Lauki Chana Dal

Lauki Chana dal
(Squash with lentils)


Ingredients:
Lauki (Calabash/Ops squash)
Chana dal (Black chickpeas without the seed coat) - soaked 2 hours
1 medium onion
1 tomato
Ginger 1 inch
2 Chillies(Optional - to taste)
1 Tbsp oil
Heeng
Zeera(Cumin)
Haldi(Turmeric)
Garam Masala


Lauki Chana Dal is a common dish/sabzi in our home. Lauki is beneficial, dal is nutritious, whats not to like? DH would prefer I made it spicier though, but kids wont eat it then. Well, I cant please everyone, so he has to make do with chillies on the side. 


The recipe is so simple. I started the tadka/chaunk in the pressure cooker itself. Heat the oil in the cooker and add the heeng. Wait till the aroma of heeng fills your kitchen(few seconds) and add cumin seeds. When they are done splattering, add the chopped onions. Let it brown a bit, then grate the ginger over the onions. (Or you could nicely grate it in a bowl and then add to the onions). Add the haldi, Garam Masala, and the chopped tomato. Mix. Add the dal and lauki. And then the salt. I like to chop my lauki small, though not superfine. My kids can be picky about big lauki pieces, even though it is pretty soft when cooked. 


Add some water at this point and close the cooker. 3 whistles and it is done. Garnish with Dhaniya(Cliantro/Coriander) leaves. If you want a little more richness, add a tadka after the cooker opens. 
Heat oil in a small vessel, add some Zeera(cumin) seeds, some dhaniya(Coriander powder) and a little red chilli. Be careful, this can burn fast. Pour over the Lauki Chana Dal and serve. 

Lauki Chana Dal

Lauki-chana is not usually served at special occasions. It is more of an everyday dish - the kind you grow up and remember as the common home food of your childhood. I love the simple and hearty taste of this dish. 

Shubh Janmashtami

Happy Janmashtami!
My fruit and mexican papaya salad for the vrat dinner. 

White peach and Mexican papaya

Fresh papaya-peach salad

We had kutu/aloo pooris with raita for lunch, but I had no time to take pictures... next time maybe. 

Yosemite trip: Tuolumne and Tioga

Yosemite June 2011 part 2: Continued from last post

It was nice to wake up in the tent, the sun streaming through the “windows”.  We had breakfast, packed up and left for Tioga pass. The traffic is bad only in the valley it seems. On a regular weekend that is, long weekends are another story.

South fork of Merced. Is mod se jaate hain... 

Driving eastwards on Tioga road, it was so nice to see snow in June. The kids especially loved it. 

Tioga Road. You can see the snow all over the sides

We stopped at Olmstead point, Lake Tenaya, Tuolumne Meadows. 

Tree at Olmstead Point

Half Dome from Olmstead Point

Snow all around

Lake Tenaya Panorama that DH took- Click for larger one

And finally Lake Ellery near Lee Vining. There was so much snow on and around the Lake. The air was chilly and it was very windy. I could have stayed there an hour just sitting at the lake side – the view was breathtaking. 

Lake Ellery

 We turned around at Lake Ellery and started the long journey back home. We were at Lake Ellery last year as well, at about the same time. We were returning from Tahoe and decided to try the eastern route into Yosemite for the first time. The scenery was very different from and as beautiful as the western entry – and much less traffic! Mono Lake and Lee Vining were amazing. This is why DH really wanted to see Lake Ellery again, even at the cost of not having enough time to stop there much. He did all the driving, and we were home by 8PM. Wonderful two days!

Next trip, it will be Hetch Hetchy. Whenever we can muster enough courage for another road trip, hopefully this summer. 

Yosemite Valley & the falls - Bridalveil, Yosemite, Vernal

We were in Yosemite in mid-June. How come? DH woke me up at 7:00AM saying he got a campsite at Yosemite, are we game for camping tonight? Huh.. I mumbled something and tried to to go back to sleep. Didn't work. While I prefer planned trips, he likes impromptu ones better. 


We are there few times every year, and everytime it amazes me. This year the snow pack was much higher and the waterfalls are spectacular. It was still snowing on Memorial day weekend! If you are planning on going, this is the best time. This was the first tent camping trip for the kids and luckily everything went well. No one said "I want to go home" when it was time to sleep in the tent. :-)


Day 1: We left home at 10:00AM, and reached the campground around 2:30PM. Pitched the tent and left for the valley. Even though this was not a long weekend, traffic was biggest pain. On the plus side, the kids had their dinner in their car seats, I didn't have to yell or chase them. Yes, when it comes to eating we are that kind of a family. 

