MICROWAVE MADE BANANA STEM FRITTER

 It's 2:59 pm! There's music playing, instrumental. I listen varied ragas, western jazz, jam sessions, classical vocals! Bollywood songs, specially old classics remains all time love. For the unversed, specific Rag-Ragas were created for different time in the 24 hours span. There are ragas to listen in morning, mid-morning, afternoon, evening, night time. Listening to these helps calm my nervous system I strongly feel. Mental pleasure is major reason too!

I fancy finer things, just can't survive without music, good reads, this blog, I need to unwind! I indeed love cooking, cleanliness freak! But daily cooking, cleaning corners isn't my thing! Creative, qualitative beings around fill my heart! I savour creativity around, make myself omelette, chutney butter toast, an instant semolina thatte idli! This variety of Oolong tea bags I pick up from Prime store at nominal price, it suits my tastebuds!

Today's chutney uses roasted peanuts, fresh coriander, green chillies, salt, lemon juice, less of ingredients from Maharashtrian Thecha Chutney I cooked day before. 

I have decided not to do mention in today's blogpost. No specific reason, it's my mood that controls me. I feel not talking of family, friends today would be better decision. It may also be that I have made friendship with people without any amount of communication; verbal or online! How to mention people without relevance? A blogpost doesn't hold enough space to mention all those I wish to today. In fact, it's being long I have stopped mentioning friends, relatives in this space!

It's all in our mind, head! I am dreamer, I make up stories inside my head! Because I fed on novels since childhood, mostly romantic genre since my teens, that vive occupy my head. I am fine with it as long as I don't disturb people. What I cook, eat are source of my happiness too.

We need not go near people who have no interest to communicate with us! It would be like invading one's space, peace! Social Media today lets us keep up with people, things, activities we adore! To meet at a point, our's & their's wish need to tally! This is called respecting wishes, and self of course.

Why is it feeling I would wrap up quick today, wouldn't write much? There's too much unrest around, loss of lives! Depression, Frustration among older kids seems scariest. We don't let them struggle in growing up years, a little stress becomes heavy on them to handle. Why can't they believe there definitely have few family members, friends to reach out? The environment around needs to feel warm, welcoming, friendly! Isolation is a threat to wellbeing! As long as we are willing to see a tomorrow, we are fit & fine. Singapore straightaway welcomes summer it seems, October to February are cooler, then rushes in hotter days. Here drumstick flowers bloom throughout the year, how to know spring has arrived? I have sustained South Asian summers, this island's heat doesn't bother me! More I age, World seems beautiful to me, Life is beautiful, I am not done with it!

This Vegan, Gluten-free MICROWAVE MADE BANANA STEM FRITTER isn't family recipe but Bengal cooks vegetarian fries/pakoras/ bhajabhuji this way! Who doesn't love fritters? I can break up instantly with one who says no! I forced myself stop frying them, I have ability to turn any leaf to yum fritters! I cook them in microwave oven using minimal oil! We cook couple of recipes with banana stem, not fritter. Making use of banana stem for fritter was an impromptu idea. It tasted really good! I must say mashing it with hot rice, adding bit of ghee, crushed green chilli is soul satisfying, if you share my tastebuds! Let us do it!

INGREDIENTS :

BANANA STEM : 1 STANDARD SIZED AS MOSTLY SOLD

CHOPPED GREEN CHILLI : 2 TSP

RICE FLOUR : 1 TBSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1/2 TSP+1/4 TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 1 TBSP [I USED MUSTARD OIL]

PROCEDURE :

Wash banana stem. Thinly slice both ends, throw away! Discard outer soft, fibrous outer cover. We would use the core, hard portion, that too fibrous.

Cut slices, each time use fingers to roll fibre, discard! It's how tailors do with threads in sewing machine. 

Thereafter, cut into strips each slice, chop! 

The hardest above job I didn't do! I rest is my handwork!

Wash chopped vegetable taken in strainer!

I further pulsed 1-2 times chopped banana stem wanting to avoid using pressure cooker!

Thereafter, marinate it with salt, turmeric for an hour. It has to become soft!

