Bohemian Bongo

Exhale

2011-04-14T11:21:00.000-09:00

I had almost forgotten about this blog of mine...the last post I made on it was in 2008! Goodness gracious, its been 3 years since I wrote here. Yes, I had created a cooking blog but altogether I have just been MIA from the blogging world. It started to seem kind of pointless, writing out opinions, thoughts, observations into a void. What exactly was I getting out of it? Well, I guess it could be just getting the words out of my head. I started writing the blog to keep friends posted while I was traveling, but friends have busy lives. They don't have the time to stop and read a blog to find out what you are up to, heck, they hardly have the time (or inclination) to even type a hello in an email! I am totally guilty of that as well. But, I do digress. Why did I stop writing a blog? Or writing at all? Was it because I just lost interest? Possibly. I do have a history of holding onto interests for too short a period! So, what has happened in the last three years? Today is the 1st day of the Bengali New Year, the year 1418. It only seems appropriate to mark the occasion with a new beginning.

New beginning...

There has been quite a few 'new beginnings' in the past 3 years. Many ups and downs, few more downs then ups but the ups were big enough to make-up for the higher quantity of downs. In short, my marriage ended, my trust in people and relationhips faded, I had to re-think, re-organize my entire life and start from scratch with zero savings. It reads a lot harsher than it was or maybe in retrospect, I have been able to look back without the heaviness. It was a dark period but, I was determined not to drown in it. I was determined to find myself again and be true to who I was. To never again fail to lisen to my heart, instinct, inner voice or spirit guides. I had to learn to look at myself in the mirror again without feeling like I was looking at a stranger. It was a lot of kicking and screaming but am much stronger...perhaps a bit bruised and jaded...having been through it.

Having been through the most negative and dark time of my life, there is a positive side. I managed to leave a bad marriage before I was lost completely, found out how to distinguish between friends that belong in the inner most circle of my life and friends who remain on the outer 'responsibility free' zone, found my voice and finally learned to be selfish - in a good way. From a young age, when I learned what regret meant, I had decided that I would live a life free from regret, that on my death bed, I would exhale my last breath being happy to have lived a full life. Up until about 3 years ago, I abided by it strictly, making no excuses but also accepting mistakes, learning from them and trying my hardest not to repeat them. Life is a learning experience and you are not truly living if you don't take risks and get a few screapes and burns along the way. But it has been difficult, the fact that my marriage did not work was difficult to accept, the failing. Only now am I able to go past it, forgive, accept and continue to have love...trust is still a tough one...for myself and for others.

But there is a happy ending around the corner for this story! It is 2011, and I am renewed, refreshed and recognizable! I am at a place where I am happy, I have found love, I have found myself. Am I still a New Yorker? I like to think so, I belive I have the heart and preservering spirit that new yokers are known for. Am I still Lost in the Third World? Well, I still do feel like a foreigner most of the time in my birth city, despite having lived here for so long. Am I still a Bohemian? Hmmm....I am no longer a wanderer or lead a gypsy like lifestyle, but I belive I will always live a life that is slightly off kilter from the conventional, as it happens, when one lives with passion and heart, one cannot be bound by conventional rules and practices!

So, here I exhale...I feel free...ready for more new beginnings!

Cooking blog

2008-03-15T03:03:00.000-09:00

I know I know I have been really lazy about updating this blog. I have a good excuse - this bohemian is no longer much of a traveling adventurer! The most exciting adventures are happening in the kitchen - thus my new addition to the blog world: Ishy's Eats at ishyseats.blogspot.com.

Check it out once in a while and I will work on updating this one =)

...in Transit once again...

