Phulka

You all must be wondering why exactly on earth I'm putting up a picture of "Roti" ? As it is the famous line of a film - what do we need to survive ? "Roti, Kapda, aur Makan". So you can see "Roti" is the most vital thing. Actually, there is another reason why I've chosen this topic today. Well before marriage I never entered the kitchen. I never needed to and more so, though I enjoyed eating but had no inclination for cooking. During our courtship period, I realized that my boyfriend, now husband is a big foodie. He once went to someone's party and made it a point to ask the recepie of stuffed capsisum from the host's wife. He is just so passionate about cooking. So its a shame if I tell a person like him that I do not know how to cook. So as I loved him, I decided to prepare myself for the forthcoming big change in my life. I took more initiateves at home, offered help at the kitchen. Tried my hands with some basic things like dal, bhat, sabji. Unfortunately my preparations were good enough for me, my mother was also very happy but I realized only after my marriage that it was not the same for others. They are non bengalies thus roties or "Phulkas", as they commonly call these, are integral to their lives. And here I was standing, having never dirtied my hand with flour before, did not know how to knead, did not know how to make a roti. It took only a day for this interesting news to spread like fire. Relatives were talking. One fine day, one person was at our home, and I was sitting alone with her for a while, so  before my mother-in-law could repeat this whole thing in her own mother tounge, I told her myself. To my surprise, she did not raise her eyebrows, rather she said " Even if you don't know, don't go on talking about it. Take your time and learn. Its nothing difficult, it just needs practice that's all." I really wished that in-laws understood that. Anyway, at home in New Delhi, I was prepaering tiffin for my husband since day one. And whatever sabji I made (palak paneer, kofta, mix veg) one thing was common with all of them and that is - "Phulka". And I used Pillesbury chaki fresh atta, that gave me a little boost in getting things right. Though I did not knead the dough still, I made the rest. A complete circle roti is still to be perfected but "phulka phulta zaroor hain". And another thing I'll mention here that my husband never complained of what I made or how I made.

No Butter is added to this milk

What is this? This is a glass full of chilled "Buttermilk". As I was telling yesterday, every place has some unique eating trends of its own. This is an integral part of Gujrat. My husband was posted to a place called Porbander, popularly known for being Gandhiji's Birthplace. The day we reached that place, we had a welcome party at the Circuit Villa. That was my first exposure to the famous "Gujrati Thali" ( about which I'll talk at some other time), along which was served this - Buttermilk. I was avoiding it, thinking it to be a very watery version of a glass of lassi. Then, one of my husband's staff approached me and said "Madam, you are not drinking this!! this is buttermilk, we believe it is good for digestion. Porbander is a place for acidity, you'll experience it as you spend more time in here. We might eat lot of oily stuff but we make sure to wash it all down with this "Buttermilk" - Try it". That talk on "Buttermilk" insisted me to drink at least one glas, as a mark of respect to him, but I did not quite like it. Then on, I noticed whenever we were invited to anyone's house for lunch or dinner, the very first thing that used to be brought on table was a huge jug of "Buttermilk", that made things clear that it was a very integral part of their dietery chart. Well, he was right I started getting all those acidity pangs. I still did keep this at bay as I was not convinced with it's taste. I was pregnant at that time, so taste did mean a lot to me, as slighttest dislike made me throw up. It was well after my delivery that once my husband took me to a place called " Bombay Dinning Hall". I was damn thirsty and as a welcome drink I was served "Buttermilk" with spices sprinkled on top and chopped corriander added for that touch of green. It was served chilled in hot summer noon, thus the setting was perfect to quench my thirst. Then on I realized that nothing was wrong with the buttermilk, may be it was not served perfect to my taste. and more so presentation also counts. If it appeals to your eyes, automatically half the battle is won. Rest depends on how much in need of it you are, like me in this case, I was thirsty enough to be willing to accept everything. Lastly the level of expectation, I was expecting nothing. Thus it pleasantly surprised me with its soothing salty taste. So since that day till now it is part of our daily diet too. And my son being born in the land of Gujjus, he actually makes sure to remind me of pouring a glass for him even if I forget.

Egg all Rolled Up

I am from Kolkatta - a land of big Foodies. 
Today I'll talk about my favourite "Egg Roll". Though it is not a traditional food still if you walk on the lanes of Kolkatta, you'll find every shack is  selling this. The most convenient snack - Paratha with egg in it all rolled up nicely and handed over to you...just bite it and move on.

I gradually started eating other derivates of roll like - pottato roll, paneer roll, mutton roll, chicken roll, fish roll, kabab roll etc. But still I'll say that my tummy lies with Egg Roll. Once during Durga Puja, one of the Bhaiyas in my area thought of setting up a puja special roll stall, and I remember me getting all dressed up in my new dress and asking for 10 rupees from my grandmother and heading straight to the Bhaiya's shop. I placed order to his employee and waited on and on and on. As I was known to him "parar to/ muhalle ki" so that proved to be a hindrance in my case. He was more keen in pleaseing big customers who had multiple orders, my one single order was not tempting enough. He was paying a lot of attention in  bagging new customers, in the process ignoring me completely- "ghar ki murgi dal barabar" - "where shall she go, guranteed, she will buy from me only". That day my favourite egg roll helped me get an insight into human behaviour. Well I was in school then. I grew up with my loyalty towards egg roll. It was there for me, when I was coming back all tired and hungry from my tution classes during my colleage days. It was there when I was sitting up late in the National Library breaking my head over some big fat books during my University days. It was there when I was running after Doctors as a medical representative and never had enough time for lunch. When my fiance (who is from Himachal) came down to Kolkatta for the first time, I fed him Rolls and he loved it. Then I got married and left Kolkatta for New Delhi, there trust me I missed a lot my Egg Roll. Every place has got some food trends of it's own...and sadly Egg Roll was not part of Delhi. Once when I went to Gurgaon Mall there in one of the shops at the Food  Court, I saw "Roll" was written so instictively I rushed there and places order and eagerly waited for it. It was delivered to me in nicely wrapped box, but the momment I openend it I realised it was not the same. It was egg rolled up in rumali roti and sliced up into two - it had a variant name - "Kathi Roll" and it is not anywhere close to "Egg Roll". Then my husband was transferred to Gujrat. I felt starved of my love. So one fine day I decided to do it myself. So I made the paratha first, poured out the liquide egg on top which in no time settled down inseparably, stuffed it with greens and painted it red with sauce...then only one thing was remaining ....Bite - Bite - Bite