February 14 is celebrated around the world as Valentine's Day. Candy, flowers and greetings are exchanged between the loved ones,all in the name of saint Valentine.The history of Valentine's Day and its story of the patron saint is shrouded in mystery.We do know that the month Februrary is a month of romance,and Saint Valentine as we all know him today,contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different Saints named Valentine or Valintinus,all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When emperor Claudius 2 decided that single men made better soldiers then those with wives and families,he outlawed marriages for young men. Valentine , realizing the injustice of the decree,defied Claudius and arranged secret marriages among young lovers. When Valentine's action was discovered he was sentenced to death by Claudius. According to one legend , the imprisoned Valentine actually send first valentine greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl possibly his jailor's daughter who visited him during his confinement. Before his death it is alleged that he wrote a letter signed " From Your Valentine", an expression that is still in use today.

Though the truth behind the Valentine legend is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and most importantly an Romantic figure. Anyways all I know is that due to him we got to celebrate Love. Though many of us believe that Love don't need a special day to celebrate, but really its a pleasant sight when lovers walk around the city holding hands, heart shape balloons, crowded card galleries and so on.

One thing we must admit that whether its valentine's day or a Birthday every celebration is incomplete without some brilliant delicacies. So make this day more romantic with the magic of chocolate and cream with every sip of this coffee.

Recipe Of Cold Coffee With Extra Cream And Chocolate

 Ingredients:

• 1 tbs Instant Coffee
• 2 tbs Sugar
• 2 tbs Chocolate Syrup
• 2-3 Spoon Vanilla Ice Cream
• Water or Milk ( The way you like) 
• Ice Cubes

Recipe Of Cold Coffee With Extra Cream And Chocolate

 Method :

• First take a glass and add 2 tbs of sugar with 1 tbs of Instant Coffee and 1/2 tbs of Vanilla sugar or syrup. Add some water or milk and blend it for 1/2  a minute.
• To this add 2 to 3 tbs of Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate syrup, mix them for another minute or so and then add the Ice Cubes.
• Let the cream float on top of the glass then pour some extra Chocolate Syrup to get the effect.

Recipe Of Cold Coffee With Extra Cream And Chocolate

  Enjoy this Cold Coffee with your Valentine.

 

Recipe Of Kashmiri Murgh

 Ingredients:

• Chicken 1 kg
• 3 large Onion Paste
• Garlic & Ginger Paste 3 tbs
• Kashmiri Red Mirch Powder 2 Tbs
• Black Pepper 4-5(whole black pepper)
• Garam Masala Powder 1 tbs
• Chat Masala Powder 1 tbs 
• Sugar & Salt according to the taste
• Coriander Chopped 
• Dry Red Chillies Chopped
• Lemon Juice 1 tbs
• Fry Masala (Jaifal,Jaitri, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder all fried in a pan and then ground it in a grinder) 

Recipe Of Kashmiri Murgh

 Method:

• In a big bowl take all the masalas and marinate the chicken for 30 min
  ( max).
• In a pan pour some mustard oil and fry the chicken Pieces,once the chicken pieces are tender then add the marinated masala and stir well.
• Let the chicken cook in the masalas for sometime,once the gravy became thick switch off the flame and ladle the dish
• You can enjoy this chicken dish with any Indian Bread.

Recipe Of Kashmiri Murgh

Twilight melted away,majestic sunrise, red orange glow sleeping over the horizon as if the light itself was being poured from a molten sun. Powerful rays floods over the landscape lighting every blade of grass,shinning from each leaf. The morning wasn't gray but soothing lavender and brilliant amber,the colors merged into neon pink and peach.Colors spread across the sky announcing the new day. The night before was as memorable as every year, neighbors , friends and family all sitting across the fire singing, dancing , playing, chatting,enjoying bonfire and barbeque's all in one night was too much to handle, but this is how we used to celebrate Urukha in Assam. It was probably 8 in the morning when I heard my name from a distance    I opened my eyes it was aunt S calling for breakfast.Yes the day has come,it was 15th Jan the day as we all call it Sankranti and in Assam its Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu which marks the end of harvesting season . The festival is marked by feasts and bonfires. Aunt S was ready with her breakfast table which consist of Pithas (rice cakes),special coconut ladoos ,cheera with doi or cream ( puffed rice with Yogurt or cream),akhoi guri and different kind of hand made sweets. After an elaborate breakfast it was time to get ready for lunch,for which we have to go aunt G's house. Aunt G used to prepare authentic Assamese lunch which had traditional   khar,couple of dals,patodiya mach ( steam fish) and of course Pithas.

