to leave everything they had in Norway and settle in a remote hilltop just after visiting the place once. Now they spend their time creating splendid designs on pumpkins and painting/ scrubbing their bare walls of their new home.  This is how Turkey fascinates its guests.

What do I like the most ? FOOD. At breakfast, we think about lunch and at lunch we think about dinner.. at dinner we think about midnight snack. This is how much we  eat and think about what to eat. My friends in London will vouch for that. And my dome shaped tummy and jacket button to its last strength is a testimony of the delicious food I ate while I was there.

first course? you gotta be kiddin me

My meals would be two big portions of Mousaka. Yum YUM… My mouth waters as I type.  Also, their local street food, dunno its turkish name but its grilled fish in bread. The location is exotic. There are these Ottoman Boats with gold craving and flashy decor docked at the sea. And men in Ottoman costumes cook, grill rather , grill fresh fish and serve. Something so normal like street food is being transformed to extraoridinaire. 

One eats to live. I live to eat. Plus, I was fortunate enough to be taken to some of the most exotic places to eat by my friends. *big kiss to all of them*  Dinner would at times me accompanied with live music. When the singer singers a tragic/ heard break/ happy song, us indians are dancing , clapping and whistling to its melody. 

One night dinner was at a Turkish version of Japanese Teppanyaki grill. I can still smell the aromas of fresh meat being grilled and the pan going "iiiiizzzzz"

sizzle em drizzle

The cook , also the owner, cooked as though he performed for his guests. In a span of 2 mins, he grilled, he smoked, he drank, he plated food and much more. It looked as though he danced while cooking. That shows how much love he put into his dishes and the food is finger licking good. If you visit Turkey, you must visit ‘Ojak Bashay’ (wrong spelling, right pronunciation). The man put an extra does of his killer chill mix for the brown skinned me and that tingled my every taste bud and watered my eyes a lil bit.i loved it. Until this trip, i was never a fan of red meat. But believe me, in these two weeks I have compensated for all those years in the past that I stayed away from red meat.  How can one say no … No chance!  

*sigh*

- If you ever think that you have experienced true pampering in some top notch spa  and want to exceed it , I suggest two words - Turkish Hammam.

Centuries ago, the rulers pampered themselves by the way of spa treatments in real royal style. Turkey still retains it in all its glory for you and me. yayy!  One of the few things I did after getting home is googled “Turkish Hammam in London”, if I get a chance to visit TH once a month, I will be the worlds happiest human. Think about it, sauna, steam, steam menthol, Jacuzzi, exfoliate bath, oil massage, face pack, sauna again, foam bath. Cups and cups of Apple tea before and after every session. By the end of it all, I wanted to pack the hammam lady in my suitcase and bring her home. I was ready to pay excess.  And btw, the soap doesn’t smell like hammam soap in India. Or does it ? I was too intoxicated/ zonked by the pampering to notice. They spoil you. I envy the locals to have this facility. 
Visit to the Hammam was like entering Laa Laa Land... There must be a Hamman in heaven.
Oh God, i want Hammam access too.. :'(

I have probably seen 20% of Turkey. And I can write pages and pages about it. Let some of my amateur clicks do the talking…

" i i follow.. i follow u.. deep sea baby.. i follow you.. "

A dear friend of mine, says "this sea is awful.. its not clean.. you must visit us in the summers"... My face turned pale, with raised eyebrows.. , thinking of beaches in India. Aye aye aye juhu beach.. *cringe*..  I rather not say anything.  Hey but nothing beats aroma of our PAV BHAJI.. ;-)

Another interesting similarity is that both countries make some ridiculous movies. while we have Rajnikant's stunts and some disturbing villains, i learnt that there is plenty to laugh about in their films too. An old man, who drugs women to take "advantage" in clubs saying "come to me darling.. i am your uncle.. i will protect you"  The girl drinks Coca cola. Next scene, the girl is under covers on her "uncle's" bed. I was shown his photo on google and he poses in most of his photos with a glass in hand. Cheeky Oldie.i am so bad with names. I tried googling his picture. But i get weird suggestions when i type " turkish actor to drugs women to rape".. Jeez , what was i thinking ! 


Instance 2:   Man enters. Woman seated on the chair. Man takes his jacket and throws it on the floor. Next scene- the woman is pregnant !  
Now you'll agree we have maybe not jacket throwing baby production but similar. In Indian cinema chin to chin kiss and ta- da  the girl is pregnant... ! Its Instant.. 
Now, India hasn't reached to this alarming rate of population explosion by chin kissing... have we ! 




Discovering Turkey was fascinating, an experience like no other. I have a long list of places i want to visit in Turkey. One can camp in the most exotic locations, watch the sunrise (for you) sunset (for me) and live in style. Capadoccia, Izmir, Pamukkale, Konya so much to see. I have seen nothing yet.. This seems like just the beginning.  Hopefully, i get a chance soon to fall in love again and again. I am sure, it wouldn't fail to mesmerize me. 

Until we meet again.. Xx