Mutton Curry

I would call this as an easy, quick and yummy mutton curry. The whole credit for this goes to my friend Jainy. I did make in 3 – 4 times in the last 4 months. A recipe that’s always a keeper. And yeah when I got this recipe from Jainy, I told her that I would post it here in my space. And she wanted me to add her pic to this post here. Jainz – Here is my promise J See the end of the post..

Ingredients:
Marinade:

Mutton                       --   1.5 lb/ 0.75kg
Onions                        --   1 medium size, chopped
Green Chillies          --    4 - 5, slit lengthwise
Ginger                         --   ¼ cup, chopped into small pieces 
Garlic                          --  ¼ cup, chopped into small pieces 
Chilly Powder          --   3 tsp
Coriander powder --   4 tbsp
Turmeric Powder   --   ¼ tsp
Garam Masala          --    1 tsp
Ground Pepper        --   1 tsp
Curry leaves             --   2 sprigs
Salt                               --   as required

Gravy:

Onions                       --   1 medium size
Shallots                     --   6 - 7
Green Chillies         --   2 - 3, adjust according to level of spice.tsp
Garam Masala        --   1 tsp
Curry leaves           --   2 sprigs
Boiling water          --   1 ½ cup or as required for the gravy
Salt                             --   as required
Oil                               --   as required.

Preparation:

Wash and cut the mutton into medium size pieces. Marinate it with all the ingredients in the marinade section. Keep it aside for a hour or two.

Pressure cook until the meat is soft. I did around 4 - 5 whistles in my pressure cooker. But it might differ according to your cooker.Leave it on the stove until the whole pressure is released.

               

For the gravy, Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the chopped onions, shallots and green chillies. Saute until the onions are light brown in colour. Now add the curry leaves and give a mix. Then add the cooked meat and ½ tsp garam masala and mix well. Add the water and mix well. Let the gravy boil. Do a salt check and add more if required. Add the remaining garam masala and switch off the flame.

And here comes me with the recipe owner

Happy Onam

I wish a Happy Onam (in advance) to all my friends…. I am missing all the fun of flower carpet and sadhya, especially payasam and the great get together which we used to have at home. We, our friends here, are planning to shift Onam celebrations to our convenient day with a pot luck– yet to be decided.

We are travelling to Florida (hopefully – depending one AJ’s work – we were supposed to start now.. But he is still on a bridge line LL)  Will be back after Onam and so thought would wish you all before I leave….

A short thought on Thoughts & Dreams !!!!

I got a registered post today. It was from the Cochin University of Science & Technology… Yeah…  CUSAT … the University which presented me the Bachelor’s Degree 6 years back. Being a registered letter, I opened it carefully. It was a mark list for Fourth Semester with red circles on the subject Electronic Product Design (EPD) and a letter saying that my degree is taken off as I have not passed in one subject. It also said that I do not have another chance as the University rules agreed to give only 8 years for a person to complete the degree from the date of joining. I did not know what to do.. Couldn’t speak out a single word for sometime. My job… My experience.. My life… What is gonna happen?? Oh my God!!!

Suddenly I heard my phone ring. That was from my friend in college. We had not seen or spoke after college days. Of course I did call her after reaching here. We used to sit side to side everyday in the first row of the class... Yeah members of the mischievous first benchers… The teachers would always roll their eyes at the backbenchers. They never minded the first benchers what ever they do. The only thing the first benchers had to do is to laugh at the PJs the teachers say and of course act as taking notes. No matter even if the pen plays a tic-tac-toe or if the pen is busy writing out a chit to circulate in the class.

Now coming back to the telephone ring…. I switched it on and greeted her with a ‘Hello’. She replied the same. I could sense the panic in her voice too. She too got the similar letter from the university. We discussed about it and decided to go to college to find out if we have some opportunity left to write the exam once again. The next day, we met in the usual 6.00 am bus. It was the first time; I travelled in that bus with a full ticket. We used to fight with the bus conductor for a student’s concession ticket. Though he would give a speech about the rules of student’s concession and that the concession is given only after 7.30am, he would finally agree with us. We didn’t speak out until we reached the college.

While waiting in the reception to meet the Principal, suddenly it came into mind. We are already passed; we have our mark lists and the degree certificates with us. Then why do they say that we have not passed??? I remember, I had topped in the Fourth Semester with a total percentage of 83%. Even my friend hadn’t thought about this. Without waiting for the Principal, we ran to the staff room to find out if there are any teachers there. We stepped into the teacher’s room. All the faces were familiar. Not because that they taught us anything… We had given them a warm welcome with small naughty bits of ragging. Most of them were our juniors & sub-juniors; they are now teachers there. Some are in guest lecturer posts where are some others are in permanent posts. After hesitating for a while, we told them why we had come over and asked them why this happened to us. They couldn’t give us any answer. So we then went to the HOD and explained the same there too. He said, “The syllabus is changed.. The pass percentages have changed. May be you wouldn’t have attained the current pass mark at that time.” Before we could digest it, I opened my eyes.

