A PINCH OF HING

Divine stories This story talks about many social issues like .....Dark side of Casteism Monopoly of higher class and powerful male ,Patriarchy ,Feminism ,Woman Empowerment ,Social Equality and many such issues. Being the Goddess of wealth, Devi Lakhsmi asked his husband Jagannatha if she could roam around the houses and see if people were properly worshipping her during her own festival or not. Jagannatha being an typical Indian husband asked her to cook his favourite dishes and then she could go wherever she wants. So Lakhsmi devi prepared food accordingly and then went out. She cook 56 bhojan for her husband. But she was disappointed to see people were not actually cleaning or worshipping her in proper manner.  Suddenly she found the house of a Chandaluni( lower caste woman), who had organised her home neat and clean and was worshipping Lakhsmi with all her heart.  Devi Lakhsmi was so pleased that she personally went to her house and blessed her with enormous wealth and prosperity.

  Princess Savitri *********************** Long long ago, there ruled a king named Ashvapati. He was a pious and virtuous man. However, he had no offspring. To acquire the same he resorted to a rigorous regimen of discipline, which included eating only a minimal amount of food at a specific time of the day and keeping the mind and body under strict control. Every day he would pour offerings into the sacred fires, accompanied by a hundred thousand chantings of the Gayatri mantra. After eighteen years, the goddess Gayatri was finally pleased with his devotion and manifested herself before him saying: "King! I am happy with your self-discipline and control over the senses. Ask whatever boon you want.” The king replied: "Kindly grant me a son to carry on my family name forward. The goddess gave an intriguing reply: "Dear king, I have already spoken to Lord Brahma regarding your desire for a son. However, he has instructed me to instead grant you a daughter who will outshine

  Ingredients....  6 Brinjals  2 tbsp of rice powder 1 tsp Red chilli powder  salt to taste  kasuri methi as per taste.  Oil  Preparations....  Wash and Cut 5 to 6 slits to a brinjal in lengthwise into quarters, taking care not to cut all the way through. The stem should still hold the entire vegetable together. Put some salt on water put all sliced brinjal and leave it to get soft a little bit. And remove  Gently open each slit, sprinkle the masala powder (depending on the size of the eggplant) into each and spread with your fingers until it lightly coats the inside. Heat remaining oil in large heavy bottomed saucepan on high heat until shimmering. Carefully slide eggplants into oil. Stand back while doing this. Wait 20 seconds until one side is lightly fried. Gently turn each eggplant over to lightly fry the other side. Wait 20 seconds.  Once both the sides are slightly fried take a spoon press gently near the stem to open the slits out and look like hand fan.  Allow to cook until co

  Ingredients.....  6 Boiled Eggs 1 Boiled potato into small cubes  1 onion slices  1 tomatoes chopped  1 tsp of GG paste  1 Cup tomato puree (HM) Handful of karuri methi 1 tsp Red chilli powder  ½ tsp of Garam masala powder  ½ tsp of curry masala powder  ⅓ tsp of turmeric powder  ½ tsp fried fenugreek powder. (HM)  ½ tsp fried garlic powder HM)  Preparation.....  Heat a kadhai saute methi leaves for a while remove and crushed, divide into 2 parts and keep aside.  Heat a tsp of oil, add the boiled eggs and a pinch of salt.Fry it for few minute the outer layer of egg is hard finally add a pinch of chilly powder and put off the flame toss well and remove in a plate keep aside.  Heat same kadhai add some more oil and add onions let them cook and give nice brown. add GG paste, chopped tomato , Add the pureed tomatoes along with all above dry spices and salt . Mix well and let the mixture cook until the oil starts oozing out and is aromatic. Add the cubed potatoes and eggs along with warm w

Ingredients....  1 Cup Wheat rawa/Lapsi 2 Cups of water  2 Cups grated jaggery  1 tbsp Desi Ghee 1 tsp Cardamom powder  2 tbsp mixed dry fruits  1 tsp Desi Ghee Preparations...  Wash wheat rawa and keep aside.  Heat kadhai along with ghee melt properly add washed wheat rawa and fry until it's raw smell gone. Now add water give a nice boil add jaggery cook till to a consistency which assembled together .  Remove from flame add 1 tsp ghee stir and keep this in room temperature and when the mixture slightly warm start making ladoos.  Take a 2 spoon full of ladoo mixture on your palm start rolling into round ball.  No need to grease your palm ghee release automatically when you start rolling.  Repeat the same with remaining mixture.  And keep in air tight container. Eat whenever you want. 

