CHAAR YAAR AUR PYAAR!!!!!! ;-) Four Friends & Love........

Hmmm.... I am here again.... But questioning myself, if I am losing focus, or rather if I am getting diverted totally........... because of my card making spree at its HEIGHTS!!!!! I have been enjoying myself preparing lovely card recipes, kinda trying to satiate myself by taking up all those ideas thrown by many professionals, challenging my imagination...... I have been able to cook a few recipes, out of those.... which I have posted on my "Hastkala"...Ashaon Ka....... Do not forget to PEEK-A-BOO!!!!!




I have had several drafts to be posted..... But it was kinda difficult to choose, which one of them, now....... And I found this yummy & one of my favorites, Kichdi....... It is a very common preparation in every household of North India....... The way they prepare differs though..... Mainly, they are prepared plain & simple or sometimes prepared rich & a bit more of a task..... Rich in the sense, of the ingredients used in the process....... Depends on what peeps prefer to & when!!!!!

The simple version is assumed to be a sick patients food...... simply because of the ingredients being limited & cooked so well that it turns out to be a porridge......so as to ease the digestion in favor of the SICK...... My Maa in-law says that it is a must prep, every Saturdays for lunch, because of their belief that it rids off the evils or the Negative Cosmic Effect of the Shani Gruha of that day... which is Saturday.....

As I mentioned in my earlier posts, when I get sick of the usual & regular food, it tempts me to savor something rich & yummy!!! And I turn towards an awesome rice prep for it..... (If I do not order for a home delivery ;-) And when I am tired of fried rice & Pulaos..... I look for a change, in that too..... And that is when, I plan of this rich, juicy & yummy Kichdi...... And this prep becomes rich simply because of all the special ingredients added.... Like the Ghee, the whole Garam Masala & the Vegetables......

And when it is this Rich Kichdi, then it has to be accompanied by the similar match..... By which I mean the additional accompaniments as a side dish...... And it is then I remember the four friends of the Kichdi...... As is said in HINDI - "Kichdi Ke  Chaar Yaar - Dahi, Chokha, Papad aur Achaar" Meaning ....."The four friends of Kichdi are  - Yoghurt or set curd, a potato mash, a cracker and Pickle"...... Once you have them by your side, your Lunch seems to be the last thing u eat...... for that day...... Very filling....  I know it looks & seems ELABORATE..... But it gets digested very easily & by evening you are hungry again..... I remember this song at this moment & changing it a bit to suit myself...here......

Jahan Chaar Yaar....
Miljaaye wahan
Khana ho gulzar....
Jahan Chaar Yaar!!!!






Okay....... Do not curse me for my ongoing story of its being.... Let's get down to the prep & its ingredients.....

VEGGIES KICHDI

Ingredients:

Rice - 3/4 cup
Tuar Dal + Masoor Dal} - 1/2 cup 
(***I store a mix of both the dals - can be prepared with just Tuar too***)
Cardamom - 4 pieces
Clove - 6 pieces
Cinnamon - 1 piece
Bay Leaf - 2
Fresh Peas - 1/4 cup
Carrot - 1 medium, finely chopped or cubed
Round Beans - 8 pieces, finely cut
Refined Oil - 4tbsp
Ghee - 1tbsp
Coriander Leaves - 5 twigs (washed & finely chopped)
Cashew Nut - 8 pieces
Turmeric Powder - 3/4 tsp
Green Chilli - 2 to 3, slit lengthwise
Onion - 1 medium, finely chopped
Tomato - 1 medium, finley Chopped
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Salt to Taste
Water - 5 cups

Method:

Wash the rice & the dal togehter or separate & keep aside......

Heat oil + ghee in a pressure cooker..... Add the whole garam masala..... like the cloves, bay leaf, cinnamon & cardamom.... Saute for a minute & then add the green chilli & saute further for a minute..... Now add the chopped onions & fry till translucent...... Once done, add the chopped tomatoes & stir fry further & cook lightly covered, for 2 minutes, on medium flame...... Then add all the masala powders & stir fry till all the masala combines well & releases a fine aroma...... Now add the cashew, the washed & cubed veggies & mix well.... Stir fry for a  minimum of 5 minutes...... When done add the washed rice & dal & stir fry for 2 minutes..... Now add the water & stir once to combine all the ingredients.... Now lock the lid of the cooker & let it whistle for minimum 6 whistles.... Then turn off  the flame...... Once all the steam is released, open the lid, add in the chopped coriander leaves & mix once......






