Its cold once again. The temperature fluctuates faster than luck. But then that is Canada and we have to live with that. And better do it with a smile on your face. That won't put the cold away but it will bring warmth into your heart and others who you meet. Its a medical fact that once you start smiling, happy harmones start to secrete and you actually start feeling happy. If you are one of those who suffer from SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder, meaning you feel depressed in long winter then you can have light therapy. There is a special lamp which gives a sun like light and you sit in front of it for 10 minutes a day.
I would suggest to let that light come from within. You can say its easier said than done but I know it can be done. All you need is the will . If you have reached a stage where you don't have a will, you can't be reading this blog. because you would be lying in bed listless.
Of course food can help. As long as its not junk food. Comfort food really gives us the feeling of those cozy evenings when we would sit by fire or came in soaked after playing in the rain. Or days when mom just cooked something for fun. My favourite was Gobhi ke Pakore and Aaloo Bonda or as they call it in Mumbai- Batata Vada. Mom would make these onn a rainy day . These were of course always accompanied by meethe Cheele
Today some finger food which bring back such memories.
Batata Vada
Ingredients:
For Vada
2 large poatatoes boiled
1 green chilli
1 small piece of ginger
1/2 cup fresh coriander
1/2 tsp Aamchur powder
1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp dhania powder
4 cups refined ouil
Salt to taste
For Batter
2 cups besan ( chick pea powder)
1/2 cup water
1 tsp dry methi leaves
1/2 tsp red chlli flakes
Salt to taste
In a bowl mash potatoes thoroughly. Add all other ingredients except oil.Mix till smooth. It should have a dough like consistency. Mix the batter ingredients in a bowl. If the batter is too thick, add some water.Heat oil till hot.Wet your hands and make small balls of the potato mixture. Dip these in the batter and fry in hot oil till golden brown. Take them out on paper towel. Serve warm with tamarind chutney or green chutney.
Pakore
Ingredients:
For gobhi pakore
1 small cauliflower
1 tbsp garlic paste
1 tbsp ginger paste
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp aamchur powder
1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
1 tsp dhania powder
1 tsp garam masala
4 cup oil for frying
For batter
Recipe given above
Break half of cauliflower in small florets. In a bowl mix all other ingredients. Add florets and marinate for at least half an hour. Dip each floret in the batter and deep fry in hot oil. Drain on paper towel. Serve warm with chutney
Paneer pakore
For paneer pakore all other ingredients remain the same . You just add 250 Gms paneer. Cut paneer in 2' pieces. Take one piece, apply green chutney. Put another piece on top. Dip the pieces in batter to seal and fry in hot oil.
Shahi Tukra (in milk)
Ingredients:
4 slices of bread
2 green cardomoms
2 cups sugar
2 cups milk
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp blanched slivered almonds
2 cups oil for frying
Make sugar syrup with sugar and water. Cut each bread slice in 4.Fry them in hot oil till dark brown and crisp.Now soak them in sugar syrup. Heat milk, add cardomoms, almonds and let it simmer till very thick. Put one tbsp of thick milk on a slice and serve.
Hope these will take away your winter blues
Keep smiling and keep cooking
I would suggest to let that light come from within. You can say its easier said than done but I know it can be done. All you need is the will . If you have reached a stage where you don't have a will, you can't be reading this blog. because you would be lying in bed listless.
Of course food can help. As long as its not junk food. Comfort food really gives us the feeling of those cozy evenings when we would sit by fire or came in soaked after playing in the rain. Or days when mom just cooked something for fun. My favourite was Gobhi ke Pakore and Aaloo Bonda or as they call it in Mumbai- Batata Vada. Mom would make these onn a rainy day . These were of course always accompanied by meethe Cheele
Today some finger food which bring back such memories.
Batata Vada
Ingredients:
For Vada
2 large poatatoes boiled
1 green chilli
1 small piece of ginger
1/2 cup fresh coriander
1/2 tsp Aamchur powder
1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp dhania powder
4 cups refined ouil
Salt to taste
For Batter
2 cups besan ( chick pea powder)
1/2 cup water
1 tsp dry methi leaves
1/2 tsp red chlli flakes
Salt to taste
In a bowl mash potatoes thoroughly. Add all other ingredients except oil.Mix till smooth. It should have a dough like consistency. Mix the batter ingredients in a bowl. If the batter is too thick, add some water.Heat oil till hot.Wet your hands and make small balls of the potato mixture. Dip these in the batter and fry in hot oil till golden brown. Take them out on paper towel. Serve warm with tamarind chutney or green chutney.
Pakore
Ingredients:
For gobhi pakore
1 small cauliflower
1 tbsp garlic paste
1 tbsp ginger paste
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp aamchur powder
1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
1 tsp dhania powder
1 tsp garam masala
4 cup oil for frying
For batter
Recipe given above
Break half of cauliflower in small florets. In a bowl mix all other ingredients. Add florets and marinate for at least half an hour. Dip each floret in the batter and deep fry in hot oil. Drain on paper towel. Serve warm with chutney
Paneer pakore
For paneer pakore all other ingredients remain the same . You just add 250 Gms paneer. Cut paneer in 2' pieces. Take one piece, apply green chutney. Put another piece on top. Dip the pieces in batter to seal and fry in hot oil.
Shahi Tukra (in milk)
Ingredients:
4 slices of bread
2 green cardomoms
2 cups sugar
2 cups milk
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp blanched slivered almonds
2 cups oil for frying
Make sugar syrup with sugar and water. Cut each bread slice in 4.Fry them in hot oil till dark brown and crisp.Now soak them in sugar syrup. Heat milk, add cardomoms, almonds and let it simmer till very thick. Put one tbsp of thick milk on a slice and serve.
Hope these will take away your winter blues
Keep smiling and keep cooking
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