My comfort foods mostly stem from my favourite childhood memories. I guess, that's what makes them extra special. These foods live deep within me and stir up feelings, moments and moods that I treasure from back then. Every single time I eat these foods, I'm transported back in time, all the way back to that special minute, when I first tasted them.
Good ol Maggi- I was lucky to come home to a smiling mother in a freshly starched cotton saree waiting for me with a snack and an eager ear. Aah...just seeing her face would make me forget my test score I received that day(atleast for a while...until she asked for it!) and the petty fights I'd had with my friends. No matter how grumpy I was (which would clear only when the first drop of milk greeted my parched throat), I always eagerly looked forward to the 'tiffin'. The excellent cook that my mom is, she always came up with something novel. But I preferred the days when she was too busy to whip up something and had to make do with Maggi noodles.All she would do was boil up some Maggi noodles which turned out not too dry or too soupy. And just before turning down the heat, she would add a generous grating of Amul cheese. The melted cheese gave Maggi an absolute new dimension! Drinking up the milky liquid and swallowing the slippery noodles(little without knowing that slipperiness came from being wax coated which is highly carcinogenic!) I felt fortified enough to take on any amount of homework!
Jeera/ Milagu Rasam- School was out on Saturdays. There was one more day to worry about homework and other trivialities.Saturdays were about recovering from the past week and getting pampered. The first time I remember tasting this divine concoction was one such Saturday when I had just emerged after an oil massage, hair pack and a herbal wash. It was pouring outside and the smell of the earth mingled with other smells wafting from the kitchen. It was rasam for lunch. Rasam is to a Tambram what Chicken soup is to the rest of the world! It soothes, it comforts, it nourishes! My granny who was visiting, sat next to me said that there was a certain way to eat rasam to enjoy it to the fullest. I've never forgotten what she said nor do I eat Rasam any other way. First, pile some rice on your plate and make a little well in the middle. Pour the hot rasam in the well and immediately add in a dollop of home made ghee that will melt and dance in oily puddles. Scoop up the rasam+ghee combo with your fingers and slurp it up. The slurping bit is all crucial. After a few such gulps, proceed to mix the rest with the rice.Nothing hits the spot like this special rasam after a massage on a rainy day. Dry roast the following and grind to a paste
1 tbsp toor dhal
1 teasp cumin seeds
1 teasp black pepper
1 dried red chilly (or 2 if you want it spicier)
1 teasp fresh coconut
1 garlic pod
4-5 curry leaves
In a pot add water and a small lemon sized ball of tamarind paste. Let it boil for about 5-7 minutes. Add a chopped tomato a pinch of turmeric powder and a pinch of jaggery/palm sugar. Add the roasted/ground paste to the tamarind water and add in another cup or two of water. Let it boil for another 5-7 minutes. Add salt.
For the garnish
Heat 2 teasps of ghee. Add a teasp of mustard seeds, cumin seeds, 4-5 curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida. Once it splutters,add it to the rasam and close it immediately to retain the aroma and flavours. Finally add 2 sticks of chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with rice and ghee.
Ven Pongal- The world of pongal lovers is divided in two groups! One that loves it dry and the other that loves it very moist. I belong to the latter. I love home-made pongal. I hate the restaurant versions (with the exception of Komala Vilas,Singapore). Pongal, probably the easiest sounding recipe can taste disturbingly different if not done right. The Pongal I like best is the one that nearly resembles baby-food. I guess, Pongal or its cousin the khichdi, would rank among the top comfort foods for any Indian who grew up on a diet of dal-rice-ghee combo! My ideal pongal should have the rice and dal- mashed to pulp, the consistency- congee like, the spices- on the higher side, the ghee- on the generous side. Nothing can beat a steaming plate of aromatic pongal with a huge dollop of ghee first thing in the morning. Its the simplicity of the dish that makes it most appealing. No chewing, biting, slurping complexities involved here. Just mouthful after mouthful of soft, delicious mush. Its basic, nourishing and very fulfilling!
1/2 cup of rice to 1/2 cup of dry roasted moong dhal
Pressure cook the two with 4-5 cups of water and a wee pinch of turmeric powder. After 5-6 whistles, mash the rice-dhal with salt while its still hot till it reaches baby-food consistency.
