Wengers Connaught Place - After many years 30 July 2016

Today I went to Wengers after many years. The succulent Shami Kababs and the crispy chicken patties are to die for.

Also a Metro ride to Rajiv Chowk after years.

Sad, remembering the old days.

This shop has been around since 1926 and till today, the old residents of Delhi can swear by their products. Over the years, their prices have shot up. A kabab cost me 70 rupees and so did the chicken patty but they cannot just be compared with any other place.

Years back, someone had told me that Flurys in Kolkata, but having eaten in both place, Wengers is way above.

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/12/21/wengers-new-delhis-oldest-bakery/

Lunch with a friend - 29 July 2016

This was totally unplanned for. My friend, Ajay, kept telling me to come to his house, and I kept procrastinating.

Today morning, he called and said he had taken a day off. 

I was going out, so I told him I will call him when I was back home.

After finishing my work outside, I called him around noon. Lunch was not planned. He was at home alone, and wanted to order food in. His wife was adamant - Nothing from outside. So nice bengali lunch at home - shukto, torkari, dal, and two kinds of fishes - pabda and prawns.

My Dad and uncle at home had something while I went out and enjoyed my day out.

Happy Birthday 25th July 2016

Its a year since I started this Blog. It was the evening of 25th July 2015, when I started. A week after I had returned to Bangalore from Delhi.

Never realized that a year went by.

A whole lot has happened in this past year - have to take that as part of life and move on.

Happy Birthday

Happy Anniversary Ma

Its a year (as per the tithi) since you left us Ma on 06th July 2015.

Today, 24th July 2016, we had a batsorik puja for you. My school friends were there, talking about you and so were some of my other friends.

All of them miss you.

Travel and a bit more 23 July 2016

Yesterday, 23 July 2016, came to Delhi.

My Jet air flight was at 7 AM, which meant to be checked in by 6 AM, I had requested for the taxi to come at 3:45 AM. Whole night I was up, packing and then watching TV till 2:45. Then work up Dad. At 3:30, I got a call from the Meru Cab guy saying he would be there in 10 minutes. Fine.

At 3:45, I called the cab guy. He said was at a fuel station, for getting his tires checked for air.

At 3:55, he came. Luggage kept in the car when the guy realized he had a flat tire.

H asked me, You have some time in hand. I said - 10 minutes. He then struggled with the jack and in about 15 minutes, he managed to get the punctured tire replaced.

So around 4:10 or so we started. And around 5:10 we were at the airport.

Then the Jet Air counter. I asked for a wheel chair for Dad. Got one. And going with him, I went from the staff gate, so my security check in happened in 10 minutes. In a normal scenario, It would have taken at least an hour.

At 6:10 we boarded the flight.  The flight stewardess ( not sure if air hostess is still a politically correct term or not) came by. There was a time when these people were known for their beauty. And this lot was diametrically opposite of that.

Anyway, food was served - a nice breakfast and the flight was in, 10 minutes before time.

Was home by 11:30M.

Went and got chola bhatura and had that for lunch. Then a nap in the noon.

Evening had roasted corn and then dinner was the great tandoori roti and dal from the neighbouring dhaba.

Great day.

Dal Roti and Sambhar Masala - 19 July 2016

Dal Roti - A simple thing in North India. Having Dal with Roti. But making a single meal out of it?

I tried that last night and the outcome was nice.

I had some left over boiled moong dal . Added that in the wheat flour and kneaded that.
Chapatis were made out of that. I purposely left the oil out.

The outcome - these rotis did not puff up like the normal wheat chapatis do, but the outcome was tasty. Good to have with any other dish.

And then I wanted to have sambhar made out of the red lentils - masoor dal. But where was the sambhar powder? No worries. So a little jeera (cumin), coriander seeds, red chilly, black pepper, curry leaves were dry roasted, cooled and ground and added to the boiled dal. A little hing was added.

Sambhar powder also has dry roasted urad and chana dal in it, but I added what I had, and the outcome was lovely.

Dad was happy which meant it was good.

Happy Guru Purnima - July 19 2016

Today, July 19, is Guru Purnima. Believed to the birthday of Veda Vyasa, the author of Mahabharata, who is also have said to collected all the Vedic Hymns and consolidated them.

Today is also the day I wish all the people in this world that I have interacted - my humble offering of a pranam. All have taught me something or the other in life.

Happy Guru Purnima to all.

Chicken Weekend 16/17 July

Okay, I am not making desserts every weekend. Sometimes it could be something savory.

Yesterday, 16 th July, I was at a school to watch a badminton match which my office was playing. After two hours and many singles and doubles matches, I left the venue.

Took a bus to get my medical reports. The person asked me when I got my tests done and when I said 21st June, he was a bit stunned. After all, people were desperate for these. I could have at the least told him, I had seen the soft copies.

Anyway, from there, I walked. It was a good walk - probably 4 kilometers with a halt on the way for some chicken.

Got three chicken breasts and four whole legs.

The chicken breasts were washed and kept in the fridge.

The legs were cleans and marinated with ginger, garlic, yogurt, salt and chilly powder and kept in the fridge.

Evening, the breast was cut as small as possible, an egg, little cornflour, garlic, ginger, salt and soya sauce was added. Then balls were fried.

