Travelling Soul- By Anushree Mathuria

Drive to Gokarna

I have been to the hills....
I have seen the shore...
I have played in snow...
I have swum in sea...
Strangers became friends as I traveled...
Bits and pieces I have gathered....
I have sat by the rocks on my own...
I have partied for long...
Lost myself to discover new places...
Found myself at the rarest moments...
Yet there is so little I have seen...
So many places still to go...

Rajma Chawal- Mom Style (Recipe)

A very popular saying " I Can't make everyone happy, I am not Rajma Chawal" Rajma Chawal is one of the most loved home cooked food in India and I just love my mom's Rajma Chawal. I am pretty sure everyone loves their mom's Rajma Chawal somehow I feel it's main recipe is the love mothers put in as a secret ingredient. I was always fond of eating food outside. But when you start living away from family you start valuing home made food. I have been living away from family for a long time now and one day I started craving for Rajma-Chawal not just any Rajma Chawal, the ones my mom makes. So called her up and took the recipe from her. Step by step instructions I took from her so that I can recreate the magic. I followed the instructions step by step and it did not turn out the way it was supposed to be, but it was not bad for a first attempt. Today I tried making it again and it turned out perfect just perfect. So here I am sharing the recipe with you guys who are living away from family and missing home made food or tired of ordering food or are just broke to afford food outside. This recipe is simple quick and easy. I am a beginner when it comes to cooking, so if I can make it anyone can make it.

 

Recipe (Rajma) :

Ingredients:- 

1. 1 cup rajma (Kidney beans)- Soak them in water over night
2. 2 big onions or 3 small onions (Finely Chopped)
3. 2 tomatoes
4. 1 Tbsp Jeera (Cumin Seeds)
5. 3 Tbsp Oil
6. Pinch of Hing(Asafoetida)
7. 1 Tbsp Red Chilli Powder
8. 1 Tbsp Garam Masala
9. 1/2 Tbsp Haldi(Turmeric powder)
10. 1 Tbsp Ginger-Garlic paste
11. 2 green chilly
12. Chopped coriander
13. Salt to taste

Method

Heat oil in pan and add hing, jeera, ginger garlic paste and onions. Fry onions till golden brown. Take tomatoes and chilly and make a puree. Add the puree into the pan (containing fried onions). After that add red chilly powder, haldi and garam masala. Cook till the mixture starts leaving oil and then Turn of the gas.

Put soaked rajma in pressure cooker (don't throw the water used for soaking rajma overnight) and boil. Pressure cook it for 5-6 whistles. Let the steam get out and then only open the pressure cooker.

Put the mixture from the pan into the pressure cooker and add salt to taste. Then pressure cook it for 1-2 whistle. Add chopped coriander and stir it.

Congratulations the Rajma are ready.

Rice

Ingredients :-

1. 1 Cup rice (soak them into water for 10 minutes)
2. Pinch of jeera
3. Pinch of salt
4. 1/2 Tbsp oil

Method:

Heat oil in  sauce-pan and jeera and salt. Rinse rice with water 3 times and drain excess water. Add soaked rice into pan and then add 2 cups of water into the pan. Boil for 5-10 minutes. To check if rice are done. Just use a fork to see if there is water at bottom of the pan. If no water is there then rice are done.

I am sure you guys will love it. Happy Cooking

  

Valentine's Day Jokes

Valentine's day wow so much love in the air, well so much so that it makes me feel suffocated. Entire week of pressure to make that one day memorable. Well good news I don't have to worry about it thanks to a very hectic study schedule in my University that I ended up spending most of the V day attending lectures and preparing for presentations. Well I won't complain as I had nothing better to do. The only complain was that this blog post is being posted a bit late. Well since there is no specific day for love so I am going to bore you anyways. Shifting to a new country and extensive classes starting without getting time to settle. So as it is pretty much prospects of finding a date for Valentine's day goes from difficult to impossible. Keeping my looks in mind I am pretty much confident as I look like a potato so I always have a better chance of finding a date since women love potatoes "I can be your French Fry baby". A normal human tendency is if you can't enjoy something it is better to make fun of it. So here is my try to do the same and to support it is famous status updates on social media "On Valentine's day couples are dating and Singles are updating". Here are a few funny jokes on Valentine's day to help you feel a tiny bit better.

we all can relate to it!! Can't we?

There is no love more sincere than love for food

Karims Old Delhi !!

Mutton Seek Kebab

Many of you must have already started feeling hungry after reading the title. Well, it is indeed a paradise for non-vegetarian lovers. Been born and brought up in Delhi I had not been to Karim's until last month. I guess I wasted 26 years of my life if I think now. The amazing part of this place is not just the food but the atmosphere around the place and history associated with it. Honestly, the reason I decided to go to Karim's was for the Khameeri Roti. Well, it is called a normal tandoori roti their but it is Khameeri Roti and I can just go and eat the roti. It is so damn delicious trust me.

Khameeri Roti

I will suggest you guys to use a public transport to go there as finding parking can be really difficult. You can park your car somewhere nearby and take a cycle rickshaw. Those who are still interested in taking their car find empty spaces if you are lucky. There will be someone who will help you park the Car and might charge anything between Rs 10 to 50, no parking slips just unofficial stuff. Still, I will recommend public transport. Old Delhi Jama Masjid area is always crowded and aroma of  Kebabs can be smelt from as far as 2 Kilometres.

 Well, the atmosphere is similar to a concert of a well-known band with people lots of people all around and as many restaurants which can serve that many people. But one iconic restaurant that stands out is Karim's. It is inside a narrow lane with 3 different sitting areas to cater to a large number of food lovers. As you enter you will see Kebabs and Tikkas being prepared and on the other side Curries being served.

Mutton Curry

I ordered for Mutton Burra, Mutton Seek Kebab and Shami Kebab for starters. They were really nice and had nice flavors and were properly cooked. Definitely, try Mutton Burra it was the yummiest. The quantity is less so order accordingly. For the main course had ordered for Mutton Korma, Mutton Stew, and Keema-Matar. The best was the Mutton Stew the curry was really nice and interesting and it stood out taste wise among the 3. Keema-Matar was also good but had too much Matar(Peas) for my liking. I was disappointed but Mutton Korma as the Mutton was not well cooked as it was hard to chew but the curry was nice. I and my friends wanted to try the Mutton Biryani as well so we ordered but it was not at all great. I would not recommend Karim's for biryani lovers. Well after such a heavy and spicy meal you need something sweet. My mom who has a sweet-tooth told me there is a separate section in the stomach for desserts ( ahh what an excuse) but I believe in it. So I ordered the very famous "Phirni" it was nice but I have had better. Nothing great to offer for vegetarians but you will get Dal Makhani and Shahi Paneer. They do not accept cards so guys if you are planning to go make sure you are carrying cash.

Shami Kebab

Mutton Korma

Keema-Matar

Mutton Stew

Phirni

Mutton Burra