ORGANIC TEA MANGO ICED LOLLY

A LOT OF FRUITS CAN BE MADE INTO ICED LOLLIES!

Looking back at childhood, it was impossible to ask for "ice gola" sold everywhere in the city during the summer season. In fact, kulfi malai was more common in the evening, outside our home. I am not fond of the articial flavours used in the ice-golas. I tasted "ice-gold" when we travelled to maternal grandparent's home, they were not strict. We owned a refrigerator when I was in class-8, we had fruits always at home. We lacked the idea of combining them to create summer soothing ice-lollies. Today, I can create any good ice treat with what I have at home! I have not added milk powder to them that would enhance the taste only to keep the cool treat, vegan & gluten-free! Today at 51, I fear having ice-gola and kulfi malai from the Kolkata streets! There is fear of contaminated water being used in the making of them. When I visited last month, my stomach health was not doing well! The Kolkata heat had been enormous!

THE ROLE OF FOOD IN MY LIFE!

Food plays the prime role in my life! It is the indicator how my day would go, how my mood would be! I did not know, a samosa at 6:45pm yesterday evening would cause me serious bloating for the next few hours! I went out for a walk as late as 8:30 pm, yet my condition did not improve!

It wasn't too bad, else I would not have been able to walk some 4:5 km listening to Bollywood numbers. Although  we live in one of the safest nation, I never walk pass the neighbourhoods in the night time, always take the main road! When I get a severe stomach upset, the first side effect is a severe headache! I enjoyed my walk though this low intensity workout is nothing given my BMI! Back home, I did not feel hungry. I ate an apple+lettuce salad and iced tea. I may be getting few varieties of fruits tomorrow and have salads at night.

I had the cooked food for my lunch today, dinner would be a salad! I think after over two years I got home millet. During the pandemic, I stopped getting; minimising the possibility of excesses at home. I gradually was getting dependant on rice. I have lost the freedom to have five "luchi" or a plateful of rice or two big "porota"! I cannot shun them, I can minimise their amount and frequency. I know how to cook them, I would. I cannot exercise a lot; I went for a swim; had only for half an hour as lightening happened. My coach and friend Joe asked not to be in the pool in the scenario! I am not the kind who would do a half an hour free hand exercise back home. I would prefer lying on the couch instead!

WHAT IS THIS ORGANIC TEA MANGO ICED LOLLY!

You hardly would see me talking about food that I do not enjoy! I remember, last summer I did not share coolers in the blog. I was having them though, quite sugary ones. This year, I think I should share few of them. As I maintain, the recipes I share should be done mostly with kitchen staples. I would not spend 100$ to create one. I had a mango, in good condition with spots on it! I grow mint leaves, dry fruits are always there in stock, the Makaibari organic tea leaves I did get from Kolkata this time! Why cannot I combine them & get a healthy ice lolly / baraf gola? How I enjoyed one already!

ORGANIC TEA MANGO ICED LOLLY is a vegan, gluten-free fresh fruit and organic Darjeeling tea iced treat flavoured with fresh mint. I would want it on my dessert bowl any day, what about you?

INGREDIENTS :

RIPE MANGO : 1 STANDARD SIZED

TEA LEAVES : 1 TBSP [I USED MAKAIBARI ORGANIC LEAF TEA]

FRESH MINT LEAF : A HANDFUL

HONEY : 2 TSP [YOU CAN USE SUGAR]

PISTACHIO : 6-8

PROCEDURE :

Initially, I thought I would not use even honey to sweeten; these Thai Honey variety of Mango are quite sweet. Later I felt, adding a bit would get the right taste!

I had taken the tea leaves in a pot, added hot water to it, about a coffee mug or more & covered with a plate!

I microwaved the pistachios for about 30 seconds at the lowest heat, I am allergic to raw nuts. 

I added the mango pulp, washed mint leaves, honey, pistachios into the blender and blended into a paste.

The tea leaves went down by now and the tea is ready to be used! I added a little over half coffee mug of it to the mango paste, passing through a strainer; blended again together at high!

