Sunday 30 August 2009

Rations for Comfort and Discomfort

For Sunday dinner
there is nothing like fast and easy

comfort food


So I made Zeera Aloo ( Cumin Potato)
Thinly slice potatoes.
Heat oil in a non stick pan.
Tip in a teaspoon of cumin seeds.
When they splutter
Add the potatoes.
Put in some salt
and you if - like turmeric powder
and pepper powder.
Mix well.
And cook till potatoes are done.
I like them crispy brown.
My sister Anju, emailed me that she was making zeera aloo
the way Aunt Sybil used to make.
That motivated me to cook them too.
You have them as a side dish
or with rice or any kind of bread.
Commencing last week,
there will be a religious fair,
street carnival and procession
every Sunday evening
in a different part of town,
culminating in the last week of September.
The street a brightly decorated as
crowds throng the mela.

Street stalls are set up selling food,
toys, religious and decorative artifacts,
ornaments, bangles, cheap jewellery etc.
There are games and rides too.
And of course loud music on the P.A. system.

Religious floats are taken out in a procession
depicting scenes from
Hindu mythology.
People worship the gods and goddesses
on these floats.
The flip side of this is that
extra electricity has to be supplied to the area where
the fair or mela is taking place.
And in order to do that
the rest of the city is put on electricity rations.
So we had additional power cuts
yesterday and today
and who knows what the
future may hold.

17 Fertilize my soul:

Anonymous said...

When never do know what the future holds, but darn those potatoes look good. Hmm, where was I? ;)

Hope the electrical cuts are not too severe since I know you have some cuts regularly without the additional to meet this new need. ~Mary

David Edward said...

God will give you MORE POWER to do just what he needs you to do.

and then electricity will be of less consequence I suppose

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Amrita:)

Greetings:)

Lovely photos.

When sleep overtakes a human being or a pet, any place will do. Sometimes we keep our windows open in the night, and in the morning we are shocked to find some stray cats happily sleeping in our bed under the sheets.

Electricity is a problem in Kerala also. We generate hydro electric power in Idukki but that is not enough to meet our needs and we have to depend on the central power grid. Even then power cut is imposed every now and then. The power cut has just been lifted with the onset of monsoon.

Your aloo preparation is very good to look at and I am sure it will be delicious to eat also. I hope you can parcel me a small portion:):):)


There is a temple close to our house and Onam preparations are going on. Soon there will be loud music all through the day and late into the night.

My best wishes and prayers to you, your mom and your family.
Joseph

madison said...

Your aloo looks good. Hubby's not crazy about potatoes, but oddly enough, he loves mashed potatoes. Go figure.

Felisol said...

Dear Amrita,
Those potatoes look delicious.
I think I might be able to cook a dish like that.
Not so many strange ingredients.

I think there's a hole lot of feast of every kind in India.
Maybe this is a way to control the masses, like the ancient Romans did "Give the people bread and circus" Only in India there's not even enough bread.
Sad.
From Felisol

David Edward said...

god is stirring us up to love and good works

Terry said...

dear amrita...i have been too long coming to your garden and to my felisol's far side of the sea and too long from visiting that david s, but i will try to smarten up a little tomorrow and make a bigger effort to visit you all and visit mel too!
oh so many great blogs and so little time, eh?.....love terry

Olde Dame Penniwig said...

I love street fairs and festivals, but I do not like the idea that your electricity will be cut even more. It is so difficult to live without it!

The potatoes look delicious. I like mine fried quite brown, too. I scrape up the browned bits from the pan and they are the best part!

JO said...

Great pictures.... Your recipes sounds and looks so yummy!

Sherri Murphy said...

Your recipe looks delicious. Can I pass it along on my food blog?

Becka said...

Looks so much better than my hotdog we had after church,
I just might try them.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

It almost like a Christmas celebration or a big fair with rides and bazaars. Looks very interesting. Thanks for the post. God bless you always.

Pia said...

amrita, i so love the photo of the cat. so cute!

Donetta said...

Hi Sis, I have rallied and am now making some of the potatoes for supper hour...
I have a question about some herbs/spices I have and how do I make use of them

Panch phoran
urad dal
Amchoor

any suggestions?
your footing helped me today to stand thank you for just being you

Glennis said...

The Potatoes looks great and would taste just as good.
The streets are decorated so prettily a great festival atmosphere.

Gerry said...

I do want to go more spicy but why do I shrink from cumin and all that stuff? I was raised without any spice but salt and pepper. I envy all those comfortable with spice. I buy it and it sits there. I want to go to an Indian restaurant and have them do it. Oh well, please keep showing us how you cook and maybe someday---Gerry

Terry said...

trouble with reading your bog dear amrita is that you always have such yummy recipes and then i get to starving and then i get to wanting to raid the fridge....not a pretty sight!!!..love terry