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...
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 cup rajma (Kidney beans)- Soak them in water over night
2 big onions or 3 small onions (Finely Chopped)
2 tomatoes
1 Tbsp Jeera (Cumin Seeds)
3 Tbsp Oil
Pinch of Hing(Asafoetida)
1 Tbsp Red Chilli Powder
1 Tbsp Garam Masala
1/2 Tbsp Haldi(Turmeric powder)
1 Tbsp Ginger-Garlic paste
2 green chilly
Chopped coriander
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 Cup rice (soak them into water for 10 minutes)
Pinch of jeera
Pinch of salt
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.
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.
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 theCar
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.
When you think of a hot summer day it is something cold like a chilled beer or Ice-Cream you crave for, I mean no comparison between the two. Well I get a craving for Ice-Cream on a Chilly winter evening or on a rainy day. It was one of those winter days when it was raining and I was traveling from Delhi to Mcleodganj. I had taken a stop-over at Chandigarh and it was raining non-stop since morning. We had gone to sector 17 the weather can really take a toll on you as it really cold plus it is raining and it is just depressing. Well for my Mom and my sister shopping is a therapy that works to get over a depression like this. Well for me a something really good to eat can really cheer me up. As I was walking around sector 17 I saw a kid having a Chocolate Soft Serve and that moment on-wards I knew that this can cheer me up.
Chocolate Soft Serve !
I started my hunt for that Soft Serve and reached a place that served this called Softy Corner with a Tag line "Everyone's Melting Place" well I surely melted.
Softy Corner
Well I melted looking at the description of their hot selling Soft Serve Ice-Cream. It is called the Double Chocolate Chip and has Chocolate ice-cream, gems, chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles and Cadbury chocolate. It was mind blowing everything in it complimented each other and it was not an over doze of chocolate. My depression from the damp weather was totally cured. I started enjoying the cold rainy weather and walked in the rain with a smiling face. I am pretty sure this soft serve has super powers and is a mood lifter. It is one of the must try things in Chandigarh.
Description
They serve other interesting Soft Serve Ice-Cream as well but i am a diehard chocolate lover. They serve really nice Chicken nuggets and Hash browns.
Soft Serve Menu
Sector 17 Chandigarh is one of the must visit places if you visit Chandigarh and definitely Softy Corner if you are in sector 17. If you visit Chandigarh and do not end up eating this ice-cream then your trip will be incomplete.
Well you will be surprised to know that the Sainath Kulchas in Chembur(Mumbai) serve the best Amritsari kulcha in India. I was shocked too but it is true. Being Delhi boy who has lived most of his life in the north was just surprised by the very authentic taste of the Kulcha. One fine day a close friend of mine invited me over to try out these Kulchas. I was like dude I am from north so I am not sure if these kulchas will be any good. I mean honestly I had no expectations from this place as Mumbai is popular for Vada Pav and Sea food. He took me to this place called Sainath Kulcha. This place is in Chembur Camp. If you guys are planning to go then reach Chembur Camp and ask for this place, it is inside a small lane.
Aloo Cheese Kulcha (Potato Cheese Stuffed Nan)
You get Aloo(Potato), Paneer(Cottage Cheese) and Mix Kulcha with the option of adding cheese in it. My favorite is and always will be Aloo Cheese Kulcha, it is a mixture of cheese, potato and gobi (Cauliflower). So you guys definitely try this one out.
So my friend took me and the place looked decent. It can accommodate 5-6 people at a time. You won't get to sit and will have to stand and eat most of the time. It is very popular and people travel from as far as 40 Kms to eat here. I was still thinking these guys are from Mumbai how would they know what a real Amritsari Kulcha will taste like. I saw him putting butter on the Kulchas and my dear friends this is how a Kulcha should be buttered.
I ordered for Aloo Cheese Kulcha and my arrogance of from being north and blah blah was all proved wrong. It was really yummy. The flavor and taste was really authentic. The stuffing was perfect and the Chole that were served along with the Kulcha were also mind-blowing. This place was for real and has been awarded "The Best Kulchas Ever"
They use the best quality cheese and butter and they know how to make the Kulchas buttery and cheesy. The taste is authentic as it lies in a Sindhi colony and has been there for a long time. Few more places serve real authentic Punjabi food which is just surprising to find in Mumbai. This is a must try if you are visiting Mumbai.
Few Tips :
1) Order 2 Kulchas at a time as orders keep coming in and you might have to wait a bit and it can be a bit irritating to wait when you have started eating.
2) Use Public Transport as you might face parking issues
3) Be patient at times lots of orders at a time and making a master piece takes time.
It was a fine Sunday morning I was half sleepy and the time was around 11 am. I could have slept till two. I mean that is what Sundays are meant for to sleep till afternoon. But my luck just changed from that moment on-wards. I got an angry text from my girlfriend "how could you forget our Anniversary" and that is when the hangover kicked in. There is a saying "Behind every Successful Hangover there is a promise of never drinking again". The nonstop pings of angry messages from her felt like sharp nails being hammered into my head. Well I had gone out partying with my office friends and I guess I partied too much and forgotten about it. I somehow managed to pacify her and said sweetheart let's not start our anniversary day with a fight and promised to make it up. Surprisingly she didn't stretch it which made me more worried. But that was not the only worry I had the bigger issue was lying in front of me was my empty wallet. I was broke to the core and how do I make it up to her. Well living alone can make you broke that you don't even know where the next meal is going to come. Well that was exactly my problem. I guess have to convert the last nights drinking session into an EMI. I have several of those at the moment. Well what to do to make it special and not really heavy on my pocket. Suddenly the Chef in me started telling me she loves Pasta in White Sauce and Garlic Bread. So I messaged her that come over as I am going to cook something special for her. She was excited and that is what I love about women they like simpler things and for them it is the effort that counts. I had earlier made a White Sauce Pasta and it was pretty nice for a first time attempt. So I was confident of nailing it the second time. I went to the supermarket to buy the ingredients. I must thank my mom for taking me to the supermarket with her to look for value for money deals. I was experienced in that department. I was the only guy among a group of middle aged women in the supermarket who was checking the price and deals of every item i wanted for my pasta.
Well I had bought almost all of the ingredients. Next I went to Dominos to buy the Cheesy garlic bread she just loves them. I could afford that much plus I could ask for lots of Oregano and Chili-Peppers with it. They were kind enough to give it to me. So I had chopped the vegetables, boiled the pasta and prepared the sauce. She had reached a bit earlier but the pasta was almost ready. She is a big foodie and must have been more excited the see what I had prepared than to meet me. She hugged me and kissed me and went straight to the kitchen. Everything seemed perfect and she looked impressed by the preparation. But luck just was not on my side that day. I had forgotten to add salt while boiling the pasta and now it just tasted bland. All my efforts went into vain. I tried to figure out something but I was no MasterChef anymore. It just looked good and I told her that it is bland and we can order out . But she was damn sweet she ate it and did not find anything wrong with it. She loved it as only my share must have been left. I took the leftover pasta to office; nobody touched it after a bite. Well she liked it and ate quite a handful so i was pretty much happy and till date she has not told me that the Pasta was bad.
PS - We are not dating anymore. She said it wasn't me it was her but i know it was the Pasta!!!
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