tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19928039973093809862012-01-28T11:16:54.379+05:30Simple recipes, healthy food & a few moments from my kitchen.Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.comBlogger2241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-25907074003732674232011-12-31T15:11:00.000+05:302011-12-31T15:11:09.949+05:30

  Have a wonderful New Year, dear friends! Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts.And for caring to drop by to leave warm words once in a while. Love you all.Take care and stay well.

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-36874087416128975602011-11-17T11:01:00.003+05:302011-11-17T19:28:03.281+05:30

 I have always wondered what is it with people when comes to waiting in queues. Especially long ones. Everybody is restless, fidgety.Keep bending to their side and try to look ahead. Look here and there.As if the rest of the world has stopped moving just because that one person has to stand and wait. And the one behind you, given the chance, will climb on your shoulder and crawl down to stand in

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-70361758632643830442011-11-13T09:01:00.006+05:302011-11-13T10:02:35.575+05:30

This post will be morbid ...  I need emotional catharsis. If you don't want to brood, stay away. Things have been happening in my life.A lot more and a lot quickly than I'd ever wanted.After months of suffering ill health and a trauma, I thought a lot of rest will heal me ... both physically and emotionally.But no, nyet, nada.The days I came back from home after the surgeries to this city, I saw

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-4991098056109289872011-10-30T08:57:00.003+05:302011-11-01T23:43:49.748+05:30

   Hi everybody!Here's wishing you a very happy festive season!Hope you all had a wonderful Diwali. I did try my best to have one.And did not judge my success on how many savories or sweets I got to make this time. We strung little lights all over the house, had friends over and savoured whatever little I could dish up myself.And decided Diwali is all about having people who love you around you

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-79211831300418600452011-10-14T10:36:00.001+05:302011-10-16T08:09:08.997+05:30

 Shubho Bijoya!! After a long time, I was home for Durga Pujo.Much as I had a wonderful time enjoying the familiar sights, smells and catching up on a lot that I had missed out on the last few years on Pujo,I was equally disheartened to see huge changes.The place of my childhood had changed. So have the people.And the way of life.To me ... everything.Tried my best to find some semblance to my

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-48318307537079572852011-09-08T12:41:00.005+05:302011-09-08T14:06:52.994+05:30

I have posted savoury pancakes earlier, which was a vegetable version too.Making these are easy. And a good way to get some vegetables in our diet.But I do make non vegetarian versions too. Sometimes I add eggs to the batter. At other times cooked minced meat ... either chicken or fish.But that is when I am making them for a brunch or dinner. If I am making these for breakfast, I stick to

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-3190718309844181502011-09-01T09:45:00.007+05:302011-09-02T13:30:58.135+05:30

( Vegetarians can enjoy this dish too. Just ignore the adding of the fish part in the recipe and serve with chopped fresh coriander leaves.) I had started food blogging with no particular aim ... not even of keeping my recipes for myself. And with time got hooked to it. The more friends I made, the more people visited my blog, the more I got mails ... the more the addiction. But I cannot

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-80209879954766105342011-06-22T14:18:00.012+05:302011-06-28T08:54:29.225+05:30

 The morning was unusually bright and clear. Outside, there blew a light breeze. And the sun shone in all its brilliance."How deceptive", thought Sunanda, as she sat watching the chilly morning from inside her cozy living room. "Just like the calm in this house."This calm was an interlude, she knew. The furious argument that she and Vikram had earlier that morning, had ended with the door

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-81866208826518932552011-02-24T16:03:00.011+05:302011-02-26T12:40:23.049+05:30

... & Au Revoir. As promised in my last post, here is the vegetarian version of the wonderful dish called the Doi Maach. Not much is needed to be done ... it is pretty quick and easy to make.Just as we fry the fish first and then add, so is the cauliflower fried first.Just make sure that you do not fry it till done ...it will cook in the gravy.The frying part is to give the florets that crispy

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-84776354666789674312011-02-17T10:09:00.002+05:302011-02-17T11:32:54.549+05:30

( Vegetarians ... do stay tuned. The next post will be on the veggie version of this wonderful dish. ) It has been a while since I made a post on fish last.Not that I've not been eating my staple diet ... just that I make something quickly, seem very pleased with the resultsand serve myself a hot hot meal.Just do not feel like picking up the camera, arranging and clicking. Doi Maach is very

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-18009322829318774312011-02-10T16:36:00.022+05:302011-02-13T08:19:30.868+05:30

It surprises me that I have never made a post of this favourite meal of ours inspite ofblogging foodfor so long!Sarson ka saag means Mustard greens/leaves.Makke di roti means flatbread made from maize flour or corn meal.Every winter, this is one dish that becomes a regular on my table.While this city is pathetic when it comes tothe availability of fresh greens,winter is one time when we do get

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-31747947856403940202011-02-07T20:12:00.024+05:302011-02-10T18:31:07.462+05:30

In spite of my trying real hard, I have not been able to post as frequently as I'd like to.The days stay busy, with a thousand choresawaiting.And I need more time than usual to finish a job now.In the midst of all this I cook.But of late cooking has mostly been on the spur.Decide, prepare, cut/chop, cook, serve.With almost no time to arrange a plate and click snaps.But it does nag at the back of

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-57057135143184106062011-01-31T20:04:00.013+05:302011-02-02T12:40:30.566+05:30

Patishapta ... the most made Pithe in Bengali homes I guess.Traditional Patishapta is made with a rice flour batterand fresh coconuts and jaggery ....but many people make it with a batter of maida and sooji too.I usually do not make this frequently ... my favourite pithe is the Poda pithe.But come winter, every Bengali has to taste the Patishapta once.When made or had with fresh date palm jaggery

