SUGAR FREE MISHTI

 THAT AN ANOTHER EUREKA MOMENT THIS MORNING!

Actually, this idea popped up on my mind earlier this week! In the past one month, my wish had been to share easily doable dishes in your homes, this festive season and always! This is not the time we would want to cook elaborate sweating in the kitchen instead of going out to shop, merry & celebrate! I believe in doing everything in moderation! I am not fond of the word 'excess'! Now that we are aging, we are intending to slow down the process of celebration! Given my passion, festival to me is more about creating a food magic & share it with the world! I am not getting time to do any kind of preparation for the upcoming festival in a planned manner, I am not an organised self either! Whenever I am getting some time, I am completing a project related to our Durga Puja! At this time I am tired, I came back from the Indian / Bengali Market late, took a shower & started to write this blogpost as late as 6:45pm or so!

I HAVE DECIDED TO EAT AT HOME THIS ENTIRE PUJO!

This is the first time in this twelve years of stay here that I would be cooking on the eve of Durga Puja and store so that every night we can come back from the festivity and eat home cooked food! This was my conscious decision because what the Indian restaurants serve here I can more or less cook; hence, I lack the interest to eat out! Most of the restaurants also get closed, also one does not go to the Clark Quay area wearing a sari in the midnight! The truest realisation is we are aging & we should reorganise our festive schedule as per our physical strength at this time! To me, there can be nothing as better than having a Hilsa curry with rice or a mutton curry with rice or roti around 11:30pm back home! Hence, today I went to shop for the raw ingredients instead of colouring my hair or do a face cleaning job! I went alone and at the end had a late lunch at Saizeiriya! A baked rice, salad & drink platter that was! Ain't that the son's favourite kind of platter?

I am not a cheese lover but once in a while I enjoy such dishes, the portions need to be small else my stomach revolts! 

WHAT IS THIS SUGAR FREE MISHTI?

As told earlier, this was on my plan for few days & I executed it today morning! Though various kinds of sandesh are our favourite, I mostly cook offbeat sweets that are easy to do! This SUGAR FREE MISHTI is almost no-cook, instant, vegan, gluten-free! What else do you want from me? I can assure you this would serve your sweet cravings whenever you have, it takes few minutes to do this! I thought this would be the best to serve on the Bijoya Dashami plate, during each day of Puja or at any time of the year! The few ingredients I used are there in our kitchen at all times! I did not use anything to flavour it, you can if you wish to!

INGREDIENTS :

CASHEWNUT : 200-250 GM

RAISIN : 100 GM

DATE : 7-8

OIL : 1 TSP [YOU CAN USE GHEE / CLARIFIED BUTTER INSTEAD]

ANY DRY FRUIT TO GARNISH

PROCEDURE : 

Because the raisins & cashew nuts were kept together, I roasted both of them at minimal heat for 4-5 minutes!

I took both in a mixer & blended to a paste, not too fine at this stage! Do pause in between!

I de-seeded the dates, washed & added to the mixer & blended well! The paste is ready now!

I transferred it to a plate, added few drops of oil to it and kneaded for a minute!

I greased my palms with oil & tried portions of the dough in a sandesh mould! But the design was not prominent! So I went ahead with the simplest ones! Cristine helped all along!

I garnished each with dry roasted pistachios!

Have it fresh or refrigerate! It is to be eaten at normal temperature!

DALDAR LUCHI

 I DO NOT KNOW WHY I WISHED TO BLOG ABOUT IT; MAY BE FROM A NOSTALGIA?

What I understand is nostalgia gets you in it's grip as you age! Once you are in college, your life runs faster; one does not have the time to look back but to move ahead! After one gets well settled in life, one gets smitten by nostalgia! Middle age is the time when we take time to look back and find what we have left behind is beautiful! Here in this island, when in the neighbourhood stalls I see a Cuticura talcum powder or a Vicks Veporub, I instantly get transported to the bygone days! Though my family always uses Ponds, Cuticura was a common brand in those days! I have seen here the herbal Chandrika soap! All of a sudden few days back, the thought of Dalda came to my mind! Actually, I have seen it been sold in the Mustafa Centre, Karthika & the other South Asian minimarts! That took me back to the family home's weekend mornings! Luchi / Bengali puffed bread in our home was made in dalda may be until the late 80's and thereafter it was replaced by the sunflower oil! Even today, the mother may keep a 100-200 gm of dalda in her kitchen, she may add a little to the sunflower oil whilst frying the luchi!