Thereafter, I poured the mixture to few cups, placed an ice-cream stick in each one, just in the middle and kept in the freezer overnight!

About 3-4 hours of freezing works but I kept overnight! Tear the glasses and enjoy! They tasted  great!

MOTORSHUTI ALOO DIYE MAGUR MACH

I EXPERIMENT LESS WITH FISH CURRIES!

I mean they have to be almost Bengali style in my kitchen for me to enjoy them! Not all fish curries I cook is typical of my family. In those days, the family would cook in turns only the curries and vegetables  it had. For a couple of years I was okay about following the family recipes. Thereafter, I started blogging about food; in that case I cannot repeat share recipes. I discovered I cannot either be too innovative; I just cannot have fish, meat curries and vegetables on a regular basis that do not have a Bengali touch! Thick gravies on my plate put me off! I mix & match curries that are cooked in the family for ages.The curry base of a "koi mach" I would use in a "chara pona" and that of a "chara pona" I would use in a walking cat fish / magur mach, with a little of twist that is acceptable to me! Like, the macher tok / sour fish curry I cooked with toman fillets suited me! It feels good because I cannot turn a vegetarian!

ANY DAY I CAN TELL YOU STORIES LACED WITH FOOD!

Yesterday's lunch was heavy for me; I ate that extra bit of brown rice with mach er tok I so love. The man ate but it is not their family recipe, so next time I would cook a normal curry with potato & tomato for them and my share of the toman fillet would go with a raw mango or a tamarind fish base!Liking a toman fillet is a relief; I need not run to the Bengali market and then get disappointed looking at the frozen fish packets.The fresh, small fish varieties in the Indian market can satisfy me but it would be wrong on my part to feed T those all the time; he loves fleshy fish! The son used to too, he does not even tell us what fish he is eating there.Every day mumma wants to know the details; he would not give in!And I ask, warn my bhai; the brother not to relay everything happening in this world to our mother!Yesterday, around 9pm, I felt I should go to the mall opposite to get our dinner. The man wanted chicken rice; I got him a three treasure chicken rice; I am craving for a burrito bowl since last night but I got home Yong Tau Foo for me yesterday night, today had a choice meal without the rice. Both would have good portions of vegetables, meat, fish! 

Just now Cristine and I shared a Mac's Strawberry Sunday, I hardly have these days. There I was walking under full heat, I keep smelling a lemon leaf if feeling a bit awkward! Sight of the "kolar kandi" hanging low was fulfilling, I draw energy from these really! There need not be any hot cuppa and snacks for me today; there can be a glass of chilled coffee or tea next. For dinner, I have something on mind! You bet, I have the refrigerator filled with cooked food!I should swim tomorrow, avoid eating out!

WHAT IS MOTORSHUTI ALOO DIYE MAGUR MACH?

Motorshuti means green peas in English, Aloo means Potato. Usually, my family used this curry base for a Bengal Carp or Climbing Perch! I used magur mach instead! MOTORSHUTI ALOO DIYE MAGUR MACH is a Bengali style, non-vegetarian, gluten-free fish curry with green peas, potato, tomato! I remember our mother used to cook one curry with walking cat fish using Bengali Garam Masala Paste! I spent a month with her but forgot to ask certain recipe details. I am not in the habit of chatting with my family members, I do not like discussing much of family matters and people. I was either loiterring outdoors or sitting in my bedroom switching on the AC; Mani preferred dozing off switching on the television, Bhai was playing in his phone in another room. She actually enjoys staying in her Barrackpore Home! I feel content as long as she is active, her son is back from the office and resting sitting beside his wife! We miss our son; when I retired to my room last night, I heard T singing the lullaby he sang when our boy was young! Let us have a virtual dinner together, my westernised men do like echorer dalna, tok dal!

