Yaoshang @ Delhi

I celebrated yaoshang, the Meitei version of Holi after 3 yrs. Their was a time when holi was the most exciting festival and I really used to look forward for this festival the whole year....as it meant getting new cloths, going for the

"nakadheng", playing with colors,watching the yaoshang sports in the leikei club, yaosahang thabal chongba and the yaoshang chak-chanaba...which was the most exciting part abt Yaoshang...every house in our locality contribute money and organise a grand feast.

Yaoshang is not as exciting as it was earlier, I am busy with work and I prefer staying home as it means an off day for me. This time I celebrated yaoshang at JNU with my fren "A" and her frens from Germany, who have come for an exchange programme, we did yaoshang shopping together and it was sure exciting. The germans were totally into playing holi and me and "A" gave them tips to play safe holi...I stayed away from playing with the group but enjoyed every moment of it. The day I reached Delhi the Meitei students @ JNU had organised Thabal Chongba and I participated after manyyyy years....the last time I attended any thabal chongba was at the Police Grounds-North Campus in 2004. I enjoyed thobal chongba after so many years...though I am not as good as I was but it was awesome.

Some more food

I love to shop for veggies and my fav. vegetable market in Agartala is the one near Childrens Park and by now I know most of the vegetable sellers there(that means I don't have to bargain I get a discount). The other day I saw such beautiful gajjar and ended up buying 1/2 kg of gajaar thinking I'll make gajar ka halwa which happens to be my all time fav. dessert. I read up the recipe from the internet and one book the recipe is simple and decided to make it without any ghee. I grated half a kg of Gajjar....that was one task I really enjoyed and with all my enthusiasm I made my first ever gajjar ka halwa and viola...it turned out so yummmmmy. I didn't took any pic.as I usually do of all new things I cook but next time I make gajjar ka halwa I sure will. I have realized that the taste of food I cook depends on my mood, if I am happy my food turns out good and if I am in not in good mood then even the food taste yucks...but living alone that happens rarely...since I have no one bugging at home. Its me and my tanhai and my food. I am happy I made a good gajjar ka halwa and next time I am home (Imphal) I'll make some for mumma....m sure she'll love it as much as she loved the rajma curry I cooked.

Breakfast at Nagamapal

Nagamapal happens to be my all time fav. place in Imphal. Its the most happening place in the whole town....most happening in terms of food, veggies, some bit of shopping and everything else. Everytime I go home I never miss going to Nagamapal, this time I went for my regular veggies shopping I had breakfast at one of the many "Hotel" as its called locally and I must say I enjoyed every bite of it. The breakfast was simple but my fav. "Ooti and tan" with one cutting chai and all that it cost me was just 11 bucks.My mom will hate me for having that food but my intestines can sure take it, digest it without me falling sick. This hotel was runned by three people, the Head lady cook and her two assistant. It was fun watching her making "tan" (Puri) and taking orders.The Nagamapal market is not only runned by women but it also shows the ability of women to be the breadwinner of the family.

Full on chilling

2010 will be good I guess in terms of travel and food for me. Iam chilling @ home and by chilling I mean nt just have a gd time but the chill at night n early morning. I am home for a week n I plan to enjoy this trip, I plan to visit the Chorus theatre n Kangla again if I find time I'll visit the floating island at Moirang n some bit of Paona bazar. This trip willl be less abt food n more abt travel. I look fwd to all the travel and real time chilling.

End of the most wonderful year

Today is the last day of this year 2009, looking back this was the most fulfilling year of my life a year which was full of adventure and excitement for me or I can also say that 2009 was THE YEAR of my life. I travelled like Anthony Bourdein, spent like a queen, tried some of the best food, worked liked never before and learned a great deal about myself. Travelling to Europe was one of the most exciting thing for me, I planned the whole trip overnight and I am really happy with myself that I did everything in my own, starting from the google/wiki searcing of the cities I wanted to visit to shopping, food and almost everything else.....the result...I enjoyed every moment of my trip to Europe but I did ended up spending like I had never done before. This was a year well spent and I hope the new year, 2010 brings as much adventure and excitement as 2009.

Nga-nam

I think I am happy from inside these days why? coz I cook very well and I have been trying new recipes and all the dish I have been cooking to my great satisfiction tastes like what my mom makes. I tried "Nga-nam" a very authentic meitei dish, the preparing is so simple that one can easily make it, all we need is the small fish, turmeric leaves, green chillies and one onion.

Method:
1. Marinate the fish with salt and turmeric.
2.Finely chop the onion and slit the green chillies. Mix it with the fish.
3.Take abt 6 turmeric leaves and lay it carefully on a plate, put the fish on the leaves and wrap it carefully, remember the fish should be carefully wrapped.
4.If you have a microwave keep it for abt 10-12 mins or else use a tava to steam it and steam from both the sides.

I tried this yesterday and it was heaven when I tasted it, it reminded me of my childhood when mom used to make this and we all wanted some more. This week has been really good for me food wise, I am super happy with my cooking and hope to remain happy always....