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-42451267244515082772011-01-25T15:25:00.014+05:302011-01-28T09:22:20.411+05:30

Karela or the Bitter gourd is almost alwayshated by people.But is needed in your diet due to its immense benefits to your health.So there is no dearth of recipes to make it palatable.While it can be fried or made into curries in numerous ways, the most popular way is to fill it with a stuffing of your choice.I love to use the insides of the karela ( use them only if the karela is freshand the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-22235965135026136402011-01-17T12:00:00.014+05:302011-01-19T16:37:25.752+05:30

( Non vegetarians can add boneless chicken pieces, chopped sausage or egg drop. )While on my break, with nothing to do at hand, literally, surfing the netwas my only respite from boredom.And while I came across some very good blogs and writings,I was distressed to find rampant Plagiarism too.Photos and text from my blog have been copied and used in numerous places.I set about tracking down the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-64765567847405771572011-01-11T11:59:00.021+05:302011-01-16T09:35:38.632+05:30

The Bedai / Bedei is a wonderfully spicy snack that can double up as a meal too.A very popular street food in North India, the Bedei is a common Rajasthani meal too. While it is deep fried and served with a potato curry in the North, I have seen it made as parathas at my Rajasthani in-laws place.It was in Rajasthan that I tasted the Bedei for the first time.Kaki (aunt-in-law) makes them as

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-691192889525320332011-01-07T13:00:00.020+05:302011-01-11T08:21:36.735+05:30

I love one pot meals. Ones that are quick to make, not too much of a fuss, do not need too much of stirring or constant attention. And that go easy on my still weak hand. Winter nights are perfect for such meals.I tend to laze around these cold evenings , finish chores, or maybe part of a book. And in no time it is dinner time.Drag myself to the kitchen and stand thinking what to make ...

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-24469740124720155822011-01-01T15:20:00.020+05:302011-01-05T11:45:36.987+05:30

Wishing you a very Happy New Year 2011 !!A full year gone. How ... I won't get into that.I had committed I'll come back ... so am here.And a post on the first day of the year seems so ... well ... appropriate.But had no idea what to cook to make the first post of the new year seem special ...... if not to anybody, at least to me.Couldn't think of anything that can be done on the fly.So did what I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-1681111604767955692010-12-28T20:28:00.007+05:302010-12-29T14:39:36.250+05:30

... to say "Thank you."A humble, grateful and sincere "Thank you."... to say that I'm overwhelmed.With the love that you have given me.The support that you have always been.For your constant presence in my darkest hours.For your kind words and gestures during my most painful times.For every email, every comment here, every message on FB.For every heart warming word.For every line that made me a

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-68719317021240281462010-07-24T18:27:00.004+05:302010-07-24T18:48:58.985+05:30

Sorry for the abrupt post dear folks.And the abrupt good bye.I may not post again in the near future.I do hope to be back someday ... but am hoping against hope.So many things left unsaid.So many things left unshared.So many thanks not said.Before I disappear I want to thank everybody who has one time or the other mentioned Kichu Khon and me on their blogs.Who have trusted me and my recipes and

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-43442184499717778842010-07-19T12:10:00.014+05:302010-10-12T00:31:17.220+05:30

Too many things on my mind these days ... and too many things to get done.So in no mood to ramble ... yeah, can hear that sigh of relief from you guys. :-)So straight to my recipe today.But before that can't resist mentioning that I did get the first Ilish or Hilsa of the seasonand had a great leisurely lunch last afternoon ...... read had enough time on my hands to sit back andpick through the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-84850985303567135322010-07-12T12:17:00.019+05:302010-10-12T12:06:38.578+05:30

Do not stealI was pleasantly surprised to see a big bunch of Pui / Poi / the Malabar spinach at my favourite Bengali store here last weekend.Though the stems were already very thick and the leaves were a little too big for my taste, I picked up the whole bunch nonetheless ... dreaming of a thousand ... ok ... around five to six different dishes that I'll enjoy these in.The Pui shaak is common in

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-13650223966399699642010-07-07T12:30:00.014+05:302010-07-07T13:12:21.338+05:30

My blog is slowly turning into more of a bird zoo.And my life is turning more haphazard, out of tune and out of my hands than I ever wanted it to be.Nose deep into work, maid absconding ... so nose deep into house work too , DH down with the sniffles now ... read needs more attention than an infant ... , beautiful weather mocking, ... so all I do now is crib, work, crib, crib, work, crib, crib ..

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-69004052605067547462010-07-02T14:45:00.019+05:302010-07-02T15:59:39.305+05:30

Ok ... after that hard hitting post am back to normal. Those of you who have stuck by Kichu Khon for some time now would know that am not into tough talking much ... but one can take only so much. Hence that post came to be.Back to routine.It rained all last night. I sat up a long while ... listening to the rain and to some of my favorite ghazals ... chatting up a good friend ... with the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-87553936166294112412010-06-29T15:31:00.015+05:302010-06-30T16:26:42.585+05:30

Recently , on FB, came across Plagiarism related to food blogs and was once again touched at how close knit a circle food bloggers are. ( Am no longer on FB ).And this was just a couple of days after I helpfully instructed a new blogger on how one should not be copying text from other blogs ... it is always good to write your own stuff since you are anyway cooking the whole thing.I was also

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-64968063918465244602010-06-25T10:14:00.013+05:302010-06-26T10:26:06.118+05:30