Wash, chop green chillies. After an hour, use your palms to squeeze out excess amount of water!

Add oil, salt, rest of turmeric, chopped green chillies, rice flour, fold in well. We may use gram flour instead of rice flour! I ain't gram flour fan, also thought of non-South Asians! You may use cornflour too!

Make smooth balls, smoothen between palms. Grease an oven proof plate with oil, place the uncooked banana stem fritters on it.

Place bake stand inside microwave, on it the plate.

I cooked in microwave+grill option, one side 12 minutes. Then turned them over, cooked them for 8-9 minutes.

Have it hot, fresh alongside peeping hot steamed rice, spoonful of ghee or butter, a green chilli! We also had chicken curry, dal that day. 

We may refrigerate, reheat before having it, that wouldn't give best taste!

FRESH ORANGE HALWA DESSERT

My body is craving to lie down in couch at this time with a favourite read followed by deep slumber, warmth of the sky is getting me that feel ! It reminds me of winter afternoons, we would wrap "lycembee" made of old saris, quilt similar to kantha or rajai, sit in balcony of our two roomed rented space, take in afternoon rays! This was scene on weekends, on entire winter holidays!

We would have orange or sugarcane or mix of pomelo + salt + green chillies + burnt and crushed dry red chillies. Strangely, I remember the face of "Ankhwala", the visiting sugarcane seller in neighbourhood! Reminiscing bygone days doesn't speak of unhappy present, we look beyond only after securing peace at present home. It's inevitable, we can't fixate our mind, soul at one place, that's against human nature. Let your minds wander.

My mind is enveloped with varied thoughts, travelling to and fro from past to the present, who has seen future, a tomorrow? No mind goes empty, I don't go to work; office schedules, boss's temper, colleagues, strategies do not occupy my mind. It harbours literature, music; weaves words if not skilfully! However, all of this is done with food bowls on lap! 

Yesterday, I was at a food court in Serangoon Gardens having Rojak, I call it South East Asian fruit chaat, thinking of preparing my version, blog about it. It was raining hard, I wasn't carrying an umbrella. I took second serving of biscuit & teh-o-kosong! That extra bit of food my aged body doesn't need, that is causing weight increase given I only do low intensity workouts like walking & swimming! I must fix it but how to? Few hours back I had noodles, I can't control cravings; having fruits now. At night, I would eat little rice! The reasons of my inability to slim down are poor metabolism, age, also to lose menopausal belly is hard! Moreover, I wasn't ever lean, obese to overweight to decent I got, again allowing weight gain would be too taxing on my mental health! I envy man's lean self, my brother was like him once, don't know why his athletic self got overweight, our parents had never been overweight! His girl too was nice back in 2011, now got overweight. It is unacceptable the man's sister getting fat, she religiously maintained herself. The son was thin like father, now tends to get fat like me. He doesn't look good when overweight, I warn! However, mumma wants him to cook noodles in microwave like she did today!

I watched reel, tried and enjoyed having a vegan noodle bowl done in a pot! Let me try a vegan, gluten-free, either make reel or blog about it!

It's spring, let me find out drumstick flowers, Singapore doesn't sell! I located a low height drumstick tree, there are many islandwide but blooms are high above. It's time for mango blooms too, smells beautiful!

I keep myself occupied doing chores I enjoy, else would keep worrying about my boy! I think every parent staying far off does, be it for male child or girl child. I roam around islandwide, hardly get time to do experiments with cooking, watch movies. I must be active how much the couch attracts. 

My inquisitive self might have been entangled in mystery I am seeking to solve, however making of dairy-free, low sugar, vegetarian, vegan FRESH ORANGE HALWA DESSERT is simple. I thoroughly enjoy cooking simpler these days, the result need be near perfect! I don't like half hearted works, be it in office or at home or in any sphere. Cristine extracted juice of super sweet oranges; or may be they are Malta, Mandarins. We get variety of, I confuse. I feel happy if it's sweet! Once we get the juice ready in hand, making of halwa is cake walk. The stirring part tones your arms. I fed son "sujir payesh" so much, he dislikes Bengali style suji-halwa, if done with fruit juices he would eat. Since 2020, I hardly know about his food preferences, he dislikes speaking about his daily chores! There are varied recipes of orange halwa in internet, I remember of my co-bloggers' too, I didn't consult any!

