THE GREAT BAKSHEESH TIME IS BACK WITH A BANG !!!!

Hi guys! Its Diwali time with  lots of fun ….designer clothes, mithai, crackers and festive upbeat too…

But how can u forget its “THE GREAT BAKSHEESH TIME TOO” (Giving Tips to the most wanted people in our life).

This is a v common feature in Mumbai. Come Diwali, U have hordes of new faces asking u for a special Baksheesh for the services rendered throughout the year !!!

Whether u live in upmarket area or in suburbs,the people who run ur essential services await bated breath for Diwali  to get their share.

1.THE GAS CYLINDER WALA: He thinks he is indispensable and he very well knows that without him there wont be any fire in our kitchens   and u probably cant survive without him.Apart from the regular tipping he gets every time he brings  the cylinder, he wants a big share this time. Then u start bargaining and finally strike a deal. 

OH! This is just the beginning ! 

2.THE POST-MAN: Gone are the days when Daakiya Daak laya, exam ka results laya and so many important news laya . In the age of courier and internet, from where do these people erupt !!! Like Dormant Volcanoes, they surface during Diwali and demand Baksheesh…

U give him Rs 100 and he refuses point blank. Kya sahab, hum (his friends) to Dus log hain , isse kya hoga?? Toda bada do….

Teek hai, ye lo ..ab to khush !!!! 

3.THE TELEGRAPH WALA: Guys,Don’t laugh, I have been tormented by them too. If elders are away and u think u can shoo them, u are sadly mistaken.. With lots of blessings (dua) they shower on you, cant say no.. Its a different thing that I  don’t get any telegrams at all…

To kya hua, Telegraph dept to hai…. …Oh noooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4.THE TELEPHONE WALA: The regular telephone landline  guys don’t lag behind too.  All the families of  Pandeys and Sharmas 

will appear and then u don’t want to get into a brawl. Fear of telephone lines being dead ….that too during Diwali when u wish ur near and dear ones , u better tip them well ! 

Thank God! Cellular  companies don’t send their guys for this.

5.THE SWEEPER: Building ka kachra is always there and u don’t know who the sweeper is ! They are never around when u need them for cleaning the clogged drains or washing the stairs regularly.....

But  during Diwali, these guys know how they get their pound of flesh!

6.KAAMWALI  BAI(MAID): How can u do without her? She is the PULSE  of ur house===jaadu, pocha, bartan, kapda, khana….the list is endless….

The baksheesh is hold ur breath….one month’s salary, saree, sweets and if she is gadget freak, she may ask for a latest cell phone in the market or even latest lappy would do ! 

My simplest suggestion would be not to show your bargaining skills here  :)   What if she doesnt turn up to clean the vessels and the mess once the party is over !!!!! 

This will send the shock waves over on u and then u react instantly !U make her happy to get back ur sanity :) After all her kids too need computer to study...

7.BAHADUR(WATCHMAN):All the Nepalese sport the same name. The Gurkha Brigade  is here and u cant escape him too.

Haan, this is quite familiar when he does not turn up to open the gates to bring the car inside the compound, he is never around to put on the motor pump nor he is available when hawkers/salesmen trespass the gate and knock  ur door much to your amusement.  

Bahadur with his smile charms u and u give in :) 

8. Regular Guys like newspaper wala, raddhi wala(old newspaper scrap buyer), dhoodhwala (milk man), isthriwala (laundry guy),cable tv fellows and the effervescent Hijdas or eunuchs ...oooohooo....the list is endless....u better tip them off well :))) 

          Last but not the least, 

9.LONG FORGOTTEN FACES: Now these are those guys who turn up year after year though u might have used their services some ages back..They are the famous PLUMBER, PAINTER, CARPENTER, ELECTRICIAN,MASON WHO LAID THE MARBLE/GRANITE…..

U end up tipping so many that Diwali makes u a TOTAL DIWALA(loser) …

Do I really bicker tipping them ? Naah!!! 

This is just a hilarious take on how we normally feel during Diwali but seriously, these people form that labyrinth of society without whom we cant live . They form our nerve system in this crazy fast paced life to make our lives smoother  and Diwali is one such occasion where you can thank them for their lovely services !

Wishing you all a very happy healthy safe Diwali 2012 !!!

HARA BHARA KABAB

HARA BHARA KABAB
              

                 

INGREDIENTS:

1 bunch spinach leaves- blanched and pureed

4-5 boiled potatoes

1 cup boiled peas

1bunch coriander leaves 

ginger garlic paste

cornflour (add it accordingly)

grated cheese (optional),

salt and green chillies 

red chilli powder

amchur powder

cummin powder

coriander powder

garam masala

oil

Method:

1. Wash Palak/spinach leaves, blanch it in water for few mins. Immediately put the blanched palak in cold water to retain its green color. Squeeze out water from Palak and then puree it.

2. In the mixie, puree boiled peas and coriander leaves with green chillies. Dont add any water.

3.Mash the potatoes well, grate the cheese and add salt.

4.Add the pureed mixture of 1 and 2 to the potatoes.

5. In a kadai, heat oil and add all the masalas according to ur taste. Then add this mixture to the mashed veggie. Add few spoons of cornflour to bind everything. 

