EASY OVEN COOKED BRITTLE

It's been years I have stopped writing blogposts this late, today I had been busy. A blogpost needs pictures be arranged which takes time. I ain't organised anymore. Lets pause, breathe, inhale peace, spread happiness, reach out. This morning I had to visit doctor's chamber, felt good meeting one wannabe doctor, noting down conversation between doctor & patient(s). My note would always be "make your teachers & parents proud, partner happy!" Duke-NUS Medical School is breather for the students whose entrance exam day wasn't lucky enough to get admission in NUS Medicine. Its natural, a single day of performance doesn't prove capabilities. Kids' aspirations be given chance. Also for certain specialised fields, entrance exams should be stringent, life & death is associated.

Who said I am calculative, that I wouldn't care unless my man & son are benefitted? I have good things to say about this island, but PSLE isn't necessary. Because we ain't Singaporean, neither PR, we need not interfere much. I would have good things to speak about world's safest island long after we leave, late is better! I would weep, for couple of reasons. Humans are built to accommodate tough situations! At times our zeal for life amazes me, how we love life. Thats the way it should be! I dislike when they say, ahh! we got old, whats left in life? I don't want even my own saying this. May be because I don't have to earn for living, I romanticise with life! I have seen some in family full of life, being active, enjoying every activity they did, do! I don't have their energy but keep going, we must!

Out of doctor's chamber, I had fabulous idli at one 24/7 joint, Hougang Avenue1, around 12 pm. Thereafter buying flowers, this, that shopping for Janmashtami took time. Around 3:45 pm reached home with short bread cookies, waffle biscuit. I wouldn't buy big packs, sweet stuffs cause blood sugar spike, Cristine does strict diet, man wouldn't touch, son stays far! A quick shower, afternoon prayer, bowl of mango post 5pm was soothing. On days I need to go out in morning, Cristine does morning prayer, she could refuse, she obliges instead. The kopi was too sweet. I loved the cucumber, pickled radish maki at Umisushi, the green tea I have regular. If in Singapore, try food at The Soup Spoon, you would enjoy!

                     

 Tell me, after all these activities, do I have time for feud, whats the purpose? I keep distance, fearing hurt, I am sensitive! Meeting people here, there, small talks seem therapeutic. If home calls dearly, we are safe! If feeling unwanted, it's time to leave, not easy task! In marriage, romanticism sidelines; friendship, responsibilities take over. If that has cracks, say goodbye, amicably settle, start afresh, kids needn't suffer. I happily bake chicken kebabs means I still have hunger for this home, I am required!

Home cooked food is comfort. Nothing new to say about it, we repeat!

 I do have brittle recipes in blog, this vegan, gluten-free EASY OVEN COOKED BRITTLE lets offer God on Janmashtami Celebrations. The vegetarian, oil-free snack was done in microwave mode. It was hard, not sticky. I got skeptical, unwilling to share recipe in blog, Cristine insisted I share. She said its tasting good, go ahead maam. I too liked, it wasn't sticky enough was my concern. Why do jaggery has sugar mixed in it I don't get or am I over cooking jaggery? The man wouldn't comment, if he eats I understand food felt decent in his mouth, good enough. Son has good career to make, mumma needs to pray for his safety, security, success. Only if he cooked his own food.

INGREDIENTS :

OATS : 1/2 A COFFEE MUG

WHITE SESAME SEED : 2 TBSP

BLACK SESAME SEED : 1 TBSP

CHOPPED FRESH COCONUT : 2 TBSP

CRUSHED WALNUT : 2 TSP

JAGGERY : 2TBSP DATE PALM JAGGERY + 1TBSP SUGARCANE JAGGERY

PROCEDURE :

Take oats in bowl, microwave at minimal heat for 2 minutes, pause, stir every minute.

Crush & take walnuts in a bowl, microwave at minimal for 30 seconds.

Take both varieties of sesame seeds in bowl, microwave at minimal for 2-3 minute, pause, give it a mix every minute.

Chop, wash coconut, microwave at minimal for 3-4 minute, pause, stir every minute. Cristine chopped for me!

Melt both jaggery taken together in bowl, stir, microwave at minimal heat for 1 & 1/2 minutes. Take out.