Unbelievable right??? This is something that can never happen… No … this is something that can happen only in dreams. Yeah this was my dream last night. I never used to have dreams… Yeah I did have and still have thousands of day dreams J  But now am talking about sleep dreams.

People and technology say that everyone will have sleep dreams. Some remember them and few others don’t. But I don’t remember about any sleep dreams I had; atleast until I reached here. If we just search out for ‘Why we have dreams?’ , we get a number of results. One of them was: Some researchers suggest that dreams serve no real purpose, while other believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being. Ernest Hoffman, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Boston, Mass., suggests that "...a possible (though certainly not proven) function of a dream to be weaving new material into the memory system in a way that both reduces emotional arousal and is adaptive in helping us cope with further trauma or stressful events. I like to believe it this way J We can even get thousands of books about dream interpretations. I’ve read in story books, the dreams which are seen early in the morning are those to come true. Though I don’t believe in the dream interpretations and old myths, I just google out every day about what I dreamt. Just as a fantasy. A new time passJ Believe me .. I even dreamt about me attending my hubby’s second marriage; which he was happy to hear J J J

Though I started my blog as a food blog, I didn’t want to restrict it just with recipes. Just because of that I had a long hunt for a good name. But later I was lazy to scribble anything other than recipes. Yesterday (Its almost 2 weeks now, this lying in my drafts J), my friend asked me if I have updated something new in my blog and also suggested not to restrict it with recipes. So I thought... Yes…  I should write something today. Thanks for the inspiration dear friend…  I am not a person with lots of ideas to pen down. But I like to share my thoughts. That might be the reason why I am always marked as the chatter box…. Of course after I cross the hurdle called ‘starting trouble’.  

A visit to the dentist

Visiting the dentist... It's a nightmare for almost everyone. They'll "softly" inspect our tooth and gums with the variety of instruments they have. Not sure if they are taught to forget the sharpness of the instrumentJ. We would take care of our teeth when we think about the pain that follows. We’ll definitely think about the cost too, especially in US. But even after taking care, I had to visit the dentist here. Hereditary... We can't get rid of things which our parents or grandparents pass through the genes.

I started feeling sensitivity on my teeth while brushing; it was slightly painful and was bleeding too. So decided to take an appointment for the yearly free check up; but got one for a day three weeks later. I was really surprised... why so long?? Then my hubby explained to me. Here, in US, any treatment is either urgent (we have urgent cares) or late (taking an appointment). Since mine was not that urgent, as the pain was tolerable for three weeks, we chose the second one.

On the day of the appointment, we went to the clinic on time. The receptionist gave me some forms to fill in - my bio data and their declarations and disclaimers. I was a bit tensed reading through the declarations I am gonna accept, it was something like any treatment can or cannot be successful...  But thinking logically they were fine. Not all treatment would be success on everyone, however good and efficient the doctor is. And the doctor would not want any one to sue her.

Once I was ready with the forms, a nurse came and took me inside. She started taking photographs of my teeth. yeah.. X-rays of course. I was again surprised. Back in India the doctor would prescribe an x-ray only if there was some serious injury on that tooth. So I asked her, why she was doing that even before the doctor examined me. She explained me that the doctor would look at the pictures first and then into our mouth. Any internal damage to our tooth will not be visible through naked eyes. Yeah.. she was right.. though this would cost more, this is the right way.

Once the nurse took the pics of all my teeth, the doctor came in. She was so cute. No wonder guys visit the clinic happily J J  She showed me the pics. It looked like a number of octopus kids standing for an assembly.... But they were actually my teeth with the roots. Then she explained me about each tooth. Other than the one which pained, there were two other teeth with some damage. She asked me if I wanted her to treat that as well. Believe me.. When you see the zoomed pics of the cavities inside, you would never say a NO. Finally she prescribed 3 cavity fillings and a deep cleaning. She asked me to take 2 appointments. On the first day, they would clean one side, ie either left or right, and also do the fillings on that side. The other side another day. Hearing that I was again like why 2 days??? Why not finish in one day?? That's how doctors do in India. Though I had that in mind, I did not ask it loud. But I got the answer on the next day of appointment.

