Ravioli with a twist

The ravioli is a revolutionary dish and the genesis of this artistic potpourri asIi call it goes back to Italy. The authentic tastes of food has changed over the years and have attained a global vista. Despite a meagre number of Italian food joints in India, the ravioli has come full circle and established itself into the palate of the Indian food connoisseurs like the pizza- quite ironical.

Cheese Souffle

The reigning deity of fast and tastier food is perhaps cheese which goes into the making of appetizing food contingent. To satiate our hunger pangs the fluffy cheese souffle is a must try for a quick snack. Remarkably unique in taste and look, it is also gaining in popularity. I feel that such a dish can give one the leeway to do fusion and experiment if one has a creative inclination.

The Mango Cheesecake

Love of food exceeds all other human desires. And true to this credo, right from the nascent stage of human civilization men have been discovering, creating, innovating and redefining delectable food. The goodness of food to satiate hunger or craving have lead to exotic food variants- enriched with flavour, taste and essential nutrients to suit our palate. It is basically an equitable combination of nature and originality which has paved the way of the unprecedented stride of the food industry. Human oeuvre, enthusiasm and passion for creativity have inspired them to make a paradigm shift of the food trade from the local pantheon towards global arena. The treasure trove of recipes over the decades which hitherto had a small territory has now assumed a wide-ranging stature.

A pot of convenience- the exceptional Moussaka

In the hustle of the modern life, we are not usually in the mood of an elaborate meal; one dish meals come handy when time is premium, especially for working couples. These convenient and well-balanced meals with the winning combination essential nutrients and taste cater well to our busy schedules and are a boon, actually. In the international arena too, such meals have become a part of the regular repertoire. Moreover, one dish meals are hassle free and easy to cook. What’s more, they also save the bother of clearing the clutter and endless washing. One such exciting option is the moussaka which I prepare with a twist.

Pineapple Malpuas

To truly savour the quintessential culinary offering, one has to commence into the most abiding recipes my mom has to offer. Endowed with ‘golden hand’, she is epitome of cuisine and her forte is Bengali sweets. One’s palate will definitely be seduced by her cooking known for its incredible fare. Her overtly generous servings of love and opulent food- a result of generations of passionate obsession with its creation has resulted in creating this masterpiece.

The Call of Paradise

As travel enthusiasts, we were looking for a break in 2014, a sabbatical, albeit with a purpose - probably the smartest and exciting move for urbanites like us. During one such orientation programme for college teachers, ‘voluntarism’ was part of the itinerary which offers one the unique opportunity to combine a tour with a social cause. Needless to say one also discovers in the process about the varied tapestry of cultural and natural diversity while travelling. For all the teachers it was a shift in the paradigm – to gain new perspectives, to interact with people and expand our horizon.

My tryst with nature

What would life be without the illuminating and intrigue consciousness of nature? The treasure trove of natural abundance ignites our basic curiosity and awakens the intense energy hidden in the depths of our minds and familiarises us with our surroundings. Be it the famed natural resorts or picturesque locales, or any other verdant vista, nowhere can you get as close to nature as with the first hand experience with our environment or learning life skills. Taking a panoramic view of my life, I reflected the moment where my grace shined the brightest. My tryst with nature at a tender age has imbibed me with a sense of realization of my surroundings. Nature empowers us with value based learning that updates us with environmental facts and providing a new dimension to reality.

Epitome of Smell

A young boy called Mussallam once joined my tuition class. Teaching has been my profession for almost two decades and I prided myself on being a good disciplinarian. Most of my students therefore, treated me with deferential respect with the newcomer being an exception. Each time I meet a new student, I’m reminded of an incident that happened two years ago; my encounter with a smelly person that still resonates deep in my mind.