2007-12-06T14:03:00.000-09:00

Its 7AM at Hong Kong airport and I am sitting here quite alone (literally!) at my gate waiting for my 1015AM flight. How long have I been waiting - oh abt 2 hours! Thank goodness for free Wi-Fi!! C is right - all things worth having should always be free.. love Google for that! - ok that was going on tangent... back at the Cathay Pacific gate watching the light come up over Hong Kong. I see shadows that may possibly be mountains or just buildings hidden under fog. I am absolutely starving! I could go wandering through the airport to find some eats but - just too lazy. Figure I will just distract myself being online talking to Sheetz and writing on blog or listening to Proust. C downloaded How Proust Can Change Your Life in my Nano - so instead of reading a book, I am to improve my listening skills and learn about Proust through a book on tape. I am looking forward to it - the experience - I realized I am not too good of a listener. My mind tends to wander if I am involved in topics I have no interest in - its really terrible - I hear but not really register or listen. So, most of the time I must have a vacant glazed look or something around people! I now see the advantage of having a good partner and balanced relationship where we help each other become better as people or improve our selves.

Apologies for another tangent. Back in Hong Kong airport... the shadows have turned out to be or at least look like from where I am - a hill/mountain of some sort - probably at some distance off. I think i will go hunt for some grub after all...next stop following a 16+hr journey - JFK aitport, NY.

wait - I actually glimpsed the bright orange ball lighting the morning sky light tangerine - Its playing a fun game of hide-n-seek with those marshmallow clouds!

Creating new blog...

2007-10-18T04:06:00.000-09:00

I am debating on creating a whole new blog on just cooking ideas, recipes and experiments. It will host only food related blogs. Let's see what happens. Right now I have a hard enough time coming up with writing anything at all! But I am always whipping something up in the kitchen...

Fruit Desserts

2007-10-18T03:02:00.001-09:00

For Eid I ended up making 3 fruit dishes. Why? I over estimated and had a surplus of fruits so had to do something with it.

Main - Leche de Fruit (ok - i made it up-- have a better idea?)

Combination of soft and hard fruits cut to bite size pieces.
I used: red apples, bananas, starfruit, guava, pineapple

fresh grated coconut shavings
Can of sweetened condensed milk

In a large decorative platter make a thin layer of coconut shavings. Dunk all the fruit in the condensed milk and make layers of fruits and top it all with coconut shavings. The starfruits looked so pretty that I had small toothpicks inserted and the pieces standing like stars around the dish. The kids loved it =)

Fruits 2:

Mix of fruits sprinkled with sugar, garam masala and black salt. I had put it inside a emptied watermelon turned into a bowl.

Fruits 3:

Mix of fruits with salt and kasondi. Kasondi is a mustard seed concoction. It was a nice kick of spicy and and sweet. Kasondi is like a preserve so it keeps if fresh hard fruits.

Eid in Dhaka

2007-10-18T01:58:00.000-09:00

Eid in Dhaka and with C and his family was completely a different experience for me. I haven't celebrated Eid in its true sense in many years. This year – we started the festivities off with a Mendhi Night with all the women in the family. C hired two mendhi artists so that everyone could relax and enjoy. I made food to keep all full. It was a hit. Everyone had the hands adorned with mendhi for Eid. Games were played and general good time. Our first “party” was a success. I have always wanted to have such a party and in Dhaka it was possible. The food was a spread of Indian, western and Bangladeshi food – a lil something unique for the palate – a welcome change from the month of pakoras and haleem of Ramadaan. Maybe it will become a tradition for us?!

Food:
Fresh fruit with condensed milk and fresh coconut
Fresh fruit with mustard dressing (served in decorative watermelon)
Fresh fruit chaat w/ black salt (also served in decorative watermelon)
Deviled Eggs
Fresh chutney sandwich
Ground beef kababs
Potato Tikkis (kababs)
Chips with homemade salsa
Fresh watermelon juice cocktail

Yes - a lot of fruit - just ended up overestimating and had to do something with the surplus!

Recipes and Pics are going to be posted soon.