TODAY WE FEEL LIGHTER, THE PAST WEEK WAS GRAVE!

Last week, Cristine was severely down with the Covid symptoms! It is too difficult to maintain the Covid rules in such a small flat! Yet, we tried our best! Cristine did see the doctor on the very first day and we did what was required! It was painful for her to remain jailed in a closed cell for a week, her room has no window! All day she stays in our rooms, only the night time she sleeps in her's! After a long time, I found myself doing the household work and wow, without any irritation! I enjoyed doing those work but both of our body got used to the service of Cristine! I felt tired and sacrificed my usual exercise routine! I did not get time to go out for walks or do something at home! Not used to it, I got too disorganised! Today, when Cristine tested negative, we felt happy! I kept / keep the son updated about all the happenings at home but I did not say anything to the mother or the in-laws; only the brother I told yesterday! Cristine's room got sanitised and we went out together to the mall! I bought pillows, bed sheets; it's Durga Puja after all! But the house repair work is not done with! I just wish to spring clean everything before Friday!

I bought two chicken burritos for Cristine & T from the "Stuff'd", sent her back home! I had a mini chicken burrito bowl at the "Guzman y Gomez"! Both sell Mexican food but Stuff'd is a bit cheaper, it is a take away joint! I prefer burrito bowls! We had relaxed meals for the first time in a week, I was unable to cook elaborate all this while!

WHAT IS THIS DALDAR LUCHI?

In our childhood, most of the fried snacks were cooked in dalda! Then one day, the sunflower oil, saffola flooded the market and dalda took a backseat! Thereafter, dalda gradually became a non-entity in the West Bengal market! I perhaps have seen the mother keeping a small packet always in the store! She would say dalda gets the best looking, fluffy luchi / refined flour puffed bread! Indeed I remember how flawless white our mother's dalda made luchi would be and tasty too! Then we forgot all about it and loved the luchi fried in plain oil! Ghee fried luchi was a rare affair in our home! After many years, recreating DALDAR LUCHI  in my kitchen was an exciting exercise but I did not find it that interesting or unique a thing to eat, a fear was equally working inside while eating this vegetarian puffed bread fried in a medium that is no more celebrated today! If we go by the doctors, any oil is bad for our health!

INGREDIENTS :

REFINED FLOUR : 2 COFFEE MUG

DALDA [COOKING MEDIUM] : 250GM [TO DEEP FRY]

SALT : 1/4 TSP

SUGAR : 1 TBSP [OPTIONAL, I DO NOT USE]

PROCEDURE :

In a wide mouthed bowl, take the refined flour, salt, sugar & 1 1/2 tbsp of the dalda! I did not use the sugar! Rub the flour well for 3-4 minutes to incorporate these well!

Add water little by little and keep kneading to get a not too soft but a smooth dough! This may take 8-10 minutes! Cover it for 15-16 minutes! I casually cover with a plate & not with a soft, moist piece of cloth!

Remove the cover, knead the dough again for 2-3 minutes! Tear off small portions & smoothen each between your palms!

Roll each ball into a round, moderately thin shape! Heat a wok and add the dalda to it! Let it get hot but not to the smoking point!

Once the cooking medium is ready, add one uncooked luchi at a time, as one side puffs up, turn over and take out within seconds!

Use a perforated ladle to take them out! Immediately serve them with a spicy side & a dessert! It is our love platter you can say!

VEGAN GLUTEN-FREE FRUIT HALWA

IN THE MOMENTS OF STRESS, I CREATED THIS PLATTER!