INGREDIENTS :

ORANGE : 3 BIG JUICY

SEMOLINA : 1/2 COFFEE MUG

SUGAR : 3 TBSP

BAY LEAF : 1

GREEN CARDAMOM : 2-3

OIL : 1 TBSP [The thought of Ghee+Fruit Juice doesn't give me comfort]

SLICED TOASTED ALMOND : 2 TSP

PROCEDURE :

Cristine washed the seedless oranges, peeled, extracted juice! This was big help.

For cooking desserts, I use pan that's not used for regular cooking! 

I heated pan, dry roasted almonds, took out in bowl.

I added oil, tempered with bayleaf & green cardamoms tearing bit!

I added semolina, folded in, roasted for 10-12 minutes at low heat!

Semolina would get golden brown, the sugar is to be added now. I kept stirring for 4-5 minutes.

Thereafter, I added orange juice, folded in, kept stirring until orange halwa started to become paste like.

I added most of roasted almond slices at this stage, stirred for one more minute, took down.

I transferred it to a serving bowl, garnished with rest of sliced roasted almonds.

Serve & have warm. Chilled halwa never tastes good!

VEGAN GLUTEN-FREE CANAPE

How are my dear readers doing today? This is Soma @ CURRY AND SPICE ! Let me know how you want me to serve you? I mean on your plates? Life's a stage, each one of us play specific role, mine is to serve good food on your plates. To pour good music into your ears required me to learn it better, I share some life lessons here, right? You may call it unnecessary "gyan" / blabbering! All of us need a space to unwind, I can't think of a life only eating, sleeping, do household chores, discuss people, promote religious divide. I do visit temples, get peace in such actions, spreading hatred in name of God is not my business. Thats not my mentality! I know maintaining certain image makes you popular! I craved fame, don't know how to get there. You need certain qualities, foremost is to be a good reel maker in present day context. I lack ideas, technical knowhow, both!

I love to write, hours after hours, it de-stresses besides cooking, music. I love watching movies, post surgery I am lacking concentration. My interests involve deep human relationships, thrillers, comedy too! Marriage video kind of movies get me headache. That doesn't mean you would play documentary on Richard Ramirez's dreadful actions around San Francisco on an evening when this coward self is just back from hospital! Small things affect my mental stability, health that you may not even bother, notice! I don't understand the man's logic behind such actions but attribute son's weird self majorly to his father. But this same father today helped me solve a technical issue sitting at KL. I might have wrongly pressed the keyboard unable to type. The moment I called him, he told me whats to be done, I should be lucky enough to finish post! He isn't my husband, he is my problem solver. I dislike his temperament, then who would handle me when I puke on travels, have this problem & that? I think there never had romantic bond between us, my parasitical self found a good host in him! Anyway, I am fond of high achievers. I remain extremely worried about son but never would ask him to compromise his career for me.

Because I am an emotional, hyper sensitive self, I easily get hurt! I just don't get certain behaviour of people, neither am I argumentative. I get aloof, didn't learn to retaliate; better to watch Lust Story time & again to set mood right, hahaha! I am bit of everything, Lust Story, Morning Raga, long walks, top of all food set right my mood!

Outside of Hougang Mall, a food court stall sells two pieces Yong Tau Fong+Chee Cheong Fun bowl, mistakenly added excess of chilli, my tongue burnt. I love chicken dumpling & wonton soups. A click or two of choice kind of add extra layer of butter to my toast! In between such pleasures, I definitely need humans to complete thy self! Not useless criticism but people's qualities please me! All of us have weaknesses, what's the point taking digs?

I must take pride turning a failed cupcake batter onto superbly tasted ones. I try not to waste food, thats a wrong habit!

How to get a fit body if I eat carbs, sugar regular? Yes, besides talent, I am hooked towards appearances! I don't think there's any pride to be taken of an overweight, obese self! We look bad, as simple as that, all my life I had been obese, thereafter an overweight self, now too I can't be called slim! 