Dry grind a handful of curry leaves, ginger, cumin seeds and whole black peppers.
The garnish
Heat a tabsp of ghee and a tabsp of canola oil (skip the Canola for the REAL taste). Add the ground dry spice mixture to the oil/ghee and throw in a good sprinkling of asafoetida powder and cashewnuts.
Pour the garnish over the mashed rice-dhal and give it a good mix. Serve hot with tomato gotsu .
Autumns here!!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Of Diesel Engines and Steamed Idlis
The whole charm of travelling by train was preparing for it. As a child, I did a lot of train travel. Back and forth to Chennai, once a year summer trips to Bangalore and the occasional ones to Delhi and Bombay. Some people would prefer to eat before they board the train or some others would stop at a railway restaurant and eat 'properly'. But I could hardly wait for the journey to begin so that I could inaugurate the picnic.
Packets were opened usually about half an hour into the journey. Food aromas would envelope the entire compartment. And taking the cue, other passengers would also slowly unravel their culinary treasures. Despite the soggy paper plates and balancing acts, these train meals gave me a feeling of satisfaction, comfort and general sense of well-being . There was no hurry to finish the meal and get on with homework or chores. It was all about leisurely conversations, casual browsing of magazines and idle chitchat. The most important activity for that evening would be successfully getting done with the meal- managing the complexities of unpacking without spilling, eating without unduly messing, washing the utensils in the inconvenient sink and repacking!
And the food was not regular fare either! Boring idlis (steamed rice cakes) were given a makeover. Liberally doused all over with sesame oil and milagai podi, the idlis transformed into bit-sized spice bombs! Pooris (fried wheat bread) were eaten soft, wrapped around a piece of yielding but firm potato curry and dipped in a bit of pungent mango pickle. Tangy puliyogare (tamarind rice) had to be teamed with potato chips (bought from home or borrowed from a co-passenger). These were and still remain typical 'train food'.
Gazing out through the window, feeling the wind on one's face, counting the electric poles passing by, staring into the inky blue sky- food never tasted better! And no 'train meal' was complete without a cup of hot milk sold at every station. My parents would quickly transfer it from one plastic cup to another and cool the sweet, double-boiled milk till it was just right. Warmed by their love and the hot liquid inside, fanned by the cool night breeze outside, I would quietly nod off feeling at peace with everything around me.
Packets were opened usually about half an hour into the journey. Food aromas would envelope the entire compartment. And taking the cue, other passengers would also slowly unravel their culinary treasures. Despite the soggy paper plates and balancing acts, these train meals gave me a feeling of satisfaction, comfort and general sense of well-being . There was no hurry to finish the meal and get on with homework or chores. It was all about leisurely conversations, casual browsing of magazines and idle chitchat. The most important activity for that evening would be successfully getting done with the meal- managing the complexities of unpacking without spilling, eating without unduly messing, washing the utensils in the inconvenient sink and repacking!
And the food was not regular fare either! Boring idlis (steamed rice cakes) were given a makeover. Liberally doused all over with sesame oil and milagai podi, the idlis transformed into bit-sized spice bombs! Pooris (fried wheat bread) were eaten soft, wrapped around a piece of yielding but firm potato curry and dipped in a bit of pungent mango pickle. Tangy puliyogare (tamarind rice) had to be teamed with potato chips (bought from home or borrowed from a co-passenger). These were and still remain typical 'train food'.
Gazing out through the window, feeling the wind on one's face, counting the electric poles passing by, staring into the inky blue sky- food never tasted better! And no 'train meal' was complete without a cup of hot milk sold at every station. My parents would quickly transfer it from one plastic cup to another and cool the sweet, double-boiled milk till it was just right. Warmed by their love and the hot liquid inside, fanned by the cool night breeze outside, I would quietly nod off feeling at peace with everything around me.
The foodie that I am....
I am a confirmed foodie! I love, dream and read about food. I like to take my time to put together different food menus when we have friends/family over. I look forward to my lunch even before breakfast is done. And I remember and associate most moments in life with certain foods, aromas and tastes!
