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2013-12-22

My version of the Indian Puri - The Poodi .....






My version of the Indian Puri:

1 measure Whole wheat
¼ measure Sesame seeds
1/8 measure Honey
Salt to taste
½ measure Water

Grind the whole-wheat to a powder.  Sometimes the grinder grinds only coarsely, but that it fine.

Mix the Honey, salt, water and sesame seeds.

Grind the mixture till it is mixed well.

Mix in the ground whole-wheat powder.

Shape into balls.

Pat into rounds.

Fry in hot oil, turning both sides.

Remove and serve with a smile.

I call this the Poodi.


2013-12-15

Good to have things:






Good to have things:

1. A fresh coffee berry that is dried in the sun, and then powdered whole and packaged as is.  It is then shipped to the wholesale and retail stores to be bought by one and then one can brew it into fresh coffee for a wholesome coffee experience.

2.  Some way of having whole cocoa beans - maybe just crack open the pod, scoop out the beans, dry them in the sun, pack them up and then ship them.  Maybe they could be cooked in a pressure cooker like a legume....

3.  A larger variety of salad greens - brinjal leaves, for example, are quite good, and taste unexceptional.  Lettuce is already available.  I wonder how fresh tobacco would taste (yes, smoking lettuce is also probably bad for health, though the fresh salad version is good for health.  The same logic probably applies to tobacco also....)

4.  Support and patronage for endangered species - give them a chance to contribute so that they get rewarded in some way, and hence can live out their lives till it is time for them to be killed and eaten.
If they are farmed commercially, they get a chance to live......  Some examples of edible meat are deer, antelope and gazelles...   Biblically they are edible.  Nutritionally they are low-fat and lean, and so good for health this way too.

5.  Whole-grain basmati rice would be absolutely a down-to-earth experience.....  Yet to experience it properly.....  Have tried a brown-basmati, which is probably good for payasam, but there are so many long-grain varieties that have that wonderful aroma, and which would be so earthly when eaten whole.                    Black-rice is sweet and smells good.  Whole-grain red-rice is what I eat, and it is very filling.  But there are so many other varieties yet to be tried.....  Currently available rices are many in variety, but the unmilled varieties need to reach the market too......   Freedom of choice - choose milled or un-milled varieties.....

6.  Burgers with whole-wheat buns and wraps with whole-grain wraps in the fast-foods would make fast-foods much more palateable, easy on the stomach, and easy on the mind.





2013-12-14

An oil-free meal






An oil-free meal.

Choose a measuring vessel - either a bowl or a cup or anything, depending on the quantity that can fit in your pressure cooker at a time.

1 measure whole-grain rice + 4 measures water
1 measure split-green-gram-with-the-green-skin + 3 measures of water
1 measure broken-wheat + 3 measures of water
1 measures split-black-gram-with-the-black-skin + 3 measures of water

Place in the pressure-cooker, and remember to mix them well, otherwise they will stick on the bottom.  These are the minimum amounts of water.  (Too little and the mixture will stick to the bottom.  Too much and it will only become soupy, so use a bowl to serve, instead of a plate....)

Light the fire / turn on the heat to maximum to start with.

6 allelles of garlic, peeled and sliced

a handful of sliced cabbage (doesn't have to be fine, but go ahead and slice it fine if you're in the mood)
6 small brinjal, sliced, or 1 large brinjal sliced
1 drumstick, cut into pieces
any herb with seed, any shrub with seed, any vegetable with seed depending on the space in the pressure cooker (the fruits can just be eaten as is)

Spice seeds:
Sprinkle in some
mustard seeds
jeera seeds
saunf seeds
fenugreek seeds

coriander powder
turmeric powder
jeera powder
dry-ginger powder

(these amounts don't matter.  Just put some according to your preference.  If the ratio changes from time to time, you'll just have different tasting dishes with the same recipe-template, which makes it easier to cook - just follow this recipe and you'll end up with a different tasting dish each time.  Increase one type of seed one time, and another type of seed another time, or increase one powder this time, and another powder(s) the next time.
However, the ratio of the  grains and water and the legumes + water is important, though you can add more water to be on the safer side.  It becomes a little soupy, which is fine.)

Don't add salt yet, because it causes the grains to take longer to boil.  Just soak some tamarind in some water and add salt to it.  Keep till mentioned below.

By now the water in the pressure cooker must be starting to boil.  Stir the whole mixture again so that it does not settle on the bottom of the cooker - that makes it easier to remove into a serving bowl.

Rinse the gasket so that it will lead to a secure seal.  Fit the gasket into the pressure-cooker lid.  Put the lid on the cooker.

When the steam rises from the top, put the weight on, and turn down the heat / fire.

In about 15  minutes, switch off the fire / heat, and then either wait for the pressure to subside or .... but if you're just starting off with pressure-cookers, that's the way to go.

After the pressure subsides, (check by tapping the weight lightly with a spoon or ladle), then remove slowly and carefully and place in it's place, or you'll have to hunt for it when you need it again.

Slide open the pressure lid, mix in the salt-and-tamarind water, add chopped coriander leaves, and pour into a mega-bowl.

Serve in serving-bowls placed on plates (because the mixture will be hot), with a spoon.

Voila!  A meal without oil, but with some oilseeds (whole) so it's as easy as can be.

If you don't have some of the grains, legumes or spice-seeds or spice-powders or anything mentioned in this recipe, feel free to use any whole-grain, any whole-legume, any whole-spice-seeds.......  The method remains the same.  You don't even need to use spice-powders.  For added goodness, just put the seeds in without powdering.

Bon appetit.


2013-12-05

An easy potato salad






An easy potato salad:


Cut and cube potato.
Cook.
Mix mayonnaise, salt and pepper.
Mix in the potato.
Chill for a while.


Serve garnished with chopped leaves for a nice look.