Funzoa will Never Beat Reality

To be honest before I start opining about Funzoa, I’m not a technophobe. The modern trend decrees that we must be techno savvy, but- rather like a robot or a device without any originality, we are ever becoming a soulless fad-albeit the fact that it supplies us with gadgets, widgets and apps to distress us from monotony. The funzoa currently leads the funny videos in our smart phones andlaptops - Youtube.com/FunzoaTV with the catchy, colourful songs that cater to friends, families and mostly kids. Most obviously, the Funzoa Teddy appear very cute with eye-catching appearance, super speed acrobatics cum percussion skills thereby creating hilarious sight for the onlookers evoking light hearted comedy. The realm of Funzoa Teddy is a regular feature in birthday or anniversary bashes or any occasion for that matter creating immense amusement for people. A teddy bear perhaps has become a universal life tool as it fosters a great sense of well-being. Unarguably the healing power of the velvety soft teddy bear with a gentle approach is synonymous with a positive effect for people of all ages.

A Lease of Life

Human existence is punctuated by various phases: from one particular stage with its joyfulness and specific crisis to another realm. We therefore, have to alternate between exuberance and apathy, when life is light and easy, and those periods when obstacles block us in every direction.

For Maniamma, a woman hailing from Muthukulam village in Kerala, it was the veritable test of time, loyalty and patience when her husband met with an accident while climbing a coconut tree. On that fateful day, Maniamma and her husband accompanied by a few villagers were on their way towards the coconut grove to fetch the coconuts from the trees.

Chapati Noodles

Ingredients

• Chapatis - 4
• Bell peppers - 2
• Garlic - 1 tsp
• Onions - 2
• Ginger (chopped) - 1 tsp
• Butter - 2 tbsp
• Soya sauce
• Lemon juice

Process

Cut the chapatis into thin strips like noodles. In a pan, fry the chopped bell peppers, garlic, ginger, onion and pepper powder in butter. Add a little soya sauce and lemon juice. Serve hot. Garnish with chopped green chillis.

Vegetable Casserole

Ingredients

• Eggs - 3
• Salt - 1/2 tsp
• Pepper - 1/2 tsp
• Milk - 1 cup
• Vegetables (carrot, beans, cauliflower) cut in cubes, par boiled - 2 cups
• Apple cubes, fresh cherries - as required
• Grated cheese - 1 cup

Process

Mix all the ingredients. Pour it in an oven proof mould. Microwave for six minutes. De-mould and serve with sprinkled cheese.

Fried Chicken Wings

Ingredients

• Chicken wings- 6 pieces
• Buttermilk - 1/2 cup
• Flour - 1/2 cup
• Grated cheese - 1/2 cup
• Pepper powder - 1 tsp
• Egg - 1 piece
• Cornflakes crumbs -  as required

Process

Marinate the chicken wings in buttermilk for two and a half hours. Then dab the pieces with flour, grated cheese and pepper mix. Finally, egg wash the pieces and roll them in cornflakes crumbs. Deep fry till golden.

Amazing Sweet Bread Toast

Ingredients

• Leftover sweets like Kaju Katri, Barfi or Anjeer, cut in cubes - 1 cup
• Orange juice - 1/2 cup
• Bread slices - 6
• Honey - 4 tbsp
• Butter - 2 tbsp

Process

In a pan, reduce the orange juice. Cool. In a bowl, add the sweets cut in cubes, mix butter and honey to it. Now, cut the edges of the bread slices and add butter to both sides. Cut it into halves, pour the orange and honey juice, the sweet cubes and cover it with a buttered bread slice. Repeat the process. Refrigerate and serve a delicious dessert after an hour by topping it with orange juice and honey.

Motichoor Muffins

Ingredients

• Motichoor Ladoos - 6
• Khoya - 1/2 cup
• Sugar - 4 tbsp
• Melted Chocolate - 1/2 cup
• Cream - 4 tbsp
• Cardamom Powder - 1 pinch

Process

Blend the motichoor ladoos into a smooth paste. In a microwave safe bowl, mix the motichoor paste, melted chocolate, sugar, khoya, cardamom and cream. Put the mixture in muffin moulds. Microwave for three minutes. Cool and refrigerate. De-mould and serve.