SOFT MELT IN MOUTH FUDGE

I thought of preparing, blogging about traditional sweet associated to memories. For long wanting to blog about traditional Bengali sweets "Dorbesh, Chitrakoot, Jilipi". They are neither vegan nor gluten-free, ain't easy make. On this auspicious occasion of Durga Puja, I aimed to reach various corners of world, this blog's strategy for past few years. I don't know if my wish confuses others, I held priority is to blog about Bengali recipes. I wanted to minor changes in introduction of blog,  can't. Lack of technical knowledge didn't let upgrade blog . We need to follow latest trends! Man & son don't stop me, didn't help upgrade my blog!

My wish to reach more people has point, business isn't on mind alone; Durga Puja encompass everyone! Its homecoming for Goddess Durga, kids, whilst her man stays home in Himalayas! No boundaries are set these few days, we eat with all heart, wear best from wardrobe, show off! There's no austerity, penance but grandeur. Pure joy of few days makes us sadly bid goodbye to Goddess, kids; we start waiting for next year. My concern is denial of rituals. Commercialisation of it hurts me although many small businesses thrive, survive based on Durga Puja. Organisers may arrange for fairs, entertainment shows days prior to start of Durga Puja! Like here they do long before Diwali commences.

If ritual is to uncover Goddess', kids' faces on prescribed day, I wish thats followed, tradition needn't be denied. We enjoy Durga Puja in Singapore thoroughly. If in Kolkata, would prefer attending temples, Belur Math! In fact, all condominiums there celebrates it, thats great fun to be!

Our mother actively takes part in Durga Puja rituals locally, she's strictly ritualistic, her mother too had been, I inherited little. Yesterday, I was out for long hours to buy flowers, snacks, etc. Blogger would get some new rules from December, I don't know if mention of product, eateries would go against rules, need be cautious.

I like Bhakhri, bought after long time, I can make it. Yesterday, had "Mirchi Bhaji, Dahi Vada"at Madras Cafe; cheap price, moderate taste; better food others around offer but pricing matters right?. I came home late, no one asked reasons; beauty of my man, our father's, pa-in-law's. My brother is adjusting given his better half listens to herself only. She is nice girl but!

Okay, monster man didn't accompany me yesterday even after several requests, for ages he didn't gift me jewelry! This year it wasn't on plan! Yesterday, couldn't resist gifting myself two light weight diamond finger rings from Mustafa Centre, Joyalukkas! Had man accompanied, I could have bought weightier stuffs. I save all year, buy this little.

Thickened milk isn't for my stomach, may not have cake from there, seems sweet. Local Bakeries make low sugar pastry cakes. 

My kitchen always buzzes with food.

Today, I would remain busy in kitchen; next one week I wouldn't cook, neither eat out. Its either "proshad" or home cooked food for us. One day we may hunt a cafeteria.

I do love Rajma-Chawal. Food brings us closer, Durga Puja too. To greet everyone dearly on this occasion, I chose easy, vegan, gluten-free sweet SOFT MELT IN MOUTH FUDGE. Its"sandesh"without me using the name. It tastes "kaju katli" sans using lots of cashew nuts. I can't get out of my middle class mentality, nothing to exhibit except proving to be better each passing day! I wouldn't use kilogram of cashew nuts, instead added desiccated coconut, few almonds, cashew nuts to get vegetarian "muh mein ghul jane wala" sweet to celebrate any occasion; Eid, Navroz, Xmas, New Year! Son loves "Kaju Katli", man's sister would get mostly for him, consider this my humble try! We had similar "Badam Fudge" in Vizag, at friend's place! 

West Bengal stands for unity, harmony, should continue to. If others speak poor Bengali, we speak horrible Hindi. This home stays off petty things. Decades back, one 12 year old boy told this 37 years old lady; "vegetarians find fish, meat smelly, we can adjust; harmony is greater than ego", an old lady told, "you must live outside of Bengal someday, mingle with other communities to be open minded", I listened!

