I cook with Wine, sometimes I even add it to the Food

They say that SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD. I was behaving like one spoilt kid and had not written for last 4 Months.

And that is only because, in the months gone by, I have not Cooked as much as I would have liked to.

My 2 motivations to Cook, my Wife, has been on a disciplined Diet and my Son, unbeknown to us, has morphed into a raging teenager who is convinced that showing any kind of love, affection and dependence towards Parents went out of fashion along with Bell Bottoms. That is something I am still coming to terms with. But I don't think I ever will!

So here I am, back to what I absolutely missed doing - COOKING and WRITING. The Belly rules the Mind and I am engaging both my Belly and the Mind in a competition to please the other in the hope that they primarily "MOTIVATE" and particularly
"OUTDO" each other.

Armed with this thinking, today I finally banished my apathy and spared myself from the Rod, but I did not spare the Cod. What transpired is a Grilled Cod Loin accompanied by a reduction of Red wine and Honey Sauce served with Salad leaves sprinkled with shavings of Parmesan Cheese and burnt Garlic Pods.

Food without Wine is like a body without aura, Wine without Food is like a shadow without a body, but both, when tastefully matched become a fine combination like none other to please ones Belly and Mind.

Which is why I cook with Wine and sometimes even add it to the Food.

I ain't done Cooking

NOBILITY is not about being superior to someone else. It is about being superior to YOUR FORMER SELF! In our quest for betterment, we end up pursuing the impossible task of wanting to be better than SOMEONE ELSE and thus risking spectacular failure.

Everything in this Universe has a Principle. When Milk is heated, it boils. When Water is frozen, it becomes Ice. When Steel is heated, it melts. When Glass is dropped, it breaks and when Coal is Polished, it transforms into a Diamond. No matter what, Water cannot become Ice when boiled, Steel cannot break when dropped and Glass cannot hope to become a Diamond when polished.

Just by sticking to their Principle, by realizing their weaknesses and diligently building on inherent strengths, they can completely METAMORPHASISE and become what others cannot duplicate.

A Problem is a Sand Paper for sharpening our life-skills and from experience, I can safely that the size of the Problem is inversely proportional to our ABILITY to solve and overcome it.

We just need to keep on working on enhancing THAT ability; through Meditation, through Thinking, through Reading, through seeking advise, through persistent efforts and last but not the least by having unquestionable faith that.... come what may, eventually we will find a solution.

Important thing about a problem is not just finding a solution, but its the strength and wisdom we gain in finding the solution and thus reaching another level altogether as a human being every time we solve a problem.

I find an opportunity everyday to become better than my former self and that is through cooking. No matter how often I may have cooked a certain dish, it can still be improved. The Roti can become rounder, the Naan can become softer, the Biryani can become tangier, the Dal can be healthier and I can be better. Than my former self. Each day. That is why I cook!

Good sense discovers Ways, Ignorance finds Excuses!

Breakfast is a notoriously difficult meal to serve with oomph and style, unless it is a lavish spread at one of the 5 Stars. But that's like being pushed into an Orgy when all one needs, is to just lovingly hold hands.

Starting the day with BF is the first chance our body has to re-fuel its glucose level also known as blood sugar, which is essential for the brain and is the main Energy source. It is also extremely important for Weight management as it curbs hunger and prevents binge eating later in the day.

Not eating BF, is like operating a device with drained Batteries. Its bound to die on you and then you will be dragging around a lethargic, tired, useless and dysfunctional piece of equipment all day long. That's like consciously bringing about and suffering in-adequacy by;

- forgetting to wear your pants
- leaving home without recharging the phone and
- driving the car with insufficient fuel

Eventually when the fuel runs out in the middle of nowhere, you discover that you can't call anyone for help because you are phone isn't charged. Nor can you get out of the Car because the Pants are not on!

I shudder to imagine how that day is going to unfold. Why then bring about such disastrous days by leaving the house without having BF and risk ruining your most valuable equipment = YOURSELF. Results of sustained abstinence from BF over a long period of time hit the body hard later in life.

People have conveniently convincing excuses for not having BF which is a deceptively MOST important meal the day, yet making BF is very simple. This French toast and Mango Milkshake didn't take more than 5 minutes to make.

INGREDIENTS : 2 Eggs, 1/2 Cup Milk, 1/2 Tsp Sugar, Salt and Pepper to taste, 1/2 Tsp Oil or Butter, 2 slices of Bread

DIRECTIONS : Preheat the pan, Mix all the ingredients together, dip the Bread slices in the Egg Mix and cook on the heated pan till golden brown. Turn over till the other side becomes crispy golden brown and they are ready to serve. Use the remaining egg mix (if any) to make an impromptu Omlette and serve on the side with Ketchup. Wash it down with Mango Milk Shake.

Then do a reality check and see your face in the mirror. I guarantee you that there will be a smile on your face which will be difficult to wipe off through out the day.

Its easy to make the simplest of things and jazz up the presentation to make them tantalizing. Don't skip breakfast by making excuses. An Excuse is a lie in disguise of a Time bomb which explodes much later when most unexpected.

You owe yourself a hearty breakfast to prepare the SELF to enjoy the nice day ahead. Allow good sense to Prevail, don't skip BF and deprive yourself of a smile that will last all day. Bon Apetite.

Take no Hostages, leave no Witnesses

If we resolve to give up Eating, Smoking, Drinking and Loving, we don't actually live longer......IT JUST SEEMS A LOT LONGER.

Ask the Italians. They are already complaining that their lives are way too short. Notwithstanding that they live beyond 70 and have the least incidence of Heart and Stress related ailments. Maybe its the Garlic or the Olive Oil or the Wine or just that THEY are the Mafia and it is Others who have to run scared of their lives from the Italians.

Italians are uniquely passionate and desperately impatient. They have even named their car to honor this trait. " Frenzied Italian at A Traffic-light " aka FIAT! They say give an Italian a Laundry list and he will set it to Music. Their lazy impatience and burning passion shows in the Food which I have savored and have also heard that it shows in the way they make love, which I have not.

Italians have a very special and unique way of pronouncing words especially when it comes to their Culinary creations. While we may not be able to pronounce Pizza or Manicotti or Mozzarella or Bruschetta as well as the Italians do, we can certainly endeavour to make it as well as they do. No harm in trying. I tried my hand at making Bruschetta at the risk of inviting the wrath of the Mafia.

INGREDIENTS : 4 Ripe Tomatoes, 4 Cloves of Garlic Minced, 1 Tbsp Olive Oil, 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar, 6-8 fresh Basil leaves chopped, Salt, freshly ground Black Pepper to taste, 1/4th cup Olive oil and 1 Baguette French bread.

DIRECTIONS : Prepare Tomatoes first. Chop them by hand to give it the authentic imperfect home-style look and put it in a Bowl along with Garlic, Balsamic Vinegar and 1 Tbsp Olive Oil. Add chopped Basil, Salt and Pepper and mix.

