Visit to ISKCON Temple

It is more than 6 months we shifted to 'Garden City' and ideally speaking I have not been to any of the places here. I had come to Bangalore on my college trip and been to more places in those 8 days than I have been now, only reason I am enjoying the most beautiful phase of life - Motherhood, leaving very less scope for exploring the city.

My sis has visited us and when I asked her on which place she wants to go, immediately she said 'ISKCON' (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple. We had been planning to visit there but every time our plans got cancelled. So finally we planned for today. Though we were supposed to start by 10 am, it was 1 pm when we actually left home. Being new to Bangalore, we took help of navigation app on phone. It was supposed to take us by fasted route but we ended up taking slowest route. On reaching the temple parking entrance at 3 pm, we found that temple is closed for Darshan and will reopen at 4:00 pm. So, we ended up spending an hour at nearby Big Bazaar doing grocery shopping.

We went to temple at 4:15 pm and got into the queue, looking at which I thought it will take more than hour but luckily it was short. At the entrance, There was a notice board picturizing dress code of Saree and suits for women and shirt and full pant for men. It was for first time I saw dress code mentioned in temple. A lady in front of me was wearing sleeve less Kurta and jeans and she was stopped and questioned for it, before allowing inside. Even I was wearing sleeveless Kurta but a baby and my scarf saved me from being questioned. Next we were handed with card with the chants - 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare ; hare Rama hare Rama Rama Rama hare hare' which we are supposed to say while stepping on every step laid on the way till the entrance of Shri Varhada Narsimha temple. We took a Darshan of Shri Varhad Narsimha and Shri Balaji before entering the main temple of Shri Krishna. I loved the way each idol was beautifully decorated. We had a peaceful darshan followed by delicious snacks that were sold in the temple premises. We were also served yummy curd rice as free prasadam on our way out. 

Apart from food stall, it has lots of stall selling books on Krishna, idols, traditional clothing, etc

Some tips for the visiting ISKCON Temple- 

Dress Code - Saree & Salwar suit/Kurta pajama for women; shirt/Tshirt and FULL Pants for men.

Timings - 4:15 am to 12 noon ; 4:15 pm to 8:30 pm

No Cameras allowed inside temple.

Have you been to ISKCON before? What all you liked about it? 

Moti Roti - Rajasthani Recipe

Today I was feeling very lazy to make rotis and suddenly I remembered about moti roti. One of my colleague J used to bring this moti roti and we used to love it big time. She used to say its one of the easiest and quick recipe but I never paid attention on how to make it. When I became roommate with same colleague, I asked her to make it and really it was easy one to make. 

After that, I never tried that roti on my own but today thought of giving it a try. So I mixed 1 cup (usually make 4 phulkas out of it) with some salt, 1 spoon ghee and water to make a soft dough. Made 1 single roti out of it and put it on pan. Then I started with the pinch of design on this roti which is required for it to cook well and give this roti it's design. When the design was completed, I made sure that the roti was cooked well from both side and added lots of ghee (~2 spoons😬) on the design side and woo hoo the delicious roti was ready in less than 10 min.

I was feeling that I was missing in something as when I had made the design with my roomie J we had to make it quick and be careful as the roti was hot. So, I googled the recipe as I don't even know the exact name but luckily got  lots of link with the recipe. So, what I missed was to cook the roti on one side and then start with the design on the cooked part, still I was able to match the taste of what J used to bring in her lunch box. There is one more recipe - lauki muthiya which I got to know about and learnt from same friend J, hopefully I will share it soon.

 I forgot to take the picture of it but surely upload it when I make it next time.

Have you ever tried or made this moti roti? 

Gongura Pachadi

Oh, I have missed my resolution on day 1  :( so, here's the quick recipe shared by my hubby's nanamma (grandma)

For non - Andhraties, details on Gongura can be found at - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gongura

Separate the leaves from stem and Wash Gongura thoroughly.

Fry the leaves in a pan without oil, until it becomes a paste.

Now add some salt to this paste and keep it for 3 days.