INGREDIENTS :

MAGUR MACH / WALKING CAT FISH : 4-5 SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED, WE NEVER BUY BIG SIZED

GREEN PEA : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP

POTATO : 1 STANDARD SIZED

TOMATO : 1 STANDARD SIZED

GREEN CHILLI : 2-3 STANDARD SIZED

GINGER PASTE : 1 TBSP

CUMIN POWDER : 1 TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1 TSP

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1 TSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

CUMIN SEED : 1/4 TSP

BAY LEAF : 1-2

OIL : 3-4 TBSP [I ALWAYS USE MUSTARD OIL]

PROCEDURE :

In a bowl, mix together the ginger paste, 1/2 tsp turmeric+cumin+red chilli powders, salt, adding 2-3 tbsp of water!

Ask your fish vendor to cut and clean the fish pieces. You can wash them thoroughly under running water, marinate with salt, 1/2tsp of turmeric and few drops of oil because it is a fish without scales. Keep aside for 5 minutes.

Wash and slit the green chillies.Wash the green peas. Peel, cut, cube the potato; wash and marinate with salt! Wash, cut the tomato into six pieces.

Heat the oil in a wok, fry the fish pieces lightly, in batches.Take oil.

Temper the remaining oil with the bay leaves and cumin seeds; add the spice paste made. Keep stirring at low heat for 2-3 minutes. 

Add the tomatoes, potatoes, stir for a minute or two; add the green peas. Add 2 coffee mugs of water and bring to boil the gravy.

Cover cook at low heat for 3-4 minutes; remove cover and add the fried fish pieces. Cook covered or uncovered at low heat for another 4-5 minutes.We should be done!

Note: The taste would be best if we cook the fresh fish without refrigerating!

 

CHICKEN SHAMI KEBAB

KEBAB OR CURRIES?

A plate of kebab with chapati or mini porota, besides a bowl of honey sweet chilled mangoes would make us happy. Curries do not suit me in summer; macher tok / sour fish curries though suit in summers. In the past one month, our mother was feeding tamarind and raw mango infused lentil & fish curries a lot. I mostly bought live fish varieties. Some days she too went out to get. My brother is a corona phobic, did not allow the mother go out for two long years. Although I allowed but not much, in fear; if anything happens to her, my brother may blame me! I am not the kind who exerts power where I have little of contribution. I feel if they look after the mother mostly, I should not interfere unless required! She cooked, I was busy appointing cleaners and labourers to do the cleaning, repair works. As I look back, the entire month I was not much into pleasure or had eaten out in the streets of Kolkata. May be because of the heat and dust, I was getting indigestion, stomach ache even with a little more of intake. I have got used to this island's weather that is less humid, the environment is clean, noise is less and commuting is easy! But I am not the earning member in the family, T is to decide the future course, he thinks he would go back to Kolkata in few years! Once the son gets to work finishing his studies, he would join in the decision making process!

ALTHOUGH A FOREIGNER,THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND ALLOWS ME THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT!

Take today's example! I freely went out for a walk in the quiet neighbourhoods. There were greens around for me to savour the walk, I absolutely did not have to be extra cautious about the traffic whilst walking! This island allowed me a mask free walk after over two years, I felt relieved! I did some silly clicks, I usually enjoy the exercise.

Because I do not go out to work; I can have a relaxed life. Like that fox, I kept gazing at the solo ripe mango high up. I instantly went back in time; felt had I have a "loga", a hooked, long bamboo pole, I could have got hold of it! You bet, aloevera gel has magical healing properties! Even if we directly apply it to the skin, there would be no sun burns or itching! After the walk, I  had lunch!Though I wanted to have a fish soup devoid of carb; I ended up having noodles, omelette, beans-tofu stir fry!

I ate and kept brooding how we get distanced, how people keep hurting, and how interfering people can be! Okay, may be my possessive nature makes me think people are poky nose; it can be so I am the bone in someone else's juicy kebabs.The thought of it fills my heart with aversion towards the deceitful people. I can love people fiercely; I discovered I can ferociously dislike the same people if things do not go my way!These are not signs of normalcy or of a good human being. When did I want to be one? If any of my reader is planning to give me advice, beware of my wrath. T doesn't try, he gets me be, else he has to bear the worst of my behavioural mood swings I have soaked yellow matar, would make a curry with potato; cook some flatbread & serve for dinner.Okay, I would update the blogpost regarding the Kolkata Roadside paratha and matar curry! Because I have issues with every other person, I keep myself content in my own company; my macbook, a story book, a bowl of my choice of fruit, cooking are few of my pleasure things!