Set the Oven to preheat (if no Oven the just use the Pan to semi toast the bread). Slice the Baguette in diagonal 1/2 inch slices, coat one side of the slices with olive oil and place in the oven, olive oil side down until the top begins to turn golden brown.

Remove the bread from the Oven, align the slices on a serving Platter and layer each slice with the Tomato topping just before serving.

For Spice lovers, improvise with the Sauce. Grind dry red chillies with olive Oil and Vinegar. Add chopped Cilantro or Coriander for colour and body. Add Salt to Taste. You can even serve Cottage Cheese with it on the side.

To give it the final masterstroke of Italian Mafioso authenticity, make sure that there are no witnesses. Not while making food their way and definitely not when making love they way they do! Buon Appetito:)

T E M P T A T I O N S !

There are times, I must confess, I accept momentary Moral Bankruptcy by yielding to Temptation. I convince myself by saying " I am doing this just so that I can be in the good books of Temptation as I must not avoid it at all times, lest Temptation starts avoiding me when I grow old. Then there will be nothing to look forward to!

All good habits emerge from resisting temptation and that credits Moral Currency in one's Character account. Gosh how utterly abnormal and ahead of myself does this sound? Imagine life without temptations or an existence where one is able to resist all of them.

Food is my prime source of Temptation and no matter how much reason I try and apply I just don't succeed at all times. I may win the Set but only after conceding a few Games. When it comes to Pakoras, its GAME, SET, MATCH Pakoras!

To me Pakoras cannot exist in isolation. They embody three sacrosanct attributes; The Coating, The Object du Coating (Onions, Potatoes, Chili, Spinach, Baby Corn or other vegetables of choice) and last but not the least the CHUTNEYS. Its an amalgamation of these three Constituents which gives it the salacious power to break my resolve to nano-atom sized smithereens.

INGREDIENTS : 3 Potatoes, 3 Onions, 2 Cups Besan, 1 Cup Water, 4 Cups Oil, 2 Tsp Red Chili Powder, Salt to taste, 1/2 Tsp Ginger Garlic Paste and 4 big pods of Garlic.

DIRECTIONS : Heat the Oil in a Wok. Wash Potatoes and Onions and cut into thin slices. Add water to Besan followed by Salt, Ginger/Garlic paste, Red Chili powder and 2 table spoons of very hot Oil and make a batter of semi thick consistency (for the Pakoras to turn out Crispy). Dip each piece of Potato Slices and Onion Rings into the batter till fully coated and fry until crisp. Once done remove them and drain the Oil on Kitchen Tissue (that takes away a lot of the guilt). Once the Pakoras are safely removed from the Wok you will see particles of crispy leftover Besan still floating on the Oil. Quickly add the Garlic Pods and fry until light brown and then remove.

But we are not done. The Chutneys are yet to make an entry. Two Standard Chutneys are Sweetish Imli Chutney and a Chili Paste slightly watered down to reduce its ability to become a Rocket launcher. But the Magic is in the third chutney which is made out of the fried Besan bits and Garlic Pods which are mashed together and become a coarse concoction, which gives body and a unique taste when Pakoras are dipped in the liquid chutneys first followed by this coarse Chutney which fondly clings to the Pakoras. It also tastes delicious when these Chutnies are applied on bread and eaten with Pakoras.

I have relived a fantasy of Culinary debauchery as I wrote this. Imagine what must have happened when I had an encounter with these Pakoras accompanied with the Chutneys.

I do my best to avoid temptations, UNLESS I can't resist them. And in this case I didn't!

If it were not for the LAST MINUTE, I would't get anything done!!!

To think for too long about doing a thing becomes its undoing BUT the sooner we fall behind, the more time we have to catch up.

It's the REALIZATION that one is FALLING BEHIND which by itself (in most cases) works as the Starting Switch to stir us into taking suitable action.

I am the king of Procrastination. But only when it comes to doing things for Myself. I love it, but it does exasperate others. I still prefer to wait. Correction...... ' Procrastinate ' . This word possesses the innate competence to make Indecisiveness sound like a Virtue.

They say 'Things will definitely come to you if you wait, but you run the risk of inheriting the leftovers from those who have taken the effort to hustle ". I for one don't buy this or feel threatened enough to launch myself into knee jerk action mode. By Hustling you may get the best seat on the Plane but it may be the flight one shouldn't have taken.

Hustlers don't preserve themselves and very rarely last for the long term. No point in living life like a Shooting Star for that fleeting moment of glory.

Somewhere between HUSTLING and PROCRASTINATING lies the realm of THINKING THROUGH which usually gets smudged between our misplaced promptitude to do things or the laziness to adjourn tasks on hand. It does pay to read the small print, because in real life the Large print gives but the Fine print takes away.

When I have to do things for others, I tend to accomplish the tasks well within prescribed deadlines, which in official matters usually fall due on a Friday. I have also over the years and after futile attempts of chasing a mirage realized that it was only Robinson Crusoe who could get everything done by Friday. The mountain of work with Deadline as its Summit continues to be a tough climb for me.

But now its time for me to let go the lapel of Lord Procrastination and head to the Supermarket only than can I meet my most important daily deadlines which I look forward to. That of making BREAKFAST, LUNCH and DINNER!

Its not a Fad. That thing called Salad!

I don't always prepare Rich, fulfilling and Sinful meals. Occasionally SALADS come to the rescue and serve the same purpose as competently as a Multi Course Meal, while delivering healthier nutrients to our systems.

Salads don't deteriorate in intrinsic natural value of its ingredients by going through the nutrient destroying process called Cooking and they can be prepared with Vegetables, Fruits, Meats and Sea Food, individually or collectively and thus boast of the rare gift of being able to please everyone.

What Salad is to a Meal, is what Conscious Restraint is to life. The art of knowing what to SAY or DO. But MOST IMPORTANTLY when to stop while still getting the point across without diluting the effect.

Indulgence is natural to us Mortals. But RESTRAINT never harms. What can be deceptively destructive is SUPPRESSION. Anything in MODERATION has never known to have caused damage to anyone.

Salad works as a Starter as well as a Main Course and it doesn't have to be un-interesting or tasteless or deceivingly fattening due to the Dressings. Eating Salads with fattening dressings is like watching an adult Channel dressed in a Monks attire.

I am human, thus Indulgent by default. But luckily, enlightened enough to realize that be it Indulgence or Restraint, both can be fatal if practiced in perpetuity. I neither subscribe nor adhere to Moderation as the only way of Life, but I try to use that as a springboard of excuse for occasional dives into Culinary indulgences. And that's where SALAD MEALS make a grand entry.

A Salad successfully fulfills the demanding requirement of being HEALTHY, DELICIOUS, FILLING and NUTRITIOUS. All at the same time. This THAI GLASS NOODLE SALAD definitely makes the cut in terms of all the attributes, which, while confining themselves to the holy territory of Moderation, do flirt with the persuasive borders of Indulgence.

