Living January - Curried Chick Peas and Bok Choy Salad

It has been an interesting start to the year and a pretty eventful month. For one, we have had record amount of snow dumped in the city leading to more than one day of disruptive transit and other services. But, the beauty of the "morning-after" is irrefutably ethereal!

In the night, as the gentle flakes dance down in intoxicated frenzy pulled down by the forces of gravity and cover everything in a white, virgin shroud, the night becomes illuminated with pure glow. It's the perfect scene to behold before going to bed and dreaming happy thoughts.

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Chocolate, Avocado and Orange Mousse Entremets - Daring Bakers

As every month edges closer to its last week, there come a bit of flurry into the FSK household. I am fully aware, on day 1, that the DB posting date comes around 26 days hence. Yet, the passage of time takes me by surprise every 30 days!! LOL.

For most of the month, I manage to run on cruise control, save for the occasional turns off the beaten path. Thankfully, atleast once a month, I am literally shoved off the main road, down a winding byway that promises much discovery. Often, it ends in a marked adrenaline rush and a happy ending ;-)! {I shall not elaborate!}

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Chicken Curry Puffs

The British left behind many legacies when they quit India. The most perceived is, of course, the pervasive presence of the English language in the average Indian's life, which, has largely contributed to the country being catapulted as a significant player on the global scene.

I am indeed thankful for the many other subtleties that are not always mainstream. Being married to a Parsi, these little things are brought much more often to my notice. Parsis were the most anglicized during the British Raj and perhaps, even maligned for their adoption of many English traditions. But, they are a lot more clued into the Queen's culture than most Indians. Besides being originally Persian also helps!

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Chomping on Granola Bars and thinking Economy....

Hope everyone is having a good week! Mine started fine but then I came down with a bout of cold and congestion {pout}. I did take the flu vaccine, so I guess I am skirting the land of fever but cold is meanly laughing at me, saying I can't escape it's clammy tentacles no matter how many antibodies are coursing through me.. {sniff}

So, while I sniffle away my mind begins to wander. Recently, I have been pondering a lot about the perplexing state of affairs, literally and economically. Let's take stock, shall we. US is currently running at a 9.2% unemployment rate with no logical reasoning for it to trend down as companies are fundamentally not adding incremental value and hence have no real reason to hire, neither is the market justifying any addition.

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Guest Posting on Rasa Malaysia - South Indian Chicken Biriyani

Late November, a mail came into my mailbox with "Bee, Rasa Malaysia" in the From tag. My heart skipped a beat! You see, Bee has been one of the bloggers whose blog has been an immense source of inspiration to me; I looked on her work as a mentor to mine, enabling me to set goals and paths to where I want to go with mine.

So, it was indeed a joyous moment, befitting the Season, when I read the mail inviting me to do a guest post on her fabulous blog. I whooped and then got right into overdrive to figure out what to feature for this opportunity. Bee asked me if I could make her most requested Indian recipes, Chicken Biriyani. And, of course, I obliged, especially since that is one popular recipe at home as well :)

So, please visit Bee's blog, Rasa Malaysia, for my story and recipe for the delicious South Indian Chicken Biriyani.




South Indian Chicken Biriyani Recipe

For the marinade

6 chicken drumsticks
Small bunch of cilantro, with only the soft stalks
¼ cup mint
2 T ginger and garlic paste
2 tsp ground cumin
1 T cream
Salt as needed

For the Curry

1 large onion, diced
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2-inch chunk of ginger, minced
1 large bunch of cilantro
½ cup mint
1 cup thick coconut milk
2 cups water/broth
1 T ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
2 T garam masala
6-7 whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon
6-7 whole peppercorns
3 whole star anise
3 dry bay leaves
Salt as needed

For the rice

3 cups Basmati rice
½ small onion, julienned
3 whole cloves
2 cardamom pods, cracked
1 bay leaf
2 T ghee
5 ½ cups of water

For garnish

Handful of cashews, roasted in ghee

Method:

Grind together the marinade ingredients. Make slits on the flesh of the drumsticks, coat with the marinade and let rest for a few hours or overnight.

To make the curry, saute the onions, garlic and ginger in oil until translucent. Remove from heat and cool. Grind together the cooked onions, cilantro and mint. In a deep bowl, roast the whole spices in ghee until their aromas are released. Return the onion mixture to the pan and cook until the oil starts seperating. Add the dry spices and salt, mix and saute for a few minutes. Add the coconut milk and water and bring to a boil. Add the marinated chicken pieces and cook on medium until the meat is fully cooked. Let the curry cool until just warm.