INGREDIENTS : 

CASHEW NUT : 15-16

ALMOND : 6-7

DESICCATED COCONUT : 100 GM

SUGAR : 4 TBSP

ROSE WATER : 1 TSP [OR CARDAMOM POWDER]

OIL : 1 TBSP [GHEE GIVES BETTER FLAVOUR, I USED OLIVE OIL]

PISTACHIO TO GARNISH [OR EDIBLE SILVER VARK]

THE AMOUNT YIELDS 9-10 FUDGES

PROCEDURE :

Dry roast all ingredients except sugar, oil or ghee for 4-5 minutes at minimal heat, do not let them brown.

Let cool, transfer to blender. Add 1tbsp sugar, oil or ghee, blend to a powder.

Add rest of sugar to heated wok / pan, 1/2 coffee mug water. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Add mixture, keep stirring at minimal heat until it turns to soft dough.

Add rose water, stir, transfer to butter paper. 

Cristine got rectangular shape! Rest for while.

Cut into shapes as per wish. 

Garnish with chopped pistachio / edible silver vark!

MIXED VEGETABLES OATS FISH SNACK

Sometimes blunder leads towards betterment, what seen is example. It was Sunday, Cristine wasn't around. I prefer day light for photography, hence went ahead. Each blogpost is project to me, I am sincere about choosing ingredients, cooking, writing blogpost! Shaping fish cakes, I went haywire, finally managed well. I am satisfied, we enjoyed having them with yogurt-cucumber cold sandwich!

I ain't sandwich fan, loved this one. I avoid having cheese, thankfully my stomach didn't rebel. Certain kind of food I used to dislike earlier, I enjoy nowadays! Southern Indian fried"vadai"I don't eat,"dahi vada / doi bora"I like. I avoid chaats at Southern Indian eateries. Madras cafe beside Mustafa Centre, Entry-1 sells"dahi vada"each for 2$, yesterday felt let me try! I liked, had cooling effect. They sell variety of snacks, sweets! I would go back soon.

I am writing blogposts frequently, each year during this time I do. Not really I like routined life, "I have to do" isn't my favourite phrase! However, curating new recipes, sharing with readers is pleasure. What I am meaning to say is do writers enjoy going too fast paced? I am just food writer! Routines kill pleasure, that I fear! My agenda isn't to talk about recipes alone! Formatting stories I aim for.

I am getting distracted, its 11pm, Tuesday, "Kalia" movie is been played, "tum saath ho jab apne"! We are Big B fans, I loved Parveen Babi, most natural glamour quotient Bollywood ever produced. Her tragic life should be included in psychology textbooks. How could an idol be lonely in real life. I wonder what causes schizophrenia! I had / have mental issues, not as severe as it. Babi had many male suitors, no lover. This is pathetic, princess of Junagadh died of lovelessness. We shouldn't fall prey of praises, accept it, enjoy, stay levelheaded; safest practice. One who genuinely expects your win never leaves, that doesn't require legal bond, just remaining by side works as medicine. 

My kind of "being"can be keeping fresh flowers, hanging door beads outside of main door, let people feel good, let them keep guessing who's it. Making people feel important is game changer, this world has someone somewhere to feel! May be Parveen wanted such companion without legal hassles. Not all relationships have to have name, lifetime promises, reason! Many such ailments occur from loneliness, wanted serving voluntarily without getting ill myself as in "Deep Jele Jai". 

In home, cooking MIXED VEGETABLES OATS FISH SNACK gets happiness. A sense of entitlement prevails at home, we own it, care for; otherwise no point being. Cooking it on Sunday with food packed in refrigerator meant wanting to have unusual lunch with man, I miss son while on such missions! I want him to cook these recipes. 

Before having, taking decent photographs of what I cooked is another kind of responsibility, my blog should look beautiful. Whatever we do, we must do it well, there isn't halfway for me. My initial plan was to wrap fish cubes in mixture of oats, vegetables, shallow fry until crisp. I found it difficult wraping. Time ran out, kitchen sink was full, I had to clean up post photoshoot, lunch. Most importantly, the non-vegetarian, gluten-free fish snack / starter / appetiser had to look good. I did what you see next, took help of oven!