INGREDIENTS : Thai Glass Noodles, Vegetable Oil, Shrimps (Or Tofu and Mushrooms for Vegetarians), Salt and Black Pepper, Red Chillies, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce (Vinegar and Soy Sauce), Sugar, Shallots, Coriander, Celery, Lettuce and Browned Onions (optional).

DIRECTIONS : Let Noodles Soak in water for about 10 Minutes till they are soft, then add to the Pot of Boiling Water, reduce the heat to Medium and cook until the noodles are plump and Glass Like. Drain in a Colander and rinse with cold water and cut in 3 to 4 inch length.

Pour Oil in Skillet and when hot add Shrimp or Tofu, season with Salt and Pepper and leave to cool.

Mix Chili, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce, Sugar, Shallots, Coriander, Celery and Shrimp (or Tofu and Mushrooms). Pour over noodles and Mix thoroughly.

Serve on a bed of Lettuce and garnish with optional crisp fried brown Onions.

Go ahead. Try making it and eat it to your hearts content without ever stepping into the guilt laden territory of Indulgence or Gastronomic debauchery and still emerge with the same satisfaction and facial expression that these otherwise sinful acts would bring about. Bon Apetite!

To know how good a Mughlai Restaurant is, First try their Butter Chicken

I subscribe to the school of thought where Gravy gets the pride of place as that is where the Chef's finer skills show in form of the Gravy's Texture, Appearance and Taste. The Chef may be a GOURMET Chef or THIS Chef or THAT Chef but what matters is that the Chef is a GOOD Chef.

Show me good Butter Chicken and I will point you to a kitchen from where a GOOD CHEF operates. Butter Chicken has become as basic to Mughlai Food as SA RE GA MA is to Music and that is the SA RE GA MA Dish of any Mughlai Restaurant. A Chef just cannot wish away this reality.

Butter Chicken tends to be very rich in Calorific value because of the Butter it contains and the Gravy just doesn't look good if the Butter makes a no-show. Most of the Chef's go the whole hog and make it a disguised heart attack on a Plate.

I try get around that by sauteing Onions and tomatoes till they are dark brown and then letting it stay in the refrigerator overnight. Next day when it is heated in a Pan, the natural oils from the Onion and Tomato ooze out and the gravy acquires the same consistency and appearance without the Butter.

For added effect run the Gravy through a Blender and add the standard spices with a dash of Chaat Masala. What you have is Gravy you may be tempted to dive into. But since that will be messy I decide to send in Pieces of Tandoori Grilled Boneless Chicken instead.

Depending on how good the Grilled Chicken is marinated, that tends to get over before the gravy, otherwise its a case of the tide going out first and those swimming naked getting caught. So the Grilled Chicken being deliciously good is equally important.

The testimonial to the best Butter Chicken is the Empty dish that served it, but now just has fingerprints of the ones who licked it clean.

Every job is a self portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your creation with excellence.

Finally my Doctor had to tell me to stop having Meals for Four. Unless there are Three other people!

There are certain very special Cuisines and Dishes one just cannot stop gorging on. Satisfaction just doesn't come until one has OVER eaten.

I don't remember being JUST HAPPY when an unexpected holiday was announced in School. I used to be MORE THAN HAPPY.

I don't remember being JUST JOYOUS on meeting my loved ones. I am OVER JOYED.

I don't feel JUST CALM after Meditation. I feel COMPLETELY ECSTATIC.

I don't feel JUST FIT after I exercise, I feel SUPER FIT.

I don't feel JUST LUCKY when I get an opportunity to Cook. I feel BLESSED.

Unless one adds an Adjective to what one is doing it makes the act just Mundane. And that adjective is PASSION. Passion is the wind that fills our Sails and propels us even after everything else has failed.

I am also FIERCELY Patriotic, but what is Patriotism if not the love for food one ate as one was growing up?

I grew up eating a very typically Sindhi Dish called Dal Pakwan which ranks right up there in the food chain and is to be savored with Fried Chili, Mint/Coriander Chutney and Imli Chutney mixed With Sliced Onions.

Boil the Chana Dal to Thick Consistency and the Dal is Ready (add Salt to taste). Make Maida Rotis and fry them till nicely light brown and Crisp and serve with the Chutneys. Garnish the Dal with a very light sprinkling of Dhaniya/Jeera Powder and Chat Masala and you are ready to go.

Sindhi Food, I can confidently say is the LEAST DISCOVERED Cuisines in the world but what it boasts of is nothing short of a very enlightening and tasteful Culinary Discovery. I am seriously going to experiment with more Sindhi Food.

And to hell with what the Doctor says, I am going to Cook for Four whether the other 3 turn up or not. If it is Sindhi Food, I can finish it alone! Do everything like the Sindhi's do. KINGSIZE! I am sure at least 3 of my Sindhi Friends will turn up:)

Fast Food is like Porn. Nutritionally speaking!

Anything good in life is either Fattening, Illicit or Illegal and Food is quiet at the top of that Pyramid of Sins.

The mind automatically veers towards what is not good for the Body, Soul and long term well being and we still derive immense pleasure from doing those things. Eating HEALTHY, BOILED, NON FRIED, TASTELESS food is as exciting as licking the glue off about 50 envelopes.

When one hasn't had the pleasure of Visually making love to the food and then ingesting it with equal passion, the mind is always frustrated and that prompts mortals to give up ones already weakened resolve which ensures that we plunge into a deep gorge of depression as soon as the sin is committed.

I still maintain that a great lifestyle could be SLEEP TILL YOU ARE HUNGRY AND EAT TILL YOU ARE SLEEPY but then one may not be able to attend his/her 40th birthday in person and that's not such a pleasant thought.

I hate being a Gourmet who thinks of Calories because it feels like a tart who keeps on looking at her watch, but it is still good to cheat oneself by making and eating Food which looks good, can be classified as Fast Food but still is TASTY and HEALTHY!

Try this Veg Burger. The Patty is made of Potato mixed with finely chopped Cabbage, Carrots and Coriander and then grilled. Served on a Burger bun with Light Mayo, Onion, Salad leaves and Pickled Cucumber. YUMMY!

I will have to be creative. If only Banishing hunger was as easy as Rubbing the belly as it is to Masturbate. Alas!

We are never Deceived, we Deceive Ourselves

The Holy Month of Shravan in India has tens of Millions of people turning Vegetarian. Thailand observes a similar Veg Month around the same time where a large section of the population (otherwise vehemently Carnivorous) go completely off Non-Veg and even Restaurants, Food Courts and Hawkers (who otherwise pretend to have no clue about what Veg Food is) have exclusive sections serving Veg Food which is highlighted by Yellow Flags.

It resembles a Sea of Yellow. Just like it must have been yesterday when Chennai Super Kings won IPL 3. I will not say anything about abysmally pathetic and rigged performance of Mumbai Indians! Sorry for the digression though.

