Holi - The Festival of Colors

Hello :)

Tomorrow is Holi; a Hindu festival of colors. It is celebrated every year on the day after the full moon, in March. It is a day when people sing, dance, play with lots of bright colors, laugh, dunk friends in mud pools, squirt colored water/powder and water balloons on anyone who passes by and get intoxicated on bhaang (An ancient native Indian drink, consisting of various spices, creamed milk, and copious amounts of cannabis ground up with a mortar and pestle). On this day, one can get away with anything just by saying "Bura na mano, Holi hai!" which means "Don't mind, it's Holi." Being mischievous is just part of the festival. 

Holi celebrates the beginning of the spring season and says farewell to the winter. It glorifies good harvest and fertility of the land. The color powder is called gulal.

Gujiya

A traditional sweet called Gujiya is made on Holi in most Indian households. These are distributed when people pay visits to their friends and relatives, to give them wishes as well as to strengthen their bonds and forgiving any hard feelings. The festival brings the nation together as it is not just celebrated by Hindus but also by the Sikhs, Christians and Jains. Everyone is then able to cast off the bad air and begin again with a fresh and spotless heart.

Holi celebration at Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah.

The Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple in Utah holds the biggest Holi celebrations in the Western Hemisphere for an audience of diverse ages and religious backgrounds. Last year 65,000 revelers flooded the temple for two days of brightly colored powder, mantra, music and "Holi mayhem."

I hope this festival fills your life with beautiful colors. Enjoy.

Best wishes and happy Holi to everyone.

x

Thai Spicy Noodles with Peanut Sauce

Hello! 

The weekend is over and a new week has begun. I had a pretty awesome weekend. I cooked random stuff and dirtied the kitchen beyond words. Surprisingly I managed to clean it all up and then dirty it all over again. I got to go shopping and bought pretty shoesies for my trip to Hawaii. I'm in love with them. I wish it wasn't so cold; I can't wear them and go out. It's like -5 degrees (Celsius) right now. 

Anyway, today's post is about a new recipe I tried over the weekend which turned out pretty good. I went through a bunch recipes online but made this with a few tweaks of my own. Hope you like it.

Ingredients:

For Noodles

1 packet of noodles (spaghetti, linguine, angel hair... whatever you like)

1/2 cup sesame oil

1/4 cup vegetable oil

4 tbsp chili flakes

Pinch of garlic powder

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

1/2 cup carrots, finely shredded

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

7 tbsp soy sauce

6 tbsp honey

Salt to taste

For Peanut Sauce

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup coconut milk

1 tbsp fresh ginger root, minced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

5 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp fish sauce

2 tbsp hot sauce (I just used Sriracha. You can use anything. Tobasco or Sambal Olek will do, too. If you can't handle hot, put just 1 tbsp)

1 tsp lime juice

Method:

1. Cook your noodles with a teaspoon of salt. Drain under cold water.

2. In a deep pan, heat sesame oil, vegetable oil, chili flakes, a dash of garlic powder and a teaspoon of salt. Let it cook for five minutes on medium heat.

3. After five minutes of cooking, remove the chili flakes. If you want it to be a little spicy, leave some in like I did. But if spice isn't your thing, you should remove all of it.

4. Now add soy sauce and honey to the oil.

4. Add your noodles to this chili oil and toss to coat.

There will be oil left in the bottom but that's okay. Just keep stirring it with the noodles.

5. Chop up your veggies.

6. Add this to the noodles. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over it.

7. Mix all the ingredients listed above to make peanut sauce. It's really quite simple. 

And you're done! Toss the noodles with the veggies and enjoy with peanut sauce. Remember peanut sauce makes you fat so don't eat more than two tablespoons with one serving of noodles.

Happy Monday everyone! :D

x

Travel

Hello all you lovely people!

It's Monday! Yay! Haha. I know. As much as I love my weekends, I've realized I'm not as energetic and productive during those days. I just want to lay around and do nothing at all. Not very good for losing weight (hmm). I dread having to do anything at all on the weekend. I wonder why that is though. That's how Ankit should feel but I think I feel it way more than he does. 

It's Monday morning (and I'm so not a morning person) but there's something about waking up early and preparing breakfast and lunch for Ankit and sending him to work. I've noticed, I only clean the house, do the dishes, exercise, write my blog, go out for a walk, draw, etc etc on the weekdays. How weird is that? I don't even bother drawing on the weekend; and I love drawing! I feel better when I know I've managed to do a good day's work; that helps me sleep better. 