That proves my love for cooking & blogging about food! I love photography too, feels lethargic to learn! A mediocre never has that drive to excel! I am happy my way may be because no one at home criticises my lazy self! This home is messy at this time, would be for another week! I am not irritated taking the extra load of work because of this reason, that I am happy here! Amidst all of that load, yesterday I cooked this platter, did the photo feature too! This morning, we had to go somewhere on an important work, T drove in the heavy rain & I was tensed! It has become a part of my being, to worry! I can never live in peace! But I love each day of my life! Back home, I clicked a quick selfie before getting busy again!

I feel a bit relieved today, a part of the stress is gone!

I HAD A LATE LUNCH; BUT I WANTED IT OUTSIDE!

The man is at home today, yet I wanted to have my lunch outside! I served T & Cristine Porota & Fulkopir Dalna, went to the mall for a late lunch! I enjoyed that Subway Meal at 6:50$!

Thereafter, I had a few things to buy! Back home, I started with this blogpost pretty late! In fact, today too I am not in a position to write a blogpost! Also, T is playing one after another movie in Hoichoi, my concentration is divided! Later, I would tell my readers in details the soup I am in at this time! I am not in the position to manage three hours at a stretch to write a blogpost! But it gives me pleasure, everyone knows I do not earn a penny from my blog, though I want to! I started to write post 6 pm, had our Darjeeling Tea in this manner!

T would not have anything with tea or coffee! Ever since the son left home, I hardly store a variety of snacks!

WHAT IS THIS VEGAN GLUTEN-FREE FRUIT HALWA?

This was for long on my mind, to cook a vegan, gluten-free pudding! I had one apple at home about to rot, lots of dates in store; also a container full of mixed sorghum-pearl-finger millet flours / jowar-bajra-ragi flour mix! I felt, this is the best time to cook & share this halwa! I did not really expect it to taste this good! But, I could not avoid using the white sugar! I wished to give it a nice colour tone, hence used a bit of strawberry colour in this  VEGAN GLUTEN-FREE FRUIT HALWA pudding! Any day, using jaggery instead of white sugar is a healthier option! But I am not that level of a health freak; I do not encourage extreme paranoia! We would not eat this dessert everyday, right? So, go ahead and make it as tasty as possible! We enjoyed it with luchi & a spicy pickle!

INGREDIENTS :

FINGER MILLET / RAGI FLOUR : 1/4 SMALL CUP

SORGHUM FLOUR / JOWAR FLOUR : 1/2 SMALL CUP

PEARL MILLET / BAJRA FLOUR : 1/2 SMALL CUP

APPLE : 1

DATES : 7-8

SUGAR : 1/2 SMALL CUP [YOU CAN USE JAGGERY INSTEAD]

GREEN CARDAMOM : 3-4

BAYLEAF : 1

RED FOOD COLOUR : A PINCH OR TWO [I USED STRAWBERRY COLOUR, YOU CAN SKIP]

OIL : 2-3 TBSP

PROCEDURE : 

I peeled, washed, cubed the apple and blended coarsely!

I heated the oil and tempered it with the bayleaf & green cardamoms! I added the flour mix to it and kept stir frying at low heat!

The roasting took some 3-4 minutes, thereafter I added the crushed apple and stir cooked for 2-3 minutes!

I added  2-3 coffee mugs of water to the sugar & few drops of strawberry colour! I stirred until the sugar dissolved!

I added it to the wok and used a beater to incorporate well!

Whilst it was cooking at the minimal heat, I washed & de-seeded the dates!

I added them to the wok & kept stir cooking at minimal heat!

It took me 7-8 minutes to get this gooey textures!

This dessert tastes best when served warm!

 

BENGAL CARP FISH SNACKER

TODAY I WAS PRETTY DILLI DALLIED!

There is a reason for this, I do not wish to divulge everything under the sun! It is true we cannot make people understand how we feel unless they are in the same situation! There is no point blabbering to people who would not understand my situation! I could have skipped writing my blogpost today but what else to do? I am unwilling to read, watch a movie or series! I just want to travel to a city which is not possible on this day! I am not in the mood to chat & I am never fond of greetings posts from anyone unless it is a special occasion! I believe those closer to me should understand we are there for each other when the need arises! With the family at far I need to talk regular, with the son I need to talk every few hours; he does not bother to! However, in specific situations, he has proved again he is wise and we should be proud of him! Only that mumma cannot take the long distance between us and him! Not under one roof but mumma wants to be closer!