The meaning of VEGETARIANISM in the Hindu psyche means the Food LOOKS and IS Veg, but here in Thailand you get VEG FISH, VEG CHICKEN, VEG PORK, VEG SQUID, VEG PRAWNS, VEG CRAB and every conceivable version of Non Veg looking Food made out of Rice Flour, Tofu or Soy.

This preparation is the Classic Thai Traditional Green Curry with Baby Aubergines, Brown Sugar, Mushrooms, Coconut Milk, Green Curry Paste, Lemon Grass, Kaffir leaves, Light Soy Sauce and Lime Juice. And one more magical ingredient.... VEG FISH BALLS which gives it the look of a non-veg dish and deceives the eater into first seeing that one is going to eat non-veg and further re-enforcing that belief when one actually eats the Veg Fish balls.

Heat the Oil in a Wok and add the Green Curry Paste and Sugar over high heat stirring with Lemongrass. Reduce the heat and stir the Aubergines, Mushrooms and VEG FISH BALLS (!!!) until coated in the Paste. Add the Coconut Milk and Light Soy Sauce till it begins to Simmer for about 15 Minutes and thickens slightly. Then stir in the Lime Juice. Serve it with Thai Jasmine Rice.

I do wonder what the law of Karma says about this. Theoretically one has MADE MERIT by abstaining from Non-veg while at the same time, through stealthy perception one has still DERIVED the pleasure of eating Non-Veg.

Would it be like saying I am totally FAITHFUL and absolutely CELIBATE but for the fact that I make do with a INFLATABLE DOLL every time my passion stirs?. We are never deceived. We Deceive ourselves.

Come on in. Lets see if eating together makes this World a better place

That is FOOD DIPLOMACY.

All Conflicts represent a failure of Diplomacy which we consider as a waste of time. Reminds me of an anecdote where the Businessman and a Diplomat finish their meeting and leave together in the Businessman's Car who is frustrated at the outcome of the meeting and tells the Diplomat "Diplomacy is nothing but HOT AIR"! To which the Diplomat replies " Maybe so, but that is what is in the Tyres of this Car and see how smooth it is making the ride ".

If you cannot go Over it, Past it, Around it or Through it, then you better negotiate with it. And what better setting than over a Meal for that. After all, Diplomacy should be the art of letting someone have your way.

Hunger causes frustration but eating is a happy experience which can create the ideal foundation for a much required favorable resolution. Be it a tiff between a Husband and Wife, a difference of opinion with grown up kids and Parents, between old Parents and their smart ass kids and in-laws, between a Boss and sub-ordinates, between Friends, between Heads of two Nations or even between Terrorists. Though in some cases, Heads of Nations and Terrorists are known to have been the same.

Breaking bread together can bring about a magical positive transformation and thaw a Strife. Especially when there is no immediate solution in sight. That is the first and simplest step towards temporizing and seeking a resolution.

Since conflicts don't always arise with advance notice. One should have in his / her armory dishes which can be quickly prepared and served. Like these Rice Noodles Sauteed with Soy sauce, Tofu, Carrots, Spinach, Roasted Peanuts and Cabbage. Which can be accompanied by a variety of home made sauces (Mint, Chili or Tomato), but don't stop at that, try it even with Achar or whatever tingles your or the aggrieved party's taste buds.

It took only 10 minutes to prepare this but the thought which went into its preparation, can cut the ice, animosity and the very reason for Conflict and even nurture understanding amongst complete strangers and resolve the past, current or impending crises. But only if we try.

One has got to believe in something. I believe I will take one more helping!

I cook with Wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.

Reality is an illusion which occurs when one is not Intoxicated. But its not only Alcohol that you should allow to intoxicate yourself, one can feel equally inebriated with Love, Achievement, Success, Good Company, Stroke of Good Luck, Listening to music, Witnessing Geniuses perform and lo and behold, even with Food and still experience blissful intoxication while living in reality.

I tend to be partial and choose FOOD because it guarantees me a HIGH at least three times a day, it allows me to be a Genius (though its only yours truly who thinks so) and I can derive the pleasure of that ecstasy without the Acidity, Hangover, Embarrassment and " I want to die " kind of feeling which usually follows an alcohol induced high.

How many of us have ever made the Alcohol we drink? But we can make the food we eat. This magnum opus of mine is Chicken marinaded in thick Mushroom Sauce, Light Soy sauce and Sauteed gently on Medium flame with a dash of Red Wine added occasionally, till the whole sauce is reduced and it hugs and permeates the Chicken pieces with the same passion with which a lover embraces his long lost sweet heart. Ahhhh...I forgot to mention, Food can be romantic too. Serve it with Rice, Salad and Mashed Potatoes and the performance is complete!

Who cares about the ovation!!Give me a choice between Alcohol and Food and I will choose FOOD every time. Either before or after Alcohol. Bon Apatite and Cheers!

If Abbatoirs had glass walls, all of us would be Vegetarian

A Friend gave up Non-veg (only) when he witnessed a Chicken being slaughtered. That was way back in School, which now seems like a lifetime ago! I am sure that effect by now would have worn off and he should be back to being a Carnivore. Having gained wisdom from his experience, I don't visit slaughter-houses and my shopping sojourns culminate at the Super-markets where Meat is well presented minus the gore and the agony.

I have been actively thinking of abstaining from Non-veg Food, but have only been able to give up Non-Veg for 30 days in 1997, for 21 days in 2009 and now I am on my 17th day of Vegetarian Food as I write this Blog (BTW 14 more days to go).

Coming to think of it, there are people who have never eaten Non-Veg who I respect and I have even more reverence for those evolved souls who have eaten Non-Veg but have now given up for whatever reasons. THAT is even tougher than being born a Vegetarian, as they know what they are missing.

George Bernard Shaw once said that " A MIND OF THE CALIBER OF MINE CANNOT DERIVE NUTRIENTS FROM A COW, A PIG OR A CHICKEN " and that does make sense. Abstaining and eating Vegetarian food, I confess, does give me an air of superiority as it also fills me with Wind and Self-righteousness. After all to become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to Nirvana. At this moment it is a huge FEEL GOOD factor in my life. A mere 17 days of Vegetarianism!

While I have been cooking and posting mainly Non-Veg dishes on my Blog, I am eating ONLY VEG for more than two weeks now (please excuse me for exercising my Bragging Rights), but few friends have been requesting that I also feature Veg food on my Blog because it can be as delicious and a lot less Sinful. After all there ARE karmic issues involved here which I shall go into at a later date.

Today's dinner was Vietnamese Spring Rolls with variety of fillings comprising of Salad Leaves, shredded Carrot, Tofu, Roasted Peanuts, Vermicelli, Coarse Black Pepper, with two types of pungent Sauce; One with Mint, Garlic and Green Chili and the other with a light Sugar Syrup, dash of Lemon juice and Red Chili.

This is an extremely healthy dish as it is not FRIED and all the Veggies / Fillings are rolled in Steamed Rice paper. It also allows experimentation with Ingredients and creativity about what one puts in. Go ahead and experiment. In fact, its a great family event if all the ingredients are brought out separately and each one makes their own rolls or makes them for other members of the family. That actually makes the Dinner an EVENT. A celebration of togetherness of loved ones.