Meanwhile, prepare the rice. Roast the whole spices in ghee and the saute the onions in the same. When soft, add the Basmati rice and roast for a few minutes. Add water and salt and cook the rice until just done. Let it cool to warm. Do not touch the rice when hot as they are most brittle then.

When ready to assemble, spread the rice in a deep dish, oven proof pan. A little by little add the curry and gently tossed until it’s just wet. The recipe makes a lot of curry than you need. For 3 cups of raw rice, you will not need more a cup and a half of the curry. Arrange the chicken pieces around the dish, cover with a bit rice, so they don’t dry out. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Check in between to see if the biryani is drying out. If so, add more curry and gently toss.

To serve, scoop out the rice into a platter, arrange the drumsticks around and sprinkle roasted cashews over. Biryani is typically served with a simple raita made with diced onions in yogurt.

Cold Weather Comfort: Rosemary scented Harissa Beef and Lentil Stew

Someone, somewhere seems to have a vendetta with the North East US. We seem to have become quite the dumping ground for the impetuousness of our weather mother. Nary a week passes by without a severe weather warning in the horizon. In the last three weeks, we have had two snow storms, one leaving behind a mountain of white fluff and the other a hill, but still something to talk about!

The thing is, I think snow is beautiful, I mean to the point of breathtaking... as it is coming down. Or, if you are one of those catch-the-dawn kind of people, then perhaps, you get to witness it's ethereal beauty before it gets sullied by the reality of life.

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Baked! Homemade Croissants

If I ever go on a diet, the one thing that I would really find hard, if not impossible, to give up would be the flaky, buttery, mood boosters, Croissants. And, I am willing to gamble that this delicate French pastry evokes similar allegiances in many. A friend of mine who recently decided to turn vegan still cannot give up these delicacies, neither does he plan to! :-)

I remember reading somewhere on the blogosphere that this particular pastry has been ranked high on the list of the Most Difficult Recipes. Since then they have been on my mind, tucked away in a corner, but never forgotten.

Then, a few days back, I came across Tracey's gorgeous blog listing her top 10 favorites from 2010. And, the pride and joy of the list was.... you guessed it, flaky Golden Croissants. I decided then and there that these beauties would be one of the first things I baked this year!

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Orange and Rosemary Scones with Blackberry and Rosé Quick Jam

Weekends are, for me, days to unwind, relax and think about what I want to eat. This weekend, I felt like scones. So I baked fresh scones for breakfast, well, actually it turned out to be brunch :D.

I love scones, as much as I love many other British things. But, I can honestly say that the ones from Starbucks are not it! For the real treat, you really have to get them homemade or well, perhaps from Britain would also work, I suppose..:)

I have yet to find a quaint, mostly British place that serves good scones around here. Well, Tea and Sympathy here in NYC was fine but it seemed a tad too adapted for the west-of-the-Atlantic tastes. Besides, I am yet to visit the United Kingdom. So, until then, I guess I'll just have to keep baking them myself! :)

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A little sweet and a little savory...

Soo.. How was everyone's first weekend of 2011? Mine has been relaxing, peaceful, catching up with friends... that sort of thing. :) I think, indeed the perfect weekend for me!

I watched the movie, True Grit. I was pleasantly surprised by it, especially, since I was completely baffled by the Coen brothers' previous production, No Country For Old Men! Jeff Bridges rocks as usual and Matt Damon gives a dependable performance. But, the true star of the movie is Hailee Steinfeld, who delivers an impeccable performance as a determined and tad headstrong 14 year old!

On the note of Jeff Bridges, also watched Tron: Legacy. Bridges was good as usual but the movie felt two years too late in graphics and effects. After Avatar and Iron Man, I have just come to expect a lot more in the next generation movies... too much, you think?

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Wish you a Happy 2011!!! :)

Ah! Bright and not-so-early first morning of 2011. Sipping my mint chai (a very Parsi way of making chai) and not really contemplating.. Peaceful.. Especially after a night that started as a quiet evening with a friend and ended with a party of rambunctious Xbox fun!! No resolutions for the year ahead but am seriously considering buying a Kinect!! It's so much fun and a whole lot of exercise too... :)

Wish you all a fabulous Jan 1st and a glorious year ahead!! :)))

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