Spinach Thepla/Bhakri (flatbread)

While making some yummy palak paneer I thought why not add some of this healthy green stuff to my thepla? It turned out great and you can't even taste the spinach but they do turn out green :).

Here's a simple recipe for the dough:

Makes 10 medium thepla's plus left over dough for about 5 more
1/4 to 1/2 cup of Spinach (chopped)
2 cups of wheat flour
1/2 cup of water (adjust depending on softness)
1 spoon oil
pinch of salt

Enjoy!

It's green!

Thepla/Bhakri & Palak Paneer

Interview with...Smiling Smita aka Mummie

Where to start?

Well first off her name is Smita, it means smiling which very much defines her. Anyone that knows her knows she's always smiling!

Moms in general have a persona that you just can't describe. They love to give and they give with love. But it's rare to find a mom who does it all so unconditionally with truly no expectations. It's quite magical. I'm lucky to have this rare mom whom I call Mummie.

Since it's her birthday today - I thought I would dedicate this entry to her (even though she may not read it).

Even after knowing her my whole life, there is so much I still don't know about her.

This was my way of capturing some fun facts about my madre. What better day to reflect on life than on a birthday. Do you know all these things about your mom?

Smiling Smita :)

Interview with Mummie:

1. If you can meet anyone living or dead, who would it be?
Any rushi's (priests/sages) from the past because if they were alive I can talk about how their life was in the past and whether they really saw (witnessed the presence of) God and how did he/she (God) look. And also ask them what they felt when they saw God?

2. Why did your parents name you Smita?
I don't know who named me. Maybe my Foi (father's sister). Back then it was traditional for the Foi to name their neice/nephew. 
Do you like your name? Yes! I love my name!

3. What is your earliest childhood memory?
I remember playing hide and seek out side (thappo, kukka, cards) with the neices/nephews & cousins in the summer time.  All the neighbhors also had their cousins and family visiting during the sumer and they would also come out to play. We would go from porch to porch playing all together. 

4. What did you like to play as a kid?
Gilli Danda, Kodi, Thappo (Hide & Seek), Kukka (Indian version of Jacks)

5. What was your family chores? What did you like? What did you not like?
I had to do everything...sweep, cook, laundry, mop...everything.
I didn't like doing any of it...but I didnt have a choice. 
I didn't like doing the dishes the most.
Even with 10 siblings you had to do it all? All of my older siblings were married or they knew I would do it. And my younger sister...was the younger sister. She didn't have to do it.
(we'll have to check with all the siblings on this one :))

6. Do you remember any popular fashions/styles when you were younger?
In my childhood it was wearing really gher vaara skirts and eyelet blouses.
In college bell bottoms were really popular to wear

7. What's your favorite memory with your parents?
I mostly remember when we used to go to my Mama's (Maternal uncles) house in India and spent a lot of time together. We would just play. 

8. How is the world different today from what it was like when you were a child?
Now the warm feelings you have for others (the bhaav) is not there.
For example: back then when a daughter comes home from her in-laws there is so much excitement and preparation to have her home again. Or when my older sisters were married and they came home to visit from their in-laws we used to be so excited. We would wait by the window and run to the door as soon as they pulled up outside. We would be so excited to play with our neices and nephews. It was these warm feelings of love. You don't see that anymore.

9. When and how did you meet your spouse?
We met 2 months before our wedding. We met in April. We were "referred" to each other by my brother in-law (sister's husband) and my spouses eldest cousin brother (they were friends in Baroda).
Where was the first time you met? In Anand. I was nervous and it was my first time going and in those days we never really talked to a guy before. Our times things were so strict. His whole family was there, mainly the immediate brothers. But I remember being nervous.

10. What is key to a successful marriage?
No arguing and do not compare yourselves with anyone or any other couple. Just don't compare anything. What ever you have be happy with it.

11. How did you find out you were going to be parents for the first time?
I threw up and I felt morning sickness. We went to get it checked and that's all, we knew.