And if one eats with THAT spirit of Celebration, the Spring Rolls are incidental. Even Cardboard dipped in that sauce will be as tasty!

SIMPLICITY is the ULTIMATE SOPHISTICATION

We know this, yet are very insecure and reluctant to keep things simple because we are afraid that if we don't complicate things, people will not think that enough effort went into the task at hand. We always tend to, or perhaps are even pre-programmed at the sub-conscious level to do things by thinking only about " what others will think ".

In fact our whole Being and Persona is 50% what we are and 50% what others think we are and we tend to cater more to other people's perception of us and while doing so, without realizing, we get into a delusional mode. Some people probably go through their whole lives in this mode but that's a different story which can be made into a prime time soap opera with 100% TRP guaranteed by an equally hallucinated audience.

I can confidently say this because I have savored this self-deception, which is quiet enjoyable in the short term and in the process disconnected with the SELF and drifted (probably still drifting every once in a while) till I press the Course Correction button, which incidentally is inside each one of us, and return to the shores of consciousness.

We tend to benchmark ourselves against others and continuously strive to be better than and out do others and more often than not feel frustrated at the result or the lack of it. How often do we benchmark us against ourSELF? Real and tangible achievement is not by being better than someone else but by being better than our former self. This is as difficult as it is simple, which is why we tend to shy away. Actually, how many of us know ourselves? Raise your hands:)

I still have not been able to completely shake off the ghost of the thought and fear that if I don't incorporate complexity in my way of doing things I am just not doing it right. But now I try, many a times through my cooking, like this meal of Penang Kai (Chicken curry with Coconut Milk and Thai Spices) served with Rice. Took about 15 minutes to make and I still got a good rating. Shucks!!!! I am still thinking what others will think:)

By the way did you notice that when I asked how many of us know ourselves, I didn't raise my hand?

Fish Eating & Fish Teaching

The love of the Japanese for fresh raw Fish is legendary. But due to over-fishing, the waters close to Japanese shores are depleted of stock. So to feed the discerning Japanese population, Fishing boats have had to get bigger and go farther than ever.

But the farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the Fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the Fish were not fresh and the Japanese did not like the taste. To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their Boats. They would catch the Fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer and come back with a larger Catch.

However, the Japanese could still taste the difference between fresh and frozen fish and they did not like the taste of frozen Fish. And frozen Fish meant a lower price.
So fishing companies installed Fish tanks. They would catch the Fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, the Fish became lethargic and barely moved. They were alive when they reached the Shores, but they were tired and dull.

Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not that of sluggish fish.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to their quality conscious consumers? If YOU were consulting the Fish industry, what would you recommend?.The answer turned out to be quiet simple....

To keep the Fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the Fish in the tanks. But now they add a small Shark to each tank. The Shark eats a few Fish daily, but most of the Fish arrive in a very lively state as all throughout the voyage they are on the move to save themselves from the Shark.

With a SHARK IN THE TANK, now the Fish cannot take their own existence for granted, they HAVE TO make efforts to stay alive, they HAVE TO out-think and HAVE TO out-run the Shark. The fish are challenged!!

I too was challenged when I cooked this Grilled fish dish in two marinades; one of crushed Kaffir leaves with Turmeric for one Fillet and the other glazed with Soy Sauce and Honey served with Salad leaves drizzled with Balsamic Vinegar and topped with Walnuts, Almonds and Kishmish and Cous Cous with Mushrooms. Yashabh had to like one, if not both.

He is my Shark in the Tank when it comes to Cooking. But I also like to consciously keep at least one more Shark in my Tank in the form of a THOUGHT which keeps me uncomfortable, striving and seeking at all times.

Is there a Shark in your Tank? Are you a Shark in someones Tank?

Clock Chicken Stew

In keeping with my resolve of yesterday to name a dish as per what it looks, means and feels rather than its Mundane standard name, here is my latest endeavour.

This was actually quiet easy and fast to make. Chopped a few onions and gently sauteed with Brown Sugar to caramelize and bring out the sweetness in the White Onion.

Added Chicken Drumsticks which were earlier marinaded in Teriyaki sauce and Sesame and threw in some Potatoes for starch. Allowed this to saute some more by putting a cover on the pan as that releases the juices in the Chicken as well as makes the drumstick crisp in texture.

Added a bit of Soy and Mushroom sauce and a wee bit of Chicken Broth and let it cook for about 15 mins on slow fire as this process really collects the flavors and core taste from each ingredient and amalgamates into a uniquely tasteful thick broth which goes well with Potatoes or Rice or even Crisp bread.

And then as I was wondering how to present this dish, I did some experimenting and thus Clock Chicken Stew was born.

I reckon this process of choosing the ingredients, improvising while cooking and presenting the dish like it is did allow me to recharge my batteries which keeps my INNER CLOCK ticking.

Like the rest of humanity I am also governed by the rules and effects of the OUTER CLOCK and I have no control on the passage of time and its effects, whether good or bad.

But in my INNER CLOCK I am the time keeper and I have to determine the rate, pace and quality of Living. I cannot afford to have the inner clock run out before the outer clock does as it would make me a lifeless object going through just the formality of existing till the outer clock runs out.

I choose to LIVE and and that's why, Cooking is not just a process of putting a recipe together for me, it is also the power which loads the spring mechanism of my Inner Clock and keeps me going.

How do YOU recharge the batteries of your inner clock? While you figure that out.. BON APPETITE!

Good Idea

One day, our house help came up to me and asked what to make for Yashabh's Dinner. Our man is used to savoring new culinary creations every day, so this is one question I honestly dread to answer.

I decided to resort to Management Theory, be a good Boss and delegate the task back to Durga and asked her to suggest something. She said Tom Kha Kai (Chicken Soup with Galangal Paste and Coconut Milk) and I ecstatically said " GOOD IDEA, put lots of Chicken in it ". And I thought the matter was closed. But..

A week later when it was FOOD TIME again, I asked Yashabh what he wanted to eat and
promptly he replied " GOOD IDEA CHICKEN ".

Being Dad I am supposed to be the wise guy and Mr. Know it all, but in this case I had NO IDEA what Yashabh meant by GOOD IDEA CHICKEN and mind you, back then he was all of 4 years of age. Being 28 years his Senior didn't help in this instance and I was stumped and found myself way out of the Crease!

To prove the old adage about the Child being the Father of the Man, Yashabh began to painstakingly explain what he meant by GOOD IDEA CHICKEN. It was Tom Kha Kai he wanted! He innocently said " remember Papa when Durga recommended what should she make for my dinner and you said Good Idea? THAT Chicken was Yummy, I want THAT Chicken! And the Penny dropped!

What an innocent way to explain like only children can. We must have all had some food in our lives which can be co-related to a memory, or a thought or a sentiment or an event. And that dish can take one back memory lane.

