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| Tuesday, June 24, 2008 |
| Thandai |
Summers are crazy, and heat makes it crazier. In summers people prefer to drinks cool things that helps to brings down their temperature. And one such drink is Thandai. The ingredients of Thandai give tremendous cooling and soothing effects in the blazing heat. Besides this, it also provides necessary nutrition to the body. Thandai gives tremendous relief to the tired body and mind and fills in the much required energy and freshness. It also relieves acidity, constipation and increases appetite.
Amount Ingredients
1 1/2 litres Water
2 cups Sugar
1 cup
1 tbsp Almonds
1 tbsp Watermelon seeds skinned
1/2 tbsp Khuskhus (Poppy seeds)
1/2 tbsp Saunf (Aniseed)
1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder
1/2 tsp Rosewater
1 tsp Whole peppercorns
1/4 cup Dried or fresh rose petals
Preparation
Soak sugar in 1/2 litre of the water used. Keep aside.
Wash clean all other dry ingredients, except cardamom if using powder.
Soak in 2 cups of remaining water. Keep aside.
Allow all soaked items to stand for at least 2 hours.
Grind all soaked ingredients to a very fine paste. (not sugar)
Use a stone grinder (manual or electric) if possible.
When the paste is very fine, mix remaining water.
Place a strong muslin strainer over a large deep vessel.
Or tie a strong muslin cloth over rim of vessel and use to strain.
Press through muslin with back of palms, extracting the liquid into vessel.
Add remaining water, a little at a time to extract more.
Pour back some of the extract and press, repress.
Repeat this process till the residue becomes dry and husklike.
Add milk, sugar and rosewater to the extracted liquid.
If using cardamom powder mix it in with the milk.
Mix well. Chill for a hour of two before serving.
For more info on Indian Cuisine, please seek :- http://www.cultural-heritage-india.com/arts_and_culture/cuisine.htmlLabels: Indian Summer Drink, Thandai |
posted by Manjari @ 9:42 PM  |
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| Thursday, May 08, 2008 |
| Dal Bati Churma |
Like an ancestral property, the progeny of Indian cuisine is passed on from one generation to another. Each region in India boast its specific flavor and each state have one or more dish to endorse. Over a period of time, Rajasthan have tried to maintain its legacy not only in terms of architectural heritage but cultural as well. And when we talk about culture, their food comes first in mind that reflects the dynamism of their cultural heritage.
Rajasthan food holds a special place in the hearts of the Indian people as it represents the ethos and lifestyle of the noble men that lived thousand of years ago. Perhaps the best known Rajasthani food is the combination of dal, bati and churma and this time we are going about this magnificent dish. Dal batti, churma; the ingeniously devised cuisine, truly unravels the magic of Rajasthan. It is the most wanted dish amongst the travellers exploring Rajasthan.
How To Make Dal Batti Churma
Dal Bati
(Puffed dough dumplings with lentil curry )
Serves 6
Cooking time 2 hours
Ingredients
For dal
2 cups rajma beans (soaked in water overnight with a pinch of soda bicarb)
3/4 cup whole black gram (urad) (soaked in water overnight with a pinch of soda bicarb)
3 onions, chopped finely.
2 tomatoes, chopped finely.
2 tsps garam masala powder.
2 tsps chilli powder.
1 tsp turmeric powder.
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste.
2 green chillies, slit lengthwise.
2 tbsps cream
4 tbsps ghee.
1 cup coriander leaves, chopped finely.
Oil.
Salt to taste.
For dumplings
5 cups whole wheat flour, sieved.
1 cup ghee, melted.
2 tbsps curd.
Salt to taste.
Method
Pressure cook rajma and black gram till it becomes soft. Heat 4 tbsps oil. Add onions. Brown them. Add ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes. Fry. Add all the masalas, beans and salt. Simmer till well blended. The gravy should be thick. Pour over cream and ghee. Knead a soft dough with flour, ghee, curd, salt and just enough water. Roll into lemon-sized balls. Cover and keep for one hour. Then roast in batches on hot coals till puffed and golden outside and spongy inside. Keep hot. Garnish the dal with coriander leaves and slit green chillies. Dip hot dumplings in the dal while eating.