12. How did you chose your childrens names?
Daddie chose Roshan's because he really liked it.
And in my old neighborhood (Gheekata) there was a girl named Beejal and I liked her name but I wanted to change it slightly because I liked the sound of Sejal more.

13. Of all things you learned from your parents, what was the most valuable?
Respect your elder, don't give them a mouth-full back (seek revenge or argue). If something happens accidentally (ie: glass breaks) ask the person how they are doing first before worrying about your damaged glass. My mom used to always say (in Gujarati), "if something breaks, don't get upset or don't ask why/how it broke. First you ask the person, did you get hurt?"

14. What is one thing you want people to remember about you?
If you don't like something don't say anything but don't use bad words/language. I want people to remember that I tried not to say bad things and use bad language. 

15. How do you imagine life in 10 years?
I don't think my memory is going to stay good for even another five years. (chuckling because she didn't think she'd remember what she said 10 years from now) But...I feel like there will be so many problems. I already feel my eyes and teeth aching. And generally speaking, the world (srushti)..what is going to happen to it. There is so much new technology. I mean just look at technology. I think about how life was without all this technology and now with technology see how the world is. How will it be in another 10 years. How will peoples minds be? ...I just don't know (shudders and sighs).

16. If you could move to anywhere in the world, where would you move?
Go to India for a couple months every few years. 

17. If you could go back to a time period in life...where?
My childhood because I have no clue about my childhood. I can't remember it all. I want to go back so  I can remember those memories again.

18. What did you want to be when you "grew up"?
When I was a little girl I had a dream that I would be a good house wife. And I would decorate my house really nice and keep it clean. I never thought I would be working & running business(es).

Random Facts: 
Place of Birth: Baroda
Favorite color: Black
Favorite subject in school: Math
In her spare time she likes to: sit on the swing at home, playing games on the phone, reading, or watching religious videos
Favorite food: Chaa (tea) and sev mumra (snacks), or Daal Baath Shaak Rotli


Now (2013):

Gas: $3.49
Milk: about $5.29 (2 pack)


Then (1984):

Milk: $0.99 cent/gallon
Gas: $0.59-$0.69 cents 


What next...?
I want to be happy in my life and I want to do something that in my life that I haven't done in the past. Like...reading all the books especially the Gita.

Hot Chocolate Machine!

Even a heater doesn't seem to keep me warm in these 50 degree afternoons and 30 some degree nights.

Fortunately for me, after a lot of hunting, I finally invested in a Hot Chocolate maker. Yes, it's basically the lazy mans blender (without blades) that heats and mixes. This is probably one of the very few times I bought an appliance for just one specific need but you know what? It's worth every penny and it's an economic option to fulfill warm cravings in this weather!

I had initially bought the Back to Basics Hot Chocolate machine from Bed Bath and Beyond. It looked kind of like this but I believe it was a newer model and a nicer shade of plastic. It cost $35 and worked wonderfully. I just had to put in my 8 oz of milk and 2 tablespoons of Starbucks hot chocolate mix (bought from Costco at the beginning of the Fall for only $10 - thanks to my cousin in-law, Seema for introducing me to delight) and switch on the button and in two minutes I had a yummy cup of hot chocolate ready. No standing over the stove to mix it or sticking it in the microwave 2-3 times and wondering if it overflowed.

I had stored it away during the holidays to make some room on my counter tops and when I took it back out it decided that it had to long of a break and wouldn't shut off. Yes, my machine would be on the "off" button but it would still be running. So I had to go return it due to the defect.

Bed Bath & Beyond was awesome for taking it back and they realized they didn't have any more of these in stock so they offered to exchange it for a the Bialetti Hot Chocolate Maker. It was on clearance for 50% off and they offered an additional discount so I ended up paying $45 for a $100 machine, not bad especially since it used fancier plastic and had a few more features on it.

So far the Bialetti has been good to me. Most of the negative reviews on it have been in regards to the liquid overflowing for larger quantities of hot chocolate. I haven't had any issues with my 8-16 oz per sue. It's also much easier to clean than the Back to Basics machine although I do miss that the old one had an automatic restart machine to warm it up again in the case you forgot about your hot chocolate.