Ingredients : Pearl onions 1 tbsp sesame seeds  1 tbsp Desiccated coconut  1 tsp Garlics chopped ½ tsp Ginger chopped 1 tsp Green chillies chopped  11½ Aam chur powder into 2parts 1 tsp Red chilli powder  1 tsp Chopped Coriander leaves  Oil Salt Presentations : Preheat oven to 350 degree Celsius . Slice the top and bottom of each onion and remove the skin. Place all the onions in a large mixing bowl , pour one teaspoon of oil , salt and toss to coat well.  Keep this for 15 minutes.  Exactly after 15 minutes place all marinated onions in baking tray cover and place in the oven, bake 30 minutes.  Heat a pan fry sesame seeds and remove in a dry place.  Fry desiccated coconut till light brown, remove and keep in dry plate.  After 30 minutes remove Onions from oven sprinkle aam chur powder toss carefully and keep aside.  Heat pan with little oil add chopped chilies, Red chili powder, aam chur, Garlics, ginger, fried sesame, fried desiccated coconut and coriander leaves. stir well add roaste

  Old Kerala style pot fry chicken   Ingredients: 1 kg Boneless Chicken  3 Onion slices  2 tbsp Chilly powder 2 tbsp Coriander powder  ⅛ tsp red color  1 tsp Turmeric powder  1 tsp Garam masala  1 tbsp coconut powder 1 tbsp Crushed Ginger Garlic Salt as per taste 2 eggs  Few curry leaves  1 cup coconut oil into 2 parts Presentations: Take a earthen pot pour water keep this for half an hour.  Remove water and then wipe out with a kitchen cloth . Pour all coconut oil lift the pot and swirl the oil around, it should move quickly, almost like water with in a seconds, now remove all oil from pot to same oily bowl. Cover the oily empty pot and keep aside. In a mixing bowl add boneless chicken cubes and add all above spices ,  onions color, GG paste ,coconut powder, eggs, curry leaves, salt and 1 part of coconut oil mix well with using your hands and marinate for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes mix it again and pour all the chicken marination on oily pot don't stir, no need to add water just

  Ingredients : 2 cups of potatoes cut without skin 1 Cup half boiled white peas  6 cups Brinjal cut ½ tsp Cumin and Mustard seeds  1 dry chili  1 tsp Crushed Ginger 1 tsp Crushed Garlics  1 tsp Masala powder 1 tsp Red chilli powder  ⅓ tsp Turmeric powder  1 pinch Hing Salt Oil Preparations : Heat oil in a curry handi or kadhai on medium heat, add cumin seeds,mustard,red dry chili and hing to it, when the seeds sizzle add crushed Ginger Garlic fry a bit sprinkle little water add all dry spices and salt fry a bit add channa cook for 2 minutes add vegetables stir well saute for 5 minutes add 2 cup water stir nicely cover the lid and cook till done. 

  Dry Ingredients:     3/4 cup whole wheat flour     3/4 cup oat flour (ground oats)     1/2 cup  white flour     1/3 cup shredded coconut     1 tsp baking powder     1 tsp baking soda     1 tsp cinnamon     1/2 tsp salt     1 cup cooked quinoa Wet Ingredients:     1 cup shredded carrots     1/2 cup whole milk yogurt (thick)     2 eggs, beaten     1/4 tbsp unsweetened apple paste             (ground the green   apples)     2 T coconut oil     1 tsp vanilla Preparations: 1. Preheat oven to 350 2. Cook quinoa (about 12 min.) 3. Combine dry ingredients, excluding quinoa 4. Whisk together wet ingredients 5. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until evenly mixed. 6. Fold in cooked quinoa. 7. Pour into baking cups 8. Bake at 350* for 35-40 minutes 9. serve hot or cool.

Ingredients : 500 GM curry cut mutton piece's  2 cloves 1 inch cinnamon 1 bay leaf 2 black Cardamoms 1 tbsp GG paste 1tsp Green Chilli Paste 2 Onions sliced  1 Cup thick coconut milk  1 tomato chopped  ½ cup fine coconut paste  Preparations : Wash mutton piece's put in pressure cooker along with 1 cup of water, turmeric and salt. cook and remove the pieces in a plate with broth.  Heat oil, add whole masala, let it crackle Add Ginger garlic chilli paste and fry for 1 min, Add the onions and fry till they turn brown, add the tomato and fry for 2 mins reduce the flame,add coconut paste fry until all masalas blend together and leave it's aromatic smell.  Add boiled mutton and fry for 1 min Add the chilli powder, turmeric, coriander, cumin and garam masala Mix well and add 1 cup mutton broth and cover and cook for 5 mins taste and adjust with salt.  cook till dry now add the coconut milk and coriander leaves, cook on simmer for 5 mins.  Garnish with chopped coriander leaves or g

