I call it miracle drink, having it since childhood! They say Bael/Bengal Quince/Wood Apple is good to have. I can't jot down10 benefits of it... reasons are 2... I don't believe everything of wiki... don't think wiki knowledge is enough neither do I have sincerity to do some homework in library prior to this post. Let me stick to what I have known since childhood from hearsay & personal experience! The parents, grand parents told, "you have to eat it everyday in season"... so we did. What I miss today is spoonful of sugar in it. However, we get good quality of bael / wood apple / Bengal Quince here is such good, we hardly need to add sugar to it! I am thankful to Bangladeshi shops here, specially Rajdhani Enterprise gets everything Bengali to us. They help stay rooted. I would have found it difficult without these stores. Each year during season, I would get them a couple of time...
I wish to have it throughout year, of few things from past my husband relish, this is one. Then, production is round the year when something is in demand. I think something like "bael er pana" should be made a popular health drink ... it helps in normalising your bowel movement. The husband is leaving home again for a week, I had to serve it last Saturday because I know he would have it... I do not wait for him to enjoy things he does not enjoy. The son perhaps do not enjoy it... as long as he enjoys sugar free Olong & Ayataka tea, Soy Milk all day through, I do not force anything on to him.... I am not the kind who is able to force anything on anyone. It is tiring, it is energy consuming. I still hope our son will someday love delicacies of his root he doesn't like now or I may die watching death of "Bangaliana" in this home.
I see many from my generation here who don't have idea about heirloom Bengali dishes, I don't know functions of computer box. While you wonder if my head is filled with goborpora or not.... I keep wondering why we wouldn't know about our culture! Definitely I like those who manage both sides well, like more those who have guts to say in public "torkari diye biryani khaoar bodoley sheko bish kheye mora bhalo".... You bet when I read this in a column .... I could not stop giggling for the next few days... What should be my treat for such people?... "katlar kalia, aloo diye pathar patla jhol, murgir kosha, chingri bhora potol, fulkopi-motorshuti diye moongdal, dhokar dalna, shukta, pathar chorbir bora".... with slogan... "esho kichu korey dekhai... kheye mori"....
Since childhood, I have been told that I have a "pocha shorir"... I was / is obese, foodie, every summer I used to have sores, all these were uncanny in the family of athletes... both parents, brother had concern but allowed me to eat. My once khokho & kabadi champion mother still says "shorir ta akhono jhorjhorey holona".... she has the right you know... I saw her running at parent's meet in our school while I till date could not take part in son's school meets.... husband, son aren't sporty type. I fear targets, competitions you know.... an average is that way... My comforting message to my family is, "I would stay true to roots until my death with similar kinds like "dudh ba doi diye bael er pana".... sometimes with coveted twist like this DAAB ER JOL DIYE BAEL ER SHORBOT.
This thick, sweet drink is still ok but they made me drink "chiroter jol" too. After few years of force feed, I refused to once in middle school. I see them too in Bangladeshi stores... too scared to start again.... only reason of my staggering blood sugar level is my inability to follow a proper diet chart. Too much of attachment to food is a mental disorder, why I am unable to get over it?... The sight of food gives me pleasure. Below is what we ate yesterday for lunch and what I started with this morning. There was some leftover dough from Saturday night that fetched me 7 luchis.... and how the husband gets irritated... he doesn't want rice, breads together... I was lazy enough not to prepare a fresh dough. There was fight, I won, made him eat both. This morning son took Cristine made noodles in his lunch box which I had to taste, also sugar free, plain cake that I prepared yesterday evening for son's snack box. Now, planning a "sama chal er khichuri" for my lunch... "sugar er bori" is not at fault you know.
Tell me what went wrong in cake?... I think I used bit more baking soda than required, I could make out from smell... I may also have over beaten it... The husband left, I feel lonelier... his jokes on me, his mother I enjoy.... Yet, I am feeling better ... I have stopped bleeding since early morning... I am really very fond of old Dr. Chang in the truest sense... his presence, his words of wisdom to his patients works like magic... He flatly told me yesterday not to worry... that he will not check me but his wife will once I get dry.... that diabetes is silent killer but we are not saint that we can religiously follow a stricter diet, that he loves spicy, Indian food.... of which Biryani most.
I can see some hope in today's bright sunny morning! Similar bright was the morning few years back when I met someone at airport.... the elder brother kind did I meet after 30-32 years... I did not really expect any concern for my health from that person... as a teen I always feared his persona, always wished... sincerely wished that he generates his strong personality, his good vive into his sibling... it will work as a protective shield for the soft kind.... when he told me to try alternative medicine, I didn't wish to say we believe in Allopath. The man & brotherly being had cordial relationship, someone had been showing concern.... Keeping my respect intact for these kinds who believe in alternative medicine, I try my hands on "ucche sheddo".... "bhindi sheddo" or a DAAB ER JOL DIYE BAEL ER SHORBOT ....
I can swear on immediate effect of this natural, healthy drink that has laxative properties... hence, go ahead.... buy from local market, order online... you do not have to think about recipes.... there are couple of around including CURRY AND SPICE to help you out. What else?... let me finish quick, go for swimming...
INGREDIENTS :
BAEL / BENGAL QUINCE / WOOD APPLE : 1STANDARD SIZED
YOUNG COCONUT WATER : 1BIG GLASS FULL
LEMON JUICE : 3-4TBSP
SUGAR : 2TBSP [ALTERNATIVELY SUGAR FREE STEVIA]
ROSE WATER : 4-5 DROPS
PROCEDURE :
Breaking hard skin of bael fruit has to be done carefully.... we don't want cracks on floor... not in rented home... neither our foreheads are coveted surfaces... although you may wish to consider your husband's but you should not... come on... be nice.
So, just hit once on floor.
Scoop out flesh with help of spoon, store in bowl.
Cristine did it for me, I am thankful to her. Wash your hands with soap. Rub both palms with sanitiser. Start squeezing, mixing with your right palm holding bowl tight with your left.
It takes some time. Add 1/2 big cup of water, continue until it gets mashy.
Now take a strainer not meant for spices. Take little amount, pass through strainer, use back of tablespoon. The idea is to discard thread like fibres, seeds.
Add sugar, coconut water, lemon juice. Stir until sugar melts.
Set for chill.... enjoy, see result next morning!
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