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Friday, July 17, 2009

Lime Sevai and Some Laughter

Lime sevai is a quick and light dish fit for any meal of the day. The following ingredients serve about 3 -4 people.

 

Ingredients required :
Rice Vermicelli / Sevai - about 5 OZ / 150 gms
Juice from 2 small limes (lemon juice can be substituted)
For tadka -
2 Tbsp oil, 1 Tbsp peanuts, 1 tsp chanadal & mustard seeds each, few curry leaves, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, 5 Red chillies broken into little bits (green chillies can be substituted but the quantity depends upon the heat preferred)
1 tsp salt
About a Tbsp of finely chopped cilantro leaves (optional)

The cooking part:
Heat about a quart / 4 cups of water in a sauce pan. (Water quantity should be more than required to cook the sevai). Break the sevai into bits. Or skip this step and do it after it is cooked. When the water starts to boil, add the sevai and cook it till it is done. (It took me about three minutes to cook the above mentioned quantity). It is very easy to overcook the sevai and ruin the dish. Paying close attention while cooking sevai is recommended. Immediately drain the sevai (or the sevai keeps cooking) and keep aside. Now heat oil in a pan and add the peanuts, chanadal and mustard seeds. When the peanuts and chanadal turn reddish, add red chillies, curry leaves and turmeric powder. Stir once and turn off the stove. Then add the drained sevai, salt and cilantro. Mix well. (If not done initially, the long strands of sevai can be broken with a spatula while stirring). Serve hot.

And now for the laughter part - recently M's nephew forwarded this mail -'Murder of English'. Some of these are hilarious and I thought of sharing them. If you haven't heard them before, enjoy. Since English is not the primary language spoken at homes across India and people come from different backgrounds, such funny incidents do happen. BTW, the following incidents are said to be true ones. Once again, this is just for fun and not to judge / ridicule anyone.

Some leave applications:
1. 'Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one -week leave'.
2. 'As my mother-in-law has expired and I am only one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave'.
3. Leave letter from an employee who was performing the 'mundan' ceremony of his 10 year old son - 'As I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days'.
4. Leave letter from an employee who was performing his daughter's wedding - 'As I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave'.
5. Another employee applying for half day leave - 'Since I 've to go to the cremation ground at 10'o clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave'.
6. 'I am suffering from fever, please declare one day holiday'.
7. 'My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home, I may be granted leave'.

Leave letters to the head master:
8. 'As I am studying in this school, I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today'.
9. 'As my head ache is paining, please grant me leave for the day'.

Covering notes:
10. 'I am enclosed herewith...'
11. 'Dear sir,: with reference to the above, please refer to my below.'

Letter writing:
12. 'I am well here and hope you are also in the same well'.

A candidate's job application:
'13. This has reference to your advertisement calling for a 'Typist and an Accountant - Male or Female".. As I am both (!!) for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post. :) :) :)

I thought 13th one was the best.

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Thursday, July 2, 2009

Chayote Payasam / Seema Vankaya Payasam

 

Source: My own, inspired by sorakaya payasam.
Chayote payasam was an experiment on M's birthday which turned into a delectable experience. When I prepared sorakaya payasam for the first time, the idea of substituting chayote in the recipe struck. I knew it would work since chayote has a delicate sweet flavor and I was not wrong. At last, I could make this last month and it was a hit among our guests. As M's nephew mentioned, it was very unique and a special treat though the preparation was quite simple and quick.

Ingredients required:
1 Small chayote (or 1 cup of grated chayote)
Sugar as needed
2-3 cups of whole milk 10 oz evaporated milk (or add one more cup of milk)
a pinch of cardamom powder
2 Tbsp ghee
1 Tbsp of raisins and cashews

The cooking part:
Peel and quarter the chayote, remove the center core and grate it. Fry the grated chayote using a Tbsp of ghee for about five minutes on low - medium heat. Add the milk and cook the chayote till it is done. Keep stirring in between. Then goes in the evaporated milk, sugar and cardamom powder. Cook till all the sugar is melted and turn off the stove. In another small pan, heat a tbsp of ghee and add cashews and raisins to it. When cashews turn slightly brown and raisins become plump, remove the pan from heat and add the contents of the pan to the cooked chayote payasam. Tastes good warm or cold. 

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