I had this other blog 'Taste For Travel' which was grossly neglected these past two years. So, I've decided to just put down my food thoughts/ideas/memories right here.
So, more food posts coming your way!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Beyond barriers
Its been great weather these past few days. We are at this serviced appt by the seaside, offering gorgeous views, there are about a dozen playgrounds around this area and a fantastic ice cream seller who piles on the ice cream to last us a week when we ask for a single scoop!
But since Daddy started work on Tuesday after the long Easter break, we have also gotten into a routine of sorts. We've decided to keep the random outings and long meetings with new friends to the weekends. Kids get homeschooled in the morning while I manage to sneak in some work. After a simple lunch it's art and craft time for about an hour. We then head out to one of the many playgrounds where other kids are playing even past 8 pm (the sun is up till about 9 pm these days)!
Today, while we were playing downstairs we saw 3 Finnish boys racing each other. Soon V & S joined the gang. The Finnish boys could not speak a word of English and of course my kids can't speak Finnish. And yet the children had a fabulous time playing endless rounds of hide and seek. They mimed, they gestured, they laughed.So beautiful watching all these kids, strangers till minutes ago, come together and play with such joyful abandon!
Vaibhav tells me during bedtime
1. that he has arranged to meet his friends at 1 pm the next day
2. that 2 out of the 3 kids are siblings
3. the exact ages of each one of them
I guess playing a lot of Dumb Charades sure does pay off sometime!
But since Daddy started work on Tuesday after the long Easter break, we have also gotten into a routine of sorts. We've decided to keep the random outings and long meetings with new friends to the weekends. Kids get homeschooled in the morning while I manage to sneak in some work. After a simple lunch it's art and craft time for about an hour. We then head out to one of the many playgrounds where other kids are playing even past 8 pm (the sun is up till about 9 pm these days)!
Today, while we were playing downstairs we saw 3 Finnish boys racing each other. Soon V & S joined the gang. The Finnish boys could not speak a word of English and of course my kids can't speak Finnish. And yet the children had a fabulous time playing endless rounds of hide and seek. They mimed, they gestured, they laughed.So beautiful watching all these kids, strangers till minutes ago, come together and play with such joyful abandon!
Vaibhav tells me during bedtime
1. that he has arranged to meet his friends at 1 pm the next day
2. that 2 out of the 3 kids are siblings
3. the exact ages of each one of them
I guess playing a lot of Dumb Charades sure does pay off sometime!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Quirky Quiz
The kids and their Daddy love quizzing. Its becoming a bit of a ritual after dinner. Somedays, I find them crunching numbers and scaling the earth and other days they could be giggling over cartoon facts. The Dad, an avid quizzer in his school days is completely in his element as he shoots out question after question a la Siddarth Basu style.
I'm more of a silent spectator during these sessions. Simply because the easy ones, I'm not supposed to answer and the difficult ones, I'm not sure of the answer!So, I just keep my eyes on my computer screen and leave my ears with the trio.
Last night, it was all about the Nobel Prize.After the who, how, where and whats they moved on to Indians Nobel laureates. The Dad was patiently explaining the reason why each Indian was awarded the honor. They got to Sir CV Raman. After hearing everything, Shriya cocks her head to her brother and very confidently says " Vaibhav, I think this CV Raman guy is actually Tenali Raman's cousin. They are both brilliant. Dada, did Tenali also win a Nobel?"
I'm more of a silent spectator during these sessions. Simply because the easy ones, I'm not supposed to answer and the difficult ones, I'm not sure of the answer!So, I just keep my eyes on my computer screen and leave my ears with the trio.
Last night, it was all about the Nobel Prize.After the who, how, where and whats they moved on to Indians Nobel laureates. The Dad was patiently explaining the reason why each Indian was awarded the honor. They got to Sir CV Raman. After hearing everything, Shriya cocks her head to her brother and very confidently says " Vaibhav, I think this CV Raman guy is actually Tenali Raman's cousin. They are both brilliant. Dada, did Tenali also win a Nobel?"
Sunday, April 8, 2012
First few days in Finland
I was dreading the 12 hour night flight with the kids.
