If there is one verse in the Qur’an that hits me on my head like a nail each time I hear it or read it, then it is this: Life is meant to be difficult, with ups and downs. We may be fine physically, looking blissful to the outside world. People think that you are living a life that is so worthy of living – yes, the other side is always a mirage! But people well off from outside can be a mental mess inside, with a broken home, or a tattered past. Whatever it is… I have come to strongly believe now that whatever adversities come our way in whatever way, all we need to do is breathe and think – aren’t those two big favors that the Lord has given you? What hasn’t He given you, that you cry over and lament over things that are not…
Chettinad Chicken Curry
I am just gasping at the date. Yesterday was a numerically beautiful 11-12-13, though the day was mundane as it should be! Already we are looming towards the end of the year, and before the eye blinks, it’s going to be January 1, 2014. I have felt that 2013 was an exceptionally fast year, it has been really fast with only regrets in place of not being able to complete a lot of things that I really wanted to do this year. The silver lining in the dark clouds is definitely this blog baby of mine, I should say. I have no words to describe how this hobby of mine has taken a turn for good and become a part of life, Alhamdulillah. By the Almighty’s grace, things have been good, the friends I have received through this little span of blogging have been very close and I take it…
Chicken Liver Curry
If there are quotes that are so reflective, nobody can beat the beauty at which Rumi blends it all. The words and the phrases go on well with each other so well that the whole meaning of the phrase takes a different turn. Let’s take this quote that caught my attention a couple of days ago. The quote is so simple, yet very deep and profound. Actually speaking, the beauty of the heart is one which needs an additional insightful view, so that you are able to see it in another person. It is easy to appreciate beauty which is visible to the eyes but to cherish the beauty of the heart, it needs more than an eye to look into. It involves much more than the five sense organs to know how beautiful a person can be from the heart. And yes, while the beauty which catches the eye…
Chickpeas/ Channa Masala in Coconut Milk
Aaah…. I guess I can start slowly relaxing now! Even though not completely back, I guess a little bit here and there. I have had a rocking time for the past three weeks, with marathon running around the whole of this country! My full family is in town and we have been travelling from one corner to another, driving for long kilometers, hogging like mad and have a lot of fun. I did miss blogging, but then the fun times were not to be missed, right? In between all the good things, I lost my USB which had all my blog material and I am at a loss, to having to start again with a lot of work, but squeezed on time. But then I don’t want to give up, definitely not! It’s a lot of my hard work that has got lost, but I know I have quite a…
Egg Peas Curry
A statement that I hold it on to so closely… One thing is there withme, once I am bent on to do something, I have to do it. I hate having to stop in midways and I give up only if the circumstances are so unfriendly that I am forced to leave it uncompleted. Otherwise, I love to do things with my full heart into it and do it properly, to my satisfaction. That is what exactly I am doing with this blog. I feel so good to be feeding it so frequently and that gives me a lot of satisfaction. Something that I started with a lot of “ifs” and “buts”, but by Allah’s blessings, is moving forward to be something that I really cherish and will do so for quite some time! Many of them who take cooking as a chore, may feel that blogging is a form…
Zafrani Murg Masala | Chicken Saffron Curry
I feel so refreshed today, thanks to the long hours of sleep I got last night. My kids are very fidgety as far as sleeping is concerned. They hate to sleep! Seriously, what’s wrong with today’s kids? My umma keeps telling how much we used to sleep as kids and lamenting about the lack of sleep of my kids. I keep telling them, my darlings, you should understand that when the time comes when you really want to sleep, you will not be able to sleep, just like your ummi is!!! Hehe… I really miss my sleep… Those long hours of undisturbed sleep, waking up to the slight sun rays peeping through the curtains… Now life is so mechanical that you have to wake up when the alarm rings or else your whole schedule goes for a toss! Life is never the same always, right… hehe… Yesterday, a change in…
Naadan Beef Urulakizhangu Curry | Beef Curry with Potatoes