But there is something that I always look forward to. Travelling. I'm blessed to have a husband who feels the same way about travelling. I absolutely love discovering new places and learning new cultures. I'm looking forward to my upcoming trip to Hawaii for our first anniversary. I've been reading guide books, watching documentaries, planning what to pack, where to go, what to eat, etc etc. 

I think everyone should have one new place to visit every year. Ankit and I just got married so there are lots of things we still need to figure out. Buying a house, moving our parents here, planning a family, etc etc. We would have probably traveled way way more (and we already travel a lot!). But one day, when we are both free and retired, I'm going to put up a huge map of the world on the wall, throw darts at it and go wherever the darts hit. 

I want everyone who reads this post to know how important it is to travel; to go and have an adventure. It will fill you up, help you grow, help you see the world differently, help you see your own country differently, make you appreciate the little things in life that you don't generally notice. Meet new people, learn their language, learn their culture, and appreciate the diversity of the world. Different cultures have different beliefs and once you have exposed yourself to it all, your mind will grow and make you wiser. Some may be very different and some may just be like you. You will learn to love everyone and the world will suddenly not look so big and scary anymore. You will learn more, know more, and live much more.

I found this quote on the internet and felt that the person who wrote it was on the same page as me:

When you visit a new country or place, don't just look to stay in luxurious hotels that meet your needs. Go out of your comfort zone and stay closer to the locals. Learn their ways. Be careful but be adventurous. You'll never quite see the place and enjoy being in a "new" place if you don't go beyond the "touristy spots" or 5-star hotels. Nice hotels will give you what you are already used to and make you feel comfortable. But you will never quite learn the culture. There's no point going to a new country if you are going to spend your time in a fancy hotel. You might as well book a nice hotel room in your own state (wherever you are) and spend time there. It'll be the same anyway. Get out of your box. Go to the local markets, eat the local cuisine (even if you get sick). It'll be an experience you'll never forget. 

When life's monotony begins to get to you, just go somewhere. Grab your stuff, pick up your keys and just go somewhere. Everyone needs a break. Everyone needs to make new friends. Everyone needs to feel enriched. Everyone needs to make memories. Everyone needs to grow. Go somewhere.

To end this post, I found this quote online from Chris McCandless. I saw his movie with Ankit last year and just couldn't understand why he would throw his life away and travel. I think I understand now.

I hope you find your joy.
Best wishes.
x

Kadai Paneer

Kadai Paneer... Ah, the wonders of Punjabi food. Paneer is called Cottage Cheese in English and it is super tedious to make. But I love paneer and unfortunately don't have the luxury to go out and buy it. Once, I bought a packet of paneer from an Indian store but it was awful. The way to make paneer is heat a gallon of milk. Just before the milk begins to boil and bubble, turn the heat off and pour in a cup of lemon juice (1 lemon) mixed with water. When you add the lemon, the milk begins to curdle. So basically you force the milk to go bad :p... Then strain it out on a cheese cloth. Tie up the remaining solids and leave it overnight with a heavy vessel pressing over it. In the morning, all the leftover water would've strained out and you'll be left with a sold, round piece of cheese! Cut it up into cubes and put them in the freezer. 

I absolutely love kadai paneer and here is my take on this dish. I hope you like it as much as I do :)

Ingredients:

500 grams of Paneer (Cottage Cheese), cut into 2 inches pieces 

3 tbsp oil 

2 bay leaves

2 inch stick of cinnamon 

2 cloves

4 peppercorns

2 dried red chilies

2 tbsp coriander seeds, crushed

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 medium onion, sliced 

1 Roma tomato, chopped

4-5 tbsp tomato sauce

1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch squares

1 inch piece of ginger, finely chopped of shredded

4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 

Half a green chili (or Serrano pepper), chopped

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp paprika

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat oil in a deep pan (kadai). Once the oil is hot, add bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, dried red chilies broken into two, cumin seeds and crushed coriander seeds. Sauté for 30 seconds.

2. Add onions, green chili, ginger and garlic. Sauté for a couple of minutes.

3. Now divide the pan and add the tomatoes on one side. Cook the tomatoes until they begin to disintegrate.

4. Once the tomatoes begin to turn into a paste, mix them into the onions and add tomato sauce.

You can skip the sauce and add 4-5 tomatoes instead. I like putting the sauce in because it gives a nice color to the dish and adds a thick gravy.