6.  Make the kababs in any shape . U can deep fry it or shallow fry it on tava.

                      

7. Serve it with mint chutney or Beetroot dip and salad.

PINEAPPLE PACHADI --- PALAKKAD CUISINE

PINEAPPLE PACHADI 

                        


INGREDIENTS:
1 Pineapple cut into small pieces
Half cup grated coconut
2tsp mustard 
2-3 green chillies
1-2 red chillies [optional]
salt, oil, jaggery,turmeric [as per taste]
1 tsp udat dal 
curry leaves for garnishing


Method:
1. Boil the pineapples by adding little turmeric till soft.
2. Add jaggery to it once the pineapple softens.
3.Grind Coconut, 1/2 tsp mustard and green chillies in to a paste.
4. Add the ground mixture to the cooked pineapple and mix it well.To this add little salt as per ur taste and cook it for few minutes.
5. Temper mustard,udat dal, green chilies/red chillies and curry leaves in oil  and finally add it to the cooked pineapple pachadi .

                        




Note: If the pineapple is too sour, add more jaggery to balance the dish.

SPRING ONION N MASUR DAL

                            SPRING ONION N MASUR DAL 
                                                                

                                                            


            INGREDIENTS:
       
      2 cups Masur Dal soaked in water for 2hrs     
     medium sized onions
     1bunch spring onions
      green chillies
      ginger garlic paste
      salt ,lemon,turmeric & oil


    Method:

• Heat oil in pan and fry onions, ginger-garlic paste, green chillies,turmeric and add masur dal.

• Cover and cook it for few minutes till it becomes soft.

• Add salt and spring onion leaves to the cooked dal. Mix the spring onions very fast and cook it for few minutes.

• Once cooking is done, remove it from the heat otherwise the dark color of the spring onion leaves will become pale and it 'll lose its crunchiness.

• Squeeze lemon before serving. This dal is usually made little thick as an accompaniment to chapathis/phulkas.

  Masur dal is orange in color but becomes yellow 

  once cooked. 

                       

        Masalas can be added according to

                      one's    taste.

      
     

A FREE SPIRIT: Karari Bhindi –Crispy Okras

A FREE SPIRIT: Karari Bhindi –Crispy Okras: Karari Bhindi –Crispy Okras karari bhindi Ingredients ½ kg bhindi 3-4 tbsp besan 1-2 tsp Red chilli pow...

Karari Bhindi –Crispy Okras

Karari Bhindi –Crispy Okras

karari bhindi 

                            

Ingredients

½ kg bhindi

3-4 tbsp besan

1-2 tsp Red chilli powder

1-2 tsp turmeric powder

½ tsp coriander powder

½ tsp cumin powder

Lemon juice from 1-2 lemons

Oil and salt to taste

Chat masala to sprinkle over the karari  bhindi.

Method:

1.  Wash bhindi and dry it completely.

2.  Cut the bhindis into 4 pieces length wise .

3.  Arrange it in a plate.

Bhindis dressed in masalas, ready to be fried 

          

4.  Now, add all the masalas , lemon juice and salt except besan.

5.  Mix it well and marinate it for 15mins.

6.  Now add besan and mix well. Heat oil in frying pan and start frying bhindis in high flame.

fry the bhindis on high flame 

                           

7.  These Bhindis must be Kariri ie crispy, don’t make it soggy.

8.  Take out from the pan, sprinkle chat masala generously.

sprinkle chat masala generously 

                 

Either serve it with rice/rotis or eat it like that only J

Note: This must be eaten asap to enjoy itz crispiness !!!

APPLE MALPUAS

INGREDIENTS: 

2-3 apples

• Juice of  ½ lemon

• Oil for frying

• 4 tbsp icing sugar

• 1 tbsp cinnamon powder

   vanilla ice cream to serve

For the batter:

• 1 cup  plain flour-maida

• 1cup  rice flour

• 8 tbsp rava

• Half cup Milk or u can add Cream 

For the syrup:

• 1-2 cups sugar

• little water

• 1-2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 slice of lemon

METHOD: 

First make the batter by mixing all the batter 

ingredients together and adding a little water to achieve a

 thick, coating consistency. Allow it  to rest for 2 hours in a

warm place.

Peel, core and slice the apples very thinly. Set aside in a

bowl of cold water with the juice of ½ lemon squeezed

into it.

 (If the apples are ripe, then its difficult to cut into

slice. You can cut into small pieces..shapes dont matter.)

For the syrup, dissolve the sugar in the water over heat,

add the cinnamon and lemon and boil until the syrup

reduces to a sticky consistency. Remove the slice of

lemon.

When the batter has rested, heat the oil. Dip the apple

 slices into the batter in batches, dropping  them

immediately into the hot oil. 

Let them brown on each sides for few minutes.

Remove them from the oil and dip into the hot (but not

 boiling) syrup for 30 seconds. 

Arrange the apple slices on a serving dish and sprinkle 

over the icing sugar and cinnamon powder mixed 

together.

Serve with  vanilla ice cream!!

[u can subsitute apple with pineapple and instead of the

above batter, jalebi batter too can be used]

NOTE:

1.   U have to be quick in making this dish ..esp after

frying the apples , they need to get the syrupy coat

on them for few seconds and then immediately dust

it with Cinnamon sugar mixture.

2.   Grind 1-2 Cinnamon sticks and 1 cup sugar in the

mixie for ready use.

3.   These Malpuas have to be consumed immediately

within few minutes. Its exactly like having hot

bajjiyas. Once itz cooled, they become very soggy.