CHITRANNA: 2015

Sunday, 11 October 2015

MENTHE ( MENTHYADA ) HITTU recipe | METHKOOT RECIPE | menthya hittu recipe

It has been a very long time since I shared recipes in my blog. Pardon? Have I stopped cooking or enjoying it? Please!!! I was so busy and engrossed in cooking that I didn't have time to write and share it!

This post, in fact, is for the benefit of my students. For my children and their friends who have started experimenting with their cooking on themselves thanks to their postings away from their mothers. Mind you, it is obvious that they are very good in cooking from the photos and the stories they are sharing on Facebook and WhatsApp. So I thought let me make it easier for them to have multiple delightful dishes, snacks and meals from a single core component.

Pssss.... There is another secret. A friend of mine had advised me long back : “ Do it once and Do it right!” Ever so grateful, faithfully I am following it and here I have modified it to my advantage - “ Teach it once and Teach it right!”

In most of the homes Menthe hittu is prepared with different versions but alas many don't know its multiple usages and how a variety of delicacies can be scrambled up with it within a few minutes.

Note : Here for most of the dishes another most important component is chatnipudi - not any chatnipudi - but the one made with groundnut seeds. Recipe ? It's right here.

First let me share the recipe of Menthe hittu.

Recipe video :

Ingredients :

Chana dal 2 big cup

Urad dal 1 big cup

Coriander seeds 2 Tablespoon

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Jeera 2 Tablespoon

Rice 2 Tablespoon

Wheat 2 Tablespoon(If you don't have wheat, use wheat flour)

Turmeric powder 2 Tablespoon

( Many people use Moong Dal, Red chillies etc, but the Menthe hittu tastes yummy with the above ingredients and also for the other delicacies I prepare with this.)

Preparation :

In a kadai, roast separately to a golden brown the Chana dal, Urad dal, Rice, Wheat, Jeera and Coriander seeds and set aside.
Remove the kadai from the fire and in that heated kadai, heat turmeric powder for a minute and pour in a plate.
In a mixie jar, first grind the dals to a fine powder.
Then grind other ingredients and in the end mix everything and grind so that everything mixes to a nice yellow powder.
Your Menthe hittu is ready.

How all can you use and eat Menthe hittu?

With hot rice :

To hot piping rice, put some ghee, a little salt and menthe hittu. It can be a most delicious and yummy breakfast or dinner.
You may add a little pickle, chantnipudi or a pinch of lemon juice according to your taste.

With cold or leftover rice.

To the rice, add little menthe hittu, groundnut oil, salt and mix well. This is a most popular and tasty lunch for your office with a dash of pickle. I have been carrying it for three decades, followed by my children and enjoyed by their friends!

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There can be further variation in this, if you mix the pickle or thokku while mixing Menthe hittu with the rice and oil.
Or else, instead of oil, prepare some oggarane and mix for one more exciting variation.

3. Menthe hittu hasi gojju :

Easy to make and a healthy breakfast.
Soak a lemon size tamarind and squeeze pulp.
Add finely ground lemon sized jaggery.
Add a small cup of water and salt to taste.
To this add 2 tablespoon of Menthe hittu.
Season with mustard seeds, asafoetida, red chilli and turmeric tadka(oggarane)
This goes great with hot rice and a little ghee.

4. Menthe hittu mosaru gojju.

Alternately, instead of tamarind and jaggery, you can use curds to make gojju.
Add 2 tablespoons of Menthe hittu to 2 cups of curds, add little water to suit to the consistency you want. Mix salt and season with mustard seeds, asafetida chilli and turmeric tadka.
Goes well with hot as well as cold rice.

Snacks.

Hachida avalakki.

This can be a fine snack for evening or you can have it a la North Karnataka style breakfast.

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Take 4 cups of telu avalakki.
Sprinkle a little water and set aside for five minutes.
Add a teaspoonful of menthe hittu, chatni pudi, a little salt, finely chopped coriander leaves and a tablespoon of fresh grated coconut and a spoon groundnut oil.
Mix well and serve.

Crispy masala corn flakes :

Take some 4 cups of corn flakes in a bowl.
Mix 2 teaspoonfuls of menthe hittu, 2 teaspoon chatni pudi, little salt and 2 teaspoonful groundnut oil.
Mix well taking care to see that it is semi broken and not fully powdered. Enjoy!