-Butter chicken brings memory of Party times
-Chaat brings memories of dates when money was in short supply and love over-flowing
-Barbecue brings warm memories of Cold Winters spent with dear friends
-Carrot & Cucumber sticks bring back memories of The first Bar I went to as an Adult
-Roasted Corn on the Cob brings back memories of the beach

Coming to think of it, every dish I must have ever had will have a memory associated with it. Either because the food was good or the memory was. Then why do we insist on calling dishes with their traditional names. A Rose called by any other name will smell as sweet. I am going to think of a new name for every dish. GOOD IDEA!

Not everyone cooks because they are Chefs...some of us cook BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CHEFS

-Because Cooking can drive away the blues and makes us Happy
-Because Cooking brings the entire family on the same table to eat
-Because Cooking gives opportunity to thank God for putting food on our table
-Because Cooking allows us to continuously become better at it
-Because Cooking allows us to explore the likes and dislikes of others
-Because Cooking allows us to perpetually experiment
-Because Cooking allows to make begin afresh. Again and again
-Because Cooking allows to select the good and the appropriate
-Because Cooking allows us to explore the unknown
-Because Cooking allows us to learn
-Because Cooking allows us to teach
-Because Cooking allows us to inherit
-Because Cooking allows us to bequeath
-Because Cooking allows foreplay
-Because Cooking allows Submission
-Because Cooking allows Domination
-Because Cooking allows Devotion

The only thing which can come in the way of this is Fear and Doubt. But both are the advance Interest we pay on the troubles that don't exist. So why worry. Go Ahead.

I decided to experiment with my Pizza. The home-made sauce and the Salmon topping. Whether I should add Basil to the Sauce? Whether the Salmon should be cooked or Raw? Whether I should Sprinkle Oregano and Dried Chilli Powder? Whether I should dip it in Tomato Ketchup or Butter Chicken Gravy? All delightful questions. But I decided to experiment anyway because how else would I experience so many emotions and enrich myself as a Human Being?

And people think we cook only to become Chefs!

Most powerful is he who has himself in his own Power

And that remains my ultimate dream. No matter how much of humanity you want to control and rule over, unless one is able to conquer the SELF, one isn't a RULER.

Empires have been lost by yielding to temptation and the area where one breaks the rules the most and loses the opportunity to conquer the SELF is Food!

Mind is the Lover, Stomach is the Organ du Sex and Food (aaahhhh Food) is the eternal beautiful Virgin that struts around you tempting you to blast all the walls of Self Control to smithereens.

I generally try and avoid Culinary temptations unless I can't resist them and every time that happens it pushes my goal of conquering the SELF that much further. Not withstanding all the Meditation, Reading and Thinking one does on the subject of CONTROL.

After being away in breathtakingly beautiful South Africa during the week and not having had a chance to go anywhere near the Kitchen I banished myself to the Kitchen on my return and cooked up Less sinful Butter Chicken, Rice cooked in Chicken stock with Cardamom and Cloves for flavor, Onion Raita and Cabbage leaves for myself to substitute for Rotis.

And I think I didn't break the promise made to myself of not falling for the temptation of food, though I immensely enjoyed cooking.

Promises are like Cloud and its fulfilment is like Rain. I have more clouds to show for than I have Rain. But I am tying and one day I will bepowerful by having myself in my own Power.

YOU WANT ME TO EAT MY VALENTINE DAY's CARD??? eeeeeekkkkksssssss

But what if it looks like this?

I am not good at giving greeting Cards dripping of ooohhhhh soooo sugary sweetness on Birthdays, or Valentine's Day, or Its 15 days and 12 minutes since we met day, or Father's Day, or Mother's Day, or Children's day or Women's Day or Business folk have to commercially exploit this Day by calling it some Day or the Other Day!'

There is a conspiracy by the Greeting Cards people to make the rest of humanity feel guilty, incomplete, insensitive, unthoughtful, forgetful and cruel...just because they didn't give a Greeting Card!

Hey, would they have ever considered that people can just as well be nice, caring, thoughtful, loving, sensitive ALL THROUGH OUT THE YEAR to the people you want them to give the Cards to and not feel compelled to use the Crutches of a Greeting Card to show their Love with a 24 hour validity?

There is no love more sincere, candid and amorous then the Love of food. Even the simple act of giving water to those thirsty is an act of immense love. And the act of cooking is a Celebration of relationship with the one who honours you by savouring your food.

What you see above will be one of my greeting cards.....Only difference is

- It won't be made by someone else and written by a paid copywriter whose words will be clinically crafted on behalf of millions of people whom he will never see and put words in their mouths which they wont mean
- It won't come out of an Envelope
- It won't find its way to the shredder the next day
- It won't commercially exploit the one who is giving it

My Greeting card for today is called Cous Cous with Moroccan Vegetable Tagine!

There is a MASTER CHEF inside all of us...

Though only a few are blessed with the art of being able to cook Food.

But for those who cannot, take Heart. All of us are capable of making LIFE a delectable dish just by being aware of our own capabilities as Chef du Life.

Just as a Culinary creation is a MANIFESTATION of ingredients the Chef chooses and the method in which each dish is cooked, for those who cannot Cook, can still apply themselves to creating Happiness which is the best dish that can be served on the Platter of Life.

LIFE is a chain of events woven through the string of every breath we take and how events happen is entirely under our control as much as converting Milk into Yogurt is. This is no rocket science. It happens as a result of choosing the right ingredients, following a procedure and then leaving the rest to Divine Process. I am sure none of us ate Yogurt while being aware of that process. We just took it for granted.

Just by acknowledging and being aware of this gift we possess, we can actually Manifest an Idea or a Dream or an Ambition into REALITY with the same expertise of a Master Chef who can cook an award winning dish. But it can happen only if we make an investment of time in visiting the super market of thoughts and choosing ingredients wisely, being aware of the procedure and then leaving the rest to Divine Process.

Unfortunately most of humanity is prone to follies and goes through life hoping to reap a rich harvest without sowing the seeds of the desired event and nurturing the crop.

Unless we regularly run the Tractor of Conscience on the Field of our Mind, Plant the seeds of an event at the sub conscious level, Fertilise our minds with positivity and hope, weed out the pests of doubt and lack of faith and then leave the rest to the Divine Process it is impossible to reap a rich harvest of Happiness. But are we aware and do we try?

Reminds me of the story where a Man goes through his entire life praying to God that he wins a Lottery. But no Luck. He prays and prays and prays some more but doesn't win a lottery till he dies. When he meets with God he asks God " what was the use of my praying so much all my life and I still didn't win a lottery even once ". God replies " my friend you should have at least bought a Ticket ".

So what if some of us cannot create culinary delights...we can still create Happiness which is the first and best ingredient of any Life . Remember...there is a Master Chef inside each one of us.

Some times its best to use ones command over the Queen's fine Language called English and say Nothing

And that is exactly what I had decided to do today.