If you drink (or buy) a lot of Hot Chocolate it's worth investing in either one of these machines (depending on your budget). I also made a deal with my self that I would splurge a little less on Starbucks if I bought this machine so it all balances out.

A little bit of this...

With a little bit of that...

PS. The Mr. Coffee Cocomotion machine has one of the best reviews (4.5/5 stars) but they don't sell them in any stores, only available online and I didn't want to deal with that. 

Quick Tip to buy what you need

How many times have you walked into the grocery store to pick up a quick one or two items and walked out with about a cart full of groceries? Half of these items usually perish and end up in the trashcan because when you it was bought it was your stomach thinking not your lazy self.

Clearly, I'm experienced and guilty in this department however I've gotten way better at saying no to my stomach when we're at the grocery store.

A few years ago, I started with visualizing right there and then what exactly I would make with each item I picked up that was not on my original grocery list. This way I generally ran out of days in the week or realizing how many more things and how much more time I would need to make this item and back it went on the shelf.

Last week, I walked in to the grocery remembering to bring my reduce, reuse, recyclable bag. As many of you know, in many cities now grocery bags are no longer provided for free. They are finally encouraging (aka forcing) people to bring reusable bags. (I can't believe it's been a year since this has been implemented for our city yet I still forget my bags in the car most of the time).

Anyhow, here's my latest tip to make sure you only buy what you need. Walk in with just one small bag. Get the things you need on your grocery list first. And if you feel like you need to cave a little to pick up a few more items...well you only get what fits in the bag (plus the technique above of visualizing what/when you plan to make).

Happy shopping! 

Kobe nu Shaq :-)

ok ok...that's what my mom calls it. But it's actually probably spelled...Kobi nu Shaak (Cabbage shaak - see picture).

This is a quick recipe and you can't really go wrong.

1 head of cabbage
1 green chili minced
2 thin slivers of ginger minced
garlic (optional)
1/2 potato (you can use a whole if you like more starchy carbs)
tumeric (about 1.5 tsp)
jeeru (cumin?)
rai (?)
hing (aseto....something)
salt to taste
4 teaspoons of sugar (approx.)
Cilantro (optional)

In a lightly oiled pan, add the hing (let it sizzle), then add the jeeru and rai - let it pop. Add in the minced green chili, ginger and garlic (again, I usually put these three into the hand chopper). Let this cook for about 15 seconds and then add the turmeric and mix. Add potatoes, mix and put the cover on for about 5 minutes so they start to cook (soften). Then put in the cabbage and mix. The stove should be on low and you want to stir it continuously so it doesn't end up sticking at the bottom. Put the cover on for another 10 minutes to let the moisture drip into the pan and it will also allow the cabbage and potatoes to cook some more. Once the potatoes are soft enough that you can cut into them you can add in the salt and sugar. Mix it all well. Top it with cilantro if you like.

Kobi nu Shaak, Bhakri & athaanu (pickle)

Dry fried tofu & marinade

So a few people messaged me asking about how to dry fry Tofu and how to make the marinade.

Dry Frying technique - 
In short: Cut, press with spatula, let the water squeeze out & flip (account for about 15-20 minutes to do this part)
I use one package of firm tofu most of the time. Before cutting them I try to get the water out of the tofu by placing some paper towels on top and underneath the tofu block. You can also place something heavy on top like a baking pan (optional). After some time, cut the tofu into small pieces. I usually make slices from the block of tofu and then cut the slices diagonally into triangles.

Place all the pieces onto a flat pan or skillet. Do not use oil or anything of the sort. Keep the stove on low so the tofu doesn't stick or burn. Lightly press down on the tofu with a spatula every now and then to squeeze out the remaining water. You don't need to stand over it the whole time. Go about doing other things (so long as it's on low) but keep an eye on it so it doesn't overly brown...and don't forget to press down on it. Lift up one of the pieces to see if it has started to brown a bit (you want it to be lightly brown and the tofu should start looking dry and less squishy). Start flipping the pieces over one by one and do the same on the other side: flip, press with spatula and let whatever is left of the water squeeze out on this side too.