This was not the end of our feast,my parents selected a perfect date to marry....that's right they got married on 15th of jan which means the fest has to end in our house with dinner.Post lunch I used to rush back home to help my mom.Wow even when today I think about those days I just cant stop blushing. Those incredible moments has became memories now.Though I cant give my family those wonderful moments but I definitely try to maintain the tradition by making some seasonal sweets like narus and pithas at home.

Assamese sweets are generally low in fat and calories while remaining high on flavors,texture and taste. Pitha which is most commonly made on occasions are made from the batter of rice flour or wheat flour and filled with grated coconut , sesame seeds etc. Laru or Naru is something which is made from puffed rice,flattened rice,grated coconut,rice flour and sesame seeds are very popular.

Today I made coconut naru from grated coconut and sugar.This is one recipe which is commonly made and is popular with Bengalis as well as Assamese people.

Recipe Of Narkel Naru

Ingredients:

• Grated Coconut 2 cup
• Sugar 11/2 cup
• Cardamom powder

 

Recipe Of Narkel Naru

Method :

• In a pan take two cups of grated coconut and sugar and stir continuously till the color changes,slowly you will notice that the mixture is getting sticky,keep stirring on low flame. The longer you cook the naru/fudge will be harder.So adjust your cooking time according to your taste.
• Once the mixture is ready sprinkle some cardamom powder and ladle down the mixture.
• Start making small snow balls out if this mixture.
• Don't forget to keep this naru in a air tight container.  

Recipe Of Narkel Naru

  

Recipe Of Narkel Naru

Over the time Bengali Recipes has undergone a huge revolution,people stared tasting different species of fish like Basa,Salmon,Tuna and so on.Even recipes are tweaked every now and then like a regular fish fry for instance,can be crusted with Kasuri methi and instead of Betki Pathuri people are liking Betki Poached in liquid flavoured with carrot,leeks and celery. Recently I was reading an article about how new age chefs are coming up with concepts and food trend like neuro-gastronomy. Well there is nothing to wrinkled your brows,its a concept where focus is on the looks and flavour of the dish. There are several more concepts and trends which food lovers are experimenting in their everyday meal and the best part is that family members are also encouraging their attempts and acknowledge their creativity.

Chital Mach or Clown Knife Fish is a delicacy in Bengal and the best breed of this bonny fish travels all the way from river Brahmaputra.We Bengalis innovated two different ways to have this fish,the belly of the fish is cooked separately and the bony back portion is cooked in completely different manner.Here I am sharing the traditional recipe of Chital Jhal.

Recipe Of Chital Jhal

 Ingredient :

• Chital Mach 750 gms
• Onion 3(make a paste) 
• Ginger & Garlic Paste 2 tbs
• Red chillies 3
• Cumin Seeds
• Red Chilli powder
• Green chillies 2
• Lemon Juice 2 tbs
• Salt , Turmeric , Bay leaf
• Whole Garam Masala 3 each
• Mustard Oil.
• Coriander leaves for garnishing 

Recipe Of Chital Jhal

 Method :

• Marinate the fish with lemon juice,red chilli powder, vinegar,salt and turmeric for 15 mints
•  In a pan heat some oil and shallow fry the fish,then keep it aside.
• In a separate pan again heat some oil and add cumin and bay-leaf along with the garam masalas.
• Next add the paste made of onion,red chillies,ginger and garlic along with salt and turmeric.
• Mix the masalas well then add a cup of warm water and allow it to boil in low flame.Once the gravy starts boiling add the marinated fish, then sprinkle the garam masala powder and cook for another 2 to 3 mints till the gravy attains the desired consistency.
• Then ladle down the dish,sprinkle some coriander leaves and serve with plain rice.   