May I name these pleasure bites VEGAN GLUTEN-FREE CANAPE?

Initially, I thought of making dairy-free, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan fruit sushi, didn't want to work hard. Cristine and I had for dinner! I wanted to add pomegranate, it's such high priced! Dragonfruit makes a plate colourful. I used Cristine's fruits-vegetables-vinegar pickle to season fruit salsa, you may use chillies soaked in vinegar for few hours. I had some left over cooked rice in refrigerator, the idea evolved from there. All of us stock coconut milk, sugar at home. You may use your choice of fruits! Such cooking ventures have to go on in my kitchen, my love for writing about this and that too! In this complex world, I must find out my gateways to relaxed self, no one would gift me. I am sensitive, prefer avoiding coercion, even offenders need not be lynched, there is law. Anyway, every mall seems arranged for Lion Dance, I enjoyed watching one yesterday!

Few similar recipes from blog may be SPICY FISH FRITTER, OVEN COOKED COCONUT KEBAB !

INGREDIENTS : [FOR RICE BASE]

COOKED RICE : 2 COFFEE MUGS

COCONUT MILK : 100 ML

SUGAR : 1 TBSP

INGREDIENTS : [FOR FRUIT SALSA]

CHOPPED DRAGON FRUIT : 1/2 COFFEE MUG

CHOPPED ORANGE : 1/2 COFFEE MUG

CHOPPED JICAMA : 1/4 TBSP

CHOPPED ONION : 1 TBSP

CHOPPED VINEGAR SOAKED RED CHILLI : 1/2 TSP

CHOPPED VINEGAR SOAKED GREEN CHILLI : 1 TSP

SALT : [OPTIONAL]

PROCEDURE :

I used cooked Basmati, not sticky! Hence, I pulsed rice, sugar, coconut milk. I ain't good at measurements; I had to dry rice-mix taken in pan. We get perfect sticky texture.

We would peel fruits, discard seeds, wash, chop small. We would peel onions, wash, chop, take everything in bowl.

Thereafter, we would add vinegar soaked chopped chillies, little sugar, salt if you wish! We would stir, keep at rest for 10 minutes. We would strain water released, make cutlet shape of coconut rice, arrange fruit salsa atop!

Refrigerate before serving, you would love it! You may sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds atop!

 

GREEN PEAS BENGALI CREPE PITHA

Its pretty windy, this cool feel isn't welcome in this home.The man dreads winter, snow; he never travelled to ice-laden places except once, categorically chose tropical island for shore job! One of his friends told me once, during his cadetship, his ship sailed at Newark, his hardworking self went painting body of ship tying a rope wearing single piece undergarment, shovelling the snow. Thereafter, he chose to sail in warm climates! We went through uncertainties, I / We want smooth life for son, us now. May be life always puts us through tests. In 2010, when partner chose Singapore over Houston, I told him if it could have been otherwise. Once I travelled there twice, I strongly felt either you go & settle there at young age or that concept is not for an Indian. What I couldn't take at all there is silence, the quietness around put me off, the public transport not meant for our kinds worried me, most importantly Cristine's service seems precious to me over USA's big homes. Big Homes without "mudir dokan" nearby isn't good idea. Singapore is Chinar Park, Nager Bazaar to me!

Today, she took off but the service she gives us is luxury we are used to; our mother has two helpers, man's parents have three helpers, my brother's in-laws have 3-4 helpers. Indians / South Asians are used to external helps, even a humble Bengali Home have helpers, making other cost cuttings! I felt quiet neighbourhoods, doing daily household chores isn't for me! The partner knows me well, my irritative self, he knows though we are not lovey-dovey couple, I slip over now & then, here & there; who he goes with for coffee / tea I don't know, as long as sanctity of my home and savings account, my child's education is not invaded, I ain't bothered. This 54 year man went through lot, I am his friend first, I want happiness for him. He understands finance too good, wouldn't leave me, why would we? We enjoy each other's company, just that he doesn't remain my best friend like in school so I can tell him where I slipped over latest, neither he asks me to carry his letters to interest, like I did many moons back! 

