The Humble Food...... Rotis

Well, lets begin with the introductory to the humble homely food of my native place... Punjab......

The land of joy, happiness, and celebration... In a place like Punjabi, of for that matter in a Punjabi household, there is no word called enough , when it comes to food. Be it the simple Lassi or the rather lavish feast of a dinner, Punjab never fails to intrigue me any lesser every time i go there (which i make sure that i go once a year)

I still have horror memories of my first ever Amritsar breakfast, The Butter laden kulchas, the Lassai with malai .....and yes JALEBIS........

Well, if u haven't gone to Amritsar , u cant imagine how the rising prices of amul butter seem to make no difference to the people in dhabas.....infact they would be more than happy to give u an extra blob. Known as the cereal bowl of India, Punjab hos a lot to do with breads

enlisting some would be:

The king of them all, Kulchas, stuffed leaved bread baked in the tandoor(clay oven)

well dont be surprised.... that is just a little butter..... u want more.... u'll get more

available in various stuffings, Aloo, paneer, daal, masala, mix, gobhi, being some of them

Would love to tell u that the streets of Amritsar are lined with such vendors wou wod not only feed u but even treat u like a king.

Next we come to my favourite Bhatoora

This bread is much like a Puri, but made with a super leavened and well kneaded refined flour dough. the dough needs to be well risen and even better kneaded to get the best results

Knead the dough doth some sugar and yogurt, and knock back for almost 20 minutes

( a tsp of yogurt for every 100g ) rest the dough covered for a few hours till it rises and fry....

the rather chewy dough when fried can yield huffs and puffs of joy......

And lots not forget the mother of all these above the PARATHA.

a staple at all houses, served in various shaped and sises, from breakfast to dinner.

give a Punjabi any food ingredient and he will some how be able to make a Paratha with it .....

much like its humble cousin, the chapati, the paratha can however be, Bigger, heavier, Stuffied and totally satiable and insatiable at the same time......

Available in varies shapes , sizes and forms all over the county, the Punjab version is made with whole wheat flour, stuffed with anything, eg. potato. cauliflower, paneer, spinach, daal, the paratha is the canvas and the punjabi janaani ( the lady of the house) is the artiste, i have not seen any chef make faster rotis than a head of the house in a punjabi joint family.

As racist as this may sound, i don't think u get better parathas anywhere but in north india. You don't need fancy ingredients to make a decent paratha, a whole lot of simplicity, technique and the heart to sum it up all is what it needs.

when ever u wish to make a paratha ... make sure u do so with lodas of love .... fresh ingredients and yes.....ounces of butter on each .....

with a warm welcome ...... Jee Aaya Nu.....

Figs - The forbidden fruit

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he was hungry.

And when he saw a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it, but leaves only, and said to it, let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, how soon has the fig tree withered away!

--Matthew 21:18-20

The next day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find any thing on it: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

And Jesus answered and said to it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.

--Mark 11:12-14

The fig has so much to itself. It is a fruit with many faces. The fruit is simple and is enjoyable to everyone. Its softness has a crunch with the seeds and with its sweetness, it has a lot of nutritional value.

The fruit overall is open to a lot of experimentation and to various combinations. It may be served naturally or with a core of almonds or may also be cooked in wine.

Making this document lead to a lot of taste bud teasing, and learning about a fruit which is fantastic and has lot more to itself than it seems

It may be cursed but if sure to temp all the people who dare to taste it.

Figs can be part of almost any special diet, be it low fat, low sodium, high fiber, weight loss, diabetic or even the Mediterranean. They satisfy a sweet tooth without adding any fat. Their unique satiny texture and seeds provide a satisfying mouth feel and crunch.

Figs are fat-free, sodium-free and, like other plant foods, cholesterol-free.

One serving of figs is 40 grams, about 1/4 cup, or about 3 Calimyrna figs or about 4 to 5 Mission figs.

A small serving of about 1 1/2 dried figs equals 1 fruit exchange, or 15 grams of carbohydrate, provided in the form of glucose and fructose.

Figs are high in fiber, providing 20% of the Daily Value --- more dietary fiber per serving than any other common dried or fresh fruit.

Of the approximately five grams of fiber per serving of California figs, four grams are insoluble and one gram is water-soluble.

Figs have the highest overall mineral content of all common fruits. A 40-gram (1/4 cup) serving provides 244 mg of potassium (7% of the DV), 53 mg of calcium (6% of the DV) and 1.2 mg of iron (6% of the DV).

California figs fit into 5 A Day -- the 40 gram serving is an easy way to add a serving of fruit to reach the daily recommendation of five fruits and vegetables.

• Fig trees have no blossoms on their branches. The blossom is inside of the fruit! Many tiny flowers produce the crunchy little seeds that give figs their unique texture.
• Figs are harvested according to nature’s clock, fully ripened and partially dried on the tree.
• Figs naturally help hold in moisture in baked goods, keeping them fresher.
• Fig puree can be used to replace fat in baked goods

Go on feel the warmth........