My balcony is no longer mine.Well ... it has never been mine for that matter. The small ledge is the bane of all good in my life ... read a little time spent on the balcony every evening ... or stand a while to enjoy the rains spray.But no ... there are other important living beings who have laid claims on my property long back. They are our feathered 'friends'. Honestly .. am in a good mind to

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-33996751450426078972010-06-19T11:07:00.025+05:302010-06-25T10:23:23.406+05:30

The Bhaja Muger dal ( Dry roasted and cooked mung / moong lentils ) has been a request from an old reader of my blog ... Vaishnavi ... from a considerable long time back. I know I have been very late in posting this ... but then ... well ... here it is ... a very flavourful yet very simple dal that tastes awesome with plain steamed rice.This dal tastes very different from what raw moong dal

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-76525665145523845052010-06-16T10:36:00.023+05:302010-06-16T12:09:51.239+05:30

(Vegetarians & Vegans can make this with soy granules ... just soak them in hot water before using ... tastes just as wonderful).The monsoons are here. And on time. Like a quiet and obedient child, they crept in along with the humdrum of busy days.The skies filled up with dark, heavy clouds. No wind to disturb or blow them away. Nobody noticed when the rains started. The rains here are not the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-33525654867839651302010-06-13T10:01:00.010+05:302010-06-16T12:01:02.640+05:30

After the Jhaal Muri and the Phuchka / Pani puri / Golgappa, the next favourite Calcutta street food is the Churmur.A wonderful combination of salty, spicy and a dash of tang thrown in with the soft of boiled potatoes and the crunch of the crispy puris in every mouthful ... along with the heat of chilles and sharp of onion bits ... it is like tasting a whole gamut of experiences in every

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-58154614795192573502010-06-09T18:08:00.037+05:302011-01-08T12:37:39.047+05:30

An authentic meal of Dal Baati Churma is much loved in Rajasthan. Very simple and very rustic, this common man's food from rural India is very common to a Rajasthani or Marwari family. Not only is it easy to cook, but also is very filling and so makes a complete meal of grains, lentils and sweet at the end.On our many trips to Rajasthan, we have eaten at numerous simple roadside eateries or

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-28600934903634258252010-06-07T11:29:00.030+05:302010-06-07T21:12:49.374+05:30

... Dal, Bhaat, Aloo bhaate, Begun bhaja ... makha!Ok ... first things first.Dal - LentilsBhaat - RiceAloo - PotatoBhaate - cooked in or along with rice ( or plain boiled )Begun - Brinjal / Aubergine / EggplantBhaja - fry / deep friedMakha - Mixed together or ... as in here ... mashed up together.I finally made it to my 200th post!I know ... much as I want to, I have not been giving my blog

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-50667356293059755302010-06-01T08:24:00.017+05:302010-06-01T16:14:56.609+05:30

( Vegetarians & vegans can try this masala with any vegetable of their choice. )The last couple of months I had been on an almost no cooking mode ... read plain cooking, eating and resting. Rested I a lot.I also caught up with my reading and a whole lot of music that had taken a backseat in the rush.I embroidered a lot. Cut up a lot of kurtis to make cushion covers. :pAnd I also drank a lot of

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-40700719215529143472010-05-26T11:06:00.023+05:302010-05-31T08:27:58.102+05:30

Budhua awoke with a sense of doom. He opened his eyes and looked around. Still lying down, he looked around the small yet neat room that he called his home.The roof of fresh hay looked very neat, filling the room with a warm cosy smell. Budhua marvelled at his handiwork. The walls are filled with diiferent hooks, on which hung his clothes and other little household things. At one end is a small

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-5379190956592129782010-05-20T11:29:00.036+05:302010-05-20T18:53:36.364+05:30

Warning : Long post ... no food. :-)What happens when you take a break from the routine? You make use of the time as well as you can knowing it won't last for long.But what happened when I took a break from blogging? Well ... I knew it will last for as long as I would want to. So no extra enthusiasm to arrange dishes, to click, to write a post and then .... post.It is not that I am not cooking at

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-49272030852235665182010-04-27T15:18:00.012+05:302010-04-28T00:02:24.253+05:30

Two young girls. Just stepped out of the boundaries of school and into junior college. Both came from very different schools and family backgrounds. Both as different as chalk and cheese.Yet.They met. They talked. They liked each other. And became friends.And with time, fast friends.Both girls gelled into each other's families with ease and were treated just as the other daughter of the house.

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-42974259429914196862010-03-31T13:57:00.019+05:302010-03-31T17:49:01.469+05:30

Adam's ale.H2O.Water.Am now stuck with numerous bottles of this drink for almost one whole month henceforth. And I never thought I would hate the taste(?) of water so much.My fault? I neglected it a little too much.And apparently my kidneys too. They decided that my tummy and taste buds were getting a tad too much of attention. So rebelled. Started acting up. Got themselves a few stones ... can't

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-64364622101911702692010-03-22T11:35:00.013+05:302010-03-24T08:33:55.986+05:30

( I have made this dish with cauliflower too and it tastes just as good ... so vegetarians and vegans can give it a try. )Chilli chicken has to have chillies. And it should be hot ... real hot. Back home we got chilli chicken that had biggish pieces of chicken ... bones and all ... not the pathetic wee little boneless pieces we get here ... deep fried in a thick batter and tossed in soy gravy.And

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-10205788300963289872010-03-18T10:34:00.012+05:302010-03-20T09:18:44.271+05:30