WHAT IS CHICKEN SHAMI KEBAB?

It is definitely not what Hindu Bengali Homes would have often. Because I do not get my kind of fish in our island; I would prefer a mince Mutton or Chicken Shami Kebab with buttered rice or roti / paratha! I think I would miss the Bengali varieties of fresh water fish, mutton as much as my Kolkata Home, Mother, Brother. Jhum & Bidisha are nice to me, their parents are sick, Anirban is too talkative unlike me! I visited people but did not wish to stay at their's for long; I love that cosy corner of my home; where I can sit and cry, sing, sleep; all without any intervention!Thanks to T for that; it was a pleasure to prepare ruti for our dinner yesterday.Cristine earlier prepared too tasty a "fulkopi aloor dalna", on Friday, I guess!

She has become a part of this home! Whatever I ask her to do, she does!

Why would not I eat my mango bowl & write my blog at the same pace & in peace?

If you are a mutton lover like me; CHICKEN SHAMI KEBAB would seem little less tasty than a mutton shami kebab. I prefer a normal chicken kebab at home or a sheekh kebab; is it because I do not take the Bengal Gram Dal, Chicken Mince in the right measure? Be assured, I only blog when about a recipe if only it is tasty! This specific chicken kebab recipe is a non-vegetarian, starter / appetiser recipe! All of a sudden, I think of the father, who disliked having chicken curry made at home; but how he loved the roti and meat kebabs in the restaurants, specially at Amber! The son-in-law took him; later the son, daughter-in-law, even I! I feel had I have learnt cooking variety a little early, I could have treated him with kebabs made at home!

INGREDIENTS :

MINCE CHICKEN : 250-300 GM

BENGAL GRAM DAL / LENTIL : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP

CHOPPED ONION : 1 SMALL TEA CUP

CHOPPED GREEN CHILLI : 1 TSP

MINCED GARLIC : 1 TSP

MINCED GINGER : 1/2 TSP

CINNAMON STICK : 1 TWO INCH SIZE

CLOVE : 4-5

GREEN CARDAMOM : 3-4

CUMIN POWDER : 1 TSP

CORIANDER POWDER : 1/2 TSP

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1/2 TSP

TURMERIC POWDER : 1 TSP

DRY MANGO POWDER : 1 TSP

BLACK PEPPER POWDER : 1/2 TSP

REFINED FLOUR : 1/4 SMALL TEA CUP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 2-3 TBSP

PROCEDURE :

We would wash the chicken mince well, marinate it with some salt!

We would wash the matar dal / Bengal Gram Lentil well, take in a pressure cooker. 

We would add to it 2 coffee mugs of water, salt, 1/2 of the turmeric, the cinnamon stick, cloves, green cardamoms!

We would close tight the lid and cook unto 2 whistles; wait until it opens.

I did not paste them as is usually done in this recipe!

We would chop and wash the onion, green chilli, garlic, ginger!

We would heat the oil, stir fry the garlic and ginger!

Thereafter, we would add the onion, green chillies and stir cook for sometime!

We would wash the salt marinated chicken mince, add to the wok! 

We would stir and cover cook for 10-12 minutes at low heat!

We would remove the cover; add the cumin+coriander+red chilli powders, the rest of the turmeric, a little of salt!

We would stir cook for 5-6 minutes and add the boiled Bengal Gram Dal / Lentils, dry mango powder!

We would stir cook for 7-8 minutes; add the refined flour! 

After stir cooking for 7-8 minutes, we would add freshly crushed black peppercorns and mix well!

We would grease a bake proof metal plate, take out portions and shape into kebabs; brush oil!

We can cook them on the gas top, I oven-cooked them in the microwave+grill option!

We need to place the low height wired stool and on top of it the plate full of uncooked kebabs!

We would cook one side for 10-12 minutes; turn over and brush oil!

We would cook the other side for about 8 minutes. They should be done!

We can enjoy them with our choice of sauces and chutneys!