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....

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.