I am posting this humble stir fried shaak or leafy vegetable for two reasons.One ... I have been getting a lot of visits from people searching for recipes with the Laal shaak / Red Spinach. So decided to post it after all.Two ... I don't have any other recipe or snap ready in my drafts. :-p Traditionally, a Bengali full meal ... usually a lunch ... has to have a shaak or leafy vegetable on the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-25571739943600184752010-03-15T13:00:00.007+05:302010-03-15T23:32:19.938+05:30

Halwa is basically a sweet dish made either from grains, flours, vegetables or fruits along with milk or condensed milk and sugar as its main ingredients.I was introduced to the Lauki ka halwa / Doodhi ka halwa ... after I got married. Before that I had no idea what else could be done with the humble lauki other than a curry / torkari or a raita. In fact I wasn't even interested in the vegetable

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-13084500372969856512010-03-11T17:32:00.023+05:302010-03-12T18:50:46.723+05:30

Bhaja means fry or frying in Bengali ... usually a stir fried or deep fried vegetable dish ( of course there is non vegetarian version like the Maach Bhaja / Fish fry too ) that is eaten as a side dish of a meal.There was ... and still is ... one direct train that I used to board every vacation to go home when I was a student. The journey used to be of two and a half days .... longer if it

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-63019547105587267302010-03-10T09:57:00.019+05:302010-03-10T23:14:15.312+05:30

( Vegans can blend some silken tofu with a little lemon juice and salt and use in place of curd / yoghurt .... thanks Vaishali for the tip ). :-)As a child, the vegetables part in my meals were disliked with a passion. And if it was the Lau / Lauki / Bottle gourd, well .... it would stay untouched. But I liked this cooling raita that was made during the summers. And it was always served cold.

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-18872126713071093892010-03-08T15:06:00.007+05:302010-03-08T15:21:22.686+05:30

I have been craving for some plain vanilla cake for a while now ... like the ones that were made in my childhood ... with eggs, vanilla, lots of cashews and cherries. Just could not make the time to make one.A few evenings back I found a little time at hand ... and wanted to munch on something. But there was nothing at home except some biscuits and bread. Nah ... did not feel like having them.

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-68512406848022492272010-03-05T11:21:00.010+05:302011-06-02T09:30:28.382+05:30

Kadhi is a yoghurt or curd based preparation that can be enjoyed as is or used as a base for things like vegetables or pakodas to be cooked in. This dish is common in Gujarati, Rajasthani and Punjabi cuisine ... each having a different flavour due to the different seasonings and temperings. Bengalis too make a kadhi of their own ... that is entirely different from the above three in taste and

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-68160277676718840262010-03-02T22:48:00.006+05:302010-03-03T15:41:14.653+05:30

( Vegetarians can make this with cubed potatoes ).Warning : Long rambling; too easy recipe. ;-)The word Muri in this comes from the word 'muro / mudo' which means fish head. And 'Ghonto' usually means a mix of some things cooked together.A very popular Bengali dish, the Muri Ghonto is also made with dals / lentils , cabbage and also with a mix of leafy and other vegetables. But the one made with

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-73884240539768327682010-02-26T13:10:00.014+05:302010-03-01T09:36:57.031+05:30

Lots of things going on these days. Life sure has a way of reminding you that not all will stay hunky dory. Not always. So even before we have had enough of our whatever little good time we get, there comes a jolt that brings us back to reality.And I find myself taking solace in Mirakkel ( an absolutely wonderful Bengali stand up comedy show on Zee Bangla ) more and more ... just so that I know I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-38191233932254378982010-02-04T16:37:00.011+05:302010-02-05T16:17:58.456+05:30

What with so many wonderful looking cookies being made everywhere, I have decided to call these biscuits as they are not as thickish or crumbly as real cookies.When I made and posted these, I got a mail from my regular reader D ( the shy girl is not comfortable with her her name here :-) ) asking me if she could use jaggery instead of sugar.As I am not so rigid about cooking and exact recipes, I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-54786455082765624792009-12-24T14:20:00.028+05:302010-12-30T19:25:35.168+05:30

When I came across this wonderful Fruit & Nut cake in Sunita's beautiful blog, I knew I had to try making it. So inspite of not blogging for a while .... oh ... am not away from the kitchen though ... just don't feel like making the beautiful dishes always a subject and train the camera on them till they fall flat or go cold with disappointment.With a little cold here finally, hot dishes & soups

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-815884852391880592009-11-29T23:15:00.018+05:302009-12-01T09:15:11.597+05:30

When I went through my blog recently, I saw that I have baked quite a few eggless fruit cakes. And by fruit cakes I mean I have used fresh fruits.Baking has been a challenge for me ... always. It goes against my experimentive nature. I love to play with stuff ... go beyond rigidity. So going by exact measures, exact proportions, exact temperatures .... nah ... is not for me. And to make things

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-30694292796732624342009-11-26T15:51:00.013+05:302009-12-10T11:27:36.012+05:30

... for our bravehearts.