5. Now add the bell pepper with coriander powder and paprika.

6. Add a tsp on salt and half a cup of water. Cover the lit and let it cook on medium heat for about 4-7 minutes.

 7. Meanwhile, fry the paneer in another pan. Fry them until they are golden-brown on all sides. 

If my mum were to make this in India, she would leave the paneer in warm water to make it soft because paneer should be soft. But I made this at home so it was super super tender. If I had put it in warm water, it would just fall apart. So I fried it enough to make sure it stayed intact. Otherwise, if you have the luxury to buy your paneer, then you should make sure it is soft enough before adding it to the vegetables.

8. Add the paneer to the veggies. Check if you need to add more water. We don't want it to be a curry but there should be enough paste to coat all the pieces of paneer and some remaining. Taste check and add salt accordingly.

9. Cook for about 3-5 minutes and you're done! :)

You can have it with roti, naan or even rice. 

Enjoy!
x

Spicy, Sweet and Tangy Squash

I've been receiving all sorts of comments where random people just advertise their stuff. Guys, stop advertising on my blog. I'm just going to keep deleting those comments. I don't write a blog to make money. I do this for fun. If you notice, there are no ads on my website. I would appreciate it if people didn't try to sell their stuff through my posts. I'm not here to market your "Dhow Cruise" or "Apartments in Gurgaon or Noida." Anyone who tries to advertise on my blog will be blocked. Sorry.

Okay, enough of that :p Back to my squash recipe. This is something I tried randomly. It's the first time I cooked with squash but it turned out quite nice. I hope you like it.

I used Acorn Squash to make this but I guess it'll be okay to use any squash. This dish is spicy and tangy and sweet and super yummy. It turned out to be easier to make than I expected. It does take forever to cut the squash. You can cook this without peeling the vegetable and it'll taste just as good. I'll cook it without peeling it next time. 

Ingredients:

1 acorn squash, chopped into 2 inch pieces (serves 2)

1 medium onion, thinly chopped

1 green chili (or Serrano pepper)

2 inch piece of ginger, shredded

3 tablespoon olive oil

a pinch of asafoetida 

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds

2 dry red chilies

1 tbsp coriander powder

1/2 tbsp fennel seeds

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp dry mango powder

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp lemon juice

salt to taste

Method:

1. Cut the squash, onions, chili and 1/4 of the ginger like below.

Acorn Squash

Onions, Green chili and Ginger

2. In a bowl, mix the rest of the ginger (shredded) with coriander powder, fennel seeds, paprika, turmeric and 1/4 cup water. Make a paste.

3. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and asafoedita. After the seeds begin to crackle, add fenugreek seeds and dry red chilies. Cook for a few seconds.

4. Add the onions, chili and little pieces of ginger to this and stir fry for a minute.

5. When you notice the onions turning transparent, add the spice paste and mix.

6. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the squash to the pan with salt and 1/4 cup of water.

7. Now cover the pan with the lid and let the squash cook on medium heat until it's tender and semi-mushy. Stir gently every 4-5 minutes and check to see if more water is needed.

8. It just needs to look like the picture above. Make sure the cubes stay intact and don't disintegrate. It won't taste bad but it'll just look like a paste. Once it is soft and mushy, add the final ingredients: mango powder and sugar. You may adjust sugar according to your taste. I don't like it to be too sweet. I think 3 tablespoons do the trick. You may add more if it's too tangy for you. Always do a taste check before serving. Garnish with cilantro leaves and you're done!

It's brilliant and tastes amazing. I would eat it with roti but it will taste good with rice, too :)

Enjoy!

x

Veggie-Fried-Over-Medium Eggs

I know the title is a little crazy but then this breakfast dish is something I've never eaten anywhere before. My Mum-in-Law taught me this while I was in Delhi earlier this year. This is a tasty and fulfilling breakfast. I love it. I cooked it for Ankit yesterday and he loved it, too. 

Ingredients:

3-4 eggs (depends on how hungry you are :p)

1 tbsp olive oil

Half a carrot finely chopped

Half a bell pepper finely chopped

Half an onion finely chopped

Half a tomato finely chopped

1 clove of garlic finely chopped

Salt, pepper and chili flakes to taste

Method:

1. Chop the veggies.

2. In a pan, add olive oil and throw in all the veggies together. Cook the veggies for 2-3 minutes. Add a pinch of salt (not a lot though, we'll add some on the eggs, too).

