PROSHADI SHABU MAKHA - BENGALI FAST BREAKING MEAL

I have decided I would blog about a "shabu makha, panta bhaat, too." They weren't happening. Now that things doesn't seem normal, people are in shortage of produces may be; it feels let me share recipes that can be done with bare minimum. The "panta bhaat" platter would be made today. Until Saturday, I had totally forgotten it is Neel Shoshti the day next. I had no talk about it with the mother either. Thanks to the Almighty who reminded me at the wake of dawn before I sipped a drop of water. I do not like breaking a chain I don't wish to; I keep these fasts for health, happiness, long life of my loved ones, world. Someone, totally oblivion about all these; didn't allow mumma to touch him, let her take flowers & lamp to his room post puja. You have no idea what kind of impossible men I live with; I do not even know how to manage the special prayer meets at home when Cristine goes off with practically no help from any family member; I ain't mother. "Ooi tokhon alpo korey khoi, naru, khichuri, tarkari, payesh, luchi korey nibedon korbo." We react according to situation; yesterday, I had to do prayer without "belpata o tulshi pata." They are a must for any offering; I have just planted two new, young Tulsi plants, couldn't tear few leaves from it.

It was minuscule affair yesterday. I had fruits & milk at home, had to go out to buy fresh, cannot offer God what stayed with non-vegetarian items in refrigerator. Hibiscus I got from our condo garden, whilst I got fresh orchids from local mart. The shabu / sago  pearls too I didn't offer God because it was in store for long, there was no fresh, untouched packet in storage. I could get one from local Southern Indian Store but sago pearls have to be soaked for hours to get ready to be able to have yummy Bengali fast breaking meal like PROSHADI SHABU MAKHA-BENGALI FAST BREAKING MEAL. We prepare this scrumptious fast breaking meal with soaked sago pearls, fruits like banana, mango, cucumber, grapes, dates, sweets, yogurt, milk, sugar.

I follow all steps our grandmother or mother used to prepare them, still miss their bowls. They had to soak good amount of sago so I can have a big bowl. "eshob ki aajker katha? eeituni chilam jokhon theke eshob khai."

Over weekend we were watching Netflix series & movies. We enjoyed "apna markutey bhai's Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai", I mean second in the series. Its full of masala but we liked. Yesterday's was a series about don culture in two particular notorious states of India. Don Culture exists everywhere but I am firm on the belief those two particular states are high on it, I cannot accept a culture where an awkward lingo, illegal possession of guns, chamia naach, slangs are normally part of culture. I could not take my eyes off, neither could digest. All of a sudden, I started feeling sick, told husband "its such a raw depiction bossy, I wish to keep my eyes, mind, body off from these truth and keep myself afloat in world of Alladin, Alice, Nabik Sindbad, Robi Thakur." I perhaps married this guy to keep myself off from reality, I knew he will protect me, let me live my life. This island has helped me more, else I was fed up living there a life trapped in between. That environment would never have let me write a single line. 

Before marriage, I did not realise that I am unfit for "shongshar." My revolt started the day the mother-in-law told me now I am married, my father has to take permission from them for anything concerning me. Within a year of my marriage, my parental family planned for a Nepal trip. My father asked me if I wish to go. My answer was no as my mother could not with our pet Jenny still alive, she had to stay back. My mother-in-law hurled abuses at me, my family; "tomar baba maa kichu janena? Meyeke Nepal nitty holey amader kachey eshe permission nitey hobey." My parents who gave me birth has to seek permission, for what? Thereafter, when my father and brother went for the Nepal trip, I went and stayed with my mother who was alone in a two storied house. Once I came back, the mother-in-law to me, " amai aka feley nijer maar sangey thaktey gecho? baap maa shikkha deini kono." She was alone with a whole timer girl, beloved daughter & husband; all at her service all the time. On that day, I decided I must have a separate home! I must carry on with my duty as I married the son of that house. 

I am duty bound but commitment to my son / our son remains my foremost. I clearly told husband my son's education, life cannot be disturbed until he bags a decent job. I do not wish to earn name doing social service at cost of his life. Yes, I use this blog to document my life. Not alone men be blamed, the old-fashioned women are equally responsible for plight of women. Anyway, had good dinner with "kancha moong, shama chal, aloor khichuri" last night, got bit recovered from "don culture effect." I prepared some coconut sweets and my NARKOL TAKTI recipe got updated with new pictures. I did not offer them to God family, they were not cooked in utensils meant for my God's family.

Now, I am prepared to share with you recipe of Bengali fast breaking dish with sago pearls. In fact, I had another round of PROSHADI SHABU MAKHA-BENGALI FAST BREAKING MEAL this morning!

Thereafter, a "panta bhaat" lunch meal will not leave me anywhere I know; yet I do not deprive myself of the simple joys of life.

INGREDIENTS :

SAGO / SHABU PEARL : 50GM
SHREDDED COCONUT : 11/2 MEDIUM TEA CUP
BANANA : 2-3
MANGO : 2
GRAPE : 10-12
YOGURT : 5-6T BSP
MILK : 250ML
SANDESH / ANY SWEET WITH PANEER : 4-5
SUGAR : 2-3 TSP [I SKIPPED]

PROCEDURE :

What is most important is to wash, soak sago pearls at least for 3-4 hours [if we are buying larger sized].

Thereafter, we drain will water from sago pearls. We will add milk, yogurt, mix well.

We would add pieces of mango, banana, halved grapes, mix well. We will add crushed sweets, shredded coconut too [jut korey makhbo purota... er ingriji ki?]"

We will add sugar if required. My predecessors used to make it too sweet which I cannot take anymore.