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-21979876352552062302009-11-23T10:21:00.025+05:302009-11-23T19:01:09.561+05:30

"Trim?" The lady smiles and asks."Cut." I smile and answer.And know exactly what is coming.She tries to hide the smirk on her face. Tries to keep a straight face and asks "Around half or one inch?".I smile again and indicate somewhere on my upper arm. And wait, knowing what will come next.But this lady is patient. Maybe she guesses I don't know even how much an inch is after all.So she holds the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-82179659912118606532009-11-18T13:26:00.014+05:302009-11-18T15:08:29.655+05:30

This is a very simple dish that I tossed up with some Red spinach leaves or Amaranth leaves lying about in my kitchen for a while now. I often make these leaves or Lal shaak, as it is known as in Bengali, the usual way ... cook it in a little mustard oil with crushed garlic and whole dry red chillies. And love it with rice.But just after soaking the leaves in water this time, I realised I haven't

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-44829067112238150812009-11-11T10:03:00.027+05:302009-11-12T18:09:10.781+05:30

As I write this, the weather outside is a far cry from these sunny snaps I took this weekend. It has been raining non stop for the last 32 or more hours ... a steady downpour that shows no signs of weakening.It started with a cloud build up that sent the city's humidity levels soaring. As we are on a higher floor and there is a lot of greenery around, we are used to feeling the clouds and the

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-3766218435787426852009-11-05T15:39:00.033+05:302009-11-09T11:17:37.535+05:30

( Vegetarians & Vegans can use Paneer / Tofu / Cauliflower and continue with the rest of the recipe including the marination).Too much of anything is bad ... very bad. And right now there's too much of everything in my life ... and I am not liking it one bit.Too much of cooking ... thanks to man of the house who has to eat homemade food ... my time in the kitchen has increased to ... say ...

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-25569727991366119812009-10-21T18:57:00.032+05:302009-10-30T18:45:03.392+05:30

Deepti Khemani-Bhatia wrote to me saying she 'read somewhere' that I make my own coconut oil, came over and searched my blog and could not find a post on it.Coincidentally I had picked a few dried coconuts just a few days back before that mail and was waiting for the hectic festive season to get over ... so that I could make some oil. So set about making my coconut oil. This is not for the faint

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-27516257042636155372009-10-12T18:33:00.018+05:302009-10-14T10:32:13.388+05:30

( Vegans can use soy milk or plain lukewarm water.)Am into cookie baking big time these days. Both sweet and savory.Mostly sweet since the man of the house is starting normal routine these days.That means going out ... mostly to office. That means carrying homemade stuff ... no outside food.That means home made snacks.It took me some time and brain wracking as to what snack could be taken from

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-71335476883276549752009-10-09T08:01:00.030+05:302011-01-26T10:01:48.455+05:30

The days are pure mayhem. After the fast flying days of Durga Puja ... the hangover still exists ... come the preparations for Diwali. The rain gods have played spoilsports successfully ... it has been just one day that they have finally ... hopefully ... abated.The air is crisp and the sky very blue. And finally got the "pujo pujo" smell ... that fragrance in the air that we usually feel just

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-47056359111015593642009-09-28T23:20:00.023+05:302010-10-19T08:30:33.809+05:30

The highlight of Dashami is the Debi Boron and Sindur Utsav ... of course after the morning puja, pushpanjali and the visharjan pujas.Debi Boron is a kind of send off ... the daughter is leaving for her home back in the Kailash Parvat. So she is sent off with a lot of affection and "mishti mukh" ... married women offer her sweets and paan/betelnut leaf.Sindur Utsav is the offering of sindur /

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-71412198471241704922009-09-27T19:21:00.010+05:302009-09-28T08:28:15.777+05:30

We had an unexpected guest in the morning ... as a result were late in leaving for the puja pandal. And in the hurry ... forgot to take the camera along. :-(So managed these few snaps with my mobile phone camera.It was way too crowded ... today being the last day of puja. And a Sunday. So the line for prasad / bhog was very very long .... snaking its way from the main gate .... making 2 'U' turns

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-24438251996383754622009-09-26T17:10:00.012+05:302009-09-26T17:36:13.503+05:30

I have been having a great time ... rushing around the puja pandals ... offering Pushpanjali ... having prasad or bhog ... being at the evening aarti .... and of course sampling out the artery clogging delicacies at the food stalls ... :-) ( of course rushing home in between to cook for the hubby and carry his food ... he is still not allowed to have food from outside ).Today is Maha Ashtami.

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-78274614441275244902009-09-20T22:54:00.017+05:302009-09-22T09:28:40.700+05:30

"Didi, do you go for mendikur pendikur?""Mendi what?""Mendi kur."That was my maid.Of course, who waits on whom is a very debatable topic. She has been with me for a very long time and has at some point decided that she is indispensable. Worse ... that she is my guardian.So I have to listen to her constant chatter. And constant comparision with every single lady she comes across or works for.I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-54828837223392831892009-09-15T21:40:00.008+05:302009-09-18T19:29:57.507+05:30

I woke up three days back with a sore throat. And sneezed once. Fear gripped me. Spent some time thinking."I think I have got the swine flu" ... I said aloud. No reply from the only other person in the house. I went about with my chores.Around noon I sneezed ... again."I really think I've got the swine flu". The hubby did what he does best ... minding his own bussiness.I looked around. Every

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-48395751590124750542009-09-14T18:45:00.014+05:302009-09-15T12:49:29.133+05:30

This is a hurried post ... so not too much of rambling today.In my hurry to get over with my Ilish / Hilsa recipe series, I overlooked one recipe. The very favourite ambol / tauk / tok with ilish head.And I got three requests ... two mails and one comment ... all in one day. So leaving aside a half done post, I am posting this for my readers. :-)This recipe with ilisher matha / hilsa head, was a

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-89567708482879021812009-09-09T09:51:00.023+05:302010-08-20T18:43:14.378+05:30

When I posted how to make Sun Dried Bori / Badi / Bodi / Vadi / Mungaudi / Lentil Dumplings at home, I got an overwhelming response. What I had done on a whim was appreciated by so many people! Those sun dried boris / bodi / badi last me a good part of the year ... at least till I make them again.But a lot of people mentioned that they do not get enough sun in the parts of the world they stay ...