Ingredients For Dough : *********** 2 spoons of butter 0.3 glass of water 1 cup flour salt  For Filling : *********** 3 tomatoes 2 cloves of garlic 1 eggplant  1 tsp. Italian herbs 3 spoons of butter 150 grams of cheese. 2 tablespoons of chopped broccoli  Preparations...  Mix all the ingredients for the dough together, knead well, leave the lump for half an hour. During this time, you need to prepare the filling. Wash eggplant, cut into oval shaped slices , apply little salt fry in a frying pan barely oiled. spread out the in plate. Brinjals can be bitter, so before use they need to be soaked in salt water. If you are sure that there is no bitterness, then you can use it right away.  Raw vegetable in a pizza is never laid. It is usually fried in a pan, cut into circles, cubes, sliced or thin straws according to your choice here brinjal cut into it's own shape with slices.  Add the rest of the butter in the same pan fry chopped garlic, keep one side of pan add and fry the chopped br

rasi alu khatta Ingredients......  4 potatoes  2 tomatoes into 4 piece's  1 tsp mustard and cumin seeds 1 tsp fennel seeds  1 tbsp dry mango powder  1 tsp Red chilli powder  1 tsp garam masala powder (without O/G mix) Handful of chopped coriander leaves  Hand full of white sesame  Preparation.......  Dice the potatoes into 4 equal parts. Boil the potatoes with skin and  salt.  Drain, leave to cool, then peel. Put the oil in a kadhai, and set over medium heat . When the oil is very hot, put in the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fennel seeds and the sesame seeds.  When the seeds begin to pop add tomato and salt stir well add all above dry powders mix and stir it again add coriander leaves.  Add  boil potatoes, and stir-fry for about few minutes. I prefer to cook without water , If you want you may add little water and cook.  Avoid garnishing fresh coriander leaves on top because it's smell kill the actual tastes. Add on spices on

Kolhapuri mutton  Ingredients: Ingredients for Kolhapuri Masala (Makes 1 cup this recipe needs 4-5 teaspoons) 1 cup dry Red chillies 1/2 cup grated dry Coconut 1 tablespoon Coriander Seeds 2 Tablespoons Sesame seeds 2 tablespoons Poppy seeds 1 tablespoon Black pepper corns 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds 1 teaspoon Fenugreek seeds 1 teaspoon Cloves 1 tablespoon Cumin seeds 2 Bay leaves 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg powder 1 tablespoon Red chili powder 1 teaspoon Oil For the Mutton 750 grams Mutton (Bone on plus boneless) 6-7 Garlic pods 1 inch piece Ginger 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder 2 medium Onions (chopped finely) 1 cup Oil First paste.... ************** 2 teaspoons Poppy seeds 1 1/2 teaspoons Cumin seeds 1 1/2 teaspoons Sesame seeds 30 grams dry grated Coconut (grated and toasted till brown) 30 grams fresh Coconut (grated and toasted till light brown) 1/3 Cup chopped Coriander Second paste...... ************** 3 medium Onions (s

Tangy Drumstick curry chuin ambila  Ingredients....  3 Drumsticks  2 Red ripened tomatoes paste  1 tomatoes chopped  1+1 pinch hing (2 pinch) 1 red chillies into half  1 tsp cumin and mustard seeds  ½ tsp fennel seeds  ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds  handful of curry leaves.  1 tbsp of vinegar (optional)  1 tsp Red chilli powder  ½ tsp of curry powder  ¼ of turmeric powder  Salt as per taste  Oil for seasoning  Preparation......  Wash and Cut the drumsticks into length wise. Take a kadhai heat oil.Season with 1 pinch hing ,cumin - mustard seeds,fenugreek seeds,funnel seeds,red chilly, and curry leaves. If u want to add onions add on this stage fry till brown. But I cook this without onion so on this stage add chopped tomato saute for a while and tomato paste and all above spices one by one Fry for few minutes till all rawness vanished and nice aroma spread.  Add vinegar or tamarind paste stir well add enough water to cook drumsticks. 

