Bread Paratha etc

Za’atar Focaccia

1:10 PM



There are many dishes that I have been making on quite a regular basis but never get the chance of posting it. The main reason being most of the rich, not so ordinary dishes are prepared for dinner or for parties. I like to do things on my own pace and the perfectionist I am I always prefer dinner parties so that everything is done and arranged way before the guests arrive. Unless it’s a potluck or some 3rd party caters the food, afternoon get together is not very common in our household. So though the makhani chicken, dhokar dalna, za’atar focaccia, mutton curry is being made and enjoyed almost regularly but they never get the chance to appear on the blog.

Bengali

Enchor Chingri, Cholar Dal Die (Raw Jackfruit and Shrimp curry)

11:15 AM



I think good stylised food photography is not for me. I envy all those who so effortlessly (at least it seems so, kinda carefully careless) takes such good pictures. Though am not crazy about food photography and my style is quite homey and casual but Photography is an art and like any other artistic expressions, this fascinates me. I agree that I don't put much effort with props selection or light settings and I do not even have a proper place or table to take pictures. Every time I want to click I have to lug a folding table to the spot, take out crockery from the cupboard, iron the table cloth which remains squeezed between a truck load of baby clothes, and most frustratingly everything has to be finished while the baby naps i.e. within an hour. One of my most cherished dream is to have a sunlit house with a cupboard only for my blog and a table permanently placed in a sun drenched corner. Sigh!


Beverage

Purono Tentul er Sharbot (Tamarind Drink)

12:05 PM

This bamboo tray has a history. This was one of the 64 custom made trays Maa used to send Kone tatto(wedding gifts from bride's side) on my wedding.  Many guests took one of these home for various household work. Spotted this at some forgotten corner of my in law's space last week. Brought back a piece of memory.
Have you ever thought of life without electricity? Which means no Fan, no light, no a/c no Fridge…Nightmarish right? But many villages in India still live that nightmare day and night. not even very long back that most of the Indian villages dint have electricity. We find it tough to deal with this fact because we have grown up with this facility. But when you don’t have it you find and devise your own way to deal with it.

My Home and Garden

Green Corner

12:07 AM



The temperature in Kolkata right now is extremely hot, wet and humid. By afternoon the roads are all deserted as no one can dare to face the scorching sun. The sonny boy has started school too and once he is off for the morning I get the whole morning by myself to finish off the household chores. so when he takes his afternoon nap I get enough time to what my heart fancies. Last Friday changed the setting in the drawing room a little bit. Here are some glimpses...

The lotus on the wall is an unfinished wall art that I started then lost interest as we will have to move house soon. Then my son found it uninteresting and tried to add some colours with his crayons.

Have a fun filled Sunday!!!

Bengali

Macher Matha die Lau Ghanto (Bottle Gourd Cooked with Fish Head)

9:09 AM

The reason I am so concerned about the weather is because am very sensitive towards it. Slightest change in the temperature makes me sneeze like a mad woman.  This mostly happen in the summer months when the pollens take advantage of the light humid air and float easily. After heavy downpour for almost a week the afternoon temperature now is soaring. No one dares to go out in the scorching sun and all afternoon we can only hear the humming sound of the air conditioners. Yes, the typical Indian summer is already here. Sigh!!!

This hot and humid weather calls for changes in our meal plans as well. The agonizing heat results in loss of appetite and all we want these days is to eat and drink plenty of water. In our home we always cook the water laden summer vegetables and try to stay away from greasy or heavy food on regular basis. though as kids we often termed the summer vegetables as bland and tasteless but they actually are very beneficial for the hot and humid months. These vegetables not only have all the prefect ingredients that helps us fight the hot weather but also Provide us with some wonderful health benefits. Most of these vegetables are cooling, easy to digest, are natural detoxifier and high on fibres.

Bottle gourd or lauki specifically has many healing properties. According to ayurveda it is very good for diabetes, constipation and urinary disorders. Bottle gourd juice is very effective in the treatment of stomach acidity, ulcers, and indigestion. It is also great in summer for quenching your thirst, preventing fatigue, and keeping you refreshed throughout the day.

I personally don’t like dishes cooked with fish heads but every week 2-3 heads accumulate in the fridger. To finish it off once in a week I cook curries that taste good with light fishy smell. Cooked this particular dish with jhinge chingrir jhol for lunch one day. My father came over that afternoon and loved these light flavourful meal with aam dal and rice.

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