Celebrating India: Teej

Yesterday was Teej - our first Teej. 

It is a fast kept by the wife for the long life of her husband. The wife dresses up like a bride during the evening puja and reads the Haritalika Teej katha; a reminder of the hard penance Parvatiji undertook to attain Shivji, who she had already married in her heart.

Festivals are marked with good food and while the day is spent fasting, the promise of yummy prasad - gujiya and thekua - can keep you going throughout the difficult night!

This was the first time I tried my hand at either mithai and was a bundle of nerves. But a Post-It recipe jotted down while on FaceTime with the sister-in-law took care of the methodology and words of wisdom and encouragement from the mother took care of the nerves! (Thank God for Apple and for calling cards!)

The final weigh in? The husband thinks the gujiyas were perfect while I loved the thekua!

Gujiyas for me, are associated with Diwali and the image of mummy in the kitchen. Felt so grown-up and responsible while making them. Missed my mummy a lot too!

Festivals are special. They are special because they remind you that you are an instrumental part of the human puzzle. They are a sign that some things will never change through the rolling of the ages. They tell you that you need to carry the legacy, take care of it and then hand it to the next generation. Festivals place you bang in the middle of evolution.

Festivals also help you celebrate and connect with a country thousands of kilometres away because India is in the heart.

Happy Teej... Akhanda Saubhagyavati Bhava!


P.S. - I thank the Almighty for my husband every day. Thanked him more yesterday - he made the vrat do-able by keeping it with me!

Recipe: Chilli grapes and cheese

We hosted our first lunch at home in HK yesterday. While it wasn't the way I usually do things i.e., cook everything myself, it was fun nonetheless! 

We ordered in some Indian food and did the starters at home. I was delighted that nobody had to go running to the supermarket to get ingredients, everything was available at home! Starters included nachos and home made salsa dip, onion flavoured macadamia nuts, roasted almonds, fresh fruits and my favourite, chilli grapes and cheese.

Came up with the chilli grapes idea while staring at a box of grapes... very simple, very spicy, very fun.

Here goes the recipe -

Ingredients -

• Washed seedless grapes, green or black
• Assorted cheese, we used to smoked cheese and emmental
• Olive oil
• Paprika
• 1/4 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 3 tablespoon lime juice
• Pepper
• Lemon pepper

Method -

• Take 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• Add paprika, granulated sugar, salt, pepper, lime juice, pepper, lemon pepper to olive oil and mix
• Let sit for 10 minutes and then pour over grapes
• Toss the grapes in the oil mixture and put in the freezer about an 45 minutes before serving
• Keep cheese in the freezer as well, this will make the cheese easier to cut
• Before serving, take out grapes, toss again and serve with cheese on the side!
• Make sure you pour out the remaining oil mixture on the grapes - this will really bring home the tanginess and the cheese will pick up the flavours too! 

Do let me know if you liked this quick and easy snack! Did you make any changes to it?

Dinner for two

Over the week, the only meal the husband and I have together is dinner. So on the days I am cooking at home, I try to make something simple yet interesting. Simple because the husband has a habit of getting into the kitchen the moment he comes home and sometimes, that's not a great idea.

When he's home late and hungry, it's been a simple dish of hot beans in soy sauce and paprika with pearl rice.

 Beans in soy sauce with pearl rice, our latest favourite

On that rare day when there was time for starters and a couple of beers, there was tzatziki with Doritos and mustard sauce; followed by salt and pepper baby corn and broccoli accompanied by brown rice in tomato sauce and zucchini. All made in under an hour (I sure am getting fast at this!).  

And then there are days when the leftovers just come together to make an interesting meal. Like beans in soy sauce with zucchini rice!

The only challenge to cooking with speed is that I think as I cook and that takes time. This is a typical exchange in the kitchen while I'm cooking -

Husband: "What are you making?"
Me: "I don't know yet."
Husband: "Then why are you cutting so many vegetables?"
Me: "Just to see where this takes us!"
Husband: Grins, "sounds good to me!"

So, when I need to just cook fast and not innovate, Indian is the way to cook. Just follow mummy's recipes!

What can you cook with speed? My least favourite chore is cutting vegetables. What is yours?

Breakfast!

This is my favourite breakfast. I really like this picture. I just had to post it!

Hard boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes with olive oil and parsley, multigrain bread.

Makes for a healthy, wholesome and filling breakfast!

What do you enjoy breaking your fast with the most? Please share some ideas! :)