INGREDIENTS :

BONELESS FISH : 500 GM [I USED SUTCHI FILLET]

LETTUCE OR CABBAGE : A HANDFUL

CARROT : 1 SMALL SIZED

GREEN BEAN : 6-7

GREEN CHILLI : 2 [I USED 1 GREEN 1 RED]

BLACK PEPPER POWDER : 1/2 TSP

ITALIAN MIX HERBS : 1/2 TSP

LEMON JUICE : 2 TBSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 2-3 TSP

PROCEDURE : 

Wash, cube fish fillets, using kitchen tissues, discard excess water.

Cut them small. Marinate with salt, lemon juice, Italian herbs mix, 1/4 tsp black pepper powder. Keep covered for an hour.

Wash, mince vegetables, add oats, mix well.

Discard excess marinade from fish pieces. 

My initial plan didn't work out, took everything in blender, just pulsed, don't make fine paste.

Add 1 tsp oil to mixture, shape as you wish.

Grease an ovenproof plate with oil, place uncooked fish snackers.

Place low height stand inside oven, atop plate!

Cook one side at Combination Mode C-2 for 15 minutes. 

Take out, brush oil! Turn over, brush oil again! Cook in the same mode for 8-9 minutes.

Serve fresh, hot with choice of sauces / pickle / chutney! Make some sandwiches / fried rice / handmade breads!

You may also shallow fry them on stovetop, that requires more of oil!

YUMMY CHICKEN DELIGHT

Sunday evening is unusual of me to write blogpost! I can't concentrate just any time! Its festivity for us, can't follow routine. Even in foreign land, there's events going on somewhere, we participate on main days. We aren't comfortable in crowd, also observing one year of death in family. We can't sit at home, would go, seek blessings, meet people! Before that, I must gift recipes to my readers, although people tend to eat outside during occasions. However, we avoid outside food during occasions fearing stomach ailments. I would cook few favourite dishes next Friday, each night would get home late, have late dinner. I insist it since 2020, son enjoyed restaurant food, all kids do, for them we went. Now, theres no point, I hardly want to have our kind of food outside, I try them at home.

Yesterday, I cooked Bengali, mix of vegetarian & non-vegetarian food! On weekends, weekday nights we prefer home cooked food. We did too much of restaurant hopping in our younger days. Not only kids, we loved too!

Jute leaves fritters, prawn curry, Hilsa fish curry, Taro Stolon[loti]]with dried Bombay Duck fish, a mix of carrot-potato fry, winter melon with lentil fritters, Hyacinth Beans with fresh coriander paste are not only traditional Bengali but Family recipes. Rajma / Kidney beans curry our mother started doing, I love it! We have it with either rice or handmade breads! Our Bengali grandmothers didn't know about Rajma curry! Its good world is going global, cultural exchange is also about knowing each other's food habits, accepting it. Our father had no interest in Bollywood but enjoyed Northern Indian food; mostly chicken, mutton, handmade breads! We are quick to define people, not right thing to do! Humans are a bit of everything, difficult to be explained in a sentence!

Look at picture 3! I make great "semolina dhokla" in microwave oven. Man, son, Cristine wouldn't eat, I simply love. I made noodle bowl for myself sans garlic, it tasted great. Food be kept simple! My favourite rice meal is simple "Taro Stolon Dried Fish, Mango Dal, Jute Leaves fritters!" Boiled carrot with butter or mustard oil, salt, green chilli mother fed us entire winter, yet I got glasses in 3rd standard. Hilsa is an emotion for majority Bengalis. Son's generation are those Bengalis who prefer Salmon over Hilsa, he used to love fried Hilsa egg, ate fish if mumma de-boned, I gladly did. He is secretive, wouldn't say what he eats, what he does. We don't have any of his friend's phone number. Thats scary, I have left everything upon God!