Patishpata  Ingredients.....  Batter....  1 Cup Refined flour 1 Cup Sooji 1/4 Cup Rice flour 1cups Milk 1 Cup grated Jaggery  1 tsp Oil Stuffings...  1 Cup home made khoya 1 Cup milk  2 tbsp grated coconut  ½ Cup grated jaggery 1 tsp Green cardamom powder  Preparations....  In a mixing bowl add all batter ingredients along with water to make a perfect consistency without any lumps. Give rest for ½ hour.  In a kadhai mix all stuffing ingredients except cardamom powder and place it over low flame.  Keep stirring the mixture till it gets sticky paste. Keep aside to cool. Or keep in fridge for few minutes if you are in hurry.  Heat tawa spread 2 drops of oil. use oil brush for better option.  Pour one ladle of the mixture on it and spread it quickly . Put the filling lengthwise in one side and start rolling it. Wait till the colour is light brown. Remove on the plate. Serve hot or cold according to your choice of taste.  pa

ladi pav Ingredients....  1/2 kg all purpose flour 1 tbsp dry yeast 1/4 Cup of sugar 1/4 Cup oil 1 and 1/2 cups warm water 1 teaspoon full of salt Preparation...  Take a mixing bowl along with flour, yeast and sugar. Add 1 glass of water gradually while kneading. Add oil and salt. Continue to knead while adding the balance of water until you receive a uniform dough. And knead in about 10 minutes.  Cover the bowl with a large cotton cloths  Cover with a towel and place the dough  in warm place until it double in size. Divide the dough into same equal parts and design the buns. Greese the baking pan with baking paper arrange pav in lines.  Put the pav for more 20 minutes with cover in room temperature.  After 20 minites put in pre-heated oven for extra 20 minutes approximately 200 degrees in heat. Ladi pav1

Appam Ingredients....  2 Cup Raw rice ½ cup Grated coconut  1 Cup Coconut milk 1 pinch Soda  ¼ tsp Salt to taste 1 tsp Sugar  Oil  Preparation...  Wash and soak rice in water for 3 to 4 hours. Drain add to grinder along with grated coconut, water and salt. Make a fine batter. The batter shouldn't be too thick or thin.  Transfer to mixing bowl.  In a small sauce pan, add 1 cup of water.Add 3 tbsp of thick batter and mix well  cook in low flame with constantly stirring. Stir until the batter starts bubbling and thicker like a paste.  Turn off the flame and add this thick hot paste it to raw appam batter. mix nicely.  Now add soda powder mix the batter well with hands to give a nice fermentation.  Close it with lid. Allow the batter to ferment overnight or minimum 6 hours. Once the batter is fermented, you can see the batter is raised up. Stir well. If required add 1/4 cup of water and mix to ensure the batter is in right consisten

dry fish pulao  1 kg Curry cut dry fish 2 tbsp Dry Shrimps 1 lemon juice 1 tsp Black pepper 2 sliced Onions 1 Cup tomato puree 1 tbsp GG paste 1 tsp Turmeric powder 1 tsp Coriander powder 2 tsp Red chili powder 2 tsp Garam masala 1 tbsp chopped mint leaves 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves salt oil Clean these dry fish 4 to 5 times through this process maximum amount of salt will washed and then soaked in warm water for 10 minutes . After 10 minutes remove from water marinade with lemon and black pepper keep aside. Add enough oil in a pan and heat it. Shallow fry these fish  in pressure cooker till brown. Remove in a plate and keep aside. On same oil add dry shrimps fry for 1 min. add chopped onions fry for a while and add ginger garlic paste, and saute it well. Allow it to cook till brown. Add tomato puree and give it a gentle stir and cook till the oil separates. Add all spices along with leaves stir and then add fried fish pieces mix well add soaked fish

Kurkuri Achari bhindi  Ingredients...  ½ kg Okra  1 tsp Red chilli powder 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder  2 tbsp corn flour 1 tbsp Rice flour  1 tbsp mango pickle paste  1 tbsp Sambaar powder  Salt to taste  Oil for deep frying  Preparations....  Before day night wash and slice all okras into four pieces length.  I love with seeds but you may remove all the seeds and spread in kitchen towel keep cover with another towel.  Leave this to evaporates and dry the maximum water.  Next day morning transfer these dry sliced okras in to the mixing bowl. Now, add all the above ingredients and gently mix without squeezing the vegetable. Leave this for next 10 min . Check if it's wet add extra spoon full of flour to dry it toss nicely to cover all pieces.  Now heat oil and deep fry Okras on medium flame stir occasionally with a spatula to avoid sticking.  Remove and serve hot.  Crispy okra pickled fries