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-73856925027623515412009-09-07T14:11:00.010+05:302009-09-08T17:06:00.107+05:30

{Shorshe - MustardBaata - ground paste of anything ( mustard here )Shim - Hyacinth beans }Right now I have a typing block.What? Well ... ok ... I did so want to write 'a writer's block'. But one round around blogosphere overflowing with perfect writings complete with humour, tragedy and recipe to the boot ... and I shrink to a size smaller than the shrunk kids in HISTK.Well .... this is a food

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-23510448193030463182009-09-03T17:51:00.010+05:302009-09-03T19:05:52.254+05:30

I know, I know. This Hilsa thing is getting way too much. My comments section too is reflecting this monotony.Haven't heard from my veggie friends at all ( Updated : oooooops ... some of them ... not all :-) ) . And I don't blame them. But what can I do?I have got this fish ... am cooking it ... am trying to eat it. Trying? Yes ... am done now ... no more Ilish for me the whole year now. But

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-32778999650702008382009-09-02T16:13:00.013+05:302009-09-15T12:50:59.682+05:30

Ambol or Tauk/Tawk is a sour dish that is usually served at the end of a proper Bengali meal. The aim is to create enough salivation to aid in digestion and also to clean the palate for the final round ... i.e. the sweet dish.Ambol usually has tamarind for the sourness ... but is sometimes made with pieces of dried mango too. Usually different types of small fish like Chuno punti or Mourala is

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-3858815426683114132009-09-01T07:10:00.006+05:302009-09-01T14:41:15.614+05:30

When I made this dish .... Shorshe Ilish Bake last year, I had just about started food blogging. Did not have a very good idea on weilding the camera and did not get a this decent sized fish. But this is my favourite Ilish dish and I made it this tme too. It is the other version of Bhapa Ilish or the steam cooked Ilisih / Hilsa. The sauce or gravy is the same ... only instead of steaming it, I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-29112308857358101172009-08-30T17:25:00.016+05:302009-09-01T14:44:11.239+05:30

Come monsoons and Bengalis everywhere look forward to one thing ... the very favourite and a delicacy worth giving your right arm for ... the Ilish or the Hilsa fish. This fish is so sought after that it's price is skyrocketing year by year . A must in every Bengali's plate this time of the year, Bengali cuisine is not complete unless a few Ilish recipes are mentioned or cooked and served.Even if

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-62047541028681792492009-08-28T07:53:00.019+05:302009-08-30T19:32:53.058+05:30

( Vegetarians and Vegans can use any vegetable like mushrooms, cauliflower, even potatoes or paneer / tofu for this dish ). After wading through gallons and gallons of vegetable broths, soups, purees and more broths, soups, purees ( I know, I know, they are healthy stuff ... but I have my health very much at place and I was not the one ill ... ) , I finally started to cook some decent meal for

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-71836169679747910332009-08-12T16:46:00.013+05:302009-08-13T13:44:34.054+05:30

This post is to say two small but hearfelt words .... " Thank You "!!( The cookie snap is from my draft. I'll make a proper post on it later. )Since I usually do not write much about my family ... except for some trivial things in passing, I did not write the reason for my break in my last post.As a result a lot of people, in all innocence, have wished me a 'happy break'. So I mentioned in just

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-45968264441892314822009-08-02T08:21:00.011+05:302009-08-30T19:35:11.902+05:30

Last year, when I had made the Tangy Plum, I was experimenting and had no idea it would be such a hit. I had played with it so that it was not the traditional jam .... and neither was it a chutney. Everybody loved it. I heard several 'encores' and had wanted to make it again ... but the plums had suddenly vanished from the market .... almost as if somebody had snapped a finger and made them

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-15299906147735547792009-07-31T14:31:00.020+05:302009-09-19T08:53:05.968+05:30

Yippee! I baked these!These extremely tasty and so very,very easy to make Onion Crackers come "Straight from Supriya's Red Chillies to Soma's eCurry" to Kichu Khon.I loved this line by Soma so much ... made me think of the pass-it-on game .... that I just had to use it .... and the good lady said yes, I can! Thanks Soma! :-) It was a very rainy day last Saturday. I was bored the afternoon through

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-26318853058728872972009-07-28T10:37:00.012+05:302009-07-28T15:48:59.897+05:30

Ok ... come on with the brickbats ... you are most welcome to. :-)I know this is a food blog ... am supposed to post food ... good food. Am supposed to be sweating it out in the kitchen ... dishing up goodies ... clicking snaps .... wracking my brains for a decent write .... and post it. And wait for the bouquets.But what can I do? Am doing nothing of the sort. Am cooking the minimum ...

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-79261454624843945252009-07-21T18:47:00.017+05:302009-07-22T22:33:26.436+05:30

The rains are here to stay. It has been drizzling steadily for the past two days ... and has been very very windy. Not to mention the cold. While the family in Delhi is complaining about the heat and humidity and the lack of rains ... we are snuggling into warm woollens and throws and blankets.The trees outside are having tough time holding on to themselves and their branches ... the way they are

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-42012295259279252232009-07-17T11:07:00.027+05:302009-07-18T08:11:54.000+05:30

"Aur bolo..." .... persisted the pest for the nth time. The husband gives a pained smile for the nth time. I look away.How I hate it when people have nothing to talk about and try to satisfy their curiosity under the garb of making conversations. And how I hate going to such gatherings."Aur kya chal raha hai ...." ... and then not to give up .... " Who sits next to you in office these days? " ..