Rainy Day

2007-10-18T01:40:00.000-09:00

Its a gray, wet and rainy day in Dhaka. I sat down after almost 10 days of no writing. I had a head full of ideas on what to write from the excitement of Eid in Dhaka to other mini adventures. But, here I am, with nothing to write. Kind of seems pointless. I started this blog, as a online diary, to keep in touch and friends posted on my life away from NY but who has the time to actually read blogs? Unless you are an active part on the online community, why would one read this? To be fair, a few friends read up on my day to day boring stuff. My life has become dull! No amount of creative writing is going to make it any more exciting. For the first time I have a very long period of no activity. Oh, there are things to keep me busy... but nothing to write home about, literally =)

I guess I'll post a couple of recipes and maybe some reviews.

Sooner than expected

2007-10-06T21:24:00.000-09:00

I had expected the whole citizenship process to take upto a year - from my brother's experience - but turns out that USCIS has become increasingly efficient. Who would have figured that!! I applied for citizenship in April (finally after delaying for years). Everyone advised it would be 6 mons before they call me for finger printing - mmm - they called me in 1.5 mons later!! Then I was advised it would most likely take until February 2008 to get called in for an interview/oath - so i had made plans accordingly. I came to Dhaka and expected to return to NY by mid-Jan before my 6 mon was up and stay until I was finished with the interview process and catch my friends wedding too.

All plans out the window - got a letter asking me to an interview on Dec. 19 - thats 8 mons for those keeping track! So, I am back in NY for couple weeks in Dec to become an Am citizen =) A lot sooner than the 1 yr that was predicted/advised!

C and I

2007-10-06T06:19:00.000-09:00

Over the past few weeks - somehow C and I seem to be on a weekly date! Its nice to get out and spend time - who says you can't date after marriage!!!

We went on a date on Fri - we started the evening off with playing pool! Usually not a respectable place for a woman - we went early and booked a table - only 2 other tables were being played. C ended up winning all 3 games we play =( but I learned a lot of tips from him. We are determined to have a pool table and table tennis table in our home! By the time we were getting tired, it had been 2 hours. So about 9pm. We hailed a rick and went to a mexican restaurant (it actually is pretty authentic!!). I ordered a burrito that was way toooo spicy but the nachos were yummy. C ordered a honey bbq chicken that was perfect proportion vs. american giant portions. C's cuz joined us and we drove to get some ice cream where we ran into a friend of theirs. After some chit chat and laughs, we came home - 11:30pm. Now - my stomach was upset =( argh!

Its nice to be able to go on a date with your husband - we get talk about things that otherwise maybe we wouldn't. and always an excuse for some extra romance =)

Life of Emile Zola

2007-10-06T05:54:00.000-09:00

The film about the life of French writer is a definite must see for all. Why? You learn so much!! He was a man that stood his ground on portraying the world as he saw it. He was a naturalist writer (?). He lived in poverty - he wrote about - without any romanticism - about society from the perspective of the poor. He questioned the society around them by exposing the hypocrisies of daily life. He stood up against the government and demanded he have the rights entitled to him. He fought with his pen and words against the entire French army during a time that the people could see no flaws in the army and its government.

It is an inspiring film - makes you get off your bum and affect a change in the world around you.

I am reading his first book - Nana - its provocative story about the life of a Parisian prostitute pre WWII. It was considered blasphemous and disgusting during its time. The story is an analogy to so much more - a social commentary. If you have a chance - pick it up.

Nana: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_(novel)
Emile Zola: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Zola

Ugly

2007-10-03T19:16:00.000-09:00

Today I feel Ugly! My face is dried out despite moisturizing and its getting these spots on my cheeks and not to mention acne all over lower part of the face - especially my chin. i have never has Soooo much acne to deal with!! WTF is going on?????? and my hair - another fiasco - its gotten even curlier if that is possible! Its impossible to put brush or comb for fear of having an birds nest like afro! Its frizzy and all over the place. What am I doing wrong? I wash my hair every two days cause it so hot and dry here. And --- my hair is falling out!! Every time I pull my hand through it - fistfuls of hair come out... what do I do?? Argh!!

