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....

Happy Recipe

Ingredients:
1. 250 gm medium size prawns.
2.Green Chillies 5-6.
3.Coconut Milk 200 ml.
4.Onion 1.
5.Garlic.
6.Bay leaves.
Method:
1.Wash the prawns and marinate with salt turmeric and lil. mustard oil for 30 mins.
2.Chopp the onions, and garlic finely.
3.Slit the green chillies.
4.Take 2 tbsp of mustard oil in a non stick fry pan, when its hot add the bay leaves and fry for 1 min.
5.Add the chopped garlic and then the onions, fry for 2-3 mins.
6.Add the green chillies and fry for another 5 mins in low flame.
7.Add lil. turmeric powder and then the coconut milk.
8. Bring it to a boil and add the marinated prawns, cook for another 20-25 mins in low flame.
9.Garnish with coriender leaves....you'll sure want to have more.
I had this prawn curry when I was in Ahmedabad and could never forget the wonderful taste. I had almost forgotten the recipe as I had not cooked this curry this long, mainly because coconut milk is not available here and I buy coconut milk when I travel out of Tripura. This curry made me happy and I had another yummy & happy dinner.

The best ever breakfast

The other day I had this really yummy chicken dish I decided to make it myself so I bought chicken from the not-so-clean Lakechoumuni Market and cleaned it for over 30 mins, I am not too with the way the meat is sold there but I bought 500 gms anyways. The recipe is super duper simple:

1. Cut chicken into small pieces.

2.Grind abt 20 green chillies.

3.2 thinly/finely sliced onion.

4.1 large garlic cut into small pieces.

Marinate the chicken with lil. salt and lil haldi and keep it for abt 30 mins.

In a non stick frypan, add abt 1 tbsp of oil (I used Olive oil) and fry the garlic, when it turns golden brown add the finely chopped onion and the green chillies. Fry for about 10 mins in low flame. Add the chicken and mix all the items together. Cook on low flame till chicken is done and have it wiit rumali roti. I had this for breakfast on sunday and felt so good abt making something new yet so yummy.

Food and me

What do I do when m really happy?
I treat myself. It can be a yummy black forest cake, Ilish mach, Ras gulla or anything yummy.
What do I do to decrease stress level after work?
I cook and sometimes I cook and do not eat, its funny but I do that sometimes.
What do I do when I am sad :(.
I eat...anything and everything.
When do I feel happy.
a) When I eat something I really like.
b) When I cook something really yummy like the ilish mach, biryani, fried rice, ooti, iromba etc etc.
c)When I reinvent a new dish with my own additions and it turns out really yummy.

Italian Khana @ Diva

My trip to Delhi this time was as usual about me going almost every places in search of good food. I had the best veg momo's from a really small corner shop @ Vasant Goan to the best of Italian khana at the upmarket GK 2. I have read and seen alot of tv shows on Italian khana and abt the restaurant Diva, famous for its Italian Food. I wanted to visit and try italian food since long and this happened last Sunday, I have almost no knowledge of Italian food except for Pizzas and spaghetti (macaroni's) and I went to Diva with a lot of expectations...I ordered a Spaghetti alla Chitarra con peperoni e salsicie (NV) Hand made "guitar string" pasta with a robust sauce of spicy sausages, peas and fennel, not knowing what Guitar String pasta in real life is nothing else but the very normal noodle...was I disappointed well not too much but yeah...I kind of cursed myself for not ordering something else. The food was not that great but ambiance was good and location of course is superb.

I will definitely visit Diva again to try some other interesting food and maybe try Anatra arrosto al miele con arancia -Honey-roasted duck with baby potatoes and aromatic herbs .