CHURMA
INGREDIENTS
Wheat flour 200 gm
Ghee 400 gm
Khoya / Mawa 100 gm
Sugar (grounded) 200 gm
Soaked almond (finely chopped) 50 gm
Cardamom (small) 4
Dalchini 1"
Method
Melt 150 gms. of ghee and mix it in wheat flour. Make a stiff dough using very little water. Heat the rest of the ghee in a kadahi. Make about 15-20 balls with the dough. Fry it on low flame till it becomes golden brown. Churn it in grinder after it cools down. Mix khoya. Heat 1 tbsp. ghee in kadahi. Add cardamom seeds and dalchini. Add the above mixture of wheat flour and khoya. Fry it for one minute. When it cools down, add sugar and chopped almonds. Mix well. Serve in a plate. You can enjoy the taste of churma for 8-10 days if you keep it in an airtight box.Labels: Dal Bati Churma, Dal Bati Churma of Rajasthan, Rajasthan Indian Cuisine |
| posted by Manjari @ 12:13 AM |
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| Monday, April 28, 2008 |
| Marine Drive in Bombay |
It was our second day in Mumbai, when we decided to explore this enticing site of Mumbai - Marine Drive. Popularly known as the Queen's Necklace, Marine Drive is the most popular tourist spot giving an enchanting view of the sun set over the Arabian. Since me and my friends had a heard a lot about the place, there was a natural anxiety and great expectations. Seen in Hindi movies, the beach had already developed many beautiful images in our mind. Somewhat like what we see in Bay watch, the famous soap opera.
Marine Drive located in the central Mumbai, on land reclaimed from the sea, is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare. Recently it has come to known as Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Road with Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar on the other.
It was 5 pm, in the morning, we hurriedly took an auto-rickshaw to Marine drive. All four of us were very excited as we had lot of hopes from this place as we had from Mumbai. No doubt! Mumbai is a nice place to visit but its narrow lanes and congested traffic damages the beauty.
"Chowpatty aa gaya" said the driver. Chowpatty is another name of Marine Drive. " what this is marine drive" we all exclaimed! Soon our imagination about the place laid farce.
It was nothing like movie. The beach was crowded and had many stalls. May be the time we chose was wrong. It was evening and people were out to stroll on the beach. Whatever! It was disastrous at first sight!
But as we stayed there we became the part of the crowd and started enjoying the evening with others. Filled romantic and aged couples, the site was a rich amalgam of young and old thoughts. This expanse of sand and sea is the place where pleasure seekers come to relax after dusk in the cool sea breeze.
The best was the tanga ride. It charged us Rs 20 per head and helped us in exploring the beach. oh! yes then the bhel puri we had and the coconut water.. all added a new taste to our trip to Marine Drive. We also explored statues of Lokmanya Tilak and Vithalbhai Patel that stand quietly on the beach.
As it was getting dark, the activities at beach gained new momentum. Evenings at Marine Drive is filled with vigour, joy and fun. It appeared like a huge fair with shooting galleries, snake charmers, monkey trainers, balloon sellers and even masseurs and eating stalls.
Now we all were pepped up, and were ready to grove in night. The first thing we did was off course we tried the various eatables. Spicy Chaat, Gol Gappas and many other delectable were a total retreat to our taste buds.
" Hey! It not that bad!" said my friend. " Ya! it's not scenic like Baywatch but definitely has all the fun that one wants from a picnic spot" I added . And everybody nodded as we all enjoyed the evening that started from 5pm and ended at 10 pm.Labels: A travel experience on Marine drive, Marine drive tour experience, Marine Drive Travelog. |
| posted by Manjari @ 5:25 AM |
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| Wednesday, April 23, 2008 |
| Word Of Appreciation - BLOGGED |
Dear Manjari,
Our editors recently reviewed your blog and have given it an 8.2 score out of (10) in the Recreation/Travel category of Blogged.com.
This is quite an achievement!
http://www.blogged.com/directory/recreation/travel
We evaluated your blog based on the following criteria: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style. After carefully reviewing each of these criteria, your site was given its 8.2 score.