Recipe Of Chital Jhal

Recipe Of Chital Jhal

As we all know that Kolkata was the capital of British empire till 1911 and was a colonial city developed by The British East India Company till 19th century. Eventually Britishers left Kolkata but the city couldn't come out of the colonial culture. Kolkata has the largest Anglo community in the World. However the community has been conveniently stereotyped by the media,Christmas in Kolkata goes beyond stereotype. You can enjoy more interesting stories,memoir pieces and essays on Anglo Indian Society in Kolkata in a book called Christmas In Kolkata by Robyn Andrews.

Ingredients For Puri :

• All Purpose Flour 2 cup
• Palang 150 gms
• Ginger Garlic paste 1 tbs
• Salt

Method For The Palang Puri :

• In a blender make a paste of the palang,then in a pan take 1tbs of oil and saute the palang paste in ginger garlic paste.Stir the palang till the paste becomes thick.
• Allow the paste to cool in a bowl.
• Start kneading the flour with the palang paste and knead till you make a soft big ball  of the dough.
• From the dough start making small balls,now roll this lemon size balls into  circles of 3-4 inches of diameter and deep fry them in oil.

Ingredients for the Aloo Dum :

• Potato 1/2 kg
• Coriander leaves 100 gms
• Cumin paste 2 small tbs
• Turmeric
• Salt & Sugar for seasoning
• Oil 2 tbs.   

Method For The Aloo Dum :

• Boil the potatoes and keep it aside, in a pan heat 2 tbs oil and add the cumin paste stir for 2-3 mints then add the potatoes. Saute the potatoes with the Coriander paste and season it with turmeric,salt & sugar. Stir for 5-6 mints and ladle it down in a bowl.  

Recipe Of Palang Puri With Dhania Aloor Dum

Serve it with the Palang Puri or Regular Puri it makes a great combination.

Recipe Of Singaporean Platter

 Ingredients For The chicken :

• Chicken 500 gms.
• Ginger & Garlic paste 2 tbs
• Kaju 50 gms (make a paste)
• Pea nuts 30 gms (make a paste)
• Mustard Paste 2 tbs
• Vinegar 1 tbs
• Black Pepper
• Salt 

Recipe Of Singaporean Platter

 For Rice :

• Basmati Rice 2 cup
• Red Bell Pepper 1
• Yellow Bell Pepper 1
• Onion 1 chopped
• Ginger & Garlic Paste 1 tbs
• Cheese grated 1/2 cup

Recipe Of Singaporean Platter

 Method For The Chicken :

• Marinate the Chicken Pieces with Vinegar, Green Chilli Paste and Ginger Garlic Paste for one hour.
• Then mix the other ingredients like Mustard Paste,Kaju and Peanut paste,Salt and Black Pepper and marinate for another 30 mints.
• Once done with marination put the chicken Pisces into the Oven and Grill for 30 to 35 mints.
• When the chicken is ready keep it in a separate bowl.  

Recipe Of Singaporean Platter

 Method For The Rice :

• Wash and soak the rice for an hour then boil the rice.
• In a pan add some oil and saute the vegetables in ginger garlic paste and chopped onions then add the preboiled rice and mix well.
•  Add the cheese and stir the rice for 5 mints.
• Once done then start platting the dish.

For Platting :

• Oil the Red and Yellow Bell Peppers and roast them.
• Cut the Bell Peppers into cubes and put them in between the Chicken.

Enjoy the soft and tender chicken with yummy creamy rice.

Recipe Of Singaporean Platter

Many a times it happen with me that I just want to do things in life without following any universal rules or method. I just want to do things for fun for excitement or you can say for self motivating myself. These days cooking has became therapeutic for me , whenever I am in Kitchen either am focused or am totally confused it don't happen very often though that am in a very fickle , contesting myself and want to do something unconventional and different. This Saturday was one such rebellious day for me when I really want to have fun in the kitchen and so I made this pudding which I baked and then just played with the Chocolate Syrup in the name of decorating the dish. Trust me the outcome was a beautiful, soft, spongy and chocolaty pudding which melt in my mouth and my Dil goes Hmmm,Hmmm,Hmmmm.