Mom's special Rava Cake

 Ingredients

1. Rava/ Sooji ( Semolina) 1 cup

2. Jaggery 1/2 cup

3. Dry fruits ( cashew, almond and raisins) 1/4 cup

4. Cardamom powder 1 teaspoon

5. Ghee 1 and 1/2 table spoon 

6. Baking soda and baking powder  1/2 teaspoon 

Method

1. Sieve the rava alongwith baking powder and baking soda keep aside.

2. Heat a kadai put the jaggery powder along with 1/2 cup water to boil. Let it boil and dissolve completely turning into a syrup. Boil the dissolved jaggery for five minutes. Let it cool

3. Mix the rava in the cooled down jaggery syrup mix well, keep it aside for 10 minutes.

4. Chop the cashew and almonds into small pieces

5. Add the chopped cashew, almonds and raisins into the rava mix. Mix well add the cardamom powder and one tablespoon ghee.

6.  Now grease the cake tray with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon ghee nicely. Pour the mixture into a cake tray or any deep round tray.

7. Heat a steamer and steam the cake for 20 minutes on low flames.

8. Check it with a knife. If the knife comes out clean it's done. It's cooked well.

9. Switch off the flame remove the tray from the steamer and let it cool down completely.

10. Loosen the side of the cake with a knife and remove the cake into a plate by tapping it upside down

The cake is now ready to be served.

The innocence

Some happenings just leave an imprint on your memory pad. I am quoting down such a memory of mine. This was the year 1996, I was now a mother to two children, one 9yrs old and the other six months. I had come down to Kolkata,  alongwith my kids, to enjoy some precious moments, with my parents, and to straighten my back. My 9yr old, was the apple of eye, of his grandparents, and he took full advantage to do all pranking. On the other side, my chutki was a calm child without much disturbance. She could be adjusted anywhere with a bottle of milk. So Amma didn't have much trouble taking care of her. As you're aware one gets a breath of utter freedom in one's parental home and I took all advantage of it, by going out with my friends, shopping, cinema etc, without any worries of my children. You know, they are in safe hands. My frequent outing without the kids, was now taking a toll on my 9yr old son. He started putting tantrums and asked his Muttassha(grandpa) to take him for sight seeing. Muttasha the epitome of love promised him too, that, he would take him in the evening. But as luck would have it, he was once again busy with his business schedules and couldn't make it, thus he sent his car, with Driver  Kaka, to take the little one, for a ride to Metro Station. Kolkata was the only city, which was having an underground Metro, at that time. And also, it was a tourist attraction. My little one jumped over with joy and got ready to go. Our Driver Kaka, was a sincere one and takes good care too; but, I somehow got this feeling, of not letting the little one go all alone, with the driver. I just dumped my chutki in  my Amma's hand and went along with my son.

Park Street Metro 🚇 Station was the largest and well maintained one. So Acchan had asked to go there first, and from there to go sight seeing, places like Esplanade, The boat ferry ⛴️ etc. We reached the Metro station and got down to the platform via stairs. Once on the platform my prankster started running around, and he, spotted the escalator. The escalator was new to him and to me too. The driver Kaka took him to the escalator, he would now climb from the one side, and would escalate down the other side, he was fully engrossed in this game of his, with Driver Kaka watching over him. I  too, was watching him and the Metro platform simultaneously.   A Metro train, was now on the platform, with passengers rushing out, and pushing in. I was, now concentrating on the Metro Station announcement, and as I turned around to hold the hand of my little one, he was nowhere to be seen; lo! Within a fraction of a second he had given me a slip, as well as to Driver Kaka, and he was now inside the metro with closed doors, leaving me and Kaka outside the boggie. My heart stopped a beating and I started banging on the doors, well aware  that it would not open at all, by my banging. I was running madly on the platform banging all boggie doors. The Metro was leaving the Station with my child, who was now with the strangers. My mind and body was frozen with fear, my voice choked,  I couldn't come to my senses for a minute. I didn't know what to do. Driver Kaka shook me up, assuring me not to worry, the child can be tracked down in the next coming station with the announcements, he said. There is a system of announcement inside the train, of which I wasn't  aware off. I rushed to the Station Master alongwith Driver Kaka and told him everything, he said he would make an announcement, and would ask the next Station Master to Check and bring out the child from the boggie and take care of him.

