Jeera Milagu Rasam for the Kind Woman's Soul !

The better days are nearly gone and I am still unable to think..Oh ! What a pity ! The not so bad days begin tomorrow and a long weekend is almost gone without any literary pursuit..Oh ! What a pity..

The morning cuppa was just right.The second was good and the third one was by far the best...Yet ! an upper storey,fails to light up and remains plagued in darkness...

I have to admit that my maid motivates me to work.So when she is around,I am brisk and active and when she leaves,that's when a sense of completion overwhelms me and I am free to think..

It was 7AM,I pulled the curtains to let the morning ray of sunshine in.I had not overslept...It was intentional..As I lay awake,I made up my mind to work hard,really hard,so that I would be able to think....

So,I pulled out the bedspreads,the pillow covers and the cushion covers...Straight they went into the washing machine..The bed ,the pillows and the cushions got a new makeover and I was pleased.I paused to think.Have I been able to think ?...

"No! Not yet my dear," said an inner voice..

Unperturbed,I went about ,on not so routine chores...The kitchen is the best place to be in, when in search of new ideas...So I was back to familiar territory...MTR's Rava idli is good.,fast to cook and good to eat.With breakfast done,and no headway into new thoughts,I continued undeterred..

I checked the provisions available..The filled glass bottles and the Tupperware are proof of sufficient stock.A sense of contentment overpowered me and I was pleased...The sparkling stainless vessels are an indication of Tambrahm power and so powerful I feel...The tamarind,salt and pickles occupy their much deserved position in the porcelain jars...AAh ! That's indeed gratifying....and should empower me to have a taste of my own writing......So i thinketh......

I moved from the cellar to the altar..I cleaned the silverware with vibhuti ,and scrubbed the bronze and brassware with tamarind…I wiped the photos,drew the daily kolams and lit the oil lamp...I prayed to the Gods for the gift of creative thought,so that I could think...think well ,so that I could write and write at my best so that my happy hormones could be elevated….badly need them for the week ahead

The lunch preparation began with a bang...The safety valve in the tiny pressure cooker went bust...I was not going to be worried anyway...A long association in a joint family has also helped to retain,procure and stock all that I need and all that I don't ,in multiples of two and more,so that cooking continues uninterrupted…The menu is Capsicum spinach and potatoes,Jeera Milagu rasam ,Thenga Thugaiyal and appalam..

Lunch is also done…..My dishwasher Maya has left ,and the vessels have been neatly left to dry…..Home is where the heart is…Home is where the tiffs begin and end.Home is where occupation begins with preoccupation…Home is where laughter is interspersed with tears…Home is where you long to be in when you are out and out when you are in…Home is where relationships stand the test of time and are not strained by silly angst within……..

So ! in the midst of squabbles and the tiffs,when the hungry mouths are fed,when the God mother has left with a promise to be back tomorrow,when the forty winks will run to a couple of hours…that is when I am inspired to think….

and So signing off as Hitachi says...Inspire Next....

FROM KOLKATA TO CHENNAI WITH LOVE !

I am on a roll yet again.It's an extended weekend and rightfully my time to go on a memory trip.It's been more than three decades since I left my city of joy for good.Yet ! as one says,you can move a Bong out of Kolkata,but  not the Kolkatan out of her.

So when I woke up today morning,as is the usual practice daily,I pondered on the menu .You may be wondering what this has to do with a Bong gene in her.Well ! I literally break my head everyday,trying to bring in variety in the meals.I wonder how,but a frankie popped up in my mind today morning and OOreee Ma ! I was thrilled.Kolkata holds the patent for the rolls,that we now know as frankies...

I grew up in a traditional,rather conservative Tambrahm joint family,where it was the practice to wake up early,drool over the finest coffee and get back to the chores in routine fashion.It was unthinkable to drift away from the routine,no matter what.."Vedi kalambara ezhunthu,vasa perikki thudaikunam...nallaikku vera oru veetukku marumagalaga poga vendiya irrukkum..Ipadee somberee yaga irukka kudathu !"..Mom would say.."Wake up,clean the courtyard.You will have to serve as a daughter in law in somebody's home someday.Don't be so lazy,"...Mom would say...

