AAM KHUBANI SHRIKHAND

The mind was set for a quick share today and why not go ahead with something that is a family favourite.... yummy "dessert".... Believe it or not I had Shrikhand for the first time in life in 1999 at Partha-Chutu's place in Mumbai. Kolkata definitely had been selling shrikhand long before it but we were residents of Dum Dum dominated by the Bengalis.... more so of Bengalis from "purba bangla".... who did not even consider "Mother Diary's Mishti Doi" as "doi".... that shrikhand will not be found in its vicinity was quite natural! The wonder woman, a rare breed of perfection, honesty, intellect, owner of an extreme degree of motherly instinct called Chutu introduced me to "khakra, shrikhand-poori"..... Since she is a near perfect woman she had to stock for me my entire day's food... a "bhabi" would deliver my lunch "dabba" and I got introduced to "dal palak", "malai kofta", "chana methi sabzi"..... Do not ask me about the "South Indian Thalis".... we two were not enough to finish one thali! In the evening time Chutu would come back from the office and cook for all of us. I feel very ashamed of myself thinking of that period. I did not know cooking and she did not allow me to do other household works. I did not like their "Mangala's" way of mopping and dusting.... One day I did it and got scolded by the couple! Off course people can make out the difference between my way of cleaning and of others.... I will always take that pride. 

A dear friend of mine who also does not colour her greys caught hold of me in Kolkata once and battered "why do you have to spend your holidays cleaning a house you do not stay?".... I only smiled because she is one among the few who I allow to scold me.... why? Surprisingly, she speaks so much like T and they have never met.... will they ever?... "jot pakano samporkos 😊".... We rarely meet but how does it matter if you gel well in some areas! Some should spare me if I am unable to maintain the hierarchy of relationship in certain cases! Anyway, my coriander chicken and "dhonepata bata tyangra" got some applause by the not to disclose relationships .... but such occasions are rare.... Intelligent people should not take any offence... I try not to cross boundaries.... I did not even know when a tiny food blog CURRY AND SPICE was caught in the radar of a certain section of people! Leave that complicated part, know that Chutu's Mangala gave me a picture of Mumbai "chawal patti".... "life in train".... etc. I loved shrikhand then but now after 8 years of stay in this island I find the store bought ones too sweet! So, preparing  an AAM KHUBANI SHRIKHAND at home is a natural choice! I have picked up one characteristic feature from our mother and Chutu, I get confused and disturbed in the presence of others in my kitchen... it sounds rude but I always say please let me handle if anyone ask if I need any help.... What I do is I cook simple recipes when guests come... likewise you can bookmark this AAM KHUBANI SHRIKHAND recipe for your next get together. 

When I say one Partha Dey is down to the earth to the core given his calibre, I mean it! There was a video call from their Mumbai home last Saturday morning... there definitely will be because the couple Ujjaini & Amit Bhaduri stopped over on their way back to Houston from Kolkata with their two kids! A Chutu urf Madhuchanda Dey Ghosh had to feed them a seven day menu in two days... going by her nature. So my husband's first question to Amit was "ki khacchish?".... everything from mutton to koraishutir kochuri to kalia. I could not take the entire list as you know my condition on a Saturday morning to afternoon! A Partha Dey knows it well that his wife rarely has an equal but he has to be nice to others.... he asked "S what are you busy at? You know Amit, S cooked 16 dishes for me when I visited last year!" This may be an exaggeration but 10-12 is normal because he came for a day only.... comes once in a blue moon. They know I am far from them in academics... they will never make me feel awkward... Then a bachelor called Amit was like a foster son to the newly wed Chutu years back just is Sanak Chottopadhay to me! .... So they have to stopover at Mumbai as and when possible! 

