It has been a beautiful morning.
After the deluge of two days, back to back, it is all warm, sunny and bright all around.
Just when we thought monsoon is over, it started to rain in earnest again.
Humid, suffocating days vanished and gave way to torrential rains. Huge pellets of water drops, shooting down like arrows, with a roar and the dark sky rumbled ceaselessly.
It turned hazy and gray all around and the distant buildings and trees were lost to the vision.
The trees stood still, accepting the beating of rain. Drinking in quietly.
The leaves however were happy, shiny and all bright and quivering under the pure water.
The dry earth drank to its fill. The little stream by our house started to run again .... dark muddy water happily gurgling and rushing forth with white froth lacing.
The birds did not come to my balcony for a drink. I could see them sitting on the branches .... near their nests. The crows and the eagles were soaked through and looked different.
The Bulbuls were restless and did come out to prance around for a while before diving back into the thickets. The sparrows are nowhere around too.
Today, everybody was back on my balcony.
Chirping, cawing and even screeching out to me ... demanding their share of biscuits and my breakfast.
The water bowl was full with the fresh rainwater ... I did not change it.
B had cleaned the balcony of all dirt and mud from the plant pots yesterday, as I stood in the rain to soak in the coolness, after I finished with the chores. ( Yes yes, I have already written about this on my instagram post ) .
So it was good to spend the morning in the balcony.
I have a chair in the small space to our balcony and often sit there to take in some fresh breeze, in between my work.
Today, that breeze seemed so fresh, heavy with the damp smell of rains and of freshly beaten green, that it took me back to my Dadu's house back home.
I could smell the water laden, cooling breeze coming from across the huge pond, carrying with it the smell of damp grass and leaves, along with the fragrance of the flowers of the old Jamrul tree.
I could see Thamma sitting at the khirki duar ( one of the side entrances to the house ), with her back to me, looking out at the pond and its dark, calm waters that had a very light ripple on the surface, made by the breeze. Her long hair, only slightly white, spread all over her back. Once in a while, she would run her fingers through them .... to help them dry sooner.
And I realise, that with time, I am slowly turning into my Thamma.
As I sit in my chair, loving the breeze on me, looking out to the small forest and the stream, I realise this is my khirki duar.
My little door to the world I love to look at.
And am grateful for that.
You see, I have always wanted to be like Thamma.
Coming back, I had cooked this beautiful, quick dish of chicken with pineapple, a few weeks back.
I loved it so much that I wanted to make a post here .... for my own self to come back to the recipe when I needed to.
* I had marinated the chicken pieces before freezing them ... which helped it to cook faster I guess.
If you are making it fresh, then do keep it marinated for at least an hour.
* I had some leftover rice, so added it for the carb content and make a full meal.
You may or may not.
Need :
To marinate :
Chicken pieces - cut into bite sized pieces ( I use the thigh pieces)
Grated ginger
Grated garlic
Vinegar - a little
Soy sauce
Honey
Oil
Salt
Sugar
Mix everything together and keep aside for an hour.
Other ingredients :
Pineapple pieces
Onion cut into cubes
Chopped green chillies
Chopped ginger
Red chilli flakes
Crushed black pepper
Oil
Salt
How to :
Heat oil in a pan.
Add the pineapple pieces and toss well.
Sprinkle some red chilli flakes on them and keep aside.
Now add the chicken pieces on high heat and sear them well.
Toss, cover and cook till they are done.
Remember not to overcook.
Now raise heat, add the rest of the ingredients and toss well.
If using rice, add now.
Add the pineapple pieces.
Mix everything together.
Serve hot.
As I sit in my chair, loving the breeze on me, looking out to the small forest and the stream, I realise this is my khirki duar.
My little door to the world I love to look at.
And am grateful for that.
You see, I have always wanted to be like Thamma.
Coming back, I had cooked this beautiful, quick dish of chicken with pineapple, a few weeks back.
I loved it so much that I wanted to make a post here .... for my own self to come back to the recipe when I needed to.
* I had marinated the chicken pieces before freezing them ... which helped it to cook faster I guess.
If you are making it fresh, then do keep it marinated for at least an hour.
* I had some leftover rice, so added it for the carb content and make a full meal.
You may or may not.
Need :
To marinate :
Chicken pieces - cut into bite sized pieces ( I use the thigh pieces)
Grated ginger
Grated garlic
Vinegar - a little
Soy sauce
Honey
Oil
Salt
Sugar
Mix everything together and keep aside for an hour.
Other ingredients :
Pineapple pieces
Onion cut into cubes
Chopped green chillies
Chopped ginger
Red chilli flakes
Crushed black pepper
Oil
Salt
How to :
Heat oil in a pan.
Add the pineapple pieces and toss well.
Sprinkle some red chilli flakes on them and keep aside.
Now add the chicken pieces on high heat and sear them well.
Toss, cover and cook till they are done.
Remember not to overcook.
Now raise heat, add the rest of the ingredients and toss well.
If using rice, add now.
Add the pineapple pieces.
Mix everything together.
Serve hot.
Enjoy!!
Eat healthy. Eat to your fill.
And stay safe.
Here is a little reminder about the giveaway I am doing.
Hop over to know the details.
Eat healthy. Eat to your fill.
And stay safe.
Here is a little reminder about the giveaway I am doing.
Hop over to know the details.