We took the upcoming Metro, and reached the next Station,  Kalighat. I rushed out quickly and ran towards the Station office, Kaka following after me running madly. I reached the office and saw my prankster quietly chit chatting with the Station Master, I was hell bound to crush him with anger 😠 but seeing his innocent smile, my heart melted down, and I just hugged and kissed him profoundly crying my heart out. I just couldn't imagine the mishappenings happening to him. It was by the grace of God and my parents blessings that he was safe. And I don't know, maybe, the people in the boggie too were good souls, nobody harmed or took advantage of a lonely child. My poor thing, he knew only the address of Delhi home. Some gentleman, was frequently asking him, about his parents and his home address, and he was just quoting down saying "mein Abhilash, Delhi mein rahta hu Mayur Vihar" . The Station Master gave out this details to me when he was doing the enquiry with the metro passengers.  I thanked everyone. Specially the Station Master and to Driver Kaka for taking a good stand and thinking right in the moment. His presence of mind did the doing, and my child was safe. Amma had asked me frequently to visit Kali Maa and take her blessings. But I  shrugged off and avoided, saying I will definitely go before leaving to Delhi. And see how my Kali Maa saved my child from all mishappenings and that too at the Kalibari Metro station. I didn't think much I didnt go for sight seeing etc., on that day,  I couldn't bring myself to senses. Nothing in this world mattered to me than the safety of my child. I took my little one in my arms and asked Driver Kaka to take me and my child for darshan of Maa Kali. I prayed and thanked her for keeping us safe. I returned back home. My Amma sensed something wrong and asked about it , I told my sis and my Amma everything that happened. They too were in a fix; advising, me to be careful and to keep this a secret. This secret was buried in my heart, till my child turned himself, to be, alone and working. It was on his first visit to home, on his official vacation, is when I told him, and also to my hubby dear, to whom my son is his heart throb. 

A chill, still, runs down my nerve even now, whenever I think of this incident.

So many children out there, is a victim to circumstances, and becomes a prey, to the crime world. I just pray for everyone, and every child, who are heart throbs to their parents.

God forbid such incidents from all children and protect them.

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Holidaying

Holidaying, or holiday: this essence I experienced to my heart's content a week and half ago when my cousin alongwith his family paid a visit to my place and intended staying with me. The centre of attraction was his little daughter who glued everyone to her innocent talks, and self created games. Lived a life, and enjoyed a splendid holiday myself too, after a long long time with all the gupshup, home made foods, small fights round table conference and to top it up all, the cute little one's photoshoot and telephonic  technology. I really appreciate my cousin brother's decision to stay with me and spent his time with us, instead of putting up into luxurious hotels. The real meaning of holiday, hope, he too might have experienced it the way I felt. 

Penning down some memories of my childhood  holidays...taking you all once again to my memory lane.

As the title suggests Holiday and holidaying were not specific or weren't planned Holidays in those days. To us holiday meant spending time with your loved ones..... your grandparents, your cousins. It was never a  planned holiday; staying in hotels, going through the brochure, exploring the places of sightseeing etc.,  wasn't our affair.  It was just holiday; to be far away from school, from home, from city and off course from the daily routines. We all eagerly wait, the whole year, for this moment of ours, to our native place, Kerela, where our grand parents lived. It was a real bliss being there, the whole one month. Yes a whole month. Summer holidays....