Bikers next to the south fork of Merced River, note the waterfall in the background

We did the usual route... stopped at Bridalveil falls, got drenched. 

Bridalveil Falls

Bridalveil Falls up close - at this point we are soaked through

Bridge near Bridalveil falls - this stream was roaring

Then the Yosemite falls. 

Yosemite Falls from the meadows

Top of Yosemite Falls

Finally Vernal Falls. Before we had kids, we would hike to the top of Vernal falls every year, though we never made it to Nevada falls. Then the last 5 years we didn't see Vernal falls(except from Glacier Point) because the kids were little. This time we decided to try the Vernal Falls footbridge. This is a 1.6 miles round trip which is about halfway from the top of Vernal with a great view of the falls. With two boys 2.5 and 4.5 years old and an umbrella stroller, we set off from Happy Isles. The way up was no picnic, but wasn't too bad either. We were prepared to turn back if it got too hard or risky. And my younger one didn't even want to ride the stroller most of the time. Half the people on the way up were had smiles for us and "you are doing great"s ... The other half gave me the look like "what are you thinking - doing this with little kids!". It felt so good to reach the footbridge and see the Vernal Falls properly. Aaaahhh victory! 

Perched on a tree, enjoying the falls

Millepede? On the Mist Trail

Came back down, kids had dinner while stuck in the traffic in the valley. DH insisted on cooking back at the campground. Quick dinner and then the cozy tent. We were all off to sleep in no time. Unlike last year when younger DS refused to sleep in the cabin at Curry Village. What a day!

Merced River in the evening

P.S.: I didnt have much time for night photography. This one is taken from the car at a traffic stop. The foreground is over exposed, it looks like it were on fire. Hope I have better luck(and more time) when we do this next. 


Next post: Tuolumne and Tioga pass

Planting in pots

When I lived in an apartment, I used to dream of the day I would live in a house with a yard, however small. So I could put my plants in actual soil rather than lots of little pots. This is something I have heard of from a lot of people. The strange thing is, that now I have a yard and I prefer to grow in pots!

Somehow my results in pots are looking healthier. I have more control over it, from watering to moving the plant in and out of the heat. The beds and borders in the yard, even after tilling, digging and amending the soil are not doing that well. They need more water and are more affected by heat and cold. Why is that? I think I need a lot more mulch. I dont feel like setting up drip lines yet. 

And then there is this lady, who never waters her plants! They just grow from ground water. I don't think I can stop watering altogether, but I would like to water them less. 

Rainy Day

Its a warm day(69 F/20.5 C) with warm rain. Feels almost like the monsoons :-). It was drizzling when I was transplanting the beans and I didn't feel the need to go inside. Its wet and humid, but not cold. I like this rain. By the time I was done, I realized that I was drenched. What fun! Rimjhim gire sawan... 

Happy Summer Solstice

Sunset in the Sierras: June 18, 2011, 8:22 PM PT. Somewhere on 140 while driving down from Yosemite Valley to Midpines along Merced river. 

Wilting Tomatoes

I transplanted my tomato seedlings yesterday morning. There were about 9 of them in a small pot and it was getting crowded. I put the strongest in the raised bed and the smaller ones in large pots. They were about 2.5 inches tall and the temperature yesterday was supposed to be 75 only. I transplanted and watered them and then got busy with work. I didn't have time to check on them until evening. Out of the 8 plants in the bed, 4 were completed wilted and dead! I know I should have checked sooner and watered them again.. but I didn't think it would be so bad. 


Of the survivors, 4 eggplants were very wilted and the 2 remaining tomatoes as well. I was disappointed. They will probably live but take time to recover first. I have setup cardboard cloches for them with holes on the sides. And will be checking on them often. Look like I need a strategy to protect my plants from heat. They were too young to transplant maybe?

See the lone plant in the front left corner. I transplanted it last week and watered every few hours on the first day. That one has been fine.

Full Moon Night

Wednesday night was warm, with a cool breeze interrupting intermittently. And there was a full moon. Perfect conditions to go howl at the moon. No really, it was the kind of night you want to sit out in the moonlight. 


I didn't get to be out for long, my son woke up and I had to rush back inside. I did take some pictures. They are not much, but enough to remind me of the nice night it was. These were taken without a tripod. Need to find the tripod for next time. 

And now tell me what this is:

It's a picture of my bathroom window's sandblasted glass with the moon lighting up the glass through a tree. It looked really beautiful, even though I couldn't capture it in the photo. 

