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

Good-bye 2012...you will always be remembered

As yet another year comes to an end...and people all around the world get ready to celebrate, party and ring in the new year. I've come to realize there is really nothing to celebrate this year. There is really nothing "Happy" about that 60 second countdown this year which will supposedly clear everyone's canvas for a fresh new start.

Let us hope that with the fresh new beginnings we don't forget all the tough lessons we all learned in 2012 and what all we need to do to bring about change. It was a sad year.

These are just some of the tragic events that scar 2012...and with time tragedies like these are forgotten as the rest of us move on with our lives. But the lives of the victim's families are changed forever and these will remain as scars in their hearts.

August 5th
Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, a suburb of Milwaukee
- 6 killed

December 14th
Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut
- 20 children killed
- 6 adults killed

July 20th
Movie theater in Aurora, Colorado
- 12 killed
- over 60 injured

October 29th
Hurricane Sandy in the East Coast Atlantic City, NJ area
- 100+ killed
- Tens of thousands left homeless, millions without electricity

December 16th
Moving bus in Delhi, India
- 23 year old woman gang raped by 6 men

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/29/3160550/2012s-top-news-shootings-hurricane.html#storylink=cpy

The lives of these victims should not go in vain. Let their bravery, courage and sacrifice be remembered forever no matter how many new years we celebrate.

With new beginnings, new goals, new memories...let us make a resolution to remember each of these tragic events, the lives lost and the responsibilities we have to society, to the world, to these families, to the next generation to make it a better place.

Thankful for the blessings in our lives. Have a safe new years eve family & friends. May 2013 be a safer and prosperous year for all of us.

You will always be remembered...

Leave your thoughts on what we can do to be the change....what's your resolution?

5 years and counting...

Two days ago (8/25) we celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary at ..."the happiest place on earth"...Yes it was magical...from the adventurous rides (Space Mountain is still my favorite!) to seeing all the Disney characters and concluding the night with a beautiful fireworks spectacular...my heart fluttered and my eyes glistened.

Pictures from our trip and below are some of our fondest memories over the last 5 years of being Mr. & Mrs.

2007 - Moving into our first place together
2008 - Being first time home owners...(there are benefits to being 1st timers!)
2009 - An amazing trip to Maui, Hawaii  (I think it was '09 or '10)
2010 - Buying our second (and more permanent) home & first trip to India together
2011 - Picking and buying our first car
2012 - Celebrating 5 amazing years!

We are so thankful and blessed to have wonderful family & friends celebrating all of these special milestones with us every step of the way! 

Starting the day...

Magical ending

All things Disney in between (Rosh, I missed you :)!)