 

I don't know whether it was the magic of that era or whether the people were that much genuine, for nobody was bothered about the other staying with them for a month. All will be chirping with excitement and will welcome everyone with open heart, the warmth of the reciprocations, can't be penned down in words, one has to experience it. Real wonderful souls were they. The ancestral home being the house of our grand parents, all cousins, who ever were staying outside the native place would be visiting during the summer holidays. And mostly school holidays, would fall in the same month, for everyone too. What a lovely get together.....uncles, aunts, cousins the house will be full of laughter joy and aromatic (the aroma of cooked food and cooking emitting from the kitchen). Really how cool we used to feel. We, children, were the most excited. We never used to do any household work, and were never bothered to listen,  to the saying of elders,  for there were plenty of places to escape and run without heeding to their calls. Sleeping and sleeping patterns too, were in haphazard ways one would cosy up oneself to whichever places available cuddling up to each other in corridors, veranda, underneath the staircase etc. Wonderful days were those, no tension, no worries, blissful days.

As I had already quoted down in my earlier posts, my grandma, was an ardent lady with overflowing love for everyone, so scolding or briefing wasn't her accord. She would just pour out her heart to us. So we all were pampered a lot. We would get up early in the morning chirping like birds and would que around the well to brush our teeth. We wouldn't, be brushing our teeth with Colgate and toothbrush. There was a special tooth powder made out of the burnt husk of rice.(mukkerri) This would be kept in mud pots mixed with salt. All would take this in their palm rub it to a fine powder and would apply to the teeths using the finger, massaging it to our teeth and gums. Wow !! what a wonderful experience it was; all would proudly be showing his/her teeth, and a competition would begin within a second to see whose teeth are brighter and sparkling.  An hour or two would be spent like this.

Next is the time to take bath. All will wait for someone, or any elder to take them to the river side. My Amma was the leader to lead all the kids to the river. She would carry a bundle of clothes for washing along with the battalion of kids. All would flock around her and would be moving singing songs, fighting plucking weeds etc. The river, being a bit far from the house, would give us ample time to enjoy with each other, bullying, teasing, playing and what not. Once we reach the river side, all would plunge into the water and my Amma's shouting and scolding wouldn't be a hearing factor to anyone at all. We all will be swimming, will be splashing water on each other,  and will be playing many water games, diving etc. Real splendorous bath. An hour would be spent like this, and our stomach would now be growling. We all would now rush ahead to reach home as quickly as possible to pounce on the food, KANJI. 

Yes,  KANJI (Rice gruel), this may sound astounding or awful to many thinking what is so special about it????????

Hmmm it is, it was, very very very special to us, boiling hot rice gruel mixed with homemade cow ghee, papadam, kondatum( dried fried vegetables) and chamandi( coconut tamarind chutney). After the nourishing bath, to have this hot and sumptuous rice gruel was indeed a treat to the soul. We all will be sitting in a circle on the floor with patram and plaayilla(plate and spoon made with jackfruit leaf)for the hot rice gruel to be served to us. Then will begin the fight for the papadam and kondatum. All will be needing more and more not satisfied with what has been served to one. Oh!! I can visualise those scenes even now, with my eyes closed. What cool days were those. Once done with breakfast all will rush out into the thodi (courtyard, orchard) to play until the call for lunch arrives. All will be enjoying a heartful game without any toys, without any worries of the world. We never knew what worries or tension were. While playing around we would be waiting for our native cousins, staying near by place to join us, too. They will then share their experiences, in their school, their studies, etc., and a good exchange of knowledge will happen.  The days, will be  spent thus, with visit to each other's houses, meeting elders, and exploring orchards. A month will pass by, in the warmth of elders, and, with no un due demands from the young ones and children. All will bade good bye without any regret in their hearts, promising eachother to meet again in the next summer holidays.