Grandfather V.Krishnamoorthy worked in Bihar;I grew up with my uncles and aunts,and in this blog of mine I wish to portray a typical day in the life of a TamBrahm.,over the decades...

1960's till early 1970s- Grandmother Kannamani ,selected the choicest coffee beans,roasted and powdered them at home.The coffee grinder was a must in every household.So a typical day always began with decoction coffee.Before going for a bath,she would soak the rice , pulses and tamarind ,boiled rice for idli,and thuvar dal for sambhar/rasam...With a hymn in her lips,and a grim look on her face,she would go about her work..A thugaiyal /chutney was a must every day and peels of vegetables formed the main ingredient.

With a chant in the background,the main cooking done ,she would place a small stool in front of the grinding stone and sit down to grind the rice and urad dal separately manually.After an hour or so,the rice and the urad batter would be mixed and transferred to an aluminium container.The green saree Kannamani ,as she was popularly known in close circles, would head straight to the ease chair in her room.This was her everyday routine.

The family was big and so the stone rolled daily.Mom took care of the sundry work,a part time maid cleaned the vessels, washed the clothes and mopped the floor.After lunch,it was usual practice for the women to browse thro Tamil magazines,Ananda Vikatan,Kumudam and Kalki were the favourites..After a short afternoon nap,it was time to plan the dinner menu..That was fairly simple.All that they had to do was prepare rice once again.The left over morning made Sambhar or rasam ,would be carried over with chutta appalam,if lucky.They listened to music ,AIR,Vividh bharati ,the menfolk went to South India Club every day and the children went to bed by 9PM...

Late seventys,80's and early 90's -The day still began with the special coffee,the coffee grinder still occupied a place of pride in the kitchen ,the home had an electric mixie now,and the routine was quite the same, monotonous,except for that, the kids were growing up ,were demanding more variety and utensils had been upgraded to stainless steel.The elderly women had no choice but to relent...

The little ones went to school and on their way back stopped at the local churan ,kool, jhal muri ,roll ,singada and puchka stalls.They were quite obedient too.So they headed home and also partook of the rasam sadham and curd rice.Dinner was a little elaborate,because the family now preferred parathas and chapathis The ritual of having idlis,pongal,upma,dosa for breakfast continued unabated though,with a few additions.Luchis ,bread and eggs were included in the breakfast menu.

Dad was the official chef when it came to cooking the eggs.A small corner of the verandah,overlooking RB Avenue was allocated for this purpose.He had a small saucepan ,a container,a cup,a couple of spoons ,bowls and plates kept aside for the Royal Egg Meal.I must tell you,he made the best omelettes,bulls eye and scramble for us.Later,though I gave up on eggs completely.It was a doctor prescribed diet and Dad wanted the best for his children.So I was an eggetarian long back but never a non vegetarian..

The women stitched,knitted,painted and crocheted during the day,went shopping once in six months,attended concerts,dramas,once or twice in a year,went to theatres to watch movies regularly,listened to Vividh Bharati and went to bed every night listening to Binaca geetmala,S.Kumar's kee filmi muqaddama,and Aap Ki Farmaish...They watched Chiching Phank,Hum Log , Buniyaad and Sanbad on Doordarshan and the children played in Triangular park every day.

Late 90s,2K to 2011....Television has grown by leaps and bounds,thanks to Ekta and her kin.The coffee still rules,The Tambongs  still drool over the A & B plantation bean combo,the coffee maker adorns a corner in the pantry and is now indispensable.The manual coffee grinder is valued as an antique and adorns a corner of the living room.The table top grinder churns out idli/dosa batter as and when required and the conventional South Indian breakfast dishes continue to be hot favourites. Lunch is an elaborate affair during weekends and simple,when stuffed into a lunch box.Variety rice/chapathis is now more popular for people on the run .The net is working and Social networking has begun..

2012 onwards...Online surfing goes hitech,television goes digital and Apps have invaded the galaxy.To be on the move,one has to be appdated.An app to wake you up on time,an app that measures the heart rate as you run,and more apps in the future perhaps to keep you constantly aware of being aware of how fit you are ,where you are, where you should be,what you should be wearing,why you should be doing this and not that and God knows what not.......

