Jab We Met and how I miss my space ...

You know how it is, when are you are living abroad,  go back  HOME (your paternal home) for vacation and you go around the whole place looking out for any new additions, may be a new wall clock, a new plant ... you wardrobe would be just the way it was the way you left it during your past visit. ......  all the nostalgia sets in...

and, thats how exactly i feel now. NOSTALGIC ....



I keep giving excuses of not being able to be consistant with my blogs, Gosh ! my Pick Quicks had just 4 posts in 2014 . (hopefully, 5, in 2015 atleast )

Not a positive note to start a New Year yeah ? the first post of the year . Hmmm...i know....but on the brighter side... to bring in some smile...just sharing...a concidence factor.

My first post last year...and my 100th post was a guestpost by The Big Sweet Tooth lady, Rafeeda.

The ever consistant, smily faced ...she knows the art ! The art of blogging, i have to say. Her posts are regular, her visits to others places are regular...I really envy you Rafeeds !!!

                                  My 100th . thats the post she wrote for me last New Year...

and....  this New Year...

 



there we are !!!!

Bingo !!! Jab We Met !

Never did believe we could make it, but finally, on the day of our return after a week vacation in the UAE, we did manage to catch up at a Supermarket next to her home. It was just for a brief while; the kids were restless, my neice had lost hercell phone, and it was all kinda chaos, yet...some chit chat and a click !!

 

Was great meeting you in person, dearo.

 

Wishing you all the very best in this New Year and to all my dear co-bloggers as well.

 

 

from us !!!



 

So, till i can manage to make some detailed posts in here....(by the way, forgot to mention, i now keep my recipes and tips as simple few liners, and post it directly on the my fb page - Sona's Pick'y Bank) ...

 

i miss you all and ......

  tooo ;)

 

 

Cucumber Chirstmas Tree & Destination -Broadway, Kochi - a flashback...

 "R" for Recipes..."R" for ramble writes...and those who are "R" for Regular here...will know..that I keep these two separate, in my two twin blogs - QP and PQ respectively. Unlikely this post, for a change,..thought of having both together.

 

A simple "green" edible Christmas tree inter woven with some flashbacks of the Christmas season still bright "red" in memories.

 

  

Christmas ? That's Jingle Bells....Carols....Christmas Tree...Crib...Cakes... 

 

Come December, and these are the typical thoughts that comes first to mind.

Well..for me...going a bit more hearty, to about a decade back.....

The busstop was right in front of my home, yet the almost 1 km walk to Vytilla junction (Kochi, Kerala) was the most common thing that I used to do, need I take a bus plying into the city centrals. In a way, this was also a guarantee that I did get a seat in the other wise crowded buses. Vytilla to Menaka buspoint -  my standard route. Could very well say that my GPS during those days had just these two locations ..the min-max limits. (on self-travel mode that is).

For the Cucumber Chirstmas Tree centre-piece, you need :

 

Cucumbers - sliced dialgonally (as shown)

A small sized onion bulb

A slice of carrot

Tomato ketchup
A bamboo skewer
 

(my Father gets me these custom made knives and my eldest son insisted that it sported a green coloured handle in it, coz its be to used for cutting "green" vegetables !...some matching matching concept ! )

          Destination One  - the most happening place that was then..The Convent Junction. 

  

Goodwill Collections (getting drowned in the tonnes of accessories).... Tops (some casual yet cheap outfit picks).... Steps/Heels ?? (forgot the name of that footwear shop, esp for the cute chettans who owned the shop..hope they don't see this post ;)...Eloor Lending Library....anything and everything from embroidery threads to oil pastels...need anything...it was Destination Convent Junction !!! 

Giving/ taking Christmas cards was soo much a part of  Christmas times then...and come any function, the first haven for any greetings and gifts was The Archies Gallery.  Browsing....browsing.....and browsing  through the endless rows of greetings cards, was kindof a Christmas tradition as well...something, which is getting extinct, by now...sadly.