Now bygone are those days, or can I say that nobody is bothered to spend such days with their loved ones. With the fast pacing world of technology, our way of thinking too has changed; why so? is still a question?? Why people feel it a obligation why is the mind, instead of widening, narrowed down. Why does everyone think it's a disturbance and distrubing to someone's privacy and daily routine. May be a knock on their door is what they might be waiting for. May be they await a call from their loved ones, to be with them to mess up their routine schedule. When did this feeling of obligation, disturbance, disturbing came into the dictionary of relationship, I don't know.

Yes really blessed I am to have a relished, peaceful, joyful moments of real holidays with my loved ones.

Awaiting more of such responses

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Mystical

Human and human life is an unsolved mystery. How ever far you try to understand it, it gets  entangled in million tangles. One loop into another. The birth itself is a tangle. You wouldn't be free unless the cord is cut. The cut, sets you free to be a separate entity and to breathe but what awaits is the journey of emotional bonds and bondage. Why so? Why do you get tangled? The first touch, the first human touch, from where, begins the flow of warmth, this nectar, warms up your nerves with so much energy, that you keep on  rowing the boat of life.  Yes your journey has begun. Now you are not just a piece of flesh; you are now a son or a daughter. You might have a home, you might have guardians, you might be having mom, dad, grand parents or might even be having a sister or brother.( The entangling of loops.)  You are now entwined into the world of  care,caring and upbringing. The unconditional love entangles you into the first phase, the first  loop (Parental love). You are moving ahead, you are growing, you are a teen now, the law of attraction plays it's game thrusting you into another tangle the heart throbs. This is the second phase,the second loop,(the loop of  love or lust). The boat is rowing, you keep on moving towards the third phase of your journey, the journey into the wide world of experiences and exploration. You now try to untie the shackles of bond and bondages the first attempt of untangling. You feel like an achiever, proud of your attempts to untie the shackles but, unknowingly, you are binding into the bondages of another loop. The third loop (The loop of commitment). Yes now you're entangled into, to, begin a family of your own. You would now either be a wife or a husband. The journey now has come to a full circle; but you have to keep rowing you have to keep going. The tangles aren't untangled yet. From the picture of being a husband and a wife to parents and parental responsibilities the fourth phase begins. The fourth loop (The loop of Parenting) the tangles are now tightening it's grip on you, you love this tightening you enjoy the wriggle and slowly your focus turns to the grip; you are still feeling the breath and breathing, you feel at ease. That's when questions queries starts popping up why am I at ease why isn't the grip tightening? Is it the loop? Oh let me make it golden. Now you want a golden loop, no ordinary one will do, what if it breaks down? What if it's untangled? You weave the web of emotions spreading your eight arms, the arms love, warmth, care, bondings, sacrifices, adjustments, justification,and expectations. Expectations?? That's when the golden loop tightens further as expected by you, it tightens, it is tightening, but now, it's chocking you, you are suffocating, you are breathless. Once again you are trying to break open the shackles, but alas, the loop is golden now. No it won't break, it's fool proof. Tightened by the golden loop, you keep rowing, the boat of life, and that's when you enter the fifth phase, the phase of rejection, the phase of resentment, the phase of desolation. This is the final loop (The loop of acceptance).  You accept the entangling and tangles, you are in no mood to try to shrug it off, the shackles are tightening it's claws, the nectar flowing in your nerves has come down to its last drop it's no more giving you the energy, but, you will have to keep rowing. No, you have not reached the other end. It's far far away, daily you take a step forward and daily it rifts away, the waves of mystery and mystical sea just keep flowing.

The tides of this mystical sea keep striking on, it doesn't follow any calculations it takes away with it the most unexpected, Yes the most unexpected, what? did you question it, did you question it's decisions? no,! you can't, for its mystical it will never answer. Are you waiting for your turn to reach the other end? You must keep rowing the boat of life, you must, wait for your turn with unsolved questions and queries. You are numb now, you are spell bound, the mystical spell has been cast  the unbreakable spell. The spell of hope and aspirations, it's, taking you, again, to the land, called life. It's mystery and will remain mystical.

Label: Emotional expression 

N.B. 