 The breakfast menu has more variety with brown bread,oats,muesli and cornflakes lined up in a counter,next to the dining table.Milk is fat free.Fruits,nuts and salads are the starter's kit to a dieting regime.Stay hydrated,they say and the fitness freaks shun salt and sugar.Lunch is light and dinner is lighter..

But all this and more will not deter the 60s and 70s born Tambong. With personalised menus,life in the kitchen has taken a new turn.All that she has to do now, is to oversee the requirements and ensure a steady supply for the new whatsapping gen..Even as multi demands are met easily,she will not miss the early morning jog and the headlines.All throughout the day she remains tech friendly,makes purchases and pays bills online,transfers cash ,visits the local boutique regularly ,checks her mails every hour and logs in to FB at the end of the day,but because a friend has advised she will abstain from the use of computers atleast two hours before bedtime.Now its upto her to fix the bedtime..Godmothers are luxury , robots have taken over and housed miles away from her city of joy,she continues to keep the Bong spark alive.

Mustard oil finds its place in the conventional monthly provision list. Jhaal muri as a snack is a great hit in a rather conservative Tambrahm family,that have adapted to a crazy Tambong's requirements.Chapathis/phulkas/rotis/nans/kulchas and Veggies prepared with shuktho mashla have found way into the hearts of the Tanjore Iyers.The aroma of the Vethakuzhambu and Milagu rasam lingers even as the fame of the Laker aloordhom ,Puchka and Churmur continues to spread far and wide....

FIVE EASY TO MAKE BREAKFAST MEAL COMBOS

The other day,I  was reading a post about the tasty Adai, that an Adai a day keeps a doctor away,but it would be a tad boring ,I guess, if one has to consume it everyday.It is all about the typical tastes, that we have got so used over the years and therefore we will not let the legacy die All said and done the Adai Avial combination is indeed here to stay.Newer variants are now being tried out and some are more tastier than the conventional Adai.Add red carrots ,instead of the pulses.Grind rice,grated carrotsand Kashimiri chillies for the zing taste and a unique flavour.Garnish with drumstick , pudina or curry leaves for a distinct aroma.Enhance with toppings as you please....Butter,Jaggery,Honey,Jam,Nutella etc etc.It's good to experiment on a dish ,where nothing can go wrong .You stand to gain,if the new version is accepted by all at home.

Combinations over the years,passed down by generations ,continue to be much sought after ,even today..Like for instance,the idli,,sambhar,chutney combo can never lose  charm,so long as the idlis are soft and fluffy.Time tested methods and constant practise helps one to excel and the secret behind the preparation of the ideal batter lies in adding pressed rice and soaked fenugreek seeds during the grind...

Another favourite that rules breakfast charts is the good old Ghee Pongal,which is so easy to prepare,fast to cook and good to eat..The secret here lies in dry roasting the rice and pulses,adding milk while cooking and a generous dollop of clarified ghee preferably from home made butter, before serving.Cashews are optional,for I personally feel that the Pongal owes its taste ,flavour and aroma to the pepper and the cummin seeds.The onion gotsu or any mix veg gotsu and chutneys make this a complete , balanced, wholesome breakfast meal..

Next in line,sought after for its simplicity,is the humble Upma......Vermicelli,semolina,rice,corn,etc...Here again it is the taste,that we have acquired over the years,that refuses to let us go of this humble dish., The flavour is enhanced  by adding green chillies,ginger, onion,carrot,capsicum,beans,tomato and fresh green peas.When the mixture comes to a boil,pour it into a container,place the container in a pressure cooker,boil on high flame for a minute,sim the flame and leave it for 15 minutes,without placing the weight.Remove from fire,add a generous helping  of gingelly oil,mix the contents well and keep it closed inside the cooker. Sim boil for another five minutes,remembering not to place the weight at any stage..Remove from fire Repeat the last procedure again before serving.Garnish with coriander leaves...This is a dish one can have at any time of the day,with or without any accompaniement...