What did I like the most in the video talk? I was not willing to be seen given my sweaty self.... but had to when Amit-Ujjaini's daughter appeared on the screen and asked "kemon acho? ki korcho?" That in proper Bengali and with such warmth! Oh my God! We last met some 9 years back when we were in Kolkata! Just 1 year older to my son, she is so different in approach, I loved it and felt like packing food boxed and dresses and courier... That we can do when the husband visits his Houston office because they are unwilling to get their tickets through this island! The daughter of that house was away from home to write her examination! Note that there is no problem created in a home which has both an examinee and guests at the same time! Always appreciate those who deserve, the ability to appreciate is a virtue not everyone possess! What is sad is that last to last Sunday Partha was having lunch with "ucche sheddo, tilapia r jhol and shukto".... the couple's stomach betray them ever since they were young... so they spend on travel what they earn.... Antartica is their next venture during Diwali...

I talk, talk, talk so much of life and people and less about food! I lack knowledge about food so these are fillers! Anyway, we had bowls of AAM KHUBANI SHRIKHAND and the man and his son's favourite Japanese food too... Well, I like sushi, some of the soups and desserts too but sashimi needs a strong heart for a desi to adapt to! What I love the most is the marinated slices of ginger.... lovely "achar" kind! I very much enjoy these precious moments with the duo... who knows what next? Besides this healthy, yum dessert with mango, yogurt and apricot, I have another dish with mango to share to  complete the "aam quota" of this year! Doing that I am being a little selfish to India I know! Actually we get raw and ripe mango throughout the year. You can see it and I do not wish to store the pictures and scroll next year!

Kolkata or West Bengal may not be keen on having Apricot / khubani but if you buy two packets at a time you may wish to try some on halwa or this AAM KHUBANI SHRIKHAND! Yep, the beef eater son had it.... mumma will grill some chicken legs this afternoon as a reward! If you go by this foodie girl Debjani of Debjanir Rannaghar, Kolkata might have adapted to such kinds besides "Biryani, Moglai Porota, Ilish, Patha and Indo-Chinese".... See I am a nice woman... she is pissing me off with pictures of "aar maacher jhol" and I am mentioning her name here, she does not require my recommendation though! I like that girl who dared to go for an inter faith marriage... anything for love... haha!.... Will I try to be friends with them if I am back in Kolkata? Nope! I am not that kind! CURRY AND SPICE will remain as tiny as it is! I did not even approach a single restaurant here for a nice deal and get some name for myself! When do I click the below then? I repeat again I know nothing about photography!

I just use this space to write what shrouds my mind and soul, to share what we eat at home.... thats it! I do get upset if I do not get the expected viewership, that too is going off because the "thoka togor" is growing, because I am enjoying "jol keli" in the night time 😀.... there has to be proper distribution of time in a day! By the way, does Kolkata follow Manzilat's named Facebook page? You should though she does not share her recipes. Kolkatans can sit there and enjoy authentic Awadhi Cuisine! She must be doing justice to her dishes.... her father had been the grandson of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.... She draws her lineage from the Nawab family, is a Master's in English with a degree in law and must be a great cook .... no her biryani does not have mushroom.... the later is meant for fried rices I have here or in soups! Hihihi sometimes I get loggerheads with some dears! I am yet to inform my meat-o-phobic, biryani-holic family in Kolkata about her... soon to! The begum is not my benefactor but how does it matter!

INGREDIENTS :

Ripe Mango : 2-3 standard sized
Fresh Apricot : 6-8
Plain Yogurt : 1-11/2litre 
Sugar : 1/4small cup
Green Cardamom Powder : 1tsp [freshly made preferred]
Chopped pistachios & saffron strands to garnish!

PROCEDURE :

Take the yogurt on a white, clean piece of cloth placed atop a bowl.

Tie it to a kitchen tap!

Keep like this for 5-6 hours or some more time.... all the water from the yogurt has to drain!

Wash and chop the apricots discarding the stone, peel the mangoes washing them thoroughly.

Take the yogurt, mango pulp, chopped apricot, green cardamom powder and the sugar in a blender bowl that we do not use to prepare spice powders or pastes!

Blend at medium speed for 3 minutes pausing in between.

Transfer to a bowl, cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Take out and garnish with saffron strands & chopped pistachios before serving!