 
CHOKHA

Ingredients:

Potato - 1 medium
Dry Red Chilli - 1
Onion - 1/2, chopped finely
Salt to taste
Mustard Oil - 1/4 tsp
Garlic Cloves - 2 , finely chopped

Method:

Boil the potato & peel the skin off..... Now mash it well...... Now heat the oil in a small fry pan & fry the broken chilli & chopped garlic, till golden brown....... Now add this along with the oil, onto the mashed potato..... Add salt & chopped onions & mix well by hand....... The Chokha or the potato mash is ready......




SERVING:

Serve the veggies Kichdi, along with the chokha & a dash of pickle, yoghurt & fried crackers or papads..... Add a dab of ghee onto the rice & savor the divinity of this prep, which would reach your soul.... finally....... ALL YUMMY YUMMY!!!!!




 
Since this a Perfect COMBO preparation..... This prep makes its way to the COMBO EVENT, hosted by Pari, marking her milestone...... This is her very first... Challenge hosting..... I'm glad I could finally be a part of it...... CHEERS!!!



BLOGFARES:

There are a couple of TOFAS, that I need to mention about........

Simply Food shared her love through this cute & yummy TOFA..... The Loyalty Award..... It is really beautiful.... And it was her happiness that made her spread the cheers further...... I am so thankful to her for that cutie......



And I would also like to thank Jagruti of Joy OF Cooking, for sharing her TOFAS...... But just like the AD of Bournville, which uses the tagline.... "U DON'T JUST BUY A BOURNVILLE.... U EARN IT" , Jagruti's TOFA comes with a similar tagline too..... U don't just get them... U get them with a tag......








And this month Jagruti is hosting her first event.... Joyful Eating Whilst Travelling....... So my dear peeps, do send in your entries to this awesome event..... Let us all get hold of those moments of travelling & picture them together..... being a part of your experience...... HURRY!!!!!!

I also thank Daisy Blue of Spicy Lounge for sharing this honest scrap, with me.... Thank You Deary!!!! It means a lot to know that I was thought...... :-) 


And the last but never the least, I am thankful to Fimere of The Delights Of Gourmets for remembering me during her small distribution of TOFA....... She shared this unique cubical piece of TOFA with me.... Thank You!!!!!!




Hmmmm...... Well I thought of continuing & ending my EK CHOTISI LOVE STORY...... today.....

HERE is the First Part of my story...... After that lovely, interesting & a private & secret proposal, which was rather a FIRST TIMER....... & after that realisation of our love for each other..... We met everyday.....  He would always wait for me around, & I would drop in, mount the bike & zoom away....... We went on several dates ...... of course.... Our destination was the Sankey Tank...... We shared our thoughts, we shared our opinions, our likes & dislikes, we shared chocolates, we would have our lunch out...... It went on..... We were very soon the TALK OF THE TOWN...... U know!!! how people, especially aunties GOSSIP!!!!! He moved away from my neighbourhood...but not far off.... so that I could visit him conveniently..... Neighbours around thought THAT WAS THE END OF OUR STORY!!!!!!! How Funny & Foolish of them all!!!!!!! to think that I was like them...... Hmm.... who would just give up!!!! like a loser....... I knew what I wanted, FOR & IN MY LIFE........ I wanted to have the LAST LAUGH!!!!!!! I had decided...... He had decided that it was me for him....... Why should anything else bother us???????

After his studies, he went back home, to Giridih, a place in Bihar...... And I pursued my Post Graduation..... We were connected through letters, cards & through out over the phone...... He would call me any time possible..... Early morning, afternoon, evening, late evening, night & late nights too..... We were so stuck to our telephones that, the instrument became a part of us.... It had become the 'TESTIMONY - PERSONIFIED'...... Any moment that I got to get out of home.... I would run to a telephone booth..... And that moment may be the silliest of all.... Like my mom would ask me to get some ingredient she fell short off..... And in the process, I would also make a call & let him know that I was out & for what reason.... And my bills ran up... I needed quite a sum to pay them off..... My pocket money did not have the potential to satisfy it..... I lied for more at home.... But sometimes got caught too...in the process..... After some days Kuku started depositing some money into my account.... That helped me to cope up with my telephone bills & few of my other small expenditures too...... Hmmm.... That was my side of the story....

Kuku called me every now & then..... His father once received a telephone bill of Rs. 25,000 for a month.... after which they locked the STD..... Then Kuku started calling me from the booths around.... He made many BOOTH FRIENDS ;-) ..... He called me up at my computer class.... where I had made friends with all the people around..... One particular guy who I would like to mention is Mr. Palecanda Nanjunda..... Who was young & dashing.... who hailed from Coorg...... He was very understanding & helped me receive calls from Kuku, at his office..... I would never ever forget his support, then......

Kuku came down to Bangalore to see me every Valentine's Day & on My Birthdays..... Never missed on his visits, Either he resided with some of his friends who were here or would take a room at a hotel for his stay... Those days were really such beautiful days, when we were just worried about each other & nothing else under the sun...... Since my DAD was against this alliance....all we thought was how would everything fall into its place.....