Masala Mandalu ( Instant Bhel )

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In a bowl take some 6 cups of puffed rice ( Bangalore puri, not Mysore puri ).
Add 2 tablespoons of menthe hittu, chatnipudi, salt, 1 small cup hurigadale, 1 tablespoon groundnut oil and a few finely chopped coriander leaves. Mix well.
You can add finely chopped onions, cucumbers and tomato.
Those who prefer greens and are healthy eating buffs can add finely chopped spinach or methi leaves. This bhel is sure to be a great hit and remember to make in a large quantity if you have company.
Else you will be left licking your fingers! verbatim!!!

Pachadi ( Salad )

The beauty of this salad is you can eat it with rice, roti or chapati or just gorge it raw with the accompaniment of a fresh fruit juice. Its a winner all the way.

Take 2 cups of finely chopped spinach leaves and 1 cup of finely chopped methi leaves and a few leaves of finely chopped coriander leaves.
Wash thoroughly and keep in a bowl.(Some people love methi while others feel it is bitter.Take your call )
Mix nicely chopped 2 onions and a fresh cucumber.
You can also add a nicely chopped tomato if you like that tangy taste.
Add a tablespoon of menthe hittu, ½ tablespoon chatnipudi, little salt and a spoonful of groundnut oil.
Mix well and serve crunchy salad.

5. Congress masala :

Add finely chopped onion, cucumber, coriander leaves to 1/2 cup of grated carrot.
Put a teaspoon of Menthe hittu, chatnipudi, a little salt.
To this mix 2 cups of congress kadlekai beeja and stir well.
Add a dash of lemon juice.
Lo and behold! Your instant chats is ready.
Instead of congress, you can add hesarubele, or crumbled nippattu or kodubale.
Choice is yours!!

Beyond this your imagination is the limit!!!

Kadale beejada ( Groundnut ) chatnipudi

Sunday, 9 August 2015

Google it !!!

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The fun and frolic is more when you have a wedding, no, not in your home, but when your nephews and nieces are getting married. Since you have more of a free time and look at all the things in a free perspective and at leisure you enjoy more. Especially when you are a blogger. As one who is getting a bahu in a week, I am stealing some moments to write, ahem, for my fans :-)

It was on first Sunday of August 2014, on a friendship day, that Sumana, my would be daughter-in- law came to our house and it is one year since.Time has flew like a blink of an eye.Wedding bells are ringing next Sunday.I am squeezing in some moments to write about the wedding invitation and my family members are aghast that I am sitting in front of my blog at this crucial hour. Relax guys! After all I have done all the preparation work ( Ok Ok majority of the work ) and will finish it off !!!

When we wanted to get the invitations printed, all of us wanted it to be in the basic simplest form possible. My son didn't want the cards as he would be E-inviting friends and colleagues and daughter would be "call inviting". It has always been my firm belief that unless you want to make the press guy rich, there is no need of a glossy expensive invite. However great your invitation looks, people are going to spend just a few moments to read the details or may be cast an extra eye on the design if you have spent a fortune on it. Or if it lands in the hands of a person of my cynicism, you will get a skirmish face. Beyond watching the details, it is of no use to anyone.Period.

And I wanted to make a video invitation - for my friends. I didn't know how. But learning and creativity is my forte and it fascinates me immensely. Of late it has become a constant refrain in my home ( I am sure in most other homes ) " Google it !" The ultimate know all, the God of modern day.Started by my son, lapped up by my daughter and adopted by we both. Without referring to Google, unless I fail to find a suitable solution there, I won't approach my son. But still whenever I seek such help, he gives that look " Google it and find !"

Whatever I found was not satisfactory and then I went to Quora. That site which I admire most, because unlike many other networking sites, I find this as a thinking man's adda. And guess what!?! The person whom I asked in quora gave me a solution " Google it! "

With Picasa video maker I made a video and as I was reviewing the final product, my son came and complimented. A great accomplishment indeed!

Alas! When I converted it to send on WhatsApp, initial few seconds were getting disturbed. Back to square one :-(

Then I turned to another software engineer at home, my daughter. I am really amazed at the science of Physics and Genetics! Men are indeed from Mars and women from Venus. Preparing a presentation is a punishment for my son while my daughter wants to use decorative fonts and borders for her project!

