Cooking&more

There are days when we enjoy cooking,  and there are days when it seems such a drag. You know,  the kind of day when you want to just make something super quick and easy, something that you can just put together without even thinking about it. Well a few days ago I  made just such a curry. It needs minimal effort and goes well with Rice,  Roti  or Naan.  You can even wrap it up in a tortilla To start with Take a Ridge gourd and cut into two halves or don't,  whichever way you like it Peel the ridge gourd, peel just the ridges,  and a layer of the skin,  keeping a bit of the skin intact.  Don't peel it all off as you don't want it to get too mushy as it cooks down This how it should look after peeling Slice it into juliennes like this Grab an onion and peel it Cut it into slices.. Not very thick as it won't cook well,  nor so thin that they disappear when cooking.( I  know you are proud of your onion slicing ski

Some food pairings really go well together like toast and cheese,  peanut butter and jelly,  cucumbers and yoghurt, Capsicum and tomatos. Capsicum and tomato is a combination that cannot really be described. It just has to be tasted.  In this recipe, the mushy tartness of the tomato pairs perfectly with the crunch and pungency of the capsicum, while a sprinkling of curry powder adds that extra oomph.  It's a great side for almost any kind of rice,  Naan or Bread . It also works wonderfully as a filling for any kind of sandwich or wrap. To serve two. You will need, Two medium sized Capsicum (green bell  peppers) diced Four Roma tomatoes diced 2 teaspoons of curry powder of your choice (I use a homemade one-recipe coming up soon) Salt and paprika (red chilli powder) to taste A teaspoon each of cumin and mustard seeds for tempering (optional) A tablespoon of oil Heat oil in a saucepan or wok till you see tiny bubbles on the surface,  add the  cumin and mustard seeds

Most weekdays see me getting up really early at the crack of dawn to savor the fresh air,  and the peace that comes with solitude.  I  have to admit, though, that I  have never yet  managed to get up earlier than my Neighbors.  One would imagine,  that if one got up a quarter of an hour before sunrise,  one would be entitled to get up to the sounds of birdsong,  but no, I seem to live in a street of impossibly early risers.  I generally get up to the sounds of dishes being washed and of yards being swept all around me. Yet,  I  like to get up at this early hour and having gone through my ablutions and my  prayers, (just saying that links my soul somehow to all the men and women of all the ages past who did that very same thing,) sit down with a nice cup of tea by myself before the rest of the household wakes up,  and I have to get into the daily grind. Weekends,  however bring out all the latent spirit of 'la dolce vita'  in me. I get up far after the sun has gotten tired of