At Kuku's place.... He had a big family of 4 sisters & an elder brother & his family...... He was the apple of their eyes..... They loved him so much..... All they wanted was his happiness..... He had kept his family in loop..... He got his sisters to talk to me & got me to speak to his mom, in between too..... They received my communications for him, when he was not around..... I got my mom to talk to his mom too..... Everything was fine, except for my dad.....

Days passed, Months passed, Years passed too...... And with them our love & feelings for each other increased..... We both knew what we wanted..... We were both bent upon making this happen..... And one fine day I wrote to his dad, asking him to fix it all & that only he would be able to convince my dad..... Kuku's papa spoke to him, about what he wanted & when Kuku confided in him, they decided to visit my place & talk to my parents...... I was happy to see some kind of advancement happening.....

It was that day they had to visit my place.... My dad was not at all happy..... He never wanted them to reach home.... He was all cursing me & Kuku...... The most important thing that bothered my dad was the 'BIHARI STIGMA'....

They dropped in by evening..... Kuku, his mom, dad & his little sister..... I was very happy to see that positive response to my letter, from his Papa.... They sat, they spoke their heart out, his mom was a good orator... She had the gift of the gab..... His dad was a gentleman, with a large amount of politeness, generosity, understanding, positivity & words very polished...... My mom became his greatest fan...... She was so impressed by him..... & still is..... His sister was very sweet too.... She clicked a few pictures to register the moment..... & they left......

After they all left.... I over heard my dad tell mom, that the guy was good & so was his family..... That was THE MOMENT...... of relief....... The moment I knew, that  REST WOULD BE FINE..... And so was it..... My parents were invited to his place, they came back very happy & impressed...... The dates were out for all the HAPPY happenings.... by which I mean ceremonies..... And it was decided that the 6th of March would be the official engagement & the 7 th of March would be the WEDDING...... I invited all those nosey neighbours & those gossiping aunties to my wedding, who were all stunned to hear that I was getting married to THAT same guy..... Few of those aunties, did not turn up..... to see me laugh...... Few of them asked me Oh! that guy..... Do show me a snap to remind me of him, to which I humbly replied, do see him at the Wedding Reception...... Ha! Ha! Ha! I deemed with pride, with my head held HIGH, up in the air......

Kuku & his family along with the baraati, (The procession accompanied by friends & family in a Hindu Wedding) came down to my hometown PUTTUR at Mangalore...... Which was surely a journey they would all remember for their entire life..... FOR BOTH THE FAMILIES..... IT WAS A TIME THEY WOULD NEVER FORGET......All those things that they never thought they would ever do or those places they never thought would ever visit..... THEY HAD DONE IT ALL...... 

We got engaged on the 6th, got married on the 7th & left to Bangalore that same night for a reception at Bangalore the next day...which was the 8th of March...... On the 9th, we left to Nagpur, where they resided then...... We reached the next day, which was the 10th.... I was warmly welcomed by my new family....... Their traditional way..... In a BASKET....... That was very funny & interesting.... I still laugh remembering those moments..... The next day that was on the 11th of March was the reception there from the Groom's side..... Thus ended the 12 days of my wedding affair.....

That was the snippet of my HAPPILY MARRIED Love Story...... IN SHORT.... Because if I went into details, I would not have been able to complete my Story even by 8-10 posts........as it involves many many things like people, situations, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks,months & years of love & longing for each other...... ;-)

By the grace of ALMIGHTY! & the blessings of our friends, teachers & families, we tied our sacred nuptial knot on the 7th of March 2002...... Hence we complete 8 YEARS of our MARRIED LIFE TOGETHER, TODAY...... & Look Forward to many more.....  which I am sure of...... even after we are gone......

Hmmm.... but this year, celebration was not like we expected it to be unlike our previous years..... First - my health, Second - we are held up with so many things in hand..... 

 Oh! BTW......people from my home sent me these...... That card was made by my brother........ good one as ever..... We are both kinda stuck up to cards now...... May be it is in our blood... Now I realize..... ;-)  The only difference is that he is a Graphics Designer, who would make cards that way... And I am passionate paper cards maker..... Anyways, Thanks a ton........ for all the efforts he put in to make that for US......





Me & Kuku prepared a small, yet nice lunch for ourselves...... I made the Rice & the Kebabs & he prepared his special delicacy... The Chicken Rassa....... And we had a quite lunch together..... It was just the two of us & our LOVE.......... I pray to God, to keep this happiness with me forever....... be it whatever that he takes in return........ from me......



So this is Ash...... signing off..... for now.... to celebrate the rest fo the DAY, Oops! night with KUKU.........

UNTIL NEXT, KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!!