Mix each ingredients one by one. 

You better add oats little at a time, I think I should have done that.

Turn mixture onto baking sheet or plate, Cristine did the setting job!

Once cool, cut with knife or break with hands!

STOVETOP HUMBLE CAKE

 Each month there has Full Moon Day [Purnima], New Moon Day [Amavasya], significant in our culture! I saw parents, family elderlies observing these days having chapati instead of rice, vegetarian meals. I can't remember rituals, don't observe them every month, man, son ain't interested. Full moon day is held auspicious, new moon day isn't, they say Amavasya attracts negative energy. Science may not agree. Certain Full Moon days are more auspicious; Buddha Purnima, Guru Purnima, Guru Purab, Rakhi Purnima. Today is Rakhi Purnima, sisters tie sacred thread on their brothers' wrists. Tagore called it Harmony Day, urged all irrespective of caste, creed, religion to tie sacred thread of bond! You may consider it Friendship Day too.

I am feeling tired! I happily talked to my brother, had late breakfast as usual, then started feeling lethargic.

"May I sleep on the couch" kind of vive is there, as if I fought lot with mind to keep in track, not cross boundaries! How come one imprison soul? I am going to share recipe of cake above in short while, before that I would do talks. This space is meant to express my thoughts, although I don't take the full liberty anymore; I say something, people understand something else. I wouldn't apologise, I am honest about my feelings, actions, I can't fake!

Not understanding this world, I better stay quiet. Why let people point finger. I love sitting, brooding, watching people, food be there. I don't know if it's okay or not to buy maki from outside store, occupy seat for an hour in food court buying a cup of kopi-o-kosong. I can't have big meals in afternoons.

That pizza like bread was at basement of Paya Lebar Square, slice with curry spread, spring onions, I couldn't finish the huge slice. I am "cha-ruti", "cha-biskut" kind.

Exciting it was to discover food court at 4th floor of SingPost building. I keep visiting PayaLebar MRT area, never checked with 4th floor, SingPost building. It's different from rest, that attracts me, would sit there alone with food, drink, worth it. Singapore's history isn't ancient! Their history they restore beautifully in museums, keeping hand pulled rickshaws, through paintings depicting their past. My greatest hurt was visiting highest peak in Manali, 2008. On reaching top, we found solo toilet was dilapidated, where hundreds of tourists would discharge no one had concern, but we fight on trivial issues. What's development? To maintain current infrastructure, to build new! We make too much of noise we don't require to. A janitor appointed there could feed an entire family.

I definitely love India but wish to live outside, I prefer everything well done, be it home or surroundings. 

I have ability to cook, follow my culture wherever I am. Kolkata lives on biryani, pizza, chaat, momo; do people eat their own food? Inter-cultural mingling is necessity, I wouldn't have sustained in Singapore for 15 years, if not welcomed. I would force man to leave decade back. When I hum Bollywood numbers, Singaporeans would frown, smile next moment. I move body, bus captains would wave, smile. I must say, Singaporeans at times need to keep aside rules, laugh out loud. During Covid, amount of rebuke I received was enough reason to flee. I understood their concern for themselves, for me, a foreigner! Being rule bound is good, I think I survived Covid for rules. But you must breathe at times, laugh out loud in public, whats the issue? 

Thats me. My brother, son were thin as man, now they all have put on weight, even man's sister. My brother's girl was perfect, lost it. As long as son's single, mumma would warn him to stay fit. I was obese, don't want to be again. It's me who went crazy after Cristine to get back to her slimmer self. She listened. Maintaining ourselves is necessity. 

Baking, having vegan, gluten-free, dairy free STOVETOP HUMBLE CAKE isn't sin, we have to control the frequency, amount of intake. I had been baking vegetarian, also with egg, basic cakes, biscuits since teen. We love plain cakes, I fear decorating cakes. Son left home, man isn't foodie, we don't need exotic food. On this auspicious occasion, I wanted cake top to look different. The date palm jaggery / patali gur, a slice of pear helped, also rice flour, cornflour, tapioca flour, isabgul, banana, brown sugar, baking powder & soda, oil, coconut, walnut, vanilla essence. I enjoy baking humble cakes. I am satisfied with look, taste of this cake.