This is a tribute to all my family members who took the journey of heavenly abode some in most unexpected way and time.

Pic courtesy:  Google pics

Bread Rolls

  Ingredients

1. White bread 🍞 1 loaf

2. Potatoes 1/2 kg

3. Chilli powder 1 teaspoon

4. Crushed coriander seeds 1 teaspoon

5. Crushed pepper corn 1 teaspoon

6. Cumin powder 1 teaspoon

7. Chat masala 1 teaspoon

8. Kala namak,( Black Rock Salt) 1 teaspoon 

9. Coriander leaves chopped two tablespoon

10 Aamchur powder (dried mango powder) 1/2 teaspoon

11. Hing  a pinch 

12. Turmeric powder 

13. Oil for frying

Method

Step -1.  

For filling- boil the potatoes and let it cool down, peel and mash with hand taking care to just crumble not to make a paste. Add all the spices, chopped coriander leaves, chat masala, amchur and kala namak. 

Step -2. 

Take out the bread slices and cut the sides( crust), take water in a shallow plate slightly dip and wet the bread slices, slowly squeeze out the water without breaking the bread slice. Keep the filling in the centre and fold into a cylindrical shape securing the filling and sealing the edges. Keep it aside. Make many more cylindrical roll in the same way with the rest of the bread pieces.

Step- 3. 

Heat a Khadai with enough oil for deep frying. Keep the flame on medium heat. Now slowly add the prepared cylindrical rolls, two rolls at a time and fry until crisp and brown. Drain out the excess oil and place it on a kitchen towel, fry out the remaining rolls in the same way.

Step - 4  

The bread rolls are ready to be served. Serve hot with tomato sauce or with coriander chutney.

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The Coat

"What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give its sweetness"_ John Steinbeck

This quote fits perfectly for  mothers whose warmth and sweetness can never wither. My mind is once again wandering to the world of my childhood memories. Accha during my early days used to work in a Private firm in Patna. We were there for almost six years. Thus our(me and my immediate sibling's) initial schooling was done in Patna before moving in to Kolkata. I only have some very faded memories of that place.  I just remember the mango tree in our garden which used to have very large mangoes,  Amma's mango ice cream, which we both sisters used to relish, to our hearts content, my school, and visits to Circus. Amma used to say that Patna's winter was very very harsh. It was spine chilling. To protect oneself from harsh winter chills one had to wear lots of warm woollen clothes. Thus, Amma too had a collection of warmers with her, and one of the best warmer which she had was a long woollen coat hanging down till her knees. It was a very pretty soft light blue colour coat, which, she carried with her to Kolkata. Large buttons, side pockets, inner pockets and front pockets. The collar too was very pretty with a beautiful cut out. The coat gave a glamorous look to Amma. As the trend was, on those days, she wasn't looking less than a "memsaab".

This particular asset was a marvel in her cupboard. Whenever we used to open her cupboard we would, flaunt it by our looks, and touch it with an eagerness to own the same from Amma one day.

As described in my earlier posts, my house in Kolkata was quite big with two long corridors and a big verandah (open terrace). Our kitchen was at the far end from the rest of the rooms, near the verandah. The olden Bengali  houses was constructed in a particular way wherein the kitchen, as well as the bathroom cum toilets would be having a separate entity from the entire house thus it would mostly be away from the main hall and bedrooms. Our kitchen too was situated to the far end corner of the house, near to the verandah. Summer was cool enough in the evenings and working in the kitchen too was awesome due to the mild cool winds blowing down from the verandah entering through the kitchen windows. But winters had a sheer opposite effect, this  cool winds were a real torture and working in kitchen with this chilling atmosphere was an exercise in itself. Poor Amma had to make all efforts to keep herself comfortable. She would keep the window closed, but since the kitchen door cannot be closed always she had to bear the chills. Most often she would make us( me and immediate sis; the other two being very small never used to be with us) sit around the stove while Amma cooks. The warmth from the burning stove was soothing. Earlier, one used to keep the kerosene stove on the ground and cooking mostly was done sitting. Rotis were usually made on a chulha. Chulha was a bucket shaped clay stove which was burnt with coal and wooden pieces and had to be kept on to the ground only. Amma would serve us the food in the kitchen making us sit comfortably near the chulha, hot rotis would be served to each one of us. The kitchen though small used to feel as heaven to us with the warmth from the chulha, as well as from Amma, comforting us from the chills outside.The whole day's tale, stories, happenings in school, all was shared here between Amma and us, cherishing the food.