We’ve also created Blogged.com score badges with your score prominently displayed. Simply visit your website’s summary page on Blogged.com:
Please accept my congratulations on a blog well-done!!
Sincerely,
Amy Liu
Marketing
amy@blogged.com
www.blogged.comLabels: BLOGGED |
| posted by Manjari @ 8:04 AM |
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| Thursday, April 10, 2008 |
| Lord Buddha |
"After I am no more, O Ananda, men of belief will visit the four places with faith, curiosity and devotion:
- Lumbini where I was born,
- Bodh Gaya where I attained Enlightenment
- Saranath where I gave the first Sermons
- Kushinagar where I shall pass into Maha Pari Nirvana."
............ Lord Gautam Buddha |
| posted by Manjari @ 3:13 AM |
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| Tuesday, April 08, 2008 |
| Women on Wanderlust |
Being a Women, no longer insecure me, infact it never did, as I was born in a close knitted family with six brothers (maternal cousin and one mine) on my side. No ! They never protected me, infact made me like them, I was tom boy all my life and love the fact being pampered that way. Strangely enough untill I became a travel buff, I realized why females needs security.
Travelling in busses, trains and man driven rikshaws were something I never did earlier in my life but as I grew, things seems to change and so my way of commuting too. The pain that I had to go through while travelling is inexpressible in words.
"This way I would never be able to move out ever in my life" , I was stung by a thought and went on reading about what all protection females should have if they are in other country - all travelling tips were useful, but there was no assurance on that. Being an Indian makes the Y species a bit fragile and if security is in question, travelling alone becomes a complete - NO! No!
And suddenly I came across "WOW" - Women on Wanderlust Club, run by Sumitra Senpathy, and her Girlie group. This was a sigh of relief as now, I could think of vacationing out without being surrounded by anyone. No more, I have to please my dad, brother or "him" to be with me.
Detailing on Sumitra, she is a travel writer and after years of serious globetrotting, she came up with this unique idea of of forming a club which stands for Dreams Travel to Female Itchy Feets.
She runs tours throughout the years and has come up with some good packages which a globetrotter cannot deny and if you are a FEMALE and is think "out of box", then travelling with Sumitra would be a joyride.
Contact Sumitra at me@wowsumitra.com or 09891655054/080-26658025 NOW for that WOW happening of your life!Labels: Women On Wanderlust |
| posted by Manjari @ 11:37 PM |
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| Saturday, April 05, 2008 |
| Lassi, an Indian Summer Drink |
Lassi is a summer drink prepared to beat the heat of summers. The drink could be easily made at home with minimal ingrediants.
Ingredients
2 cups fresh curds chilled
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. cardamom
2 drops pista essence
1/2 cup crushed ice
1 tsp. hot milk
Method
Mix sugar in curds till well dissolved.
Just before serving combine all ingredients.
Whip well with a hand or electric beater.
The lassi is ready when it is light and frothy.
Serve well chilled.
Making time 10 minutes
Makes 1 large glass
Shelflife: best frothy freshLabels: Lassi, Summer Drink in India |
| posted by Manjari @ 2:58 AM |
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| Thursday, April 03, 2008 |
| Munnar - Not Just A Hill Station |
If you are looking for a tranquil hill station in India, I would recommend you to pay a visit to Munnar, in God's Own Country - Kerala. Situated at an altitude of 6000 ft in Idukki district, this is one of the popular hill resort since the time of Britishers. With sprawling tea plantations and pristine valleys, Munnar form a picturesque destination of India. Famous amongs newly married, this resort proves to be the best as far as your honeymoon is concerned. Myriad flora and fuana excels the beauty of the region with quite a few wildlife sanctuaries to explore in its vicinity.
Connectivity
By Air:
Kochi airport is the nearest and is approximately 130 kms from Munnar.
By Rail:
The nearest railway station is Kochi which is connected to all the major cities of India
By Road
Munnar is well linked by road to Kerala cities and states near by.Labels: Munnar Information |
| posted by Manjari @ 8:38 PM |
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