The poori follows in line,and nothing to beat the traditional Potato masala for the accompaniement..It's quite a healthy side dish,in the sense that the potatoes are boiled,not fried and it owes its flavour to the ginger and the green chillies. This can be made practically oil free and sort of compensates for the oil used in frying the pooris..Pooris taste yumm with chana too.That by itself is a wholesome meal..

A STING OPERATION !

Please do not flare up.I have to admit that I see a Bong link wherever I go,a Kolkata connection in whatever I do.It is common to bask on all that is old and absolutely normal to rewind and be on a flashback mode even at work.

It was just another normal day at work....The week had begun with a few glitches.Friends reported sick with headaches and yet attended work as usual.The
home front houses a clinic too and it was a spectacle to watch....firey eyed friends in day and night glasses.

He was not a habitual offender....a stickler for punctuality ,Mr M arrived late on Monday. MrT and Mr W followed suit..on Tuesday and Wednesday......I started getting the jitters.With misty eyes and running noses predominant, the work places in and around an arterial road ,presented a bleak picture of distorted vision too. But as they say every cloud has a silver lining,and so I recommended the afflicted ones I knew, to visit the friendly neighbourhood Doc.

Its a new week and the allergy continues to be viral.As friends and strangers made a beeline to the clinic nearby, I was thrilled....Oh ! let me tell you that if you are able to understand within a split second ,what I wish to convey , when I proclaim in ecstasy "JOY BANGLA" then you undoubtedly, belong to the category "A BONG ONCE,IS ALWAYS A BONG...TAM or OTHERWISE"

Incidentally,for ChenEYETES who may be curious and for the others too, let me tell you that ,the friendly neighbourhood Doc happens to be.....a kindhearted ophthalmologist....& though I feel the sting ,I am not red eyed as yet.......I hope the meaning has been conveyed to Madrasis too :-))))))

FUN TIME ! TOMATO TIME !

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Oh ! this is an out of the box effort ,

I have to admit,it's a sudden spurt ,

coz ! when the flow is smooth & easy going,

a mad hatter is in form,happy and glowing .

I shall now relate a crazy snippet new ,

of highway tales and tomatoes not few ,

and when the morning sun was above,

"let's make a move," my mom said "Chennai I love ! "

He picked up their bags,he is a son, so dutiful ,

steering behind the wheel ,that's his wife so beautiful,

together the six some were packed so tight ,

a couple,kids,an octagenarian and his better half so light.

all into an I 10,squeezed in uneasy comfort ,

in a bid to travel together, but Ouch ! the cramps hurt,

So ,the octagenarian stepped out, often in style ,

and complained "What a bother ! I'd rather walk a mile ."

and when the day was almost done,

the birds chirped and the evening sun was going down,

The little fella screamed "Papa! just have a look ahead,"

"I see beds of tomatoes....green,yellow and red."

The kid was right and the car came to a screeching halt,

all for the sake of tomatoes,the jolt,the driver's fault ,

the members stepped out of the car &went on a shopping spree,

right in the middle of the highway and under a shady tree.

My brother's kids were thrilled,they picked them ripe and raw,

the seniors joined them too as my six footer bro roared in guffaw,

for it was a pleasant surprise and an encounter so luscious,

to be in the midst of nature and mounds of tomatoes delicious.

So back they went again,One, Two,Three,Four,Five and Six ,

all into the I 10 and now with an added tomato mix ,

the sack load of tomatoes travelled from B'lore to Chennai near,

for distribution to friends and relatives,close and near.

It was Diwali eve and I was in for a pleasant shock ,

when Dad,Mom,Bro and family barged in late night at 10 'O'clock,

"I have a surrprrrrisssse for you," he sheepishly grinned ,

"a special gift for a sister dear and forgive me I have sinned."

"It was a temptation ,that I could not resist ,

and I plead guilty ,if you should insist ,

Its a sweet burden, off my I 10 that I wish to unload,

a small sackful of tomatoes," he said and in laughter rolled.

He emptied the contents into my kitchen and fled,

I 'll be back on Diwali day with friends he said ,

Dear friends ! I hope you can understand why I have been quiet,

Yes ! I have been trying to get the tomatoes out of my sight .

Yes ! its been a tangy Tamtamatar week so far,

with jam,sauce,pickle and all because of a car,

I'm in a tomato soup ,I'm loving it and a strong signal I do send .

