Lentil Soup

Now, the Bottle gourd soup was quite a hit. So last night’s dinner was accompanied by Lentil soup. Give the credit to the cold weather of Pune or my culinary skill whatever, even the lentil soup was also a success. So here goes the recipe of this simple soup.

Courtsey Google Image

Ingredients

Orange/Red lentils 100 gms

1 big onion sliced

3-4 fat garlic cloves sliced

3-4 coriander sprigs

Salt and black pepper to taste

Butter (as per your choice)

Method                                                                                                                               

Wash the lentils.

Add salt and butter and pressure cook the lentils with onion, garlic slices and coriander leaves. Give moderate amount of water.

After 4 whistles remove from heat and let it cool down.

Now, separate the stock and in a blender blend the cooked lentil.

Heat the stock in the pressure cooker and mix the blended part.

Add black pepper.

Add salt if required.

Remove from heat when the consistency is thick.

Serve hot with  butter and pepper. 

Oil less Cream Drop Bottle Gourd/ Lauki Soup

These days I am going through a somewhat hectic/ stressed days. There are different reasons. Shifting to a new house and making R adjusted to that being the primary one. As usual I was engrossed with my own problems- cursing, crying and what not of my luck. Then I heard some of my friends and colleagues discussing the odds of life. Realized once again and thanked the Devine Mother to make me remember how Beautiful Life actually is.

Why I said all these things here…No, actually I do not know. My only intention was to give the readers (if anybody actually read this blog J or else just a self declaration) the excuses behind my long absence.

Well, in spite of these stressed days, the only relief is this that my parents are visiting me now and my mother is around. Such a relief!!! Shifting all my worries to her I am happily coming to office and doing my daily chores. Thanks to the Devine Mother once again for making ‘Mothers’. She is actually my Matri Rupena Samsthita (I see the form of Devine Mother within her).

The rain has regained its lost power in Pune and it is raining almost continuously for the last few days. R was not too well and my parents need some well cooked vegetable in curry or dal to dip the roti for dinner. There were not too many vegetables with me and I did not want to make dal as it was already there for lunch. A hot soup will actually serve all my purposes. A soup from bottle gourd was my idea. 

Following is the recipe-

Ingredients

Bottle Gourd/ Lauki  300 grams cut into small cubes

1 big onion sliced

3-4 fat garlic cloves sliced

Salt to taste

½ tsp oregano

2 tbsp cream

Method                                                                            

                                                   

Pressure cook the Bottle gourd cubes, onion and garlic slices with salt with moderate amount of water. After 3-4 whistles remove from heat and let it cool down.

Now, separate the stock and in a blender blend the cooked Bottle gourd cubes, onion and garlic slices.

Heat the stock in the pressure cooker and mix the blended vegetable.

Add oregano.

Add salt if required.

Add 1 tbsp of cream when the consistency of the soup is moderate.

Remove from heat and add the other tbsp cream in drops.

Serve hot. 
You can add butter and pepper. 

Tofu/ Soya meat, Red Bell pepper, Corn and Mushroom Soup

Feeding R is the toughest job as yet. The day she eats properly at least once or twice, I really feel great. One can compare this achievement with that of conquering Mt. Everest.

What not I do to feed her!!! Watching Cartoon Shows to Bal Ganesh to Chkini Chameli, playing with water, adding new flavors to everyday’s dish and what not!  Still my daughter’s prompt reaction to her plate is ‘R khabe na’ (R will not eat). Imagine! After your day long tiring sessions you come back and try to prepare the tastiest dish, with high hopes you serve and the little devil says that she’ll not eat. Anyway, I’m the mother. I place her on my lap and sit in front of the TV or the laptop with any of the shows that she has not watched for at least few days or start creating stories of all imaginary creatures. As she’s amused with either of the things I start feeding her. There are some days when things go smoothly and she finishes her plate without any tantrums. Then there are few days when she’s adamant and nothing can make her eat.

Last night was one such when she finished her dalia with Tofu/ Soya meat, Red Bell pepper, Corn and Mushroom Soup. To my surprise she had even asked for another helping of the soup.

The recipe is very easy and it takes hardly 30 to 40 minutes to make it.

Corn Kernel

Tofu

Ingredients

1 Red Bell Pepper

1 Capsicum150 gms Tofu1 Onion4-5 button mushroom50 gms corn kernel4-5 garlic clovesSalt as per taste1 table spoon olive oil/ Sunflower oil10 cups of water1 tea spoon white or any vinegar1 tea spoon soya sauce

Cooking

Finely slice all the vegetables including the garlic cloves.

Chop the Tofu and the mushrooms.

Heat a pan with 1 table spoon olive oil/ Sunflower oil.

Saute the onions. Add the vegetables and the corn kernels. Cook in a medium flame for 5 minutes.

Add tofu, water, salt, white vinegar and soya sauce at this time and cook for a few minutes until it is boiling. Turn the heat to low and cover the pot.

Cook the soup for at least 20 minutes and serve.