Mistress of Spices

2007-10-02T01:19:00.000-09:00

On our weekly date - C and I usually pic up 5-6 dvds - split between what each of us wants to watch. Usually a sprinkling of sci-fi, bollywood, asian, documentary and action. I wanted to pick up Mistress of Spices last time but the book wasn't that good and C gave me one of his "r u serious!?" looks that I retracted from it. I was just curious what the movie was like with Aishwarya Rai and Dylann McDermott. Lo' and behold - the very next day on Star Movies - what do i see when i flip through - aha! "Mistress of Spices"!

The movie is terrible in my opinion. It was just poorly written script. There were elements in the book that made it a fantasy but those elements were removed in the movie. First and foremost - the main character, Tilo comes to us in guise of an old woman, wrinkly and all. But, inside she is a young woman. As mistress of spices, that is the mask she must wear and give up all personal lust/needs. In the film - Ash is her regular Ash self - albeit they kept her in fashionable cotton saris with a single plait an a supposed look of indian conservatism.

There is a point in the book that she uses the spices power for herself to turn her into a young woman - and the love of Doug (McDermott) is supposed to recognize (and love her) despite her physical change. In the film - she has a friend help her transform into a bollywood Ash - with halter top red blouse and sheer red sari, fancy make-up and hair open. Ugh! The whole mystical, magical and fantasy of the book is completely lost!!

Don't bother to see it - unless you are just curious to see a bad film. Another attempt by Ash to do a Hollywood-y flick!

Sniffles

2007-10-01T22:54:00.000-09:00

I went out yesterday to run some errands - buying ceiling fans, lights, etc. - for the new apt. At the market - it just started pouring! I came home with a tickle in my throat. Last night I went to bed with sweat pants and my long sleeved high school t-shirt (most comfy shirt ever!) and whaddaya know - I wake up with really tickly throat and sniffles galore =(

Argh!! Ever since I got here, its like I am destined to get sick! I hardly come here during this time of the year - possibly the weather - it rains randomly. Temp is usually 88-9o degrees. But we stay in A/C most of the day. I dunno what it is - any advice on boosting immune system? I can't bear to drink any haldi/milk concoctions!!

SiCKO

2007-10-01T22:49:00.000-09:00

C and I finally watched Michael Moore's "Sicko" the other day and it just made us go "hmmm.."
If you haven't watched it - well, you should. It points out how most of the nations in the world can manage to have universal healthcare but US being one of the richest nations cannot have healthcare to take care of its poor, elderly and sick. There are many arguments against socialized medical - one of them being that one will not receive the best medical treatment if its government run. Hmmm - maybe thats only an issue in the US. Our firefighter, police, libraries are government run and we still receive adequate service (depending on your demographics).

In UK there is even doctors that are on call to come to the sick at home! That would be unheard of nowadays. I remember when my little brother was struck with chicken pox and my father was away with the car and my mother had no means of transportation. It would have been a great service to be able to call a doctor at home to check on his high temperature, don't you think? Instead of calling an ambulance (which cost a pretty penny once u get the bill) and having him stay at the hospital (which, at the time even with insurance, practically was impossible for us to pay).

I haven't had medical insurance since - well, college where it was included as part of our tuition. Why? I have been working as a consultant and the agency I work for offered benefits, but it covered so little and my deductible was so much that it just wasn't worth it. It was better for me to pay cash to see the doctors just to avoid all the headaches and hassles of paperwork! But heck - I still paid a lot of taxes. Now - if I had universal healthcare - then add another tax and take out of paycheck if that means if I am sick i don't have to be tense about seeing the doctor and worrying about bills.

I am babbling yes - but its an issue the US really needs to fix - why can other nations provide free education and healthcare but the US claims to not be able to do it - but instead spend zillions in a war that most of the nation is against? Is that democracy?