INGREDIENTS :

RICE FLOUR : 1 COFFEE MUG

TAPIOCA FLOUR : 1 TBSP

CORN FLOUR : 1 TBSP

BAKING POWDER : 1 TSP

BAKING SODA : 1/2 TSP

COCONUT MILK : 1 SMALL TEA CUP

SHREDDED COCONUT : 1/2 COFFEE MUG

BANANA : 1

PEAR : A THICK SLICE FROM MIDDLE

PSYLLIUM HUSK : 1 TBSP

BROWN SUGAR : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP [YOU MAY USE WHITE SUGAR]

WALNUT : 2-3 [YOU MAY USE ALMOND, CHERRY]

OIL : 4-5 TBSP

VANILLA ESSENCE : 1TSP

PROCEDURE :

Mix together rice+tapioca+corn flours+psyllium husk in large bowl. 

Blend together sugar, banana, coconut milk, oil, shredded coconut into fine paste. I forgot to add coconut milk, added later.

Beat together dry & wet ingredients for 3-4 minutes. Keep covered for half an hour.

Cut thick slice from middle of pear. Take off skin. Discard seeds.

You may caramelise sugar, I melted date palm jaggery sprinkling some water.

Grease cake tin with oil, dust with refined flour. Pour jaggery, spread.

Place pear slice in middle. Cover hole with walnuts.

To batter, add baking powder, baking soda, vanilla essence, beat for 1/2 a minute. Pour into cake tin.

Heat wok on stovetop for 5-6 minutes placing stand in middle.

Tap cake tin on kitchen counter, then place on stand. Cover with lid. Insert clove if lid has hole.

It took me 1 hour 20 minutes to bake at minimal heat. 

Once cool, turn over on plate. Cut thin at end for cake to set on plate.

Enjoy with choice of beverage!

AN EASY MADE MIXED FRUIT SPREAD

Writing blogpost I enjoy, today I am unwell since mid-morning! I ain't under weather, stomach ache troubling, it has gotten weak. I was asked to quit meat in 1994 by Dr.Nan, also to eat less of greens & vegetables, I have chronic Colitis he warned parents. Then, I can quit chicken, not mutton. I have to eat leafy greens, vegetables. I have constipation, I need enough fibres. We request health experts in respective fields to sit together, write uniform rule books in respective fields of expertise, else it gets confusing for us! I had been vocal about it for sometime now. I think thick lentil crepe, local style greens, black chana sabzi, cheese slice Mac chicken muffin I had recently jointly caused me stomach pain while on my walk this morning. I went to the following area after long, about 7-8 jackfruit trees were chopped, your sorrow affects your physical health, we don't need degrees to know this.

We may discuss about each when I share on my social media handles. I repeat eat, can't digest big meals, it became an issue. A diabetic can't have Munchi pancakes, local chilled desserts regular. I enjoy chilled pasta+choice of fruit tossed in oil. I liked chicken muffin, thr breakfast items were still being served, felt muffin buns are better than burger buns, cheese slice caused trouble. Not anymore hot Americano coffee tastes bitter, my stomach cannot stand milk, sugar. I didn't go too far from residence. I have soft corners for birds, animals, not yet ready to adapt veganism, gluten-free diets. One shouldn't eat anything moving like man, son! We may eat chicken, fish, seafood regular; mutton, beef, pork at times, cleaned well. Turning vegan is good move, requires strong will power!

Dr. Nan's nursing home was tiny, but too clean. Post surgery, for long I would drop down at Tala Park bus stop, look for his residence, not to gate crash. Also, he was 60+, I was 24. I kept doing it even after Dr. Gobinda Sen assessed strong anaesthesia may have been a reason for my mental issues. Dr. Govinda Sen was nice too, last year I read there has one mental hospital in his name there. I would look for it, curiosity isn't bad always. The same fear came back in December, 2024. It's not health experts' fault, it's my weak, fear mongering self, sure.  Why did I look for Dr. Nan, is it gratitude? The psychology within is complex, interesting but. Even in past years, I searched internet about him until last year when a friend told family knew Dr. Nan's, no one from his family became doctor after him, may be all kids went to the school we went. Which friend told I forgot. If I don't get my brain working, I may have dementia! 