Writing is getting addictive and Cooking is already an addiction gone to a point beyond redemption.

I thought only Cooking was a Therapeutic experience for me, but as it turns out Writing is adding that dimension and jostling for space on the Holy Pedestal in my Life alongside COOKING. And I thought, at 42 its too late to happen. Correction... Almost impossible to happen.

Reminds me of reading about an American Senior high Achieving Bureaucrat who was appointed to the Patents office in early 1900's. He was extremely disappointed because he thought that his career had come to a dead end due to his transfer to the Patents office and he made that displeasure known. When asked the reason for his frustration, he said " There are already 90 Patents registered and everything that has to be invented has been invented. Whats left for me to do! ".

From then till now, a Few MILLION Patents have been registered and a few hundred are being registered every day.

Things continuously EVOLVE and nothing remains constant. AA Human Being is always WORK IN PROGRESS and as a species we posses umpteen layers which we can choose not be aware of OR... each layer can be unravelled, revealed and experienced through Awareness and Meditation or other Holistic methods one is comfortable with to delve deeper into the SELF. One thing is for sure, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE.

Like every dish that is cooked has to have a RECIPE with rightly chosen ingredients used in correct proportions for it to turn out Tasteful and immensely Enjoyable, LIFE too has its own recipe of certain very Critical ingredients, where the SELF within each of us is the Chef and the relationship with each and every BEING that we encounter, is a DISH. While a lot of ingredients remain common, some ingredients change depending on the Dish.

It may just help me if I delve deeper in the Kitchen of LIFE and take stock of the ingredients. Afterall how the dish turns out is going to depend on that!

Abilities of a Woman begin where the Man's ends

There are 3 men who decide to devote the rest of their life selflessly doing things for others and to be able to attain that divine gift they start praying. A Genie appears and grants each one of them 1 wish.

The 1st Man says, " Double my ability to do things for others . The Genie says "GRANTED ".

The second Man, not to be outdone, asks for his ability to be tripled. The Genie says " GRANTED ".

The Third man also wants to outshine his mates and asks for INFINITE ABILITY to do things for others. The Genie says I CANNOT GRANT YOU THAT WISH! The Man pleads, begs and grovels at the Gennie's feet and asks WHY? The Genie replies " IF I GRANT YOU THAT ABILITY, YOU WILL HAVE TO BECOME A WOMAN! "

Roughly about 50% of our Planet's population goes thru their entire life being just that. GIVERS. Be it as a Daughter, A Sister, A Wife, A Mother, A Friend, A Confidant, A Breadwinner and the Glue that keeps the family together. Need I say more?

Cooking is one form of continuously creating what others like, no matter whether the person cooking likes or not. But the person for whom food is made always likes it.
Ever wondered How? Why?

As I became aware of today. Being a Tuesday I was vegetarian but I made Fish in Soy/Ginger/Honey sauce, With Cous Cous and Rocket Salad with Walnut and Raisins for my Baby, who is 14 and we are currently fighting for the position of the tallest person in the house. You can guess how much of a baby he is.

And I wondered how many Mother's, how many times in their Lives, must have done this for us without tom tomming about it as I am doing.

The Man never gets out of the cradle, even the rope doesn't change. What changes is the hand that rocks the Cradle. Aren't we Men fortunate! I am learning to look at the Cradle I am in, making sure the rope is there and more importantly thanking God for blessing me with the hand that holds the rope.

It looks like a Chicken, walks like a Chicken, talks like a Chicken....it probably needs a little more time in the Microwave!

After years and years of trial and error and practice is one able to estimate without any professional Satellite aided hi-fi instruments, as to when the food is cooked just right and is ready for serving and eating with your loved ones.

Its one of those decisions of the day which should give you immense pleasure when you get it right. Unfortunately, we take that skill for granted. How about being AWARE of getting this right and patting yourself on the back for a job well done? Only if one had that rate of success with the other decisions one makes during the day to make a living. But Alas!

In Indian Cuisine we rarely eat anything which is uncooked or has reasonably realistic quantities of Oil and Spices in it. But this does make the food sinfully delicious. The only problem is that Indian Food is so good that after eating it, one feels hungry in about 5 to 6 days!

And then there are the Japanese who eat most of the food uncooked and sans Oil. Some one has commented that in Japan they call it SUSHI, in India we call it BAIT. Be that as it may, one rarely sees a fat Jap or hears of a Jap with Heart Ailments.
That is strictly our privilege to suffer!

After gorging on Indian food over the weekend one felt like eating Sushi. It also takes off the guilt you see.

If you ask Fish eaters, unless one is physically and spiritually involved in the process of selecting and buying the Fish, eating Fish is just not the same experience. And when it is in India, add to it the ISO 9002 CERTIFIED process of HAGGLING with the Fisher woman. But unfortunately this holy ritual doesn't exist in the super markets here.

After prancing up and down the Fish aisle many times over, the Norwegian Salmon succeeded in seducing me. Not being used to buying anything in 1, I selected two Fillets of Fresh Pink/Orange/Divine/Mouthwatering (call it what you may) Salmon.

Like some marriages are made in heaven, Thyme is a Herb which goes very well with Salmon, especially when infused in Olive Oil as a medium. I lovingly sliced the Salmon in fine strips with the same concentration of a 747 Pilot when he is Landing, and dipped those strips in Thyme infused Olive Oil and laid the slices out on a serving dish to allow the Salmon to soak in the flavor of Thyme and then added some Capers.

The white Paneer look-alike on the Star Shaped plate is FISH TAUFOO which went very well with Japanese Saba sauce dipping. Damn it was awesome!

Which reminds me, what did the Fish say when he hit a Concrete wall..." DAM "!

FOOD is an importantant part of a Balanced Life

A GOOD LAUGH is just as important to personal health as EATING RIGHT and EXERCISE.

If I had to list the top 3 healthy habits, they would be; BALANCED DIET, MIND NUMBINGLY SATISFYING SEX and LAUGHTER.

This may have been said often , but if we delve deeper and look beneath the obvious, all this is actually a Manifestation of intrinsic Character and fine qualities in a Person....just the tip of a solid Iceberg.

- To have Balanced Diet one has to have a Balanced Mind to correctly choose what we eat and posses the will power to not succumb to dietary indiscretions

- To have a healthy and satisfying sex life one needs to possess sterling qualities like Compassion, Thoughtfulness, Sense of humor, Sensitivity, Physical Fitness, Grooming, Appreciation of fine things in life, Ability to please the other person, Sense of Humor, Know how to give respect, Anticipate needs of others (the list is actually endless) for your Partner to unconditionally fuse with your own being and become one with you and set sail for "destination known, course unknown"

And

- Laughter improves our overall state of mind and sense of satisfaction with Life, raising our energy level, mood, out look on life and causing us to lean less on unhealthy "comfort" foods.

But these qualities take a lifetime to be developed and its always WORK IN PROGRESS.

Its not surprising how the three dimensions for a healthy life hold each others hands and form a Circle because they cannot exist in isolation.