The kitchen though situated at the far end of the house was also, an extension, of the long corridor. In front of the kitchen, in the corridor, was kept a long bench, with  a small table for dining. This small dining was an arrangement for our busiest Acchan, by Amma, who would atleast sit for a while waiting for his breakfast or lunch and thus a small chit-chat with Amma. This seating arrangements were a boon for our neighbours too, visiting Amma. They would relax in the wee hours, sitting, chatting and listening to their favourite Ceylon Radio 📻. Amma too would relax sometimes sitting on this bench waiting for the cooker's whistle, waiting for the rice to boil etc.  Most welcoming part was the wait by us children to see Amma relaxing in the evenings. The wait was to cling around Amma. 

Now coming to my story part the 🧥 coat was so beautiful that Amma was hesitant in  wearing the same, and because of it's English look(Angrezi memsaab), Amma never encouraged herself on wearing the same anywhere outside.  As days flew by we grew into teens and my younger siblings into adolescents. The 🧥 coat in the cupboard too was gaining age with each passing year alongwith Amma. But Amma never wore it. Acchan always used to ask her to wear the same to protect herself from the harsh winds blowing outside the kitchen from the Verandah. But her passion and the concept of safequarding the things, shrugged her off, from wearing it, however far, she tried to. Every winter season were a torture to Amma, who would spend most of her time in kitchen with barely one sweater or shawl. My third sibling was very thin and weak with breathing problems so she would always be clinging to Amma. Amma used to pamper and take care of her a lot. In winters, the chill would become dangerous for our little sister, because, of her chest congestion and breathing problems. As my sister couldn't be kept away from Amma, the 🧥 coat turned out to be a boon to her. Amma finally allowed her 🧥 coat to wander outside the cupboard. The coat got a place, it was once again found hanging down, from Amma's body in a very passionate way. Our chutki would be kept covered completely, sitting on the lap of Amma, underneath the coat. We used to envy her and would wait for our turns to cling to Amma when she would be sitting on the bench relaxing.

As the saying goes, that mother knows all, Amma too would call out to us, and would make us all cling to her and she, just like the mother hen, would gather us all four underneath the 🧥 coat and would cover us up from harsh winter winds blowing outside. That precious moments, I cannot put into words here. It was sheer bliss a heaven and heavenly warmth which no heater can provide you. Still craving for that warmth.

It's a blessing to me that my Amma is still there with all of us. But as said, age and health issues has taken a toll on her.

Amma's look still give us the same warmth no matter how old we become.

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Ulliyyum mulagaum aracha koon curry.( Mushroom curry authentic style)

Mushroom

Ingredients

1. Mushroom 1/2 kg

2. Shallots 1 cup

3. Whole red chillies 4

4. Curry leaves a few

5. Cocunut oil a tablespoon

6. Salt to taste

7. Turmeric powder

8. Water for cooking 1 glass

Method

Wash and clean the mushrooms nicely. Cut or pinch the mushrooms to small pieces. Grind together shallots and whole red chillies to a paste in a mixer grinder or stone grinder.

Remove and keep aside. In clay pot or a steel pan cook the mushrooms  with turmeric powder, salt and a glass of water. When cooked add the grinded shallots chilli paste and cook for another five minutes. Add the curry leaves and coconut oil. Serve hot with boiled red rice.

Pic courtesy : Google images.