Interesting fact that my little brother (well he is 16) relayed to me - How many countries allow/is it legal for pharmaceuticals to directly advertise to consumers? Answer: 2 (US & New Zealand). I found that interesting. I detest the ads. Only doctors should recommend any medications. A person without medical background is illiterate to diagnose themselves for an illness! Symptoms can be the same for many different diagnosis.

There is one ad that I detest - its an otc painkiller - the ad shows a person exhausted - muscle aches from playing with their kids, headaches from work stress, backaches from working - the answer - take this pain killer and resume your life! WHAT!! If the body is in pain - that means - slow down! Give it a break, rest! Be a healthy human being rather than drugging your body and pushing it beyond its capabilities!! Shouldn't the government be taking care of its citizens, making sure they are healthy?

I can go on and on with the gripes I have - When I remember these things - that my education debt will take forever to pay off, my credit sucks cause I haven't been able to pay off some medical bills, that having debt is a part of life in the US - it just makes me happy that C and I moved out. Medical care here is really just as good if not better cause doctors listen and then take care of you. The treatments I have received so far has cost far less ($500 vs. $50) with the same equipment and better service. I was able to take care of a dental problem - a root canal and cap - here in Dhaka for far less ($5,000 vs, $500).

C and I are debating - once we are done in Dhaka, maybe we will move to France. Hmmm - according to "SiCKO" the french gov't sends a nanny to help new moms!

Time to start learning some French with my free time!!

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Confessions

2007-09-27T00:06:00.000-09:00

Some things you cannot relate to unless you actually do experience it. Over the last several weeks I have gone through a difficult time. It made me realize a lot about myself. Most importantly - to apologize for judging people. Things happen in peoples lives that we never expect or dream that we will have to confront or deal with. In those situation our morals and ethic - the fiber of who we are - are tested. I humbly apologize to those who I judged for being hypocrites. I have misunderstood that some things are bigger than our lives and our beliefs and often out of our control all together. Some things are sacrificed for a greater good. Whatever it may be - i solemnly vow to just be understanding and non-judgmental towards people. Compassion is difficult trait to master but it is very necessary for people. I am lucky to have a compassionate partner in life and friends. I hope I can re-pay their friendship in equal.

Whew!

2007-09-25T03:56:00.000-09:00

I needed a new start.. a fresh look so, I revamped this blog! Its been 3 days in the making and C has been an active participant. He has taught me coding and I actually managed to re-design the site using only coding!! So, Tada!! Here it is! New stuff all over and there will be more stuff added - like cooking links (measurements/easy recipes), best seller lists and the latest books out, interesting places to travel to and simple musings that make everyday fun!

So, I am going to pledge to be more active on the blogging thing and try not to fall off the earth again!

Let me know what u think! Ciao!
(I am starving!)

Tomato Chicken with Bell Peppers and Raw Bananas

2007-09-24T07:43:00.001-09:00

We had a serious surplus of small green raw bananas after C's aunt sent over 2 batches over 1 week! I had never cooked or had raw bananas and it sat for another week till I was forced to figure out what to do with it. Our cook/servant only knew of using them in fish curries and I am not fond of buying fish (a lil scared!) so - we had to get creative. So one night we cooked it with beef curry and replaced potatoes with the bananas. The next day we boiled it a bit and then cut them like fries and cooked them like fries as a snack - realized it can be cooked like potatoes! Apparently 1 raw banana is equivalent to 1 potato in starch/carbs.

We had a half a big bell pepper left over and before it spoiled I wanted to use it up. But when he went to cut it - it was already half spoiled! So we had only a few pieces of bell peppers - hardly enough for even 1/4 of a chicken! Looked around - and aha! the dang raw bananas!! Cut them into little pieces and added them to the pile - wallah! Enough base for a good curry.

So here goes me experiment - brahahaha! It started off as a recipe I saw online but by the time I was cooking it - it became something quite different!