I AGAIN HAD A BURGER LUNCH TODAY!

If T says fish is not meant for a burger bun, he is right! Burger joints are Western, they use sea fish fillet without marinating with a variety of spices a South Asian would! For long, I am nurturing a wish to cook & share in the blog my choice of fish patty for a burger! I think this is the high time I should! Today, I forced myself to go out for a walk, I did locally some 7.1 km and entered the mall for lunch! I was wanting a clean sitting arrangement with an AC at work! I thought why not have a fish burger meal for 5$ at the Burger King? It's not bad, just that my South Asian  sensory organ finds it a bit smelly!

I did not edit the above pictures today, feeling tired, I want to finish off with the blogpost sooner! But I clicked well right? On my walks, I enjoy clicking whilst in the quiet neighbourhoods! I asked many about the red berries in the last picture if they are edible but did not get an answer! The leaves look like that of our kul / ber / jujube tree, after a bite it tastes like sour jujube / tok kul; I never swallowed! Islandwide you would find them! Had they been edible, I would have picked and made into a spicy pickle!

WHAT IS A BENGAL CARP FISH SNACKER?

I do not think I am the kind who would want to debone a boiled boney fish and go ahead to cook a dish with it! It is more so when you stay in a developed country with a mall opposite your home that sells a variety of fish fillets! Once, I brought home a Chitol mach / Knife fish, deboned sitting for few hours & cooked a curry with the boneless flesh pakora & potato! I did not find it worth the effort given my men do not worship the traditional Bengali Cuisine, also my family did not cook this particular recipe much but did cook a curry with this particular fish, at times! I ate but I can live without it! I enjoy easy going recipes with fish fillets, mostly with the Dory / Basa fillets! Just that, I got a Bengal Carp / Rohu one day & the cutter at the Mustafa Center could not cut it properly; they spoilt all of the stomach pieces and this BENGAL CARP FISH SNACKER  happened which is a gluten-free, non-vegetarian, appetiser / starter!

INGREDIENTS :

BENGAL CARP / RUI OR KATLA FISH : 500 GM [I HAD LESS]

BOILED & MASHED POTATO : 1 MEDIUM SIZED

CHOPPED ONION : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP

CHOPPED GREEN CHILLI : 1 TSP

MINCED GARLIC : 1 TSP

MINCED GINGER : 1/2 TSP

CUMIN POWDER : 1/2 TSP

CORIANDER POWDER : 1/2 TSP

DRY MANGO POWDER : 1 TSP

CHAAT MASALA : 1/2 TSP

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1/2 TSP

CRUSHED BLACK PEPPER : 1/4 TSP

CUMIN SEED : 1/4 TSP

CORN FLOUR : 1 TBSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

OIL : 2 TBSP

PROCEDURE :

Cristine washed the fish pieces, boiled them in water & deboned! The major job was done, I thanked her!

Cristine washed, peeled, boiled & mashed the potato; peeled, washed & chopped, minced the onion, garlic, ginger, green chillies!

What was left for me to do? That job of the right measurements of the salt, spices, chillies! 

I heated the oil & tempered it with the cumin seeds! Thereafter, I added the minced ginger-garlic, stir fried until brown!

Then I added the chopped green chillies and onion, stir fried until brown!

As the the onion turned brown, I added all of the powdered spices except the dry mango powder and the chaat masala, folded in well!

I stir cooked for 3-4 minutes and added the dry mango powder & chaat masala!

I added the boiled and mashed potatoes, crushed the black pepper and mixed well! I added the corn flour & stir cooked for a minute!

I transferred the mixture to a plate and made medium, round shaped once cool!

I had brushed oil in an oven proof plate and placed the flattened fish balls, brushed oil in them!

Mine is a convection mode microwave oven, so I had placed the low height wired stool inside and on top of it placed the oven proof plate! 

I cooked them in a microwave+grill combination at 300 power for 8-10 minutes! You can bake them! They tend to crack, if you keep them at rest for 5-6 minutes before taking out, they would not break!

I also cooked those bread-mutton rolls that day, get a choice of sauce  and some salad!