My life is ruled by fears, I can't bypass any, I have accepted I have to live with it until my end. I don't want to stay at home 24/7, I must go out everyday, love walks. I dislike anyone instructing me about what I do, what I don't! Above are few of dishes I cooked last weekend. You cannot say I don't care for my family!

Home cooked meals are best. I am scared of gram-flour, never liked "besan toasts", liked thin coated, low oil "besan toasts" few days back. Our tastebuds keep changing. The son, his father wouldn't ever have "besan toasts, muri-gur-narkol", I never force.

Making condiments, pickles / jam / jelly was regular in family. The mother bought bottle of Kissan mixed fruit jam every month, herself made few varieties; guava, mango, pineapple. She used pectin, did in bulk. I use lemon as preservative, make in small batch, else spoils. We need chemical preservatives for longevity. 

I prepared this AN EASY MADE MIXED FRUIT SPREAD last May. Any day, I can eat toasted bread thickly coated with butter & spread. Earlier, I learnt about differences among spread, jam, compote, jelly; now forgot. Calling it spread is safer. I made it using few ingredients; raw mango, green grapes, sugar, permitted food colour, lemon juice! It's tasty, vegan. gluten-free, dairy-free. What else? There's no point knowing other's motives, intents, more I know, sorrow awaits. Instead, I would cook, read, write, listen to music, do Tai Chi, swim, walk!

INGREDIENTS :

GRAPE JUICE : 1 COFFEE MUG

RAW MANGO PASTE : OF 2 STANDARD SIZED

SUGAR : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP

EDIBLE GREEN FOOD COLOUR : 2-3 DROPS [I USED CAKE MAKING ESSENCES]

LEMON JUICE : OF ONE BIG LEMON

PROCEDURE :

I washed, blended two handful of grapes adding little water. 

Thereafter, I strained it to extract juice.

Cristine, peeled, washed, cut small the mangoes. 

I blended them to get a paste discarding seeds.

I put for boil everything together except lemon juice, food colour.

I kept stirring, added food colour, lemon juice towards end. 

Its done when mixture comes out clean from wok.

Once cold, transfer to sterilised jar, preferably of glass.

STEAMED OIL-FREE FLUFFY DELIGHT

 It's 4:50 pm exactly, when to finish? I don't need to hurry today, son's father is travelling, son you know left home back in 2020. I wasn't home since morning, neither in great mood, unwilling to speak elaborate. As I say, people like me carry lot of emotional baggages, we pick up. It's okay but weight feels heavier as I age. I can't avoid baggages either, hold tight! It's engagement for me, an idle self's favourite pastime. 

On several occasions son's father told attachments, expectations causes sorrow. It feels thankful he doesn't shower instructions, do's & don'ts, else what? I would have rented space in Barasat, worked in a school that made me feel important, gave me meaty subjects to teach, made me feel trustworthy at age 22-23. 

Where is Ruma? She had been gentle, sincere, studious girl from backward section of society. Her family valued education. She told me how her eldest brother wished to do higher studies, was forced to join Kalyani Hospital's administrative department post graduation following father. He bore educational expenses of Ruma, her sister, youngest brother. I am looking for her since years, forgot second name. She visited our Barrackpore home two times, after our masters classes gave over. She persuaded me to face MPhil interview at the Jadavpur University saying, "no worries, SBRC would be in interview board"; I laughed, told my heart beats louder for him, not his. The word "Interview" is fearful. Thereafter, she visited home one day, saying she joined Bagula College, they require part-time lecturer, in both cases I lacked confidence. May be I was more interested in filling BEd form at Kalyani University, in case I get to see sir DS everyday, I finally did it from RBU. I was doing all these when man was sailing, gifting me Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Este Lauder, Swarovsky! Fickle minded? I don't know if love, infatuations, commitments, responsibilities can walk together, humans are polygamous in nature I believe. This one man, one woman throughout life is big lie, scam. Partners need to be friendly to understand this, restore peace!