And then my daughter gave the App name - Photo Grid and lo and behold! Within few minutes a beautiful video invitation was ready!

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But one thing I miss and recall nostalgically - my grandmas, parents, aunts and uncles. You may be chided by them, they may not have had the solutions the Internet and Google of today have, but still I wish we can go back to those days and those type of relations and families. You can find everything else in Google, but for love, affection, caring and sharing - you need families, friends and relatives - the humanes. Wish we can Google it !!!

How to be Happy always? How to always remain happy and positive in life?

“ Change of work is the best rest.” Thus spake Mr. Arthur Conan Doyle. Oh really? seriously?? There must be something terribly wrong either with me or with Mr. Doyle. Or maybe we both belong to two entirely different worlds. From purchasing vegetables - to cutting - to cooking - to serving - to packing lunch boxes - to cleaning - to going to work ...... No sir, sorry. The more I am changing the work, the more I am getting exhausted and neither fun nor rest are visible even from a distant mile. I want rest. Inertia. Being totally lazy. Don't look so flabbergasted! I have never experienced them in my life. And I want to. Now. Period.

Every time I yearn for those idle days and tell my friends, they advise me, “ Take leave and take rest. Never quit the job.” Since this is the common refrain from each and every friend of mine, I know this is the gospel truth. Once you become a working woman and work for a decade or two, it becomes extremely difficult to stay at home. Being idle. My well wishers scare me, “ You will be bored to death. What will you do sitting at home? It will be fun for the first few days and then you will regret.”

Really? Then what you and me are gonna do after we turn 60? Start a start up!? On a serious note, I, who am seriously planning to quit, get scared sometimes. What if? So I am being adventurous and go on taking frequent and longer leave to the irritation of my bosses and waiting for that elusive boredom to come and meet me. Either boredom is scared of me or so called scare is bored with my stubbornness, whatever it is, both are avoiding me.

Yesterday once again I was in an adventurous mood. My servant maid has quit and so I had a free evening. Sounds unbelievable! Gotcha! One girl who used to come in the evening had quit and the new girl could come and work only in the morning. So I had a free evening.

I took my purse, my mobile and informed my family not to come in search of me if I am not home early. Ah! here comes my free time and my little adventures. Only after we lose them, we start missing and appreciating those little pleasures of life. Close your eyes, remember your childhood and try to recall your fondest memories. Those which gave you immense pleasure. When I close my eyes and recall, I get a marquee of the images. Pestering granny and getting that “ Hunasehannu bella “ - finely grounded jaggery and tamarind with a little salt and firmly struck to an ice-cream stick! Or in Raichur's burning summer licking those orange ice candies. They used to cost one paisa per ice-cream. Because they were made from water. For milk ice cream the charge was five paisa for 2 ice-creams. If you want buy a single ice-cream, you will have to shell 3 paisa! Who wants to waste so much money! We would love to take water candies, run in the sun barefooted – no sir we didn't have the luxury of wearing slippers – even if it were Raichur sun – to home. What if the heat becomes unbearable for your feet? Easy. Bite a little candy, spit it on the ground and put your feet on it alternatively! We Indians are blessed to have indigenous solutions to every problem.

So as I was telling, it is such little adventures and tiny pleasures that I cherish most. They bring a nostalgic memory, a smile to my lips and elevate my moods.

And to the present. I started on my evening walk. It has been more than 25 years, before my children were born, did I have this luxury. Walking alone, without any purpose. First I went in one direction and bought some “mili” - those little tamarind chocolates. Popping one in my mouth, I started off in a different direction.

I walked aimlessly, making small purchases here and there and putting them in a little bag I was carrying. A spatula, a tea sieve, some forks. My friend Meera had once showed me an aluminum plate which she used to make rotis. She would press the roti on them and put them directly on gas to prepare soft rotis. When I asked the shop keeper, he was surprised. He said he has never heard of such a thing. Same dialog repeated in five shops. I called Meera and she burst out laughing. Don't ask for roti maker, they are common aluminum lids which we vaishyas use to make rotis. Ah, here lies the secret and a solution to my problem. Aluminum lid it's gonna be!