This silly romantic is cleanliness freak but hates engaging in it regular. I can cook all day, then Cristine arranges everything for me. She even took a tutorial class of luchi making for my friend's helper. I like it that my Tamil friend enjoys luchi & roti I treat her with! She enjoys masala chai instead of coffee. Today, I made my own breakfast, wood apple / bael fruit smoothie had been must have regular in season during our growing up years! Then one day, a medical expert friend told having bael fruit regular isn't good!

Cristine makes good noodles, I guide her how we want it. Although we love Bengali Middle Class homes' with onion, potato, eggs; I do not wish to endorse it, don't like overpowering sauces in noodles. Cristine makes good soups, that she can only if I cook less of Bengali Food on Saturdays. That I cannot, for dinner I need our kind of food, no hard & fast rule but yes. I love being in this island, also to preserve my culture.

Its Lunar New Year / Chinese New Year today & tomorrow, I am in music mood, mode, but believe in commitment, responsibilities. I wish to contribute a recipe on this occasion. What's going on inside, around these days I don't get, why son is not unblocking mumma for long I do not get that either. I feel hopeless, wish people understood my actions are not driven by understanding of surrounding, I move with the belief Almighty wouldn't let me do any wrong! Let me do what I am best at, cooking & sharing recipes! 

I love Kueh, years back I discovered a green crepe, jaggery-coconut stuffed that is Bengali crepe Patishapta like. For long, I wanted to cook this Kueh Dadar, I didn't require to consult any recipe, I knew I would cook, shape it like Bengali Patishapta! I didn't want to use green edible colour, had to, few drops. I used green peas paste, not much, I feared of raw smell. Wanting to keep it vegan, gluten-free, I soaked & pasted rice, Jasmine rice I used that came as gift. That was bit of challenge, doing it with traditional batter, we usually mix together refined flour, semolina, rice flour. I managed somehow, Cristine did few. 

I packed few vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free GREEN PEAS BENGALI CREPE PITHA for visiting friends last Friday, hope you would like the vegetarian sweet delight!

INGREDIENTS :

SHREDDED COCONUT : 200 GM

JAGGERY : 100 GM

GREEN PEAS : A HANDFUL

UNCOOKED RICE : 1 & 1/2 COFFEE MUG [I USED JASMINE RICE]

SUGAR : 4-5 TBSP

EDIBLE GREEN COLOUR : FEW DROPS

OIL : 2-3 DROPS ONCE EVERY 3-4 CREPES

PROCEDURE :

Wash, soak rice in enough water for 3-4 hours, I soaked overnight!

Drain water, blend to paste adding little water at a time. 

Transfer to bowl, add water to make neither too thick, nor thin batter.

Wash green peas, blend to paste, add to batter, also sugar. 

Beat well, keep aside for 1/2 an hour, covered.

Take shredded coconut, jaggery together in pan. Cook at low heat until sticky! Transfer to plate!

Heat a non-stick pan. Brush with few drops of oil.

Add a round, dip spoonful of batter. Spread round with back of spoon. Keep heat at minimal to low.

We are supposed to stuff, roll with coconut-jaggery filling in pan but we take down in plate, then roll.

We rolled like patishapta, not like kueh dadar.

STEAMED CHOCOLATE CAKE

Today too its late start, couldn't do any amount of exercise. You can't blame me, I visited local market, came back, made something, that I would share in blog next Monday or Tuesday. I must share something before CNY celebrations! After fifteen years of stay, we are foreigners but I definitely love the island city. I do not earn for a living, neither a student of Economics or Finance, I romanticise with the idea how scot-free I get to roam here, how secured we are. Once we go back, I would adjust in few months, it's my place but my mobility would be severed! I would wish those who celebrate CNY sitting far off, never would speak negative about it! I wished if this island could naturally confer us foreigners permanent residency after a decade of stay like few other nations. At the same time, the strictness proves how much coveted this island is; it's about demand & supply! I lack nationalist feelings, I don't believe in thorny walls but in love that connect Humans! Didn't I tell you I live in an utopia, at least dream of one 24/7.