Ruma & I last met on my marriage day, I was happy our mother gave away my notebooks to her. This story I told earlier, I wish to reconnect. I may ask another professor about her, my comfort level with him had been deep, such deep that one day he told me Ruma got infatuated towards him, that he doesn't feel same towards her. Relationships are never easy, but complicated. I know who he liked, his romantic feeling was divided among two of my girlfriends. You bet, this too can happen. I heard his better half teaches in college, may be they have a son. Last I wrote to him was to invite him on our son's rice feeding ceremony, he couldn't attend. I wanted him to visit us, didn't anticipating man, him may get into arguments; both were leftists; man had been SFI leader in college, Sir was Naxalite, that period student union in Presidency college had been. May be his rigid political stand didn't let him position in prestigious Calcutta University. He would often quote from Marx, followed his teaching, taught Communist Manifesto. Till date he perhaps stays in Tangra Housing Estate, both teaches in college. I wouldn't ask son to follow sir, but his father's footsteps. 

What are we? The man is an Elitist Leftist, every evening needs Scotch. I may be social democrat or just humanist. What is son? He isn't left minded we know. Some other day we may talk about few others, Kunal sir, Hazra sir, even BEd department teachers at RBU. During final viva, my terror, they were compassionate just because I was newly married, yet sacrificed honeymoon to attend practice teaching, workshops. I smile remembering how generous, gentle HOD of BEd did not like my projects, cut outs, paintings I am too poor at. Man who was on leave, his sister did projects for me. The other students were too good at those, eye catching works. I loved the second paper most, psychology! Our mother was major supporter, my brother, daddy, mother-in-law had no interest, father-in-law silently appreciated my journey. I did nothing with the degrees.

I never feel if I worked I could have amassed gold, I believe if we get economically independent, we become valuable members of society. I have no restrictions in life, neither I am major decision maker. You can't be neither I want, my brain matter, that makes this home peaceful. I dislike men interfering in kitchen matters, that is enraging. Man doesn't,  his focus shifts. He hardly minds my solo afternoon walks, food.

I don't mind clicking my sweaty self, condition improved after I started losing weight! Let me wrap, share recipe of this oil-free vegetarian snack; STEAMED OIL-FREE FLUFFY DELIGHT, its vegan & gluten-free. I came across similar recipe by one Keralite blogger, Bengali blogger; I see Phillipines, Malaysia, South East Asia cook similar kinds. I used rice flour, coconut, yeast, sugar, cooked rice following reels, garnished it with dried cranberries, blueberries. Whilst I continue to blog, there may be gaps. There are major decisions, changes awaiting us, we want or not. Thats heart wrenching, we must accept reality. I don't live in reality but in dream utopia! But reality, facts prevail, not dreams, that causes me hurt, yet I can't be practical! Deep inside, I enjoy my obsessions, none would I allow to dictate my course of life, my man is friend, our weird son is love, who to fear? They give me space. I have always handled myself with dignity, what to fear about? We shouldn't force entry to places we are not welcomed, wanted. You may ask why do I peep here and there if my men and family love me? Trust me, I don't, it happens, I get stuck unknowingly!

INGREDIENTS :

RICE FLOUR : 1/2 COFFEE MUG

SHREDDED COCONUT : 5-6 TBSP

COOKED RICE : 2-3 TBSP

YEAST : 1 TSP

SALT : A PINCH OR TWO

SUGAR : 2-3 TBSP [YOU MAY NEED MORE]

WARM COCONUT MILK : AS REQUIRED FOR PASTE LIKE CONSISTENCY

BLUEBERRIES : A HANDFUL

DRIED CRANBERRIES : A HANDFUL

PROCEDURE :

Take all ingredients in blender except blueberries & cranberries.

Blend to fine paste. Transfer to deep bottomed vessel.

Wash blueberries & dried cranberries. Add maximum to batter, mix. Cover vessel with lid, keep inside microwave oven for 2-3 hours.

Grease bowl with few drops of oil, pour batter.

Boil water in manual steamer, place bowl with batter on top. Steam covered at low heat for 30 minutes or until cooked, insert toothpick to know.

Take out, let cool a bit, loosen sides, turn over onto a plate.

Enjoy with choice of beverage.

