Saturday, July 23, 2016

ISKCON HERITAGE FESTIVAL AND FRESH LIME/LEMON CHUTNEY

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
How are you? I know its a long gap. I am not able to give time to my blogging which is very close to my heart. Without giving unwanted and unnecessary reasons, let me share with you a quickest, easiest and tangiest, tastiest chutney. 
I never knew that we can make chutney with whole lime or lemon. And I was careless to know also about the difference between Lime and Lemon. So ignorant I am many times. Now, I am happy  that I know both. 
The information from google I got about the difference between  lime and lemon : 

(Lemon vs Lime - Difference and Comparison | www.diffen.com/difference/Lemon_vs_Lime)

"Lemons and limes are both very acidic but have slightly different flavors and scents. Lemons have a sour, acidic taste, while a lime has a bitter, acidic taste. Both citrus fruits are frequently used in cooking and cocktails, as well a variety of household products."
And NOW the recipe for the chutney :
Before giving the recipe let me thank my dearest and sweetest friend Vaishali for sharing this recipe with me. Last week I went to her house after my  college as we both were invited as judges for Inter school cookery competition organised by ISKCON-HUBLI on the occasion of HERITAGE FESTIVAL.  It was an honor for us to get the invitation from ISKCON. 
When I went her home, she had prepared Mooli paratha for me and with that I was searching something to eat as I know her fridge is always full of chutneys, dips, pickles. Then she told me to take Lime chutney. I thought she is kidding as I never heard about making chutney using lime. I asked her for the recipe before tasting it. When she told whole limes are used in it, I was really surprised. I asked her twice is it really a lime chutney? Then she told me to taste it and see. It was really very good. It tasted like the lime pickle. But when we can't make lime pickle and keep, this is the best way  instead of using ready made pickles. Vaishali is a great cook and has an amazing knowledge about food and recipes. And moreover  a wonderful human being who always is smiling, what ever life offers her. I love her for that and respect her more like an elder sister. 
And again before going to the recipe, let me share our experience about cooking competition at ISKCON. It was a divine experience for me. I want to thank Shri.Ramdas of ISKCON, who followed my blog for few months and selected me and invited me as a judge. I really thank him from the bottom of my heart. And when cooking event takes place, Vaishali is always there with me. It never has happened that I had gone somewhere without her. So she too joined me as a judge. 
One more sweet surprise was I got a chance to meet Anushruti RK, a recipe developer, food writer and photographer of  http://www.divinetaste.com/ . It was a great opportunity for me to meet her and share the responsibility with her. Very sweet, simple and inspiring lady.
Competition was really good. Students had put lot of effort. Here are few photos from the competition. 


 
  



Now, now its time for the recipe:





Ingredients:
Fresh Lime/lemon -3 big or 4 small.
Methi(Fenugreek) seeds - 1 tsp, roasted 
Rock salt to taste
Sugar - 1 tbsp or more if the limes are very sour.
or Jaggery 1 tbsp(Taste differs)
Red chilly powder 2 tsp or more if you want it spicy.

For tempering : (optional)
Oil - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds
A pinch of hing or asafoetida 



Method:
Wash and wipe the lemons.
Cut into four and de seed all the lemons. Please take care not to leave one seed also. Or else chutney will be very bitter.
Take all the ingredients and put in a blender to make it a fine paste.
Transfer it to a bowl.
Temper it with mustard seed and hing. 
Chutney is ready to eat with parathas, hot rice, chapati and just like that. 



Keep Smiling,



Saturday, March 19, 2016

LIFE IS FULL OF COLORS, LIFE IS ABUNDANT, LIFE IS LIKE HOLI

Tried and tasted by Nivedita
Hi All,
Thank you guys for being with me here though I did not post anything in the whole year. Love you all. 

MARCH is Special month for me for many reasons. First is, its the month I am born ;-) . I love March because it is the season for Mangoes. In my husband's family ,10 of us celebrate our birthday :-). March 1st starts with my Sis-in-law's son"s birthday and March 30th ends with my daughter's birthday.
And I started blogging on March 12, 2009.

Another most favorite reason is its the month where we celebrate the  festival of colors HOLI. Yes!!! this post is all about HOLI. I want to thank Jagruti for inviting me to share about this festival and how do I celebrate my Holi.
Here is the link for Jagruti's space to read about other friends who has shared about their celebration and their view about Holi
http://www.jcookingodyssey.com/2016/03/channar-puli-paneer-gulab-jamun.html


only few photos of my Holi celebrations. 


Holi is the only festival I celebrate with all my tann, mann and dhan :-) ;-)
Though there are so many stories behind this festival and many religious beliefs and customs to follow,  I believe life is like this festival. Its full of all types of colors. All emotions we feel represent each color. And I love all the colors of  life which allows me to enjoy this life every moment.
Coming to the HOLI day. My day starts early with making breakfast and lunch ready and keep it aside so that once we come back after playing, the food should be ready. I can play without any tension. Till two years back, mom was there with us on this day and two maids were there to help mom to make special Holi food. I was not worried, but now as I am alone here, I had to prepare and keep. And  its not only  me, my friends bring their food and keep it in my house. We all play and come back to our house and enjoy the food together. We all go in our bikes in a group and visit almost all the nearby areas. Stopping wherever people are playing,  playing with them, screaming with joy. I am out of the world on that day. Sometimes I keep on shouting "happy new year" , "happy birthday" some irrelevant wishes and dance on the road with friends and kids. People think I have taken Bhaang!!!
After playing, taking bath, we all gather in our house, have the food and drinks and it goes till 6 pm.
Puran poli is must on that day in North Karnataka.
Just to give a twist, I am linking my old recipe of

Biscuit Poli for Holi. 

Its different from traditional Puran poli.
(http://niveditaskitchen.blogspot.in/2010/03/biscuit-poli-for-holi.html)

  


HOLI HAI BHAI HOLI HAI, BURA NA MAANO HOLI HAI :-)

Waiting for this year HOLI. Its only a week ahead, already planned for the day.

My next posts will be on "My journey of thirteen days on raw food diet"

Keep Smiling,


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