After a long confusion with my medical insurance, I got my next appointment. I reached there an hour earlier ie by 9 am. Of course it was too early for me and I had to limit my breakfast to a cup of milk. A nurse took me in and gave anesthesia on every tooth on the right side. Within minutes, I was totally numb on that side. The doctor came in and started with their work. The nurse inserted a mouth cushion in my mouth so that I would not close my mouth until they are done. I could see the doctor and the nurse inserting a number of instruments into my mouth, but couldn't feel anything. They finished their work in the next 90 minutes and rinsed my mouth with an antiseptic mouth washing gel. That tasted so bitter that I wanted to rinse my mouth with water. I was not allowed to spit or rinse. They had a machine sucking all the water from my mouth. I had to strain a lot to speak out, but still I kept on talking on my way back home. I somehow wanted to get rid of the bitter taste from my mouth. As soon as I reached home, I went to the washroom to rinse my mouth...it was like a leaking tap.. water oozing out through the right side of my mouth. My right side was still numb and I had no control of that side. I then realized that I was not able drink water or eat anything. What would I do?? I was hungry too.. L Some how managed to drink half a glass of juice. And I spilt the other half..  Helpless... I went to sleep.. It took around another 4 -5 hours for me to get rid of the numbness. I thought I was happy. But when the numbness left, pain came in. Oh my god... the former was better. So much pain for one side. How would it feel if it was for both the sides together. I got the answer for the question...

The other side is waiting for the next appointment.... One more day of half numbness. At least will remember and find time to have a proper breakfast next timeJ J

Weekday Routine

Today not in a mood to do or write about my cooking adventures. So, thought of writing something else. My sweet home here in US and how I pass time here.

As mentioned in the other post, my day starts around 8.30 am. Get fresh in 15 minutes and enter my workstation. Be ready with the breakfast and the lunch box in another 30 minutes. My hubby leaves to office by 9.30 am. Then.. am in my own world… Me and vonage for the next 1 or 2 hours; now getting extended to 3 hours after the DST is ON J.  Gets ready for the gym…. I would be the only person to be in the gym when the sun is right above our headJ. Stating, being lonely as the reason (though it’s the laziness),  I just do a workout of 20 minutes maximum. I know that this doesn’t help to put down, still gives me a satisfaction that I went there…he..he …

Again getting back to my workstation after bath, I spend the first half an hour to decide on what to cook. Then get ready with my dinner items, next day’s lunch box special and the side dish for the breakfast.

Once done, its entertainment time. Ohh.. I didn’t mention about my friends here. I have two mallu friends in the apartment complex. One of them stays just opposite to our apartment and the other just above. Entertainment time is either movie time or the 3 idiots meeting time. The meeting agenda of course is the different varieties of dishes each of us had tried and sharing them so that others tests out for their better half’s taste buds. We never miss out the opportunity to criticize our better halves.

We disperse when one of our hubby is back, usually that would be my dear who comes early. After T, we spend our time with some movie or TV with programs like in NatGeo, Bizzare Foods on Travel channel, House Hunt etc or with my hubby’s favorite PS3 until dinner. It’s again work time for my darling after the dinner, waiting for the offshore project mates…. We would see our clock striking 12 midnight, 1 am , 2 am……………………

When I started my house-wife role, I thought I would get bored with the same routine; but actually I ve kind a started loving this. I ve learned to be more lazy J  Achievement??? Ohh Nooo…  Hopefully, I ll get out of this lazy life very soon and do something more creative and valuable … 

Should I start this?? What to start with?? How to start??

Everyone who is working (especially the likes of me from IT industry) would always long for a vacation. But trust me it’s too tough to stay at home, since we are used to offices. After 5 years in IT industry and recently married, am now playing the role of a house wife. Thanks to visa restriction in US, I can’t work L

I thought of utilizing this time to brush up my interests in cooking and crafting. Being a temporary resident in US, I don’t do much of crafting. I might not be able to carry the stuffs back home. But cooking has become my passion. Of course I shouldn't forget to thank Vonage and my husband's generosity to get me a connection, with the help of which I get all the recipes from my mother & mother-in-law.

I note down each recipe in a document whenever I try it, as I could refer that the next time.  My hubby got to see that one day and he persuaded me to jot down those in a blog. I don’t think I would limit my blog with recipes. So after a great confusion in providing a name, here it is.... "Amateur perceptions".

The recipes are from my day-to-day menu. My hubby prefers more of variety than having the same dish served multiple times. This makes me try differently, of course concentrating more on non-veg items. I plan to post all the recipes which I have tried out. I do not have the pics for few of them as I had tried them before getting the idea of blogging. I shall upload the pics when I try them next time.

I find this interesting at this point, but not sure how long I would stick on this…. May be until I find out something more interesting.

Neways.. here comes my first post.... wishing myself 'All the very best' to continue blogging.... And hope all my friends wish me the same :) :)