To sum it up...." Life should be like a Chocolate. Being able to satisfy even when one is not hard "

There are 3 stages of a Man's life:

1. He believes in Santa Claus
2. He doesn't believe in Santa Claus and
3. He is Santa Claus!!

In this lifetime. what a delightful blessing it is to have;

- A Man who hears everything you have to say, with the greatest of interest, no matter how ridiculous you sound
- A Man who is the anchor to keep you within your defined co-ordinates, to ensure you don't go astray during stormy times
- A Man whom we need no clearance from when we have to take refuge in his Port of Shelter
- A Man who you can hug and get to feel the all embracing divine warmth hugging you back
- A Man who will forgive you no matter what and Shepherd you to the right path without being judgemental
- A Man who doesn't tell what to do, but lives and lets us watch him do it

What a privilege it is to be blessed with the presence of THE MAN....also known by God's other name.......Dad!'

It is when Dad is around that we believe in Santa Claus and then WE become Santa Claus when we are blessed with a Child. Then its Christmas time for the rest of our lives! (of course the Mother plays her silent but solid role of making Dad what he is).

Happiest memories of my life have been while being indulged by Dad in those special treats. Be it being rewarded one bottle of Energee (the good old MAFCO milk drink, also responsible for deduction in Marks because kids started spelling the word ENERGY as ENERGEE) per one round ran around Shivaji Park OR the eagerly longed for visits to the corner Sindhi Shop selling Dal Pakwan, Ragda Pattice, Pani Puri, and Falooda, OR the feeling of possessing untold wealth whenever Dad visited school and I felt that I could now buy everything the Canteen has to sell without worrying how much balance I had left, OR during my 10th Std Board exams as Dad and Mom waited outside the Exam Centre with loads of Puri Bhaji and Nimbu Pani to feed not only me but all my friends OR Dad returning from office on a week-end with Biryani and Raita from the Capital of Biryaniland - Delhi Darbar!

Its won't be difficult to guess that Dad had no idea of how to cook! As I delve deeper into those fond memories, "Food " has been the manifestation of diverse underlying sentiments like Reward, Indulgence, Abundance, Caring, Thoughtfulness, Sharing, Health and Well being.

Values taught and unknowingly etched on the sub-conscience at a very early stage of life but never specifically preached and diluted.

A Shayar has written a few nice lines in Urdu and its rough translation is
" SO WHAT IF I CANT GO TO A MOSQUE TO PRAY, LET ME PUT A SMILE ON A KIDS FACE ".

My own adaptation of that is "So what if I cannot visit a place of worship today, let me say my prayers by cooking for and feeding those I love " AMEN

If God had intended us to follow recipes, he wouldn't have given us Grandmothers and Mothers

There have been times when I have tried to be conventional and follow the Recipe Book (and given up closer to the start than towards the end of that ordeal) and then there have been joyous and incredibly liberating times when I have just experimented and gambled my way right from the Ingredients, to the Cuisine, to the Method of Cooking, to what ends up on the Table... including the Crockery on which the food is served. Oops......PRESENTED! I forgot to mention, I live with 2 Food Critiques:)

Add to that, my inherited liking for looking for Someone to eat and drink with, before looking for Something to eat and drink... and that's how this culinary endeavour morphs into a potpourri of exciting variables.

Very rarely have I gone into the Kitchen knowing what I am going to end up with. And for this I have to thank my 14 year old BIG bundle of joy Yashabh. He singularly deserves the credit for converting this imperfection of mine into an acceptable art form. Having been my experimental guinea pig from the day he started eating solid foods, Yashabh has only three requirements and his expectations are very basic when he is asked what he would like to eat.

His answer is either one out of " SOMETHING NICE or LOTS or SURPRISE ME!! " With this very specific and to-the-point brief to work with, my task is always exciting.

Today was one such day. I felt like making Jamaican Jerk Chicken and I ended up making Zanzibari Biryani and Shahi Gravy. Here is the F.I.R :)

Ingredients
FOR RICE /PILAF

1 Cup premium Long Grain Rice, Chicken Stock Cube, 4 Green Cardamoms, 4 Cloves and 4 Bay Leaves

FOR CHICKEN

3 Chicken Leg Pieces, 1 TBSP Ginger/Garlic Paste, Salt to taste, Pinch of Turmeric, 1 Tsp Coriander and Cumin seed Powder and 2 TBSP Curds

FOR SHAHI GRAVY

8 Cashew Nuts, 1 Cup Milk, 1 Finely Chopped Onion, 1 TBSP Brown Sugar and Oil for sauteing

Method
Soak Rice in Water and add all other ingredients and leave alone for about 20 minutes. Cook Rice in a manner that each grain remains loose.

Marinade the Chicken in a mixture of above ingredients for a few hours. Then preheat a Pan, add Oil and when Oil is heated place the Marinated Chicken Legs and cook them till they are nicely and evenly cooked to the bone and are light brown.

Soak the Cashew Nuts in the Milk right at the beginning. Fry the finely chopped Onions on another Pan till brown and add brown sugar to caramelise the onions and then add the remainder of spices. Once this concoction comes together put it in a blender with the Milk and Cashew Nuts till it becomes a fine gravy of even and smooth consistency.

Take a large plate and place the yummy Chicken Legs. Mainly around it (and a little over it) sprinkle the loose rice which is now richly fragrant. Serve it with the Shahi Gravy in a separate Bowl. BON APPETITE!

(Did I mention that Yashabh rates me on a scale of 1 to 10 for TASTE and then a similar rating for PRESENTATION!!)

The wobbly first steps....

Welcome to the Temple of Divine Food. Lettuce Pray!

We may choose not to be aware, but our Stomachs rule our Mind. For non-believers, please try staying hungry and be aware of the games the mind plays! Do it at your own risk though. But honestly, NOT RECOMMENDED.
Food and Sex have always fought for the pride of place, as THE BEST THING EVER and the results have varied depending on whether one is more Hungry or Horny!
The common thread between the two is both possess the magical powers to satisfy all 5 senses........ Hearing, Smell, Sight, Touch and Taste. I revere 'Food ' with the same Sentiment and abject submission.
However, the Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of FOOD and it hasn't been romanticised and worshipped in the manner it deserves to be, inspite of the fact that one has Food more often than one has Sex (stop counting and read on....). If you happen to know of someone who has Sex more often than he/she has Food, I want to personally bow down to him/her with the greatest humility and recommend that persoon to the NOBEL Award Committee!
If Sex is MAKING LOVE, Food is SHOWING LOVE. And Life is all about loving. If the food one creates, satisfies all 5 senses before it reaches the Stomach, you have shown love in many different ways, to those who mean so much to you. First and foremost YOURSELF.
Good food, no matter ín which Country it is cooked, the method in which it is cooked or the variety of ingredients that may go into it.........it has one common ingredient..........LOVE.
With that conviction I take my first wobbly step in the world of blogging.....