Now this chicken starter recipe I want to share with loving readers. It's 6:30 am in morning, Monday, time for meditation! I want to finish post early, before festival we stay busy. I go for self maintenance services, entrusting home cleaning services on Cristine. I clean better, don't do, one day crack on Cristine. Although I prefer Oriental boneless chicken starters most, our kind of it I do for family. Can we call roast, grilled chicken"our Bengali kinds?"We started having chicken meat, egg since 1976, after relocating to Kolkata, parents introduced it. Bengali Hindu homes didn't know taste of chicken, the forbidden. 

Today, I look at Kolkata Food scenario, its chicken all over! Bengalis know little about own food culture! Having Lotus seed pops as healthy snack is fine, what about not knowing that Water Lilly is part of our cuisine? We should visit wet markets in morning! I don't know about important things in world, like basic computer applications. 

I blog less about Bengali Food, I share more student, bachelor, young couple friendly recipes. This soft, juicy, gluten-free chicken appetiser be named YUMMY CHICKEN DELIGHT! Neither grilled, roasted, baked, I cooked them in grill+microwave combination mode. I have used chicken leg & thigh parts, regular kitchen spices for marination, a sauce mix! These activities I call being happily engaged!

INGREDIENTS : [FOR MARINATION]

CHICKEN PARTS : 500-600 GM [I USED 4 LEG CUM THIGH]

GARLIC PASTE : 2 TBSP

GINGER PASTE : 1 TBSP

KULAMBU SPICE POWDER : 1 TBSP [A SOUTHERN INDIAN SPICE MIX]

GARAM MASALA POWDER : 1 TSP

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1 TSP

CRUSHED BLACK PEPPER : 1/2 TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2 TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 2 TBSP + AS REQUIRED TO BRUSH WHILE COOKING

INGREDIENTS : [FOR SAUCE MIX]

THAI CHILLI SAUCE : 2 TSP

TOMATO KETCHUP : 2 TSP

DARK SOY SAUCE : 1/4 TSP

LIGHT SOY SAUCE : 1 TSP

ROASTED WHITE SESAME SEED : 1/4 TSP

CHILLI FLAKES : 1/4 TSP

INGREDIENTS : [FOR FINAL COOKING]

THE MARINATED CHICKEN

THE WIRED STAND

THE OVEN

LITTLE OIL TO BRUSH

THE SAUCE MIX TO BRUSH ONCE COOKED

PROCEDURE :

Wash chicken pieces thoroughly, I discard skin, you may keep! 

Pat dry! Marinate with spice powders, salt, lemon juice, oil mentioned in Ingredient List-1!

Keep covered inside refrigerator for 2-3 hours, take out an hour before cooking!

Place low height stand inside oven. Grease an oven-proof plate with oil. Coat chicken parts with marination, place on plate, then on stand!

I cooked one side for 20-22 minutes at C-2, grill+microwave mode, brushed oil, turned over, brushed oil!

Then I cooked other side for 12-13 minutes. 

I turned over chicken, brushed again with oil, cooked for 8-10 minutes.

We should be done. Mix together all ingredients mentioned in List-2.

Brush generously over cooked chicken.

Serve, have immediately! I served with lemon rice, salad! Enjoy!

 

EASY MADE KOFTA CURRY

Weather today is beautiful, so had been taste of vegetarian kofta curry I cooked on 20th September, 2026, at noon. The haze leaves us with an awkward feeling. It occurs regular. In this home, we ain't complaining type but adjusting, happy kinds. Food on table, good health, savings in bank gets peace. Pre 2020, I would complain, tell man had we stayed in Canada, America, Australia; we could have been in bigger homes, buy property, would get permanent stay visa easy if settled in Canada, Australia. Then came 2022, October, we visited son in Boston, I got to understand challenges of living in West, pleasure of"Cristine, get some water, pls"is dream. With few malls, food places around city centre, we got bored revisiting in 2024, April. Singapore is upgraded Kolkata, Mumbai, I mean better version of Indian metro cities. I really don't know about scenario in India's neighbours', they obviously don't have great public transport like India, Singapore's is great. My crazy American dream was always bypassed by man, once we visited got the reason. The quiet neighbourhoods got me depression. 

