CORIANDER - JALAPENO PASTA:

Sometimes, you want to taste something different, make it quickly, but also want some sure shot flavors in it. Coriander adds a lot of color and flavor. Here is what I tried and everyone liked it a lot.
Choose any pasta of your liking, boil water with a pinch of salt and few drops of olive oil, add the pasta cook well, drain in a colander adding some cold water to it.
Now take a bunch of coriander, two green chillies, one tomato, a small piece of ginger, black bell peppers a few, mozzarella cheese a good half block, olive oil one tablespoon and blend to a smooth thick liquid.
Now in a frying pan, add some olive oil/ butter and after a few minutes, add chopped baby red, yellow and orange bell peppers, fresh basil leaves, rosemary and thyme and two chopped tomatoes and salt to taste. When well sautéed, add the blended coriander liquid and let it simmer in low flame for 3 minutes.

The pasta is ready to serve. In a dinner plate serve the pasta and add the simmered coriander liquid.
Top off with raisins and walnut chopped finely.
Add freshly and finely chopped coriander.
Add grated mozzarella cheese and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Take a couple of dinner rolls, toast with butter and add on the side.
Serve with a glass of orange and carrot juice mixed.
Jalapeño flavored potato chips go well with this dish.
The flavors and colors re so inviting, it will disappear from your table in no time! Happy cooking!!!!!

Whither healthcare?

"The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." -- Quote from Senator Hubert Humphrey,Nov 4, 1977.

In this rat race of a life we live, we need to pause, if not every now and then, at least once in a while, and take stock of what we did, what we are doing and what we would do in future, to always go back to our fundamental principles and VALUES OF LIFE and not lose sight of it, indoctrinated in us through the wisdom of our forefathers, who made ample time to ponder over the bigger, better and larger issues of life, and put in endless efforts to bring them to bear; be it your CONSTITUTION founders, your TEACHERS or your PARENTS. Each deserve a round of applause and don't just stop there! They need your respect or rather you need to respect them for what they were/are and what they did/do selflessly. Think about this when you vote for your next President. Does the candidate evoke in you good moral values and respect? That is the litmus test... your heart should answer and vote. Ultimately you are responsible for how your nation is; when you realize this, the WORLD will be a better place and DON'T ever forget - YOU ARE IN IT as part and parcel! IF it affects you, your neighbor, your friend, your child, your family, WILL YOU VOTE FOR IT? WHY THEN DO YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SCALE AND BALANCE FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD????????????

High tea! -it doesn't get any higher than this!

Everest Climbing Gear—Then and Now - National Geographic

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/everest/gear-edmund-hillary-hilaree-oneill/



Dear readers,
Sometimes you wonder what good is technology when you see some not so good news. But here is an example, where you are amazed at what technology could do!

That is not all; you cannot but be in wonderment when you see that without any of these, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed the highest peak on earth to date, Mt. Everest! thus accomplishing a feat that no one could even think of! They had something going for them: call it what you want: luck, good weather, stamina, etc. But then there are those who might call it "God's Grace and Will" that they be destined to accomplish this extraordinary feat, on that particular day, against all odds; and so they did!

As much as we rely on technology, they relied on something else. Their faith in their God/entity/faith, however you may address it. When you have that strength, nothing and no one can defeat you.

Follow the link to find the 1953 and 2012 mountaineering equipment and accessories; article courtesy: The National Geographic. The stark differences are not only in technology, but also in their mind set and how strong and independent they were!

While you are at it, here is a recipe for making Indian tea!
Boil a cup of water adding to it one spoon of "Darjeeling tea" when the water is in full boiling state. Add either a pinch of ginger powder or better still small piece of fresh ginger. Add a tiny amount or a single pod of cardamom. Let it boil for 2 minutes in simmer and take it off. Cover with a lid and wait for 5 minutes. Take a quarter cup of milk and bring it to boiling temperature. Decant the tea water, add required sugar and the milk. You may increase or decrease the tea/milk quantity depending upon your taste.

Some variations: If you are tired or in a hurry, you can add all the ingredients at the same time.

If you like 'typical chai' boil the tea water with the milk and sugar added and wait for a couple of minutes.

You may also want to try with mint leaves one or two added if you like the taste; as also cinnamon.

You can have a healthy tea if you substitute 'white sugar" with either "brown sugar" or natural sweetener "honey".

Serve with biscuits, cookies, saltines, crackers, sweet and savories, as your taste/occasion dictates and an undeniable smile on your face.

While sipping this tea, think how high they climbed! both in physical dimensions an din their spiritual dimensions!




Happy cooking .......!

"மறைந்திருந்து பார்க்கும் மர்மமென்ன?" - "Why look at ther blog anonymously?

மறைந்திருந்து பார்க்கும் மர்மமென்ன? - "Why look at ther blog anonymously?

Dear  readers,

I once in a while look at the feeds I get and so thrilled to see diiferent states/cities within US and several members from countries other than USA view the blog.I am very happy that you are here andreading this blog. But the proof of the pudding lies in its goog taste. Say when you make a recipe and nobody says anything, it is awful. Even if they say it needed this or that you wouldn't mind, right.

So it is here. PLEASE take a moment to register your email id here, either under folowers or members. That way anytime there is a new post you will be automaticaly sent a link. Also you can ask me any recipe/ suggestions anytime.

See you soon as my friend!

Oh! What a pressure.....

You know sometimes you do things under pressure and later on when you look at it or recall the incident you can only but laugh. So it was today, I was cooking our dinner. The cooker was on the range with rice in one compartmnet and the ingredients for rasam in the other compartment. After a few minutes I put the "weight" where it should be. Meanwhile I had cut okra into small pieces and started preparing the vegetable curry. When that was all set and cooking, I cut small brinjals for a second curry, "ennaik kaththirikkai". A few minutes passed by. I noticed that the cooker was not making any noises; and steam was coming from the valve, where it should not!. The cooker is almost brand new and my first reaxction was to get angry. Then I realized I have to do something or else the steam will all be gone and the cooker's base would be scorched! So I made a small roll from tissue and inserted it in the hole of the valve. It didnot cover it completely. The waste from cutting the okra and eggplant were still there. I picked up an okra piece and covered it. It was shifting a little and I had to hold it in place with a knife. That wasn't a good solution. Then I saw the eggplant tops and thought why not try one of them. Lo and behold! It did the trick! I didn't have to hold it and the cooking was done. When it was all over I looked at the cooker and burst into a laughter!. I called out to my child and she peeled into a laughter too. That is when I thought of sharing it with all of you. The things we do under pressure.... hm... Happy cooking... the words are still ringing in my ears. This was one very happy cooking indeed...