Today seems to be such a beautiful day. Even though the temperatures are not that low to speak off, still a look outside from my balcony speaks of a lot of serenity. Can be because it’s the blessed Friday!!! When the skies look clear with a beautiful tinge of blue, I feel automatically it would make anybody’s mood feel nice. I enjoyed my time in the kitchen, peaking out to see the beautiful blue time to time. By the way, my parents have reached safely back home and the kids seem to be missing them more than I do! I sometimes feel they also need a break from their current surroundings, right? 🙂 Normally when unmma is around, it’s easy to decide on dinner. She will decide on the main ingredient and then I have to do the rest. One day, while I came back from office, umma had…
Ginger Mushroom Curry
Seriously, I was considering to not post anything today. I really don’t know… I am not in a mood, maybe not in a mood to write or tap anything, rather than not post a recipe! I guess I am passing through a dry phase now, where my mind has just given up on me and is not ready to give in to my requirement for some random ramblings!!! So I was thinking not to post anything today, because I don’t have anything to talk about. But somehow, I cant! This blog seems to have become a part of me now – should I call it dedication or obsession, I really don’t know! I really don’t want it to be the second for sure, to reach a stage where it will dictate a lot of things. So I better call it dedication – that sounds like a really mild word, as…
Murg Dopiaza | Chicken in Onion Sauce
Have you ever felt how it means to “let go”? We always keep reading, “Instead of holding things tight, let it go. If it is not meant for you, it will go away but if it is meant for you, it will come back.” Such beautiful words that are good for framing most of the time and easy to say. But when you are faced with a situation which requires to take action, many of us don’t know how to do it and how to react. Finally I have realized how it feels to “let go”. There were a few “demons” living inside my head which was inhibiting a lot of my actions. Finally, I got a nice big hit and I took the decision to “let go”. It was difficult but once I opened up and let it go, I am feeling very much at ease. It has…
Bhindi Kurma | Okra Kurma
I was just counting and just realised that 8 days of my leave is already over!!! Boohoo… there’s still loads left to do and I really don’t know how to schedule things, but I guess I should just move with the flow. The weekend has been hectic but fun, had some good family time and a lot of travelling…. It’s always that good days seem to fly faster, so I guess I should just be content with the way days are moving… 🙂 I guess after an overdose of sweet stuff on my blog, which is happening after a long time, I should be giving a breather to this space!!! So thought of posting a vegetarian recipe. Just like I say, all the time, cooking vegetables is always a big challenge in my home. Even I have a tough time deciding what to cook when I am not in…
Varutharacha Kozhi Curry – Chicken Curry with Roasted Coconut Paste
What a beautiful day today!!! It’s summer and it’s raining! Can you believe that? I guess in my whole stay in the UAE, it must be the first time I’m seeing the rains in summer… While getting ready for office, I could hear the sound of the rain drops from outside and since I was really in a sleepy mood, I thought I was dreaming. But then, when the sound got a bit strong, I just went out and there… the roads are wet and the drops were quite large! I’ve been yearning to see the rain for quite some time and there you go, the Almighty heard it, it looks like! Though not as much as the rains in Kerala, this little rain came like a whiff of freshness… MaShaAllah… what bliss!!! 🙂 🙂 There are hardly any more days remaining in Ramadan. By Wednesday, we would…
Vellapayar/ Vanpayar Curry | Black Eyed Beans Curry
Now we are on the last 10 days of Ramadan. This month always seems to fly, despite us not wanting it to be like that. Good times always tend to move on quickly, doesn’t it? The last 10 days are very important as it is believed that during one of these days, our holy book, the Qur’an was revealed. We call the day as Lailathul Qadr, the night of destiny. During the odd nights of the last ten days, believers are encouraged to stay up all night in prayers and invoke Allah’s blessings. A little slide to brief about the night: You can find here some information, which is beautifully and precisely mentioned regarding this blessed night, in case if it interests you to know! 🙂 Off to today’s recipe – If there is one beans that I fall flat for, then it’s black eyed beans. I can…