The Gift of Aphrodite

Aphrodite , the Greek Goddess og love, romance and beauty, is where the term aphrodisiac comes from. Love inducing food as they an be rightly coined.

The term aphrodisiac has always been not only been of particular interest but a topic of varied speculations as well. It is believed that in the ancient times most of these ingredients were used as a love enhancement tool. To clarify the point, an aphrodisiac does not increase your libido, it is but a gentle jujj to the flame of passion between two individuals and the power of love .

The flame that can be ignited with only sharing , caring and romance. The list is endless staring from the humble banana to the super exotic fig. these foods are knows to increase blood flow to the brain ( and other places too) with high content of phosphorus, and other minerals .

the list is endless some of the most common being :

Almond

Augula

anise

coffee

honey

chocolate

wine

fig

banana

carrot

maple syrup

asparagus

avocado

basil

garlic

ginger

mustard

nutmeg

oysters

strawberry

vanilla

each of the above have different properties

• strawberry for its toung tickeling sweetness
• chocolate for its addictive rush
• or nutmeg for its sedative properties

each has its own nature and sometimes a mind of its own .....

well what ever the world might says i belive in one very popular saying

“There is no aphrodisiac like innocence.” rightly said by Jean Baudrillard

all i can do is provide a big list, go ahead search for ur true love poison.....

Au revoir

Purani Dilli

Kuchh Bhuli yaadon ke patton ki khushbu..

KUnch sehmen kadmon ki awazz....

yaad aaten hain wo lamhen

un bhooli bisri galiyon ka ehsaas

Sach hai ke mai bhula kab tha

woh to mara hissa tha

wo jo bin aansu ka rona

wo jo adhura kissa tha...

woh mehek ronde hue phoolen ki thi

yan thi sirf ek parchaayi

wo puraani dilli ki cheekhen

wo aaj bhi meri aatma me samayi....

hai sirf ek ehsaas

har pal jo na yaad rehke bhi

saath hamesha rehta hai

na kehte hue sab kehke bhi...

Gawara Nahin

Tera Aana,

Kuchh na keh ke chale jana...

Gawara nahin gawara nahin.

Har shabd par hak kho kar,

teri awaaz sun-ne ka bahana...

Ik chah ko zinda rakkha kar,

Har aah ko daba pana...

Gawara nahin gawara nahin.

Khali kandha, sooni aagosh,

Phir bhi aasuon ka ana...

Koi na hai, koi na dikhe,

Phir bhi ek ehsaas purana....

Gawara nahin gawara nahin.

Na koi seema, na koi bandish,

Magar hadon ko phir bhi paar kar jana...

Bhula ke aasun , bhula ke ghaav,

Jhooth mooth ka muskuraana...

Gawara nahin gawara nahin.

Khaali panna haath mein lekar,

Bin syahi ki zindagi ki kalam ko chalana...

Har raat ko kaali parchhayin ke sang,

Bhooli si ik dhun gungunana...

Gawara nahin gawara nahin.

Sirhaane se baaten karke,

Aakhon se paani chalkana ...

Aur thandi aahon ke sang mein,

Yadon ke chhaon me so jana ...

Gawara nahin gawara nahin.

Tera aana,

Phir meri yaadon ko sehlana...

Gawara nahin gawara nahin.

Delicious Food Quotes

No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut. ~Channing Pollock

This is every cook's opinion - no savory dish without an onion, but lest your kissing should be spoiled your onions must be fully boiled.
~Jonathan Swift

Custard: A detestable substance produced by a malevolent conspiracy of the hen, the cow, and the cook. ~Ambrose Bierce

Tell me what you eat, I'll tell you who you are. ~Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a vegetable invented to make them laugh. ~Will Rogers

Hunger: One of the few cravings that cannot be appeased with another solution. ~Irwin Van Grove


You can tell how long a couple has been married by whether they are on their first, second or third bottle of Tobasco. ~Bruce Bye

The spirit cannot endure the body when overfed, but, if underfed, the body cannot endure the spirit. ~St Frances de Sales


There is no sight on earth more appealing than the sight of a woman making dinner for someone she loves. ~Thomas Wolfe

Food, a term which means a lot to some and nothing to another, is one of the few things that have evolved with man. Be it the age old techniques of making cheese or the modern day gastronomique seduction, food was, is and will always remain man’s greatest creative impulse. It can be your biggest strength or your biggest weakness. Here, we salute an indulgence as old as mankind.

On that note all I would like to say is Bon Appétit

The best piece of literature in the world

Mine eye hath play'd the painter and hath steel'd,
Thy beauty's form in table of my heart;
My body is the frame wherein 'tis held,
And perspective it is best painter's art.
For through the painter must you see his skill,
To find where your true image pictur'd lies,
Which in my bosom's shop is hanging still,
That hath his windows glazed with thine eyes.
Now see what good turns eyes for eyes have done:
Mine eyes have drawn thy shape, and thine for me
Are windows to my breast, where-through the sun
Delights to peep, to gaze therein on thee;
Yet eyes this cunning want to grace their art,
They draw but what they see, know not the heart.