Moonrise over firs

Identify the yellow bug

I have a mystery bug from my garden. I was preparing a pot for planting one of the tomato plants when it came up. I was surprised, since it was deep down in the large 10 gallon pot. I had not expected anything down there, especially not any organism so colorful. I see so many bug that I know nothing about. And I don't know if they are good or bad for my plants - so if I should squish them or not! I didn't squish this one. It appeared scared on being out in the sunlight and was trying hard to escape. I just put him back in the pot. Anyone know what it is?

I will post the name as soon as I find out. 

Garden ups and downs

So the last post about Spinach had no pictures of Spinach and not many details either. So here they are(With a pea plant in the foreground).

(they are just seedlings - what is she raving about!?)

My Spinach is all planted in a neat row at last. I planted it in pots and then transplanted it to the bed this time. Most of the things I planted directly in the ground were eaten right away, so it seemed like a good idea. I am looking at this picture hard since there won’t be any actual Spinach to harvest this time. The temperature here has finally reached the 80s, first time this year. So it’s only a matter of time before it bolts. Most of the other veggies are not doing so well in the beds, though they seemed fine in the pots. I think I used too much compost in the beds and it’s too hot and too dry. It doesn’t seem to be holding much moisture. Lesson learnt. Better stick to pots as much as I can until I can fix the beds. I am thinking too much about these plants.

This is what I have right now:

- Spinach

- Tomatoes

- Bell Pepper

- Eggplant (Brinjal/Aubergine)

- Basil

- Tulsi (Holy Basil)

- Pudina (Mint - I don’t know what kind)

- Oregano

- Parsley

- Dhaniya (Cilantro/Coriander)

- Zucchini Squash

- Peas

- Sunflower

- Cantaloupe (A kind of Kharbuja)

- Chili

The hot weather is nice, it feels like summer :-)


Here is my Tulsi from seed. 

Mint is doing well of course. 

Zucchini is taking off...

When do people start their fall garden? September I guess?

What do you grow in your fall garden? I would love to know. It doesn’t go lower than 30 degrees F (-1 degree Celsius) here, so I am wondering if my Spinach will grow then.

Also, what is one supposed to plant in June? I feel like I should be planting something, just don’t know what! Maybe I will just try my Coleus again, the last attempt failed.

Brentwood on Memorial day

We were in Brentwood for cherry picking on May 30. The kids had a good time, but it was crowded, hot and dusty. The scenery on the way was interesting, as were the clouds. The windmills were a big hit with the kids, they had never seen them from so close. 

Spinach Spinach everywhere

So much to say and no words to say them through. I have never been the articulate one. So even though I scribble here, its far from being an actual outlet :-). But there are so many mediums to express oneself. I am surprised how much I have come to like being in my little garden. Sitting in the backyard with a mug of coffee, reading or working. Watching the seedlings come out, counting the leaves, the odd shaped little ones. It fills me with so much peace. Being outdoors, even in the backyard such a delight - It’s not too hot and not too cold right now.

 Some nice colors on these. Everything looks fresh after the rains. 

Back to planet earth. I love it when the sun comes out after the rain and everything is covered in little drops, shining and sparkling. This hardly feels like summer, it has been quite a cool year. On Saturday we had quite a downpour and everything was shimmering. I need to find more cool weather plants like spinach, nothing else seems to be growing.

Connection to home

Ma, I found my Tulsi seeds!! I had kept them safely in wait for spring and couldn’t find them when spring arrived. One whiff of the fragrant pods transported me home. My plant from last year had died from poor drainage and the frost I think. I only have a few seeds so I am really apprehensive about how it will do. I don’t have the fancy growing lights and other stuff. I just filled a big pot with compost, topped off with potting soil and pressed the seeds on top. I really hope they take off. This week has been cool and though its summer, it isn’t nearly as hot as India. I will try to keep it warm and watered.

For those who don’t know, Tulsi (Holy Basil) is a plant prized for medicinal purposes in India. It’s like Basil, but has its own distinct smell and taste. This is a plant of importance in Hinduism and is grown in most houses in India for good luck. It is considered a connection to the gods. For most Indians living abroad, it’s a connection to home too. There are other revered plants (Trees like Pipal - Ficus Religiosa, wud/Banyan - Ficus Benghalensis) but Tulsi is the most common and easy to grow. It is great in teas and is a common remedy for cold and many other ailments. There are countless more purposes of this herb, I only know a few.

I have only 1 seed of Kari patta and I plan to take the chance and plant it now. It should be able to take hold now that the weather is warmer. If not, I will try to grow it from a sprig/branch, though I am my doubts about that for this plant. Back home in India, our Kari patta plant would drop seeds after flowering and new plants would grow right under it. I only recently heard that someone has grown it from a sprig, so that is heartening. My previous attempts to grow both Tulsi and Kari patta from store bought seedlings have failed. Fingers crossed this time.