Where was I? Okay, since morning, I had been constructive, although weighing machine shows staggering rise after meals at Popeyes', san-wich! It is sweet intake that's poisoning me again! Forgetting ordeal we go through is good & bad at the same time.

I had garlic bread sometime back I bought from a local bakery. Jicama here is eaten as vegetable, not sweet as in our place, for us it's fruit. This morning, I had steamed bao & dumpling. Yesterday morning I had aloo-cheese-thousand island dressing sandwich I made, lunch at Popeye's, at night had rice. I have to control sooner, weight loss is 70% diet & 30% exercise, rigorous exercise I am unable to do. I never push myself hard, don't like others forcing anything on me!

I bought a selfie stick few months back, didn't use, I need to have a mind for everything. Let's see when I can make good use of it. If last year I was mentally & physically drained, this year may be we are passing through some kind of an uncertainty, man and son are carefree types, good that they are. I am the worry-monger, it may be my leisure or pleasure, whatever!

How much Cristine pours positive notes inside my ears, I keep panting every half an hour. What bothers me I don't know! What, who beacons me that too I don't know. The less we divulge, speak, express, is better! The proverbial "bobar shotru nei" is right! I don't want irritation controlling me. If one can get me happiness, peace, calm; come, sit beside me, let me treat you; else forget me. The restless world today requires healing!

I cooked the following to share just before CNY!

To make it vegan, gluten-free was a challenge I won, they had to look better. 15th, Sunday is Shivratri, all day fasting isn't an issue for me. 

On occasion of Valentine's Day, I thought of sharing this STEAMED CHOCOLATE CAKE recipe prior to celebration. Our young adult son may be celebrating! Let them enjoy with mumma's vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free treat. Why alone young? The worn out, old hearts do have right to tremble too! To me love is life long celebration, it's as natural as breathing is. 

Life would have been better if our weird son discussed his course of life with us; our friends were regular visitors to each other's home, I wanted to treat his friends, he never introduced us to them. Our friends were close to our parents, siblings. The thought of loosening of bond turns me crazy. Where are we heading to? In which world? I see my world empty almost; my thoughts, my emotional depth, good or bad; doesn't match with the maximum! This fast paced world doesn't have time to stop by me, explore my mind, care about it!

Commitment, Responsibilities I stand by! As food blogger, I wished to amalgamate CNY and VALENTINE's DAY! Shibratri is personal, I would share something we can eat on Sunday!

INGREDIENTS :

RICE FLOUR : 1/2 COFFEE MUG+2 TBSP

CORN FLOUR : 2 TBSP

PSYLLIUM HUSK / ISABGUL : 2 TSP

BAKING SODA : 1/4 TSP

BAKING POWDER : 1/3 TSP

DARK CHOCOLATE BAR : 1 [I USED MEIJI BLACK]

COFFEE POWDER : 2 TSP [YOU MAY SKIP AND ADD MORE OF CHOCOLATE]

COCONUT MILK : 150ML [I USE COCONUT POWDER MIXED IN WARM MILK]

BANANA : 1 LARGE

SUGAR : 5-6 TBSP [YOU MAY ADD MORE]

VANILLA ESSENCE : 1 TSP

OIL : 2 TBSP

I USED FRESH STRAWBERRY TO GARNISH

PROCEDURE :

Take together rice flour, cornflour, psyllium husk in a bowl, mix!

Blend together coconut milk, banana, sugar, oil, vanilla essence, add to dry mix, beat well.

Melt chocolate in microwave oven taken in bowl. Cool, add to batter, beat well.

Keep covered batter for 25-30 minutes.

I added water to manual steamer pot, put to boil on gas top! 

When the water started boiling, I added baking powder, baking soda to batter, few drops of water on them to activate well, beaten for a minute!

I placed a brown paper foil inside cake tin, poured batter into it, tapped it on kitchen counter.

I placed it in middle atop mesh, cover steamed at low heat for 25 minutes.

My Chocolate Cake fluffed up as desired. Enjoy with your choice of fruits!