When dreams blossom...

I kept myself away from the Laptop and the internet for more than a day due to infection in both my eyes. And this was the result. Made with paints, silver foil, paper and some soothing acapella in the background, my dreams wait to adorn a wall! :)))

Our childhood favourite - salted moong dal - with a twist :)

My husband had just returned from work when I was half way into preparing this and he asked, "Can we actually make 'moong dal' snack at home???" And if you are wondering the same, Yes! you definitely can!!

2 cups of split moong dal (soaked for about 2-3 hours and drained)

1 tbsp oil

2 tsp saunf/ fennel seeds - crushed roughly

Chaat masala/ Bhel puri masala - to taste

Salt - to taste

Red chilli powder to taste

1 cup dessicated coconut

Maintain medium heat for the entire process. In a non-stick pan heat oil and fry the fennel seeds till they change colour slightly. Add the soaked and drained moong dal into the pan and fry them till they become crisp and lose most of the water. Keep mixing the dal at regular intervals. Yes this process needs a little patience but its worth the effort when you know you will eat something fresh and homemade and also alter the taste to suit your needs.

How will you know that the moong dal is done? When mixing it in the pan you will notice the sound of the dal against the pan has changed. It will sound like stones against metal. Also the colour of the dal will change from dark yellow to light. This process will take around 20 minutes. Now add the dessicated coconut, salt, and masalas. Mix for a minute and turn of the heat. Ready to munch munch munch...

Poha Chewda

I tried it once and it turned out great. And now I have every reason to make it over and over. Hope you think the same. :)

You need:

1 tbsp - vegetable oil

1 tsp - mustard seeds

1 tsp turmeric powder

Few slices of chopra/ dried coconut

1-2 cups of your choice (groundnuts, cashewnuts and raisins taste best)

Few curry leaves

2 green chillies chopped

Chat masala

3 cups fine/medium poha

salt to taste

1/2 cup sugar

Heat oil in a pan over medium fire. Add mustard seeds. Once they splutter and the sound stops, add turmeric powder, curry leaves, green chillies and nuts (except raisins) and coconut and fry them till the chillies become crisp. Now add the salt and chat masala, poha and mix well. Fry the ingredients and toss them regularly till the poha becomes crisp. Finally add the raisins. Turn off the stove. Wait for the chewda to cool, add the sugar and mix one last time.

Yummy चिवडा मिनिटों में ready!

Play on...

In my personal and professional quest to understand our global society a little more I have been researching about play and games. I don't mean just games that children play but also the ones that youth and adults engage in or engaged in traditionally. In India we play games during weddings, during community gatherings, during free time with our families or friends, etc. Story telling is also a wonderful form of play. And different societies and cultures tell stories differntly. My mum used to tell me how as children they would look forward to the enactment of the Dassera story during the festive season.

In a day and age where play is losing its priority, this blog hopes to create nostalgia and a drive to evoke the child in us.

I want to invite anyone reading this post - age, sex, nationality no bar - to share about play time in your family, community, or any other place. Games you played which are not played anymore. Pen your own experiences. Ask your parents and grandparents if you are fortunate to have them with your still. Ask your children what they play.

Play on....