You need...
Chicken - cut into bite size marinate in 1 tsp salt
Bell pepper - 1 is enough for 1/2 chicken
Raw Banana - I used about 4 - these are small
2 Tomatoes or canned tomato puree will work
Onion, Garlic, ginger pastes (mixed about 3-4 table spoons)
Garam Masala - 1 tsp
Red Chili powder
Fresh green chili - split lengthwise on top
Sugar
Salt
Oil
Fresh Coriander leaves
Bay leaf
Cinnamon stick
Tomato Ketchup 1-2 tsp (optional for a sweet/sour taste)

Prep time: efficient kitchen and quick chopping will take no time at all =)
Cook time: 15-20mins

Heat some oil in pan. Fry the banana, green chili and bell pepper. Take out and put aside - try not to overcook it.

In a blender, make a tomato puree. Take tomato or tomato puree, 2-3 cloves of garlic, pinch of salt, red chili powder and ketchup. Put aside.

In same oil put the pastes (onion, garlic, ginger) and fry till the oil rises to top. Put in the cleaned chicken pieces and fry for a bit. Pour in the puree and toss. Add the garam masala, a bit of salt, sugar. Let it boil for a few minutes. Put in the bananas and let it simmer. In 5 minutes put in the peppers and green chili so its still a bit crunchy.

Taste to see if it needs more sugar or salt. If its strong taste - add sugar to tone down and even the taste. It should be spicy, little sour and a little sweet and will smell and taste like chinese =)

Serve with fresh coriander sprinkled on top. It will look a nice reddish curry with green peppers/coriander and white-ish chicken.

Its a crazy concoction but it tasted surprisingly good with some rice! Btw - it isn't necessary to add the bananas - I added them cause I had so much to get rid off!

Peanut Butter Balls

2007-09-24T07:23:00.000-09:00

C wanted something sweet after dinner the other night and for once there was nothing in the house-- being it was 11pm - no stores to go buy smth either - so the next day i went hunting for some recipes and came across this easy yummy recipe and decided to make a batch and always have in the fridge for that sudden sweet tooth craving!

You need...
Peanut butter
Sugar
powdered milk (optional)
Cinnamon(Optional)
Chocolate shavings of ur choice (optional)

In a bowl mix all ingredients to form a firm dough ball of the peanut butter. Taste along the way for sweetness that you like. Then take tiny bits and form little balls - I make little bite size about size of malt balls. Then roll them in some powdered sugar and cinnamon mix to seal and stick them in a box and into the fridge. Pop one whenever you feel like one =)

Note of Caution: pop sparingly - unless you want to start looking like a ball!

Feeling Energetic...

2007-09-24T07:03:00.000-09:00

...for a little while. I got all ready to go out in the afternoon and then decided to check email before stepping out... giving the sun a chance to cool down. Well, I got stuck. I ended up getting inspired to change my whole blog page! Before I knew it - 3 hours had passed and C had already come home from work! (Ramadaan working days are shorter so he comes home by 3.30-4.00 PM - Yipee!) We go out for a bit and check out a training center where they teach you cool things like Batik work and block and screen printing. Then we walked to Almas general store and picked up some chocolate for both our midnight sweet tooths - Cadbury milk chocolates and Snicker bars (more his then mine ;) Then we passed by the regular Iftaar stands and I had a craving for some Haleem (yuum!!!!) So we picked some up - crossed the road dodging speeding buses, manic cars and wobbly rickshaws and came home. The Haleem was the best I have had yet!! I was still feeling antsy so I decided to make some more peanut butter balls since we were running out. C fell asleep - so he has been taking a nap and I went back to work on updating my blog interface.

Before I knew it - it was 9.30 - yikes and no dinner ready yet!! Luckily C still sleeping - Alom (our servant) and I improvise in the kitchen with some leftovers and out comes a Chinesey chicken dish with green bell peppers, tomato sauce and raw bananas! (Don't worry - the recipes for both will be up soon!!)

So, now I am quite content and a bit tired - so going to go wake up C, eat dinner and pass out. Time now: 10:15 pm.