SAVOURY HEALTHY RICE BOWL

 

Not in frame of mind to cook complex recipes, I thought of sharing a simple recipe for my readers today. Its not even fried rice. I had some leftover rice in refrigerator, gave it new makeover using few available ingredients. Coming to details of recipe later, I am bringing together myself. One cannot be in great mood if one's own are not in peace! Then, I can't sit idle without any activity, would go mad. I would either write blogpost or read, go out for long walks, listen to music. I chose to write blogpost, if it seemed difficult, I would have gone somewhere! We had talk with son this morning, we wish to talk every morning if he agrees! Does he fear we may put pressure on him, ask him to do what he isn't ready for? Why would he even after our genuine assurance? I worry for him, I / We can understand his situation! I wish we could be near him. Then, he is his father's son, he has courage to wade through difficulties. I can't shove off worries, Singapore would always seem safest for him to me!

Lets talk food, may we? These days, it doesn't feel like going for fine dining! Because I belong to food world, little more than bare minimum I allow. Let our beloved son get established, we can celebrate lot. Its for his own good, not to furnish us!

This was my brunch today, puffed rice mix. Thereafter, I took liberty to have store bought flatbread. We would rarely have, we make; Cristine or I! Yesterday's lunch was at friend's. I tasted everything from huge menu. My system refuses these days, I think menopause weakens our system, not our spirit! Go, get yourself some exercise, to look good is therapeutic, necessity. From being obese to fitting into medium sized dresses had been journey of grit, determination. My GP is happy, so I am. He is such cute, such generous that I lecture him we don't want medical experts to be overweight, he hasn't thrown me out of his chamber. Instead, gave me vocal tonic throughout last year when I had mental breakdown, "S, look into my eyes, redness is from high pressure, I take higher dosage than you!" Such kind gesture of walking alongside patients demand high regards!

Yesterday night, I was full, yet had chilled watered rice. I felt heavier, sick almost. It gradually normalised. Eating in less amount per meal is the right thing to do.

I like patty, madeliene in local food hub. I have at gaps, forget if patty is vegetarian, don't want it loaded with chicken, eggs. The cake has egg. I repeat asked the young girl at counter if patty is vegetarian, she told yes irritated. Then I found egg white in it. I didn't go back to fight. She might be earning from young age, I do nothing. If I get reason for your weird behaviour, I wouldn't take up fight, not in that habit!

Be it chirer polao, mochi / bao with spicy filling, I enjoy.

I like cucumber maki, egg maki, chicken teriyaki onigiri at Umisushi, green tea. I visit, choose quiet corner, enjoy! If chicken smells, I am gone. I never order sea-food, cheesy stuffs outdoor! I can't digest!

Why to if I enjoy cooking homely pasta to mutton, chicken, fish at home? This we need these days, son left home, our need of exotic food isn't anymore. If friends call, we join for chat, enjoy food too!

Last night, idea of rice salad popped up. I mean, if you use less of cooked rice, more vegetables, its rice salad. Else it makes SAVOURY HEALTHY RICE BOWL, vegan & gluten-free with goodness of corn, coconut, peanuts. Whether you call rice healthy is debatable. It is high on carbohydrate but stomach friendly. Rice is healthy, we have to control portions. The vegetarian bowl isn't fried. I fried peanuts in 1tsp oil, prepared a green sauce with herbs I grow, took everything together, shook well. Enjoy bowl cold or at room temperature! I would prefer rice salad but family may wish to eat as main rice bowl.

Few other easy recipes from this blog are SUGAR PALM FRUIT CAKE, BENGALI STYLE HYACINTH BEANS, PAN SEARED CABBAGE SNACK

INGREDIENTS :

COOKED RICE : 2-3 COFFEE MUG

BOILED CORN : 3-4 TBSP

FRIED PEANUT : 1-2 TBSP

CHOPPED COCONUT : 2 TBSP

FRESH CORIANDER : A SPRIG OR TWO

SAW TOOTH CORIANDER : 2-3

FRESH MINT LEAVES : A HANDFUL

LEMON JUICE : 2-3 TBSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

PROCEDURE :

Except green chillies, I grow rest of herbs. We hardly know care. We would wash them, paste roughly adding lemon juice, salt.

I wasn't keen about taking stepwise pictures, lack energy at this time!

We would fry peanuts, add to cooked rice with remaining oil, washed chopped coconut, boiled corns, green sauce.

We would close tight lid, shake few times.

Transfer to bowl, enjoy!