As always, the more I fret the more my kids will work on making me look like a fool. They were good as gold and Shriya slept 10 hours :-)
I was on an emotional roller-coater the last few days before leaving. Eating my favourite Singaporean foods was only rapidly increasing the waistline and not filling the void that I was feeling inside. I was
moping all the way to the airport with the kids staring at me. Vaibhav broke the silence and asked me " So, amma, how long will you be feeling
sad and grumpy? Will you also cry when its time for us to leave Finland?"
I was keeping my fingers crossed and hoped that spring had truly, fully set in. But I did not know that my kids had kept all their fingers and toes crossed for a freak winter experience bang in the middle of spring. Guess who's prayers were answered? Vaibhav and Shriya enjoyed their first ever snowfall (although mild), played in whatever sparse leftover snow and braced 0 degrees very comfortably!
We are all still acquainting ourselves around this quaint little city. Exploring the streets around where we live and experiencing the Finnish way of life. Learning to do everyday things all over again. Like taking the tram, buying grocery, cleaning up after a meal (we've been quite spoilt thatnks to our Filipina housekeeper in Singapore).
But its been great lessons in adaptability. The kids pitch in with everything. Shriya is always ' neating' the appartment. Vaibhav helps put away all the cold wear back in its drawer after an outing. They set the table and try to remember bus routes around the City Centre. We look forward to our evening walks by the sea. We've learned to relish the crisp cold outside and the toasty warmth indoors !
There is no time or need to mope. The picture postcard scenes outside the balcony alone should lift up the spirits. The little ones' levels of excitement and eagerness make us move on and count our blessings. With V and S's right spirit to goad us along, I know that we will make the most of our stint in this new land that we are still getting accustomed to calling HOME!
As always, the more I fret the more my kids will work on making me look like a fool. They were good as gold and Shriya slept 10 hours :-)
I was on an emotional roller-coater the last few days before leaving. Eating my favourite Singaporean foods was only rapidly increasing the waistline and not filling the void that I was feeling inside. I was
moping all the way to the airport with the kids staring at me. Vaibhav broke the silence and asked me " So, amma, how long will you be feeling
sad and grumpy? Will you also cry when its time for us to leave Finland?"
I was keeping my fingers crossed and hoped that spring had truly, fully set in. But I did not know that my kids had kept all their fingers and toes crossed for a freak winter experience bang in the middle of spring. Guess who's prayers were answered? Vaibhav and Shriya enjoyed their first ever snowfall (although mild), played in whatever sparse leftover snow and braced 0 degrees very comfortably!
We are all still acquainting ourselves around this quaint little city. Exploring the streets around where we live and experiencing the Finnish way of life. Learning to do everyday things all over again. Like taking the tram, buying grocery, cleaning up after a meal (we've been quite spoilt thatnks to our Filipina housekeeper in Singapore).
But its been great lessons in adaptability. The kids pitch in with everything. Shriya is always ' neating' the appartment. Vaibhav helps put away all the cold wear back in its drawer after an outing. They set the table and try to remember bus routes around the City Centre. We look forward to our evening walks by the sea. We've learned to relish the crisp cold outside and the toasty warmth indoors !
There is no time or need to mope. The picture postcard scenes outside the balcony alone should lift up the spirits. The little ones' levels of excitement and eagerness make us move on and count our blessings. With V and S's right spirit to goad us along, I know that we will make the most of our stint in this new land that we are still getting accustomed to calling HOME!
Saree Mommy for a Month!
We were in Chennai the last month. And I decided to ‘ Go Saree ‘! I won’t be offended if you think the heat had gone to my head and if I’d completely lost my marbles. The weather was scorching hot, the attire- a tad fussy and definitely not the most convenient with kids. But yet, it was such a joy these past few days, draping one beautiful creation after another.
I had always wanted to, at some point adopt the saree as my regular wear. Wearing a saree , to me, was the height of adulthood. Something that declared to the world that you’ve arrived! As a high schoolgirl, it was nothing more than torture that I had to endure during graduation day, making sure that I don’t trip on it or worse still strip myself of it. Having heard stories from my mother about how she managed her entire college years with just 5 sarees, I thought once I started college it would come easily to me. But it became impractical with the numerous classes I had to rush to. I hoped that when I got married, I would have all the leisure to live my dream of greeting my husband in a beautiful saree. But that was short-lived too and most unsuitable in Singapore as I was just starting my career.