My fridge is still loaded & my bro is expected again next weekend :-)

MEASURE YOUR CHEER COUNT WITH HAPPYMETER !

Many reasons one can cite to be happy about,

and yet why do we always  focus on a grey cloud ?

If irritants seem to bother,it makes sense to turn away,

make a mood shift,drift with calm and wear a smile on the face.

So there you see, you already have a reason to be happy about.

Why should one fret or fume over a long wait,

when all one one has to do is to sit back and relax,

or a go getter,with a passion for challenge,to get things done,

Go ! grab the reasons you need  to be happy about.

 Raising one's standards to excel and also fulfil one's aspirations,

or moving naturally with the flow with an intention to reach the goal,

are time tested methods to achieve the end and also feel good.

So there you have all the right reasons to be happy about.

Assuming everything happens for a reason,some beyond one's control,

when one can handle disappointments,losses and yet move on,

unpredictable situations, if one can face with grit and elan,

isn't this progress and also something to be happy about ?

When one is caught offguard and movements hindred,

one pushes obstacles,wages a war with despair and still forges ahead,

when realisation dawns that difficulties are finally behind,

overwhelmed is one and isn't this something to be cheerful about ?

If in the midst of a situation,when one has to compromise,

if be the need to share pleasure ,melancholy or  pain,

if one can open his heart out to a loved one,one is reborn again,

and reason everlasting enough to be happy about ....

When one can assess oneself truthfully,

based on his plusses,minuses,failures and success,

would he not dwell upon his laurels alone ,

as a reason to be ever thankful and happy about ?

If one does look back with pride,notwithstanding a future insecure,

evaluates one's real worth based on  past sacrifice,

would one also not feel that failures have not been in vain,

and so one still has the reasons to be happy about.

At the end of the day,if one were to evaluate one's performance,

place achievements and attainments on one side,

unfulfilled dreams and desires on another side,

if the former outweighs the latter,

isn't it sufficient reason to be happy about ?

Life comes with an expiry date and the clock is ticking away,

So hurry ,place your order for the Happymeter  today,

Grab the early bird offer and sing a happy song,

and find all the reasons that you may need to feel happy about....

KARMA IS EQUAL TO BOOMERANG !

Either I have to slog real hard to get the grey cells to work or just start tapping to get the words moving.I tried tapping early in the morning,with a hot cuppa in one hand and a mouse beneath another.It didn't work.So I decided to cut down on my electricity bill.I shut down the system and headed straight into the kitchen.That's where my ideas take shape.That's where I also make mistakes. From some I learn and some a I repeat .Therein lies the inspiration to write funny snippets and share.The summer mendicant has announced his arrival.He should be here in full form in a few weeks from now..

When I am unable to write,and out of ideas,I follow a simple rule.Go routine,complete the chores,tire out completely and then, if a great sense of elation seems to overpower , switch on the air conditioner and start the system once again...Its time to write...Here I narrate an incident that happened a fortnight back..

It is a breezy eve here in Chennai.During the day,its pretty hot.So ,I usually try to get out of the kitchen as fast as I can.That could be the reason why,over the years of my stay in Chennai, I have graduated from being a slow beginner to a superfast chef and a chill Jill.

Saturdays and Sundays are Spring cleaning time at home and this means necessarily a break from the routine and delayed cooking. Narayanan is a night watchman,who specialises in house cleaning work during the day.He usually arrives by 7AM ,works till 4pm and charges Rs 400/- for a day's work that includes cleaning the fans,the ACs,the exhaust fans ,chimneys and any other heavy duty work that I deem impossible...I make use of his services once or twice in a month...

Usually,he begins by cleaning the windows,grills and then moves to the fans and the ACs.All that he requires is soap powder,a scrub,a brush,a broom and a couple of rags.I must say,he does a very good job .On that particular day,a Saturday,if i remember right,I asked him to begin with the kitchen....

I gave him soap powder,a locally available ,unbranded white coloured soap based cleaning detergent in a small white plastic disposable container.I usually keep a stock of the disposable recyclable plastic plates,cups and closed containers .They come handy especially during travel..

