Its pretty windy, a cool feeling that isn't welcome in our home.The man dreads winter, snow; he never travelled to ice-laden places except once, categorically chose a tropical island for shore job! His friend told me once, during his internship days, his ship sailed at Newark, he was such hardworking, went painting body of ship, tied in rope wearing only single piece undergarment, shovelling snow. Thereafter, he chose to sail in the warmer climates! We went through uncertainties, I / We would want smooth life for son, us now. May be life always puts us in tests. In 2010, when partner chose Singapore over Houston, I told him if it could have been otherwise. Once I travelled there twice, I strongly felt either you go & settle there at young age or that concept is not for an Indian. What I couldn't take at all there is the silence, the quietness around put me off, the public transport that did not carry our level of people worried me, most importantly Cristine's service seems precious to me over USA's big homes. Big Homes without any "mudir dokan" nearby isn't good idea. Singapore is Chinar Park, Nager Bazaar to me!
Today, she took off but the service she gives us is a luxury we are used to; our mother has two helpers, man's parents have three helpers, my brother's in-laws have 3-4 helpers. Indians /s South Asians are used to external helps, even humble Bengali home have helpers, making other cost cutting! I felt quiet neighbourhoods, doing daily household chores isn't for me! The partner knows me well, my irritative self, he knows though we are not lovey-dovey couple, I slip over now & then, here & there; who he goes for coffee / tea I don't know, as long as sanctity of my home and savings account, my child's education is not invaded, I ain't bothered. This 54 year man went through lot, I am his friend first, I want happiness for him. He understands finance too good, wouldn't leave me, why would we? We enjoy each other's company, just that he doesn't remain my best friend like in school so I can tell him where I slipped over latest, neither he asks me to carry his letters to interest, like I did many moons back!
This silly romantic is cleanliness freak, hates engaging in it regular. I can cook all day, then Cristine arranges everything for me. She even took a tutorial class of luchi making for my friend's helper. I like it that my Tamil friend enjoys luchi & roti I treat her with! She enjoys masala chai instead of coffee. Today, I made my own breakfast, wood apple / bael fruit smoothie had been must have regular in season during our growing up years! Then one day, a medical expert friend told having bael fruit regular isn't good!
Cristine makes good noodles, I guide her how we want it. Although we love Bengali Middle Class homes' with onion, potato, eggs; I do not wish to endorse it. I just don't want overpowering sauces in noodles. Cristine makes good soups, that she can only if I cook less of Bengali Food on Saturdays. That I cannot, for dinner I need our kind of food, no hard & fast rule but yes. I love being in this island, also to preserve my culture.
Its Lunar New Year / Chinese New Year today & tomorrow, I am in music mood, mode, but believe in commitment, responsibilities. I wish to contribute a recipe on this occasion. What's going on inside, around these days I don't get, why son is not unblocking mumma for long I do not get either, I feel hopeless, wish people understood my actions are not driven by understanding of surrounding, I move with the belief Almighty wouldn't let me do any wrong! Let me do what I am best at, cooking & sharing recipes! I love Kueh, few years back I discovered a green crepe, jaggery-coconut stuffed that is Bengali crepe, Patishapta like. For long, I wanted to cook this Kueh Dadar, I did not required to consult any recipe, I knew I would do it, shape like Bengali Patishapta!
I didn't want to use green edible colour but had to, few drops. I used green peas paste, not much, I feared of its raw smell. Wanting to keep it vegan, gluten-free, I soaked & pasted rice, Jasmine rice I used that came as gift. That was bit of challenge, doing it with traditional batter, we usually mix together refined flour, semolina, rice flour. I managed somehow, Cristine did few.
I packed few vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free GREEN PEAS BENGALI CREPE PITHA for visiting friends last Friday, hope you would like vegetarian sweet delight!
INGREDIENTS :
SHREDDED COCONUT : 200 GM
JAGGERY : 100 GM
GREEN PEAS : A HANDFUL
UNCOOKED RICE : 1 & 1/2 COFFEE MUG [I USED JASMINE RICE]
SUGAR : 4-5 TBSP
EDIBLE GREEN COLOUR : FEW DROPS
OIL : 2-3 DROPS ONCE EVERY 3-4 CREPES
PROCEDURE :
Wash, soak rice in enough water for 3-4 hours, I soaked overnight!
Drain water, blend to paste adding little water at a time.
Transfer to bowl, add water to make neither too thick, nor thin batter.
Wash green peas, blend to paste, add to batter, also sugar.
Beat well, keep aside for 1/2 an hour, covered.
Take shredded coconut, jaggery together in pan. Cook at low heat until sticky! Transfer to plate!
Heat a non-stick pan. Brush with few drops of oil.
Add a round, dip spoonful of batter. Spread round with back of spoon. Keep heat at minimal to low.
We are supposed to stuff, roll with jaggery filling in pan but we take down in plate, then roll.
We rolled like patishapta, not like kueh dadar.
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