I am DUMDUM girl, who fits in Singapore. Man, also DUMDUM boy knows it, he would say,"life isn't your fantasy, I know you, regular household chores isn't for you who wants market at door step, neither I can help you with that, I hate doing clothes, utensils, cooking!" End of 2022, I realised Cristine is precious than big home, children don't play outdoors, men do not sit together for tea / coffee, women can't make quick changeover, run to market, as I did in DumDum. Mother would ask to get green chilli from "Bongar chashi" sitting near Lila cinema hall whilst her lentil would boil. The same mother today doesn't want to leave Barrackpore.

Post 2020, I started exploring Singapore, on foot, MRT, bus. Before that I remained busy upbringing son. These days, it feels safe without fearing assault in empty streets, pickpockets! Thats a gift. I don't know if natives dislike us, I rarely would get misbehaves, I chat with many! In present day, I feel close attachment to the place!

I ain't saying West is bad, one needs to go at young age, love driving, being alone, quiet neighbourhoods. How son is managing without car don't know. For him we couldn't hire car, visit Niagara, other places. He refused to go, my point was if we came to spend time with son, my happiness is in cooking, feeding him. I have it in genes, I enjoy doing it, It hurts if my efforts are ignored. We can order everything today, I can't quit what brings pleasure, I must pursue hobbies. I cook, write, sing, click, recite whenever willing, why to break head thinking this & that?

Thats my head, matter inside is less. If I am asked to think & act, I get irritated, confused, upset. I wasn't taking care of skin, in few months it has destroyed. My dark skin isn't an issue. Cristine is fair. Yesterday, we went shopping for raw stuffs, bought my hair colour too!

We had lunch at Saizeriya, my favourite. I don't have an issue if others don't take care of hair, skin. We should do what interests us. I believe in maintenance, don't use range of skin products. Powder, lipstick, eye kohl are must for me. I ain't jealous of Cristine's good skin. I have no time for pettiness, I am occupied with hobbies, I don't want to bother world! Let everyone do their part! A mere Pierre Cardin lip liner I bought yesterday is making me happy!

Since 2020, August, not a single day I bothered man for not buying me property, gold, diamond! He shouldered responsibility many do not in spite of having ability. He knows my mind, so could go ahead with it. Do you think my men admit? To praise me isn't in their plan! I repeat say these, son shouldn't misunderstand mumma. I prefer antique silver, Turkish alloy over gold jewelry. Around this time of year, I buy bit of gold, This year I didn't, I would once son gets us great news. Worry would go into ashes with me. He would get job, I would start fearing he may lose his job. Once he marries, next day fear of their separation would start bothering me. Some are built this way! We have to make peace with our characteristics, else unhappiness would rule us!

My daily happiness starts with choice of first meal. You know I cannot eat what I dislike. I get sick. My digestive system is ever deteriorating, major reason for my skin disorder! I wouldn't stop living, would keep buying clothes, lipsticks, eye kohl; to live is beautiful!

Morning I had tapioca upma, now had chapati, weekday night we have rice meals. All my meals are carb loaded. My readers already know I tried millet varieties to quinoa but I can't digest them if taken regular. Let me eat what we grew up having, but in moderation; control intake of salt, sugar, oil; health would be better! The thought of mushroom-broccoli omelette with four eggs for brunch gets me trauma. 

Paneer had been favourite of me & son, man prefers curry made with freshly curdled milk. I wanted son to take me to desi shop last May, so I could buy for him, cook; he didn't take me. I am not that smart to see map, visit city centre of an unknown city. Else, would I allow him to order online Bob Mill's flour, that too 2kg for 10 days, for two people? What he did with leftovers he knows, I didn't bring back anything except for "laccha shemai". I wish he learns basic cooking, household skills. Our mother spoon fed us. Until an age its required, thereafter parents need to help us learn. Well, my wishes do not commensurate with what is right to do. I am a mother, that too our mother's daughter, I wish we get to stay in this island, son too comes & make life here, he may stay in separate home with partner, so both parties enjoy freedom, respect boundaries; and all of us keep visiting India frequently. Man, I must have home in Kolkata, later son inherits that. But we don't know where life would take us!