Fun stuff

2007-09-06T05:05:00.000-09:00

After days of doing nothing - i finally found something fun to do. Cal hooked my laptop to download my videos so I have been using the editing software to edit my films! I just started few days ago - and so far worked on a short video for Ava Noor (my sister-in-law's niece who is the cutest lil baby) and then I started on my the footage of my students dancing at this years Lotus show. Currently I am working on Rang de Nila footage to put up for view. Rang de Nila stuff will have a professional working on it but i am working on just a simple version to have up while he finds time on his schedule to start the editing. Its a lot of fun! To cut and paste music, split images and sew them together! I will post them up on my website most likely once I find internet with speed enough to upload!

Other fun stuff has been the new apt. Today we took measurements and I went to some furniture stores to check out prices and window shopping. i totally miss US stuff - nothing here exactly fits my taste - but as they say - when in Rome... - so i picked out a color scheme to paint the walls with and Saturday will go out the blocks to imprint on the walls. I'll send pics as it progresses.

Mi Casa es...

2007-09-06T04:52:00.000-09:00

Its been about a month and a half since being in dhaka now. The political unrest is a little bit under control.

From what I understand - the riots were started by the political parties taking an opportunity to bring down the military in the eyes of the people. The two ruling parties has been like a feuding family for the last 20 years or so. They were the sole causes on unrest in the city as they tried to one-up the other. So, it seems when the students stood up against the army to step off the campus grounds - the two parties paid off a few 100 students to star a city wide riot to demonstrate the ineptness of the current army government. But the reality is - the army not only complied but also took it further by calling a gearing so the students had a floor to speak about the situation. When curfew and city shutdown was announced to stop the riots - the parties went nuts. They played their old tricks of calling out to the "west" and asking for the return of democracy and save the country from military control. The military, meanwhile, has been working better for the people than ever before to maintain peace and bringing justice so the common people can feel safe. Granted - the military gv't has its own set of issues but politics isn't perfect. When the so called "democratic" parties were in place - Bangladesh was ranked the world's #1 corrupt country! Now, under military gov't there is voter registration - photo and thumb print ID - in place so the election being held in Dec 2008 will be a fair and just election. The leaders of the parties and families are in jail or in exile. People seriously hope that the 2008 election brings about a fair and just gov't in place and run it with the people in mind rather than for personal power and greed. Most people have lost hope - it is common to hear - "eh, nothings going to change" but there are few hopefuls that are holding out thankfully.

Recipe for Fried Eggplant

2007-09-06T03:48:00.000-09:00

This eggplant dish is one of my favorites.

Spices needed

Salt
Turmeric
Oil

optional
onion/garlic/cumin/coriander paste

Cut the eggplant into thick slices about 1/2 in thick. Make paste with few drops of water, turmeric, salt (add the optional paste if you want) and mix. Take the eggplant slices and coat both sides well. Heat up the oil in a fry pan. Once hot, place the eggplant slices in the oil. Turn down the heat and let it cook. Turning over midway to cook the other side. Its done when the eggplant is soft and falling apart in the middle a bit.

serve warm with rice or roti. its delicious!

Recipe: Sweet, Spicy, Sour Chicken Curry

2007-09-06T03:23:00.000-09:00

I saw this recipe on TV the other night and tried out last night. Cal loved it. It gives a really unique taste to chicken curry... here goes the recipe.

You will need
Chicken - cut into pieces
Oil - for deep frying
Onion - chopped
Garlic - chopped
Ginger - chopped
Sour yogurt
Salt
Black Pepper
Chili Powder - adjust to your taste
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Bay leaf - 1 big
Cardamom - 2-3 pods
Cinnamon stick - half of 1
sugar
fresh chili and coriander