Narayanan is a little slow but does a good job.He started cleaning inside the kitchen at 8AM and was out only by around 11.30AM..I had kept the veggies ready.My younger daughter was in town and she had placed an indent early in the morning for Alu Methi parathas with matter paneer...

Hurriedly,I kneaded the dough and boiled the potatoes.In between,I was also overseeing Narayanan's work.He was cleaning the window grills from outside..

The filling for the paratha , a mash of boiled potatoes and fenugreek leaves was ready and the gravy tasted yummm..

Usually when I am done with the chores,I head straight into my comfort zone,switch on the AC and slump into a recliner...

My little girl called out to me..".Ma I am hungry,"she said..."Oh ! dear girl ! Give me some time.Allow me to relax for a while,"I said..."That's Ok Ma ,"she replied..."I will make the parathas,for you too, "she said..".You are such a sweetheart .You are a darling,Thank you so much dear,"...I went on to say..

She went into the kitchen and called out at the top of her voice..."Ma where's the flour for dusting ? It's there near the oil can in a small white plastic container," I replied...

She could not find it.She called again.." Ma where's it ?"....

Grumbling unto myself ,"Aaha ..girls these days are too lazy to search.I bet it must be right in front of her eyes and yet she's unable to spot it..Highly Irresponsible ,I muttered."

I had to get up and go..I went in and well ! the container was indeed not to be found.It was not there beside the oil can...I looked all around.It was lying in a corner,near the gas cylinder.

"Why the heck is it here ? saying,I handed the container to her and hurriedly went back into my private zone...

After a few minutes,she called out again..."Ma ! Can you please come ?" Now ,her voice sounded anxious..

"Why are you troubling me so much dear ? Its just about making parathas and I know that you can do that pretty well.Don't you realise that I deserve to relax,You Girls,have no patience........and before I could complete my sentence she was standing beside me ,"Ma ! Please come,she begged..It's real urgent..

With a huff,I got out of the recliner and went back  into the kitchen...She had made one paratha .It looked good...

"Ma the paratha smells wierd,".she said..

"Don't be stupid," I retorted angrily." "Ofcourse it must be smelling good.I added methi leaves to the mashed potato," I told her...

"No ma ! the aroma is strange,not methi certainly,"she stated rather confidently."Have you tasted the paratha ?".I asked her.

"No she said.Perhaps,I do not have a keen sense of smell.I am but a novice Ma..But there's something fishy here.I know that,I am in no mood to taste either.That would kill my appetite.Why don't you taste it ? "saying she grinned mischieviously..

I tore a piece of the paratha and put it into my mouth..The world started spinning in front of my eyes.My reaction was instant.The chewed piece came rushing out from the mouth,faster than it went in..I gulped down one litre of water and my little girl looked on,in utter amazement....

Mustering enough strength to be back on my feet,I smelt the paratha...Well ! it was pretty fragrant..Huh !

"Oh ! No ! it smells like deodorant...I had used water for kneading,not perfume..How on earth did this happen ????????"..I was too shocked beyond words...

All the while my naughty girl was laughing away and I had no clue whatsoever..."Oh ! Ma ! she said...Please smell this.".She handed over the container supposedly containing the flour for dusting.I bent down to smell ,the contents and I was an enlightened soul..."Goodness Gracious ! This is the cleaning powder,that I had given to Narayanan."What a blunder I have committed, my dear," I cried..."I am so sorry darling."

I looked around again.A similar container was lying behind the salt cellar..I opened the lid and this was indeed the one that contained the flour...I realised my folly and I had never felt so stupid ever before..My girl had made three balls of the dough and immersed them in the detergent powder...

We had to throw them..Thankfully,the rest of the dough remained untouched by the detergent...

Nearly thirty years back,Nayaki's mother was taken to task for committing a similar blunder....She had added perfumed coconut hair oil,instead of cooking coconut  oil in the Aviyal..Nayaki was a spectator on that day and she continues to pull her mom's legs even today...

Karma has its own way I guess..Today I am where my mom was years back and my little girl is having a blast..She will now tell this tale and laugh heartily thirty years later..Life has indeed come a full circle...