Better I share with you one lovely vegetarian kofta dish. We had guest during that time. I use frozen paneer for starter, sandesh sweet making these days. Malai paneer I used to enjoy in restaurants back in India, also how Catering houses do there. But I dislike using cream, dry fruits pastes in food. We are Bengalis, that section who enjoy light curries. With guest at home, I planned quick lunch, not usual weekday Bengali food. I made grilled chicken, a vegetarian, gluten-free EASY MADE KOFTA CURRY. The kofta is made of paneer / kind of cottage cheese, potato, few spices! The gravy has onion, tomato, white sesame seeds, watermelon seeds, ginger extract, cumin, coriander, red chilli, green chilli, turmeric. Use Tofu instead of Paneer to make it gluten-free!

Few kofta recipes from blog are SOYA KOFTA CURRY, MUTTON KOFTA MALAI CURRY, RAW JACKFRUIT KOFTA CURRY

INGREDIENTS : [FOR KOFTA]

PANEER : 150-200 GM

BOILED POTATO : 1

CRUSHED BLACK PEPPER : 1/4 TSP

CHOPPED GREEN CHILLI : 1 TSP

DRY MANGO POWDER : 1/2 TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/4 TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

SUGAR : 1/2 TSP

CUMIN SEED : A PINCH

OIL : 1 TSP + 2 TO FRY IN APPE PAN

INGREDIENTS : [FOR GRAVY]

THE COOKED KOFTA

ONION PASTE : 3 TBSP

TOMATO PASTE : 2 TBSP

GREEN CHILLI PASTE : 1TSP

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1/4 TSP

CUMIN POWDER : 1/2 TSP

CORIANDER POWDER : 1/2 TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/4 TSP

GINGER EXTRACT : 2 TSO [JUICE I MEAN]

SALT : AS REQUIRED

SUGAR : 1 TSP

WATERMELON SEED : 1 TSP

WHITE SESAME SEED : 1 TSP

CUMIN SEED : A PINCH

BAYLEAF : 1

BUTTER : 1TSP

OIL : 1 TBSP

FRESH CORIANDER TO GARNISH

PROCEDURE :

I mashed together paneer & boiled potato discarding skin with hand.

I heated 1tsp oil in wok, tempered with cumin seeds, chopped, washed green chillies. Stirred for 1/2 a minute.

I added paneer-potato mash, turmeric, salt, dry mango powder, sugar, butter. Stir cooked for 3-4 minutes. 

I transferred mixture to plate, let it cool! Cristine made balls, we fried them in "appe pan" adding few drops of oil in each hole. 

NOTE : You may bake them or fry in wok, may require more oil!

For gravy, I pasted peeled, cut, washed, deseeded tomato, onion, green chilli, watermelon seeds, white sesame seeds together adding little water.

I tempered oil with cumin seeds, bay leaf; added paste, ginger extract! 

I stir cooked for 3-4 minutes, added cumin powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt, cooked for 2-3 minutes.

I added coffee mug of water, gave a stir, let it simmer for 6-7 minutes. I added sugar, you may not.

Add kofta in serving bowl, pour gravy over them! Garnish with washed, fresh coriander. Serve & enjoy with handmade bread, plain rice, pilaf, fried rice!

CHILLED ATA FRUIT PUDDING

A successful experiment ushers in happiness! A dessert with Aata phal / Custard Apple wasn't ever made in our Bengali household, we had it seasonally as fruit! Loving it, when I saw Custard Apple orchard inside Chittorgarh Fort touring Rajasthan in 1996, I felt overjoyed! Rajasthan isn't state we cover within 16 days, we have to visit multiple time, stay longer to unfold it's historical importance! That was my last tour with parents & brother, later I visited Jaipur with man, toddler son, friend's family in 2005 or 2006, don't remember! I remember of beautiful memories created together, frequency increased since son left home in 2020! I cooked dessert today, I cannot serve him, how beautiful it was to watch father-son having what I cooked, served. Cristine too did lot for our son, she is our mental support in an empty nest! Then, I am not the only one to suffer from empty nest syndrome!

