EASY STEAMED DELIGHT

 

The noise of continuous rain gets on my nerves, I don't enjoy. There is so much of gloom in the sky, on earth. But measured rain is blessings for farmers, we wouldn't blame it, nature is our source of sustenance! Seated in safe havens, we cannot even feel how dreadful can nature's fury get! I speak less about my concerns these days, there's no point unless we can be of help. The world wouldn't understand your mental state, ups & downs, there isn't any point talking about feelings, the best we can do is to spread happiness, smile and not take pride, it's our duty towards mankind. Pity is something I don't wish to take even from close circle, it feels like insult to me. I expect people to behave normal, friends to not keep me shrouded in mystery, come straight! It hurts when they behave otherwise, anyway I don't wish to get into any soup, be the cause of trouble to anyone; neither would want to be doormat in room full of friends, acquaintances. We can be good, and we should, not at cost of our self respect! 

I want to believe I have a home in this 1150 sq.ft. of rented space, that I can retire here before losing myself totally! I am skeptical about the surrounding, what's going on actually? This thought is scary! I look towards activities I enjoy; cooking, music, good food get me calmness, peace!

I believe it is my idle brain that drags me into new mysteries, I have no deadline to meet, no care to give anymore, not required to mop, wash dishes, do household chores. Being cleanliness freak, I do not even run after Cristine to do it as per my choice, She is part of family until she parts with us, in our happiness & sorrow, she has right to feel at home. Hence I take up cooking projects, read, sing, write, walk, swim; each one gets me pleasure. Any day, any moment we can push away people but for my kinds it is not easy to pull off once someone catches fancy; we keep them in radar, enjoy watching their activities! I suggest not to go near without invitation, that saves us from disgrace! There need be fondness both ways to meet at a point! The man, Sony Boy may be reading this piece! They are weird but fills my world with love, what is that little of empty space my heart holds I don't get!

The world needn't be harsh, it's already in pain, I see around much of venom. Amidst this, making low oil porota, taking up a baking project soothes nerves. I don't want life my in-laws are living for decades, that is death. Neither I am active like our mother, she has exceptional level of energy, courage till date. I fight with her, also wish to feed her home bakes! She stays happily with her son & younger daughter from other parents, why to bother, interfere? I don't expect people to understand me, may be I expect, it's not possible for them to fulfil! Also, I cannot deliver what they expect of me, I cannot give away my entire being to world! Moreover, I want people in my circle to have a mind of their own, not overshadowed by others, I can only fit into my own shoes.

I am unable to fit in everywhere, my bad, so I tread alone! Kafka uses "so", but I heard a little girl say usage of "so" is not required. Anyway, some days going out with Cristine is welcome, also with few friends. Me and my friends' thought process may not match, but the company, support they gave me when needed is unmatched! 

Yesterday, I and Cristine were at Tanjong Pagar! We had some work at 100 M Mall @ Tuesdae Solutions, at this place in One Village, we had dumpling soups. I loved that standard spiced Mala broth! 

 

                                           

Let me mention the names in social media forums, if that can get them more of business. I fear, my reach is too less!

Wanting to do a blogpost, I sacrificed my routined walk, also there had been severe downpour! Let's see if I can go for walk at night! When the repair works of our swimming pool would finish who knows, I miss! 

For Bengalis, December & January are months for making pithe-puli / steamed, fried sweet and savoury snacks. We want only these breakfast, lunch, dinner! I love those breakfast steams in Philippines, Kueh varieties of Malaysia, Indonesia! I fail to distinguish Indonesian cuisine from Malaysian cuisine! Each day, I would go through some recipes, smile if I find similarities with our pithe-puli. Entire Eastern India cooks steamed goodies, Southern India too! The rest can have these stomach friendly stuffs! Singapore is multi-cultural, we get more or less everything from every culture here!

More you age, more nostalgic you get about your culture. Memories get active including those you don't want to remember. I was may be 13-14 years old, when same age people "used" me to facilitate their associations, some actions I facilitated willingly, some against my will. I have forgiven thinking they were kids too, although I never could do what they did. I don't hold any bitterness on this day, just that I have freed myself from shackles after few decades. I won't disown them, neither hold special feelings for them, that's the current truth! All the chaos should stop, some friends' relentless efforts to be my father, mother, this & that irritates me like hell, be friends or spare me the ordeal. You better visit my blog, help keep it alive!

So, looking at variety of steamed breakfast goodies, I cooked this few ingredients EASY STEAMED DELIGHT ! I used rice-flour, tapioca flour, brown sugar, jaggery, coconut. Wanting to make it vegan, gluten-free; I didn't use milk in this vegetarian snack! In that case, we have to use tapioca flour, else it gets hard, we ain't using baking powder, soda either. I am minimalist, must say using bit of toasted almonds added to taste. 

We have to have everything in right measure, you have aimed for high positions but do not wish to upgrade lifestyle, why? I am not asking you to take peer pressure but your family has some expectations from you, they have peer pressure too! If you are my pal, I would want you to be at par at certain stage in life, own minimal luxuries, how far you have reached gets measured by materialistic possessions. You possess but don't show off, that's my fundamentals. I ride bus, mrt, do not hesitate, we did not invest on property, instead on education of our only child, we take pride in that! May be we do not have enough to invest manifold, that's okay with me; you would not see me in associations where discussing your man's number of cars, houses, bank balance is priority! I would rather get over my miser self, buy a fruit sundae, sit by sea, count waves inside & in front!

Oh! I love bowl of muri-narkol-badam-little of chanachur-onion-chilli-mustard oil!

INGREDIENTS :

RICE FLOUR : 1/3 TO 1 COFFEE MUG

TAPIOCA FLOUR : 2 TBSP

SHREDDED COCONUT : 1/2 COFFEE MUG

BROWN SUGAR : 2 TBSP [YOU MAY NEED MORE]

JAGGERY : 2 TBSP [YOU MAY NEED MORE]

SALT : A PINCH OR TWO

CHOPPED ROASTED DRY FRUIT : 1 TBSP

PROCEDURE :

Take rice flour, tapioca flour, salt in bowl. Mix well.

Add shredded coconut, fold in well. 

Add warm water, little at a time to get a batter, neither runny, nor paste like!

Add sugar & jaggery, fold in well! Keep covered for 15-20 minutes.

Add 2-3 coffee mugs of water in your manual steamer with net stand, cover, keep heat at medium.

Use ramekin or bowl, grease with oil, fill half of each with batter.

Once water starts boiling, place ramekins with batter on stand, add chopped toasted dry fruits on top! 

Cover, steam for 12-14 minutes! Insert tooth pick to check if done!

I think I over cooked a bit! After few minutes, they come out easily. Enjoy fresh & warm with choice of beverage. If you reheat, place in a bowl of water that bowl with steamed goodie, steam for a minute!