Prepare tadka with the following ingredients:

Oil

Garlic

Methi/Fengu seeds

Red chillies 

Mustard

Curry leaves

Chana dal

Let the tadka cool and then add it to the gongura paste.

Yummy Gongura Pachadi is ready :)

This will stay good for more than two weeks if preserved and used carefully.

New Year Celebrations 2014

During my childhood, New year celebrations was not much of an affair. We used to watch shows on TV and wish everyone next morning. Once we had get together (organized by my father's friends) with variety of food, games and it was fun.

When I left home for college, New Year was celebrated at hostel in usual way - decorations, cake cutting, dancing, etc

On this new year eve, I was at my in-law's place for the first time on 31st and celebration here was altogether different. It started with shopping for cake, colors, sweets. Around 10 pm, my sister -in - law started making rangoli in front of our home.

Our home was full with close relatives and hence it was all festive feeling. As the clock stuck 12, we wished each and every one present and cut the cake. My MIL had lit the Diya and performed Aarti. Everywhere outside it was light and sound from fire crackers. We then went to look at the rangoli made by others in our lane and didn't even realized that it is past 2 pm when we had hit the bed. Morning was occupied with phone calls and msgs to all the near and dear ones.

How was your New Year celebration? Was it different from every year? Any resolutions?

New Year Resolution - A post a Day

Happy New Year :)

I know I am almost week late in wishing new year but better late than never, right?  I have never taken a new year resolution but today I thought of taking a resolution of writing atleast one post per day till I am able to complete all the posts I have thought of writing. Hope I will be able to keep up my resolution.

Doskaya Pachadi(yellow cucumber chutney )

I know I made a resolution and it seems like I have forgotten about it. Per my resolution, I should have written 6 posts but it's just 3.

Here comes one more recipe from Andhra - Dosakayya Pachadi. Dosakayya (yellow cucumber or lemon cucumber) comes from the family of cucumber and tastes somewhat like cucumber and musk melon.

Ingredients - 

1 small Dosakayya (cut into cubes)

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1/4 tsp Mustard seeds

1/4 tsp Urad Dal

2 dry red chilli

Curry leaves

5-6 cloves garlic

1 tsp oil(preferably mustard oil)

Hing(asafoetida)

1 tsp tamarind paste 

Heat oil in the pan, add the tadka stuff - mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, urad dal and let it crackle. Add garlic, curry leaves, red chilli. Once they are done and add Dosakayya cubes and sauté then for 5 min. Cool the mixture, add tamarind paste and grind to make fine paste.

Dosakayya pachadi goes well with rice. 

What else you guys have made with Dosakayya ?

Mushroom sabji

I am not sure when I started loving mushrooms but these days they are one of my favorite among veg. Last week my cousin has visited us and I asked him if he likes mushroom ki sabji. He said he likes mushroom in toppings and do not know how it's sabji will taste, so I decided to make it. Just when I had started my daughter woke up and we were already late for lunch so the only option I left with was asking my cousin to make it and he made his first sabji under my guidance ;)

Ingredients

1 packet button mushroom sliced

1 medium size onion

1 medium size tomato

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2 tsp Corriander powder

1/2 tsp to 1 tsp red chilli powder (per taste)

Pinch of turmeric powder

Salt 

Oil

Pinch of cumin seeds / cumin powder

Corriander to garnish

1. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds

2. Add finely chopped onions and ginger garlic paste and fry till it runs red.

3. Add coriander powder, red chill powder, turmeric and salt, mix it well and add finely chopped tomatoes

4. Once the tomatoes start leaving oil , add mushrooms and let it cook for minimum 5 mins. If you want semi gravy, then small amount of water can be added(I generally avoid it as it tastes best without water)

5. Once the mushrooms are cooked, garnish it with Corriander leaves.

My cousin loved this mushroom sabji :) 

This gravy recipe I use for other veggies as well like - baby corn, aloo - gobi, etc and to whatever new veggies I want to try but not sure of how to make it. Also, I add capsicum some time to this sabji.