During festive season, I get busy writing recipes. Anyone tries them in their kitchens or not I enjoy sharing festive friendly recipes this time of year! Cooking is fruitful activity for me! With excitement of sharing untimely recipe, I started writing last evening. I can't skip my weekday exercise routine, its directly related to my health! If aware since youth, I wouldn't be taking four medicines, supplements! Last night, also got busy making "Missi Roti", ran out of coriander leaves, dried fenugreek leaves, didn't use ghee either!

I prefer sattu [roasted gram flour] over besan [unroasted gram flour], in those days our kind of middle class Bengali homes stocked both! Our mother used soaked rice paste for batter fries instead of gram flour. But you cannot do potato [aloor chop], eggplant [beguni] batter fries with rice paste, gram flour is must. We didn't know use of corn flour, she perhaps doesn't buy in present day; I use lot! She would cook Bengali, handmade breads, curries like Dhaba, jam-jelly, Bengali pickles! Our parents loved Dhaba food while on tour. Once in college, I would take our mother to Southern Indian eateries which only knew about dosa, idli, utthapam. After relocating to Singapore, I have learnt more about their cuisine.

I must cook Family style Bengali Food on Saturdays but I have learnt about world food starting to blog about food. I enjoy experimenting with ingredients! Last Saturday, cooked vegetables, locally got choice of Bhola Mach, cheaper variety of sea bass [croaker family], extremely fond of it. I ain't fond of sea bass, only it's boneless version! I cooked chicken too, eggs can be had anytime!

These days, I cook less desserts, sweets. However, I get cravings every few days for few varieties. I started loving local desserts. I try making dairy-free versions! Today's is one such! 

Chilled watermelon, choice chilled fruits can be my dessert bowl these days. Too much of fruits too a diabetic isn't allowed to have. I prepared this vegan, gluten-free dessert, CHILLED ATA FRUIT PUDDING, it would not only serve those fasting for Navratri, but my community during Durgapuja, Xmas, Kali puja / Diwali, Muslims! This light on stomach vegetarian dessert bowl can be your weekly pleasure. Made with pulp of custard apple, coconut milk, desiccated coconut, sugar, rose water to flavour, pomegranate to garnish, its sooth in your mouth, food pipe, to stomach! Come, let's do it! Life would get us challenges at every turn, we would face bravely, win for sure. I don't have courage to face, I bypass, just this way, indulging in my hobbies! I overcame absurdity inside my head earlier, I would in future, just a matter of time. 

INGREDIENTS : 

CUSTARD APPLE PULP : OF ONE BIG SIZED

COCONUT MILK : 150-200 ML

DESICCATED COCONUT : 2 TBSP

SUGAR : 4 TBSP

ROSE WATER : 1/2 TSP

PROCEDURE :

I prefer using coconut powder to make coconut milk, you may go your way.

Boil thick coconut milk at low flame not more than 5 minutes.

Scoop pulp from washed Custard Apple, discard seeds!

Dry roast desiccated coconut at minimal flame for 3-4 minutes, let cool.

Powder it along with sugar! Add fruit pulp, blend well.

Transfer to bowl, cook in microwave at minimal temperature for 4-5 minutes. Pause every minute, stir!

Once both are cool, beat together well, add rose water, stir!

Chill for few hours in refrigerator. Garnish with pomegranate, serve, have!

STAR-FRUIT SHAPED DEEP FRIED SNACK

I feel satisfied today, after long I prepared something that requires bit of precision! Each recipe I blog about is precious! Its festive time, let me share recipe of this Bengali fried snack "Elojhelo" with my loving readers. It's not what you have breaking fast. Keep your trust in me, I am soon to get you fasting recipes. Next fifteen days, I would be sharing recipes that suits our occasions! I wouldn't wait for Thursdays, would share randomly! I prefer calling myself an Indian, in love with Singapore! My ancestral root is Bengali, hence started celebration with this Bengali fried snack recipe.