In a wok, some oil, onions, then capsicum, ginger, garlic, ketchup and soya sauce. When this was nice and thick, added some water and the fried chicken balls. Then little corn flour dissolved in water.

My version of chicken Manchurian.

Then today had homemade pizza (atta was kneaded with yeast, sugar and left aside overnight. Then rotis were made of this - this was the base) with cucumber, tomato, cheese and boiled egg. 220 degrees pre heated oven for 10 minutes. This was breakfast.

Lunch was the chicken legs. Roasted in the oven at 200 degrees pre heated oven for around 80 minutes.

Dinner?? - Will think of something.

Bipad Tarini Puja

Yesterday 12 July, was Bipad Tarini Puja.  I was not aware of it. My maid came early yesterday and said she needed to go home early as she was fasting the whole day.

This is the worship of Durga who is one takes away all troubles. As legends go, Narada had narrated to a king on the banks of the river Karatoya, that this was the Goddess who had relieved Shiva's pain, when he had consumed poison during the churning of the cosmic ocean.

This river is in prsent day Bangladesh, but reduced to a stream.

This was also supposed to the Goddess to whom Krishna prayed.

Then he talks about a queen who had asked for cooked beef, as a close maid of hers consumed that. Though the queen had ordered it secretly, the king heard of it and was about to kill the queen. The Queen asked the goddess to help her, and the beef changed to flowers.

I understand that this is a worship that is performed by women. 

Nice Evening with friends - 11 July 2016

It started Sunday evening. There was a Whatsapp message from a school friend. He said he was in Bangalore for a day and would be returning back Tuesday.

So Sunday I was trying to workout a place where we could meet. I spoke to a friend who lives in Bangalore, and he said he would arrange something.

Yesterday morning, I was given the venue. Toit in Indiranagar. I had never heard of it and checking on the internet, I saw they brewed their own beer.

So finally yesterday evening, after work, went home, changed and then took a Uber to this place.
It took me an hour to reach. I was there for 10 minutes when the other two friends turned up.

It is nice to catch up with school friends over beer, gossip and snacks. Lovely evening spent.

Bigg Boss

Last night was the final of Colors Bangla Bigg Boss.
Its over finally.

I had seen a few episodes and I was appalled by the negativity there. Not sure if the Hindi ones are this bad. Maybe that is the format of the game.

Glad its over.

Also,  yesterday was the final of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on ZEE TV. The performers sang. I thought they would decide and declare the winner.

Not sure when that will come.

Tiler Naru 10 July 2016

I had never thought that I would be making naru at home. That too in Bangalore.
I had actually left off all the cooking to Mom and I was occasionally in the kitchen, when I felt like or when I was staying alone.

Now, times are different and kitchen has to be visited everyday.

The sesame seeds were lying in one corner. Undiscovered. My mom had probably got it from Delhi a few years back and they had been lying there since.

Yesterday was the day when I wanted to make this but forgot, what with the Rohu fish taking precedence.

Today, I made it a point to make it.

So the packet of 200 grams of sesame went into the wok to be roasted. Slightly browned them. Burnt sesame will be bitter.
Kept that aside.
Approximately one tablespoon of gur/ jaggery in the wok and some water. This was boiled till it became fudge like - sticky. Then added the sesame.

Formed balls while warm, and the tiler naru ready!!

A year gone - Life is still not the same

Remembering these  old bengali songs.

It is exactly a year back,  06th July, 2015,  when I was in a flight, flying to Delhi to see the lifeless body of my mother, for the last time.

People say time is a healer. Not sure. Will time make me forget. Everyday, when I think of something at home, I turn back and realize that she is not there.

Every evening there is a lump in the throat and eyes are moist.

Miss you Ma.

Jam Cake

Friday was Dad's birthday so wanted to do something. He was not too keen on stepping out and maybe I was lazy too, so finally did a few things.

1. Bought 4 kilos of Rohu on Saturday. Yes - here you need to buy a full fish, so had to buy the whole thing.
2. Had a Saturday lunch from KFC.
3. Evening is was Fish head with moong dal, fish roe pakoras and fish roe curry
4. Today, Sunday had a breakfast of popcorn (home made from corn kernels). This was in the microwave for 10 mins in a closed borosil bowl. My microwave is probably 20 years old,so thats why it took 10 mins. Some leftover chicken from KFC. And some soaked millets which were boiled. This had jowar, bajra, barley and ragi mixed. Soaked them for few hours and then boiled them.
5. Lunch was maggi made in microwave. With some millets. Added the maggi in a micro safe bowl, in which were some boiled millets. Added water which just about submerged the maggi. Want it soupy add more water. 4 mins om the micro. Then added the tastemaker and another 4 minutes.
AND
6. This was the best part. In a bowl I mixed some butter and sugar. Then added 4 eggs. Added 3-4 cups of flour and added 3 tablespoon of raspberry jam. Mixed well then added one egg.
Greased a bowl.
Set oven to heat at 170C.
Added the mixture in the greased bowl and put that in the oven for 50 mins.
After 25 mins, put a knife to see if it was done, I thought I saw some flour on the knife, so let it complete the cycle.
I let it sit in the oven for 5 mins after it was done.
Then took out the cake on to a dish and let it cool. It came out of the bowl easily.