3. Break the eggs on top of them and add salt, pepper and chili flakes. Cover the lid. Cook for five minutes. Once the white is half cooked, use a wide spatula and turn the entire thing over. If you cant turn the entire thing, cut into half and turn both over. Now you need to choose how you like your eggs. I like my eggs somewhere between over-easy and over-medium. You may choose to cook the yolks over-well if you like. 

4. Turn it veggie side when serving; it just looks more colorful. Serve with toast :) 

Enjoy a healthy and tasty breakfast!
x

Maha Shivaratri

Happy Shivaratri! 

Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated to please Lord Shiva. Shivaratri literally means the night of Shiva. It is celebrated every year on the 13th/14th day of the Maagha month of the Hindu calendar. In Himachal Pradesh, there is a week long Shivaratri fair that takes place in Mandi every year and is a major tourist attraction.

In India, the temples are flocked with devotees very early in the morning, who come to perform the Shivalinga worship (puja) and pray for favors from the God. Devotees bathe during sunrise, preferably in the Ganges or any other holy water source. This is a rite of purification and is an important part of most Hindu festivals. By cleansing their bodies in holy water, Hindus rid themselves of all the sins and impurities. 

According to the Shiva Purana, the Maha Shivaratri worship must incorporate 6 items:

1. Bathing the Shiv Linga with water, milk and honey. This represents purification of the soul.

2. Vermilion paste is applied to the Shiv Linga. This represents virtue.

3. Offering of fruits. This is conducive for longevity and gratification of desires. 

4. Burning incense. This yields wealth.

5. Lighting a lamp. This is for attaining knowledge.

6. Betel leaves. This marks satisfaction with worldly pleasures. 

In different parts of India, Shivaratri is celebrated differently. We celebrate it to please the Lord.  Lord Shiva is the creator and the destroyer and he is the most powerful God of the Hindu pantheon. It is important for Hindus to make sure that He is pleased.  

Since Shiva is regarded as a mighty destructive power, to numb his negative potentials he is fed with opium and is also termed as 'Bhole Shankar', one who is oblivious of the world. On Maha Shivaratri, devotees prepare an intoxicating drink called 'Thandai' (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk) and sing songs in praise of the Lord and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

Guruji's Bade Mandir, New Delhi

I am a devout believer of Lord Shiva, whom I call Guruji. The picture above is the temple where I used to go to worship him when I was in New Delhi. I miss this place so much. This is where I found peace and happiness in the darkest times. I believe Guruji is with me wherever I go and is looking out for me. Whenever I feel like I'm losing faith, He takes over and fixes everything. He reminds me again and again that He is taking care of me. Whenever I'm distraught, I close my eyes and chant:

Om Namah Shivay

Shivji Sada Sahay

Om Namah Shivay

Guruji Sada Sahay

And just by chanting these lines again and again, I find peace again; my problems get resolved.  Om Namah Shivay means "I bow to Shiva" and it is the most powerful mantra I've ever known. Note that this phrase has no direct translation. This is just what I see it as. 

The meaning of the Namaḥ Śivāya mantra was explained by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami:

"Namaḥ Śivāya is the most holy name of God Śiva, recorded at the very center of the Vedas and elaborated in the Śaiva Agamas. Na is the Lord's concealing grace, Ma is the world, Śi stands for Śiva, Va is His revealing grace, Ya is the soul. The five elements, too, are embodied in this ancient formula for invocation. Na is earth, Ma is water, Śi is fire, Vā is air, and Ya is ether, or Ākāśa. Many are its meanings. Namaḥ Śivaya has such power, the mere intonation of these syllables reaps its own reward in salvaging the soul from bondage of the treacherous instinctive mind and the steel bands of a perfected externalized intellect. Namaḥ Śivāya quells the instinct, cuts through the steel bands and turns this intellect within and on itself, to face itself and see its ignorance. Sages declare that mantra is life, that mantra is action, that mantra is love and that the repetition of mantra, japa, bursts forth wisdom from within."

My translation is easier to follow :p But you get the point.

This is the end of today's post. May the Lord bless you and your loved ones.

I love you, Guruji. I hope you are hearing me. Please forgive my sins and bless me to be a better human being and to always walk on the right path. Thank you for everything you have given me and for always looking after me and my family. 

Om Namah Shivay.