For brunch, I had two giant idlis; love instantly made semolina + rice flour + yogurt + fruit salt idli in microwave oven! Semolina made idli, dhokla, cakes, dry upma do I love. Having bread omelette around 3:30 pm wasn't required, but I had, I must eat 3 meals a day!

Man is on medical leave today! He went for tooth extraction. If he is at home, I am bound to get distracted whilst writing, television set is on, forever! Requested son to call, he would do just opposite of what his mother asks him to. But he gifted us too good score in MS! Dear readers, if in tech industry, our son is a software engineer looking for decent job in tech field, if you have lead, message me! Degrees must be put to application, not rest in locker!

I enjoy local fried rices without overpowering sauces. Yesterday, had it in afternoon, out of fear had mango + oats at night. Mango has high amount of sugar, calorie, I can't resist. I have lethargy about cooking soups, chopping salad! 

Pasta is good, vermicelli upma too, but roti-prata-poori is love. I make them pretty well. Upma varieties Cristine prepares mostly, also good at handmade breads, not chapati, naan. 

This week at Woodleigh Mall, from a stall named Western Boy, I had garlic bread, mushroom soup. I am fond of, this tasted bit bland, salty. The banana pie I liked.

                     

                      

From a stall outside of Kovan Mall, I had spring roll, salted bun, teh-o-kosong or may be kopi-o-kosong! I wonder how turnip and mushroom stuffing with no spices made love with my tastebuds.

The ice-cream came home on gentleman's request. In fact, dentists ask you to have after tooth extraction. When son lived with us, these came regular, I made low caloric ice-creams too, some recipes are in blog. I have stopped doing these. Who would eat?

We don't know where life would take us, what waits for us tomorrow, in fact, next moment! I only wish my loved ones stay happy, healthy; live long! I pray for every human on earth few times, each day; also for animal world free from our interference. I don't get how loving them, invading their space happen together.  I ain't comfortable about keeping pit bulls as pet, don't love animals that much where I may risk my baby at their mercy, neither can think of harming them. I suggest, keep as pet, domesticate who are meant to be!

What you get today is Bengali "Elojhelo Nimki" / "Kamranga Nimki" / Starfruit shaped deep fries! This is popular titbit among us, rarely done in family! Let's call it STAR-FRUIT SHAPED DEEP FRIED SNACK! It's vegan recipe, I would gift gluten-free food sooner, thats my usual trend, right? Actually, ghee / clarified butter is used for this recipe, I skipped; can't digest ghee. Also, I am fond of thinner, smaller, our usual "nimki","madan kotkoti", refined flour deep fried stuffs don't suit my stomach, I love! Whatever we love wouldn't be friendly with us, this is law of universe; if we can accept it, life would be at peace! Not at any cost we may lose grace, take wrong routes to get what we want. What isn't mutual would never last. Thats fine, we are humans, life need not be picture perfect!

INGREDIENTS :

REFINED FLOUR : 1 COFFEE MUG

KALONJI / KALOJEEREY / NIGELLA SEED : 1/2 TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 2 TBSP + 50 ML [USING GHEE GIVES BEST FLAVOUR]

PROCEDURE :

Take refined flour, salt, nigella seeds in wide-mouthed bowl, give good mix.

Add 2 tbsp oil or ghee, rub for 2-3 minutes, if you can hold together flour, the "moyan" is right. 

Add water at room temperature, little by little, knead well to get a tight dough!

Cover for 10-15 minutes. Remove cover, knead for a minute, tear off balls. Smoothen between palms.

Make poori shapes, not too thick or thin. Make slits, leaving two ends.

Carefully fold from sides, do not press hard. Twist the two ends.

Warm rest of oil, do not let it hot. Drop gently one or two snack, they should get room to move freely.

Fry at slow heat for longer period to get crisp fried snack, else they become soggy like poori!

Once cool, store in container, would be edible for a week. 

Never reheat or refrigerate. It softens!