My other seeds don’t seem to be doing well. I realized I haven’t been watering them as frequently as needed. The sunflower seeds are the only ones that have sprouted well and they are growing fast! The Chili (mirchi) seedlings have sprouted, but they stalled after last weeks cold spell. I have a few spinach shoots, and very few peas. But no tomato, no eggplant, no Bell pepper (Shimla Mirch/Capsicum). So I have decided to watch the seeds and seedlings like a hawk for the next 10 days and do everything possible to make them grow grow grow. 

Slow and Steady

Not much progress on the garden front. I have some shoots coming up, but they are a long way from transplanting. I am using that time to slowly prep the garden beds and pots. Is it a problem to plant vegetables under Giant Thuja trees? I guess I will find out. Shade is not the issue here, the spot gets maximum sunlight all day. My worry is around the roots. Will the Thuja prevent the veggies from getting good amount of water and nutrients? Oh well. I think I will go ahead with it anyway. 

Shahi Paneer

My kids especially love this one, and we make it often. When my sister gave me this book, I thought I will use it once in a while, like many other cookbooks. But this one has turned out to be a true gem, I use it very often, and every recipe turns out great.

I really like the nutmeg used here. It brings out a special subtle flavor - like Hing does. And a little goes a long way. Refrying the gravy makes for a richer taste. Before we had kids we used to make a lot of Methi Kadai paneer from the same cook book. The picky eaters that my kids are, they won’t eat Shimla Mirch (Bell Pepper/Capsicum), and we rarely ever make it now.

I don't use any sugar or ketchup which is used in the original recipe. I am usually not fond of sugar in my savory foods (with a few exceptions). Thanks Sis for the book, it’s been a life saver!

Paneer Shahi

(Adapted from Nita Mehta's Indian Vegetarian Cooking)

1 tsp Zeera(cumin seeds) - optional

3 Tbsp oil

2 onions chopped coarsely

1 inch ginger - chopped

1 dry red chili

6 big tomatoes chopped

1/4 cup beaten yogurt/curd/dahi

4 Tbsp Almonds/Cashews soaked for 1 hour

(The actual recipe uses Cashewnuts, as do most Shahi Paneer recipes. I prefer almonds, but you can use other nuts. Almonds usually need to be soaked longer and can be peeled, though I use them with the peel)

1/4 tsp crushed javetri(nutmeg/mace) soaked with the nuts

250 gms/ half pound Paneer

salt to taste

1/2 tsp chili powder

3/4 tsp garam masala

1/2 cup milk (optional, to adjust consistency)

Recipe:

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the cumin seeds/zeera, then the chopped onions, ginger and red chili. Cook till the onions are deep pink and add the chopped tomatoes.

Cook covered till the oil separates. Add the beaten curd and mix well. Then cook again on medium for 3-5 minutes.

Switch off the heat and cool the mixture. Puree this with a little water if needed.

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan(kadhai) and add the prepared puree. While this is frying, add the soaked nuts with the nutmeg to the blender and grind that to a paste.

Fry for a few minutes and add the salt and garam masala.

Add the nuts/nutmeg paste and mix. It will look like the picture of the creamy swirls below.

Cook for a few minutes and then add the paneer.

You can adjust the consistency at this point by adding milk or cream or even water if its too thick. I just eyeball everything, I am not good with measuring(and hence have a very hard time baking but that’s another story). So my recipe turns out to be different consistency depending on how much tomatoes I had at hand and how many nuts I threw in the bowl to soak. I evaluate at the end to fix the consistency. I usually try to keep it a little on the fluid side, since it thickens a little as it cools. And also because I suspect the main reason the kids like this is for the gravy, so the more gravy the better.

You can garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves (hara dhaniya). Serve with Roti, Naan or Paratha.

Kshan-Bhangur

Here are a bunch of pictures from my yard. Trying to stay busy, find joy in small things and not think about a personal mishap from last week that is persistently pestering me. Only material damage, so there is a lot of be thankful about. But it still shook me. Brings one to ponder over how ephemeral life is. How a small change can steer us in a whole new direction. How you think you know what course life is taking – but really you never know. Time will heal, bring wisdom. I sure hope so, especially for the latter. You don’t get a lot of do-overs once you grow up. 

क्षण भंगुर – Kshan Bhangur(literally - Destroyed in a second) : Short lived, transient, ephemeral.