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-22400282213347533012009-07-08T10:56:00.018+05:302009-07-09T17:12:25.801+05:30

This is my 150th post !! :-) My tryst with mangoes this year was sweet .... yet was about to end on a bad note. The final batches that are making their appearence are tasteless ... and sometimes gone bad.Most have been picked in a hurry ... and even if we have to make do with those that have definitely not ripened on the trees ... some turned out to be too raw ... especially those that looked too

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-69421987445607797842009-07-03T18:59:00.016+05:302009-07-04T09:32:19.586+05:30

The rains have finally arrived. Finally! Well ... the sky has been overcast for two whole days at a stretch .... it has been windy ... there has been a light spray of water the whole of yesterday ... and it actually drizzled today. So hopefully I can say .... finally the monsoon has arrived.Unlike the rains that I am used to on the coast back home .... heavy and relentless, pelting down ever so

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-81211712320987933582009-07-01T11:12:00.027+05:302011-06-12T08:34:48.912+05:30

( If you are unable to get raw jackfruit, this can be made with a lot of other things like leftover cauliflower / potatoes/ paneer/ chicken / mutton curries too. ) Updated : I have never had absolutely any problems with any 'COMMENTS on my blog(s) ... as many of you have assumed in a hurry to leave nice lines for me. I guess you just skimmed the first few lines ... which too are not on what is

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-25469075168639471082009-06-24T11:09:00.039+05:302009-06-25T22:55:57.602+05:30

Nostalgia is the mother of ... well ... if not invention in my case ... trying my hand at making Arisa Pitha.Pithas ( Oriya) / Pithes (Bengali ) are cooked sweet or savory items usually made from agrarian products like rice, lentils, coconut and jaggery or sugar. If it is a prasad for Jagannath, then it is always jaggery that is used.Arisa pitha, a very traditional sweetmeat, is one of my

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-37644375066444533142009-06-18T19:04:00.017+05:302009-06-25T23:08:36.401+05:30

( Vegans can make this with tofu / boiled potato cubes / steamed medium sized cauliflower florets ). Too many things at hand these days ... and every job demanding attention at the same time ... not to say nothing of the people around me ( I hope JKJ pardons me for using the line in such frivolous settings).There have been a few things ... read major few things ... that needed to be done with in

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-41250017378872359182009-06-11T16:10:00.023+05:302009-06-12T10:02:54.578+05:30

I was wondering in one of my last posts at how few of my recipes actually make it to my blog. One of the main reasons is I cook most of the good stuff for dinner ... and absolutely hate to click snaps in bad light. So inspite of cooking up loads of food, my blog lacks most of them.So when dear Joyeeta lamented that her homemade paneer always breaks down before a dish is complete, I remembered

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-47361735619060233992009-06-10T11:27:00.015+05:302010-03-10T11:09:29.532+05:30

Ok ... this is a hurried post. And am posting this very common traditional Bengali dish in the absence of anything better ... haven't really got the time to click my dishes these days. They go straight from the kitchen to the waiting plates and get devoured.Chorchori or charchari is a great way to use up leftover vegetables from the fridge ( at least I do so). But it tastes great with fresh

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-11465249843150336532009-06-05T12:22:00.017+05:302009-06-05T15:57:49.115+05:30

Accepting things is sometimes difficult. Accepting people even more. When I just so badly want rain ... the sun shows off just how well it can scorch.When I am planning to have an elaborate dinner, the other half does not feel 'too hungry' ... and I make do with a salad ... nah .... I do not even feel happy about the break from the kitchen.When I want to sit at home and read in the weekend, I am

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-6588946981173200622009-06-03T12:10:00.016+05:302009-06-04T07:01:08.568+05:30

The Thalipeeth is a nutritious snack that any Maharashtrian is familiar with. Made of a combination of a flours and legume powders, it is very filling too.To my knowledge, the mix for the dough ... known as bhajani .... is usually made from jowar, rice, gram flours to which sometimes legumes like chowli or dals like urad is added too.Everything has to be dry roasted and then ground to a powder. I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-77127167573522999022009-06-01T12:50:00.013+05:302009-06-02T06:59:38.397+05:30

Whenever we visit our favorite South East Asian restaraunt, I look forward to their peanut sauce more than the food .... which of course I absolutely love. I have noticed that they usually serve it with the starters ... mostly grilled / barbequed stuff ... or with the dimsums/momos.But I like it so much that I ask for it even if we are having rice and curries. And the guy serving us would smile

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-52390138276753975022009-05-26T15:46:00.013+05:302009-09-19T07:50:55.290+05:30

( Vegetarians & Vegans can use soy milk or coconut milk or plain water with a little baking powder for the batter. ) Before I start off with the recipe, first things first. A big Thank You !! to everybody for your heartfelt wishes, sweet words, praise and encouraging lines.I am so glad I started this blog ... through which I got to know all you wonderful people out there. :-)Today's recipe is a

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-81937476342630448852009-05-23T07:52:00.024+05:302009-06-06T15:15:11.861+05:30

Warning : Long Post :-) Two years back, on a whim I made an account on blogspot for my ramblings ... which I still do here . And then suddenly life took me on a whirlwind tour so fast I forgot who my own self was ..... leave alone blog. Then a year later when I came back to it, I decided to turn it into a log of my adventures in the kitchen. And today Kichu Khon completes a whole year ! :-)

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-67016205809495814812009-05-19T11:35:00.021+05:302009-09-19T08:37:33.720+05:30