Tofu Marinade -
Mix together 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar (or less), capful of lemon juice, half an onion minced, 1tbsp red chili paste

I didn't have these items but if you do you can add these to the marinade mix too: 1/2 cup rice wine, splash of rice vinegar, 1tbsp of minced lemon grass

I usually just put all of the ingredients into my hand chopper (leave the soy sauce out and add it in at the end to get in one quick pulse because it starts seeping out otherwise).


Once the marinade is ready - let it sit for awhile and then put in the tofu pieces so they are covered with the marinade and let that sit for about 30 to 60 minutes.

You can add your tofu to your main meal (stir fry or thai curry) or eat it as-is with some dipping sauce. 

Stir-fry blunder

Yesterday I was super excited to make some yummy stir-fry and noodles. I got all the veggies that I wanted and a new package of rice noodles to try. I have my normal way of making stir-fry but wanted to try something different this time.

Here's what it looked like...

Veggie & Tofu Stir-fry, Sauteed green beans, Rice noodles

It actually looked fine but I wasn't very excited about the way it tasted and this is because one of the recipes I looked at called for a corn starch mix to be added to the stir fry. Bad idea. This totally messed up the taste I originally had going (soy saucy, garlicy and salty). Corn starch is suppose to make it a bit "thicker". Yuck! Instead my what would have been great stir-fry had this weird starchy taste and all the good soy sauce marinade I sautéed got absorbed into the corn starch mix.

Tip: don't use corn starch unless you know how to cook with it.

The tofu turned out yummy. I've been using a specific technique to dry-frying it and then marinading it for a great taste.

The rice noodles were Maifun brand. I wasn't a fan of them because they were SO thin. I think next time I'm going to go on the hunt for egg noodles since they are thicker and more to my liking. Any suggestions on brands?

I tried a green bean saute as a side. Also, didn't turn out exactly like I wanted. I think this one just needs some more practice.

This is more of what I'm going for next time:

Daal, Bhaat, Shaak, PERFECT!

As many of you know, I'm a fob...in every aspect. But this post is focused on my need for my fobby Indian food (very often - at least 2-3 times a week!). I can eat pasta and burrito's for only so long before I need my desi grub.

Luckily, I can cook whatever I usually crave. 

There is however one thing that I'm just absolutely lazy about making and that is the dough for my rotli, bhakri and of course mitha murcha vaari puri (masala/tikhi puri). I just hate going through the trouble of making the dough and then accounting for the clean up time (getting it off of your fingers and cleaning it out from under your nails - yuck)...thennnnn you still have to roll and cook them! It's just time consuming and feels like to much effort so I only make them once in awhile even though I wish to make it more often. 

But...for the holidays we got the Cuisinart Prep Plus Food Processor from my parents. At first, I was like hmm...what am I going to do with this huge thing. I already have the Cuisinart Hand Blender/Chopper which I use a lot and it's perfect for cooking for two. What in the world will I use an 11 cup Food Processor for?

Well I think it's the answer to my laziness! You can use it to make dough! Yes sir, I used it for making the most perfect bhakri no lot (dough). Of course, you need to have the right portions of ingredients. But wow was it a piece of cake! All I did was put in all the dry ingredients, pulse it. Then I slowly added water through the little shoot as I continued to mix it. And in a total of about 2 minutes, my dough was ready for rolling! (I wish I took a picture of the perfectly kneaded dough, but I'll do that tomorrow when I make my second batch of bhakri's in a week!)

So yes, if you're a fellow Indian food junkie and need your dar, bhaat, shaak, rotli fix...I think getting a dough mixer (my mom has one of these kinds which work perfectly too) or food processor is the answer! Time is money (if you're working) and who has time to sit there and knead dough by hand? In that much time you can make a few extra bhakri's to eat for breakfast the next morning - with your chaa of course! 

Spinach shaak, Carrot cachumbar, Bhakri, Daal