The day we arrived, I raided my Mom’s cupboard and brought out my own rarely used collection. If it was a Chanderi in the morning, it was a Chiffon for the evening. Bengal cottons for the markets and Bandinis for visiting friends. And the best bit was that I was not parading in it for a few hours. It did not feel like a fancy dress contest, as it always had been! I actually lived in it, donning one an entire day.
To me, and I’m sure for many in my generation, the epitome of Desi mommyness is somebody elegantly draped in a crisply starched cotton saree, complete with a bindi! I totally reveled in that vision. When the gentle Marina beach breeze played with my saree pleats as my kids dragged me into the water, when I casually tucked in one end of the garment at my waist while helping my mom or mom-in-law in the kitchen , when my child insistently tugged at the pallu- It all felt so natural, so spontaneous and oh so graceful! I finally felt a part of that unsaid circle of moms who generations before me might have felt the same way that I did, while carrying out their everyday duties, in this very same attire.
The kids knew about the 'Go Saree' plan and loved it. My biggest compliment that entire month was when I morphed back to being practical 'Jeans Mommy' the day we were leaving Chennai. No bindi, no fancy earrings,no fuss look. Shriya said ' You look ....so, hmmm..so normal, ma. Why cant you wear a saree on the plane?'.
So glad you loved the abnormal look, little girl. But a saree on the plane-that's where I draw the line!
And the verdict after 3 weeks is:
Its not that uncomfortable. After a few days, you do get the hang of it. Its not hot and stuffy and on the contrary quite airy- Can now completely appreciate why it was meant to be draped this way. And it makes you feel gorgeous, like never before. An indescribable feeling! And for just that one last reason, I’d do it all over again the next time I’m back in Chennai!
I had always wanted to, at some point adopt the saree as my regular wear. Wearing a saree , to me, was the height of adulthood. Something that declared to the world that you’ve arrived! As a high schoolgirl, it was nothing more than torture that I had to endure during graduation day, making sure that I don’t trip on it or worse still strip myself of it. Having heard stories from my mother about how she managed her entire college years with just 5 sarees, I thought once I started college it would come easily to me. But it became impractical with the numerous classes I had to rush to. I hoped that when I got married, I would have all the leisure to live my dream of greeting my husband in a beautiful saree. But that was short-lived too and most unsuitable in Singapore as I was just starting my career.
The day we arrived, I raided my Mom’s cupboard and brought out my own rarely used collection. If it was a Chanderi in the morning, it was a Chiffon for the evening. Bengal cottons for the markets and Bandinis for visiting friends. And the best bit was that I was not parading in it for a few hours. It did not feel like a fancy dress contest, as it always had been! I actually lived in it, donning one an entire day.
To me, and I’m sure for many in my generation, the epitome of Desi mommyness is somebody elegantly draped in a crisply starched cotton saree, complete with a bindi! I totally reveled in that vision. When the gentle Marina beach breeze played with my saree pleats as my kids dragged me into the water, when I casually tucked in one end of the garment at my waist while helping my mom or mom-in-law in the kitchen , when my child insistently tugged at the pallu- It all felt so natural, so spontaneous and oh so graceful! I finally felt a part of that unsaid circle of moms who generations before me might have felt the same way that I did, while carrying out their everyday duties, in this very same attire.
The kids knew about the 'Go Saree' plan and loved it. My biggest compliment that entire month was when I morphed back to being practical 'Jeans Mommy' the day we were leaving Chennai. No bindi, no fancy earrings,no fuss look. Shriya said ' You look ....so, hmmm..so normal, ma. Why cant you wear a saree on the plane?'.
So glad you loved the abnormal look, little girl. But a saree on the plane-that's where I draw the line!
And the verdict after 3 weeks is:
Its not that uncomfortable. After a few days, you do get the hang of it. Its not hot and stuffy and on the contrary quite airy- Can now completely appreciate why it was meant to be draped this way. And it makes you feel gorgeous, like never before. An indescribable feeling! And for just that one last reason, I’d do it all over again the next time I’m back in Chennai!
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