Then some more roaming and I landed in a stationery shop which was selling a lot of plastic items. I needed a big plastic tub for my maid to put the utensils after washing. I bought one beautiful green tub. The shop was in Thyagarajanagara, barely 2 kilometers from my house. It was a small street and the chances of an auto turning up here were extremely remote. Then I grinned to myself! After all I have ventured out to have fun, and I am going to have fun!

I paid the money and took the tub and started walking. The tub was about 2 meters in diameter and the only way I could carry it was holding it by my side! So whichever side of my body I put it, it was a no entry of two feet for the people walking near me. Unfortunately I don't have eyes on my back so I missed out a certain sniggers behind my back! But the look on the face of the people walking towards me was the one I started enjoying – a look of dismay! From far they would look at me and as they would approach nearer, they would give one look to me, one to my tub and again their eyes would come back to my face.

Oh really! If you think I would be embarrassed, better think again! Boy, I have decided to have fun and I am having loads of it! I would mischievously put the tub on my body on their side, and with a twinkle in my eye, would look into their eyes! Instead of me, they would be embarrassed and move to the other side of the road!

This continued for a while and then I came to vegetables' market. I needed my greens. The regular lady was having a hoard of customers in front of her cart. So what? I made a little room for myself and entered with my newly acquired shield, my tub. The lady standing next to me looked at me and moved a little and my tub settled comfortably between us. Lo! Two feet boundary ready! While other customers were straining their necks to meet the eyes of the vendor, me and my tub stood comfortably and finished our shopping.

Our next stop was at a fruit stall. I could see two young girls buying grapes trying hard to control their laughter and I gave them one sweet smile. Relieved, they grinned back. By the time I bought my fruits, the weight of my bag had increased considerably and a wicked idea crossed my mind. Pour everything in the tub, and put the tub on my head!

Then better sense prevailed. If any of my friends or acquaintances see me, I can explain to them and share a hearty laugh. But what if my husband Prakash's friends see me? I had to protect his reputation! On one shoulder I put my vanity bag, below the other shoulder came my tub and hugging my bag to my chest I started. Now the “No entry” zone had widened.

When my children saw me entering the house with the tub, at first they thought I had come by auto but when I narrated the sequence of incidents, a wide grin appeared on their faces.

Why do we hesitate to have fun and live our lives the way we want to? After all it is our life and we have every right to lead it the way we want to, so long as it doesn't harm or hurt anyone. And where is the need of that constant refrain " What others may think? "

And our perceptions keep changing. When I was a kid, and the candy seller demanded 5 paisa for two candies and 3 paisa for one, I would think he is being unfair. My brother used to feel embarrassed if my sister accompanied him to school. He would avoid her by running fast to school and my sister, who used to cry, repeated it when I started accompanying her. So from childhood such false notions enter our mind. My father getting similar dresses for we sisters was a source of embarrassment, but today if I see two little girls wearing identical dresses, my eyes turn soft and I try to behold that sight.

Let us stop worrying and start living. Worrying is like rocking a chair. It gives us something to do but gets us nowhere. People who obsess about what others think tend to put ‘issues’ under the microscope and can't see the forest for the trees. If we don't get obsessed about what other people think,then we tend to look at the big picture. We only get one chance at life; are we going to allow other people’s thoughts to make it less enjoyable? Sounds silly now, doesn't it?As time goes by and as we realize how unimportant some of the things we worry about actually are, life gets easier and our constant concern starts to plummet as our confidence rises.

These seven rules of life have been making rounds on the social networking sites and many of us have received as forwards. With due acknowledgement to the unknown author, I am sharing them with you :

Seven Cardinal Rules In Life:

1. Make Peace With Your Past – so it does not spoil your present. Your past does not define your future, your actions and beliefs do.

2. What Others Think Of You – is NONE of your business. It’s how much you value yourself and how important you think you are.

3. Time Heals Almost Everything – give time, time. Pain will be less hurting. Scars make us who we are; they explain our life and why we are the way we are. They challenge us and force us to be stronger.

4. No One Is The Reason For Your Own Happiness – except YOU, yourself. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside.

5. Do NOT Compare Your Life With Others’ – you have NO idea what their journey is all about. If we all threw our problems into a pile and saw everyone else’s, we would grab ours back as fast as we could.

6. STOP Thinking Too Much – it’s alright to NOT know ALL the answers. Sometimes there is no answer, there is not going to be an answer, or there never was an answer. THAT is the answer! Just accept it, move on, NEXT!