( Vegetarians can skip the egg and Vegans can use soya milk .... just add a little baking powder to the batter. )It is the mango season now and so the fruit basket is groaning with mangoes ... and the whole complaint is not from the weight alone .... sometimes over ripe mangoes can cause an overwhelming smell that induces a kind of aversion to it. :-)Well ... aversion may not be the perfect word

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-82642251351174207322009-05-14T12:45:00.009+05:302009-05-14T15:11:43.783+05:30

( Vegetarians can use Paneer or Cauliflower for this dish. Just add a little water too along with the other ingredients .... as these do not release much water by themselves to cook in. Vegans can make this with coconut milk. )This is a real quick dish that I came up with when I was in no mood to go through the process of grinding onions and other stuff for the usual chicken curry.I had some

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-12883111756830985942009-05-11T15:29:00.015+05:302009-05-12T08:34:21.466+05:30

There were some long forgotten Potol / Parwal / Pointed gourd lying in the refrigerator ( see the crinkly edges ... that long forgotten .... ).Set about to make the usual Alu Potol curry .... familiar to any Bengali. Saw some soaked black chana in the fridge. And some left over Besan batter from some pakoras made a couple of days back.Made some more small sized pakoras ... threw in everything

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-28165250669411374392009-05-08T12:57:00.018+05:302009-09-19T08:41:27.243+05:30

Here I am ... trying my hand at baking ... again. This time it is bread. When I saw Soma's No Knead Bread, I was tempted to try it.It was actually her little daughter who had made it. Knowing I will not have the time in the immediate future for such a beautiful project, I did not dilly dally and set about making it the very next day.And as anybody, whose baking recipe I choose to try, knows ... I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-19752468820276359732009-05-05T15:36:00.025+05:302010-06-06T23:18:18.753+05:30

( Vegetarians can leave out the fish and go on with the rest of the recipe ... and can add other vegetables like green peas, radish, etc. ..... and enjoy this simple but authentic Bengali jhol. )Has been quite a while since I posted a recipe last. Even though I have been almost perpetually living in the kitchen, I hardly had any time to click the dishes .... leave alone sit down and go through

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-79129367361544691152009-04-20T16:29:00.021+05:302009-09-19T07:56:29.857+05:30

I do not even know if anything like this is common or not ... i.e. anything other than plain appams. And I have never made appams before .... enjoyed them everytime at South Indian joints though.It was only at a food court .... where you can see the cooks preparing your dish ... that I saw the appam being made. And felt stupid.Coz I realised that the cute little non-stick wok I have been using

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-56044746218351441472009-04-17T12:06:00.024+05:302009-09-19T07:58:51.506+05:30

It was a junior colleague's b'day on the 15th. It was doubly important for him as it was the New Year too ( he is a Bengali ).Away from home for the first time, he lamented how his mother was very upset as he did not have Payesh / Kheer. Hubby is a softie ... and immediately committed that he will get his payesh the next day.Notwithstanding the fact that we ourselves have been living off bread /

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-66245613501107159932009-04-15T11:41:00.008+05:302009-09-19T08:00:09.990+05:30

Wishing all my friends and visitors a very Happy and Auspicious Bengali New Year 1416 ! :-)And a BIG Thank You to everybody for their concern and kind words left here and thru mails. Am getting better ... a little weak though.So this is the fastest thing I could make for the day .... my instant Moong dal halwa.Have a great time everybody! :-)

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-19610732324704133832009-04-12T13:56:00.013+05:302009-04-12T14:47:44.436+05:30

Have been down ... ill ... for the past so many days. Viral. All I am supposed to do now is to gulp down medicines dutifully .... and no cribbing. I did try visiting all the blogs I usually visit ... but was feeling too weak.Today felt like sitting up a little ... so am posting this. Hope to get back to all the beautiful blogs and recipes soon. :-)This is something that I always make whenever I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-82879134463307758112009-04-03T11:11:00.019+05:302009-04-03T17:21:51.074+05:30

The first time I came across Bisi Bele Bhaat was when my Mama ( maternal uncle ) cooked it for the whole family the day before my engagement. He, inspite of being a head honcho of an international company, has varied interests at the home front ... the main being cooking. He can conjure up the best stuff in minutes ... making him the chef at all informal parties thrown ... at other's places too.

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-31357345997207348182009-04-01T13:55:00.016+05:302009-09-19T08:02:34.786+05:30

I bake this Coffee Cake very often as it is an absolute favourite. And I hardly ever deviate from the original recipe ... though while making it for SIL's family I did reduce the number of eggs on her insistence. The result was not at all different ... and I in fact got a very good cake.Since then this recipe has been a favourite in the family.I have never tried baking it eggless though. I

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-52642286129393951962009-03-25T12:33:00.032+05:302009-06-26T08:10:14.137+05:30

( Vegetarians can skip the chicken and go on with the rest of the recipe ... or can use Tofu or Paneer instead. ) This is a very flavourful one pot meal that I often make for dinner and is very close to my heart. The best thing about this dish is it can be had steaming hot on winter evenings .... just add some bread and soup to go with .... or can be served cold as a salad ... on a bed of ice

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992803997309380986.post-85175794560403186182009-03-24T16:16:00.014+05:302009-09-19T08:05:33.372+05:30

Spring is here. The city is a riot of colours ... one of the reasons I love this city so much. The roadsides are filled with every colour of the Bougainvillea plant ... the banyans and peepals bursting with fresh baby leaves .... and at the same time the trees are shedding old leaves in the light spring wind.It is beautiful everywhere. :-) I will click some snaps and post them next time.On one

Sharmilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09513616266624467146noreply@blogger.com23