Clean chicken and cut to desired pieces. Marinate in salt and black pepper for abt 1/2 hr. Deep fry in oil just until it puffs up - it doesn't have to fully cook. Put aside for later. In the oil cook the onion, garlic and ginger till onions are transparent. Put in all the spices - adjust to your taste. Stir and cook the spices for a bit then put in the chicken and mix in with the spices. Pour water or chicken stock to cook the chicken in - cover and let simmer. Mix in sugar and salt into yogurt to your taste of how sour you want. Pour in the yogurt once the water is boiling. Stir well and cover and let simmer. Once the yogurt is cooked (it starts really soaked in the chicken) you have few options. You can adjust the sweet (add a bit more sugar), spicy (add a bit more chili powder) and sour (by adding sour yogurt).

option 1: mix in some green chili (split in half) and top it off with fresh coriander
option 2: mix in some almonds and cook for 2 more mins and serve with some almond slivers on top.
option 3: fry some onions till crispy and serve with it sprinkled on top.

Serve with fluffy white rice or parothas.

Recipe for Tehari

2007-08-28T21:22:00.000-09:00

Today is first time I cooked it...

You will need:
Mutton or beef
onion paste
garlic paste
ginger paste
(i usually cut up all 3 and just stick it in blender together to make paste)
Coriander (dhaniya) powder
Cumin (Jeera) powder
(if you have seed forms of both - roast in dry pan then put in blender to powder it)
Cardamom (elachi)
Cinnamon stick
Cloves
Black pepper
Red Chili powder
fresh green chili
Yougurt
Bay Leaves
Salt

Cut the meat into bite size pieces (remember they shrink so cut a lil bigger than bite size) and wash well. Mix in yogurt with all the spices except the rice and green chili - let it marinate for 1/2 hr. Let it simmer and boil till meat is tender and medium well done. While thats cooking, wash the pulao rice and drain the water out well. Using a cheese cloth works well. Pour some ghee in a separate pan and fry the dry rice until it takes on a darkish color. Once its thoroughly fried pour it in with the beef mixture. Stir well and pour some more warm water and tightly cover (don't let steam out) and let cook. Stir once in a while to make sure its not sticking to the bottom. Pour some ghee or warm water if it is too dried out. Serve warm with some salad.

I am not very good with measurements and never cook measuring out. I eyeball and guesstimate how much is required depending on quantity of what I am cooking. One onion = 3 gloves of garlic = abt 2 tablespoons of ginger paste. The salt, cumin and coriander powder really depends on your personal taste - I put more cumin in when cooking red meats as it gives a good flavor. So for a single portion it would require abt 1 tablespoon of jeera and 1/2 of cumin. you can adjust to fit your taste. For single portion it would take abt 3 pods of cardamom, 4 cloves and 1 one inch cinnamon stick.

I just had some from my first batch - its delicious!

Recipe for Halwa

2007-08-28T21:09:00.001-09:00

Halwa

Depending on what flavor
Semolina (Suji)
Carrot
Chole
Green Papaya
anything can be made a halwa

Suji Halwa

Ghee (clarified Butter)
Cardamom pods/seeds
Dar Chini (Cinnamon sticks)
Sugar
Milk/Warm water

Pour some ghee (clarified butter) in a pan and heat. When its warm enough put in some elachi (cardamom seeds) and cinnamon sticks and let it warm and let flavor out. Then put in the semolina and fry it in the ghee. it should be a 3:1 ratio abt. it shouldn't soak in the ghee-the suji should be dry and frying in the ghee. fry and toss till it starts taking color. should be off-whiteish to reddish. Then pour in milk or warm slowly till it rolls into a pasty ball. It will start of crumbly. It needs to get to a cohesive smooth ball. Once it in a ball you can do 1 of two things. Leave as is in a bowl and mix in some raisin or almonds or cashews and serve warm or cool. Other option - lay it out in a flat dish and flatten halwa at desired thickness - usually 1/2 inch thick - when cool cut with knife into diagonals and stick a bit of raisin on top. or mix the whole thing with slivers of almonds/cashews and then cut into diagonals.

When doing Papaya or carrot - make into pulp by grating - then follow above instructions w/o using suji.

I am still learning - but thats how I made 1st batch...