7. Smile – you do NOT own all of the problems of the world. A smile can brighten the darkest day and make life more beautiful. It is a potential curve to turn life around and set everything straight.

As Salman Khan would always urge people during Bigg Boss, " Do whatever you want to do man, woman,children.....

Saturday, 14 February 2015

India vs pakistan cricket match in a world cup. India......India..............

Cricket world cup!
India Pakistan match on a Sunday morning!!
I had a very clear plan. Get up late, take a head bath, get a glass of fresh fruit juice, pick some fresh cut fruits in a bowl, toss in some dry fruits, curl up my legs and enjoy the day.

Whom I am kidding? I am a working woman, a wife, a mother of two, with a house full of expectations of a Sunday morning. Add to it an indefinite holiday of servant maid - if I am fooling anybody, its only me.
OK I got up late. First dream accomplished! This is heavenly, getting up late on a Sunday morning. Real idea of a holiday. My hubby Prakash had gone to Mantralaya and on the way back had picked up some deliciously fresh white brinjals. Although I prepare Ennegai palya with the brinjals available here, they have skins like plastic. Don't believe me? Try doing ennegai with both of them separately and compare. Recipe? Of course it is HERE.

My mom used to say, whenever we got extremely tender brinjals in the market, that they are like young groom! Whatever that meant!!!
Well, in the morning as soon as I got up and switched on the TV, Prof. Prakash declared : I have a class and you have 45 minutes to make breakfast.
And Rohit Sharma started batting...
In a jiffy, I cut the brinjals, prepared the spices,and set to roll out chapatis.The calling bell rang. Prakash called out : " Look this boy has brought saplings you wanted." Yes, I wanted some saplings for my terrace garden and on a " working day " I had requested him to come on a Sunday leisurely and here he was.
I did some purchases, with the fear that my brinjals may be burning nagging at the back of my mind, did some hurried bargaining - we hesitate to bargain for a few thousands in a jewelry shop but would be worried to part with a few rupees when we are shopping with these poor guys - and dumped the pots in the compound and ran inside.
Peeped in at the TV, Rohit Sharma was out and Virat Kohli had come to bat......
Thankfully Rashmi, my daughter came to help me in making chapatis. After all a daughter is a daughter is a daughter. That precious soul in every family. Thanks Modiji, for the call " Beti bachaao...". Bless them.
Once the chapatis were ready, a look at the mess in the kitchen and the sink reminded me that Saraswathi, my maid is not coming today. I remembered a lady who stays a few crosses away from me, who was willing to join in. Hoping to catch her on Sunday, I pulled on my tracks.
A peep at the TV. Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan batting. Score? 150 for 1. Not bad, soon I should be able to catch the match.
Sorry sir, the lady has locked the house and left. I came back. Shikhar Dhawan out, India 2 wickets down...
I put on some chapatis and ennegai in a plate and rushed to my room. At last! The moment is here!! Sitting in my bedroom, on a Sunday morning with something special in my plate and watch India Pakistan play in a world cup match.
Man proposes and God disposes... Nay, woman proposes and God disposes. After all I have never seen Brahma, the creator being partial to women or at least being impartial to both. Rashmi entered my room with her plate in her hand and picked up the remote.
Oh no, not again! She switched on the TV and changed the channel. Simpsons its gonna be. Please, If you want to see the match, you go upstairs and join Nikhil. For a few minutes I got hooked to Simpsons. Classroom scene, witty one liners and nostalgic memories. You step back into your childhood. The beautiful part of these cartoons are the dialogues, written by grown up men and women. The lines are so childlike, because, of course, these writers are so young at heart!
Match!!! I rushed upstairs to join Nikhil and cricket. Virat Kohli on 98 and Suresh Raina on 48. Ah! First time in the day I watched a 50 and a century being scored. Riiiiiingggg... Door bell! Who is that again?!? " It must be my friend Nithin Ma. Do you mind watching the match downstairs or shall I take him to my room?"
Enough sir. I am staying put. Dhoni and boys, you better play and play good now. It is 12.30 PM, 43 overs, India 245 for 2. I want to catch the match. India and Pakistan. In a world cup. Mr.Dhoni, even if you and your boys don't win the world cup, we don't want to watch that man in the greens burst crackers........