To assemble the Christmas Tree

  

Cut the head and tail off of a small onion bulb and lay on the base plate - to form the base of the Tree.

 

 

Insert the base of a bamboo skewer into the onion base and get dragging down the cut cucumber slices round the pole.

 

Destination Two - Broadway..the most ironically named street now existant in our Namma Metro.

 

Being a crafty then, my main supplier for art work rawmaterials, was Jose & Co; towards the end of the street, and don't remember the countless number of times I have walked up and down the street. The tiny cowded way...with absolutely cramped parking spaces...but ironically, called "The Broadway ".

The wholesale shops used to look like this...fully adorned with stars, stars and stars in all shapes, sizes and colours.

 

 

 meanwhile...let the cucumber slices do a pole dance round the skewer ;)

 

 

During Christmas, the sale overflows even into the street which will be thickly packed with vendors and shoppers alike..and I was always a part of that crowd....

( image courtesy - Mr. Cochin Blogger -who whole-heartedly agreed to me borrowing one of his images from his blog. Thanks very much, Sir !)  

                       

                                  push the slices down in an inclined angle, as shown above

 

 

A drop of Tomato Ketchup on each of the Cucumber slice to resember some decoration.

A carrot-star cut out for the tip..and bingo !!!

 Nov 2013 - 10 years had made a world of difference in ME...but not a speck of difference to this world I was looking at right now. Got to walk the same busy wholesale section of the Street during my small one week vacation back home last month . The buildings looked the same....the crowd looked the same....the festive feel was the same....and for a moment....did wonder....

                                                              Am I the only person that has changed in the entire crowd ???                                              Will these old buildings recognize me ?                                               Breathed life into them...may be...maybe...one or two of them would...                                    necessarily not....

Anyways.... with wishes for a very Merry Christmas and an even Blessed New Year .....





  ...let this "another wise woman" take leave for the time being....till then....have a great December !!!

 


 

Stay Happy...Keep Smiling !!! ;)

   

(the general images courtesy Award goes to.... most loyal, Google Search)



 (Let me put the blame on my new Canon for the negligence that howered around my blogs over the last few months. Was clicking more of places and people for my FB page and there was literally, no cooking happening at all. This, is my first post with clicks taken using my DSLR, and got to admit..I am pretty happy with the outcome. In a way..this also means, now..I get no more excuse to be staying away from my blogworld. Inshallah...i stay commited to my spaces. )

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Snake Gourd - "chikkie" Egg - Burji

 

Snake Gourd - CHIKKI - Egg - Burji



When I started this blog, my second attempt in blogging, I had named myself - The Teflon Frypan. You know...the kinda surface, to which nothing sticks. Now dont get me wrong...its as far as my hobbies are concerned. Like to cook, click and to write. But the problem is ... its now kinda soo difficult to get all these three going on together.

 

With at present, more into clicks, for my fb page..its soo evident the neglect on my two blogs.

 

And feel really touched..and warm..when i get someone around enquiring...about my disappearance from here, really really appreciate it !!!

 

It was just about 2 months or so, that I was kinda away from here...but, it definitely seem like ages. Have a lot of catching up to do. Will try to drop by most of my dear co-blogger friends' place..

 

Akhi CHIKKI Laaki CHIKKI....CHIKKI...Laaki Chum...

 

The Bijli ki Rani , Sridevi....is back with a big bang. Sure, no Indian would ever forget one of her besty perfomance spewing  gibberish like --

 

I see Lucy.... You see Lucy..... Haasi Tussi..... Laasi Peesi..... Mombassa King Kong !!!!!  (what in those lines...lol)

 

                                                 ************************************

 

Flew to India twice during this break..one to Delhi, and other back home to Kerala ..but both short visits..less than a week each.

Did a lot of sight seeing, shopping @India capital...caught up with old time schoolmates and family @home... was fun.

 

 

Bum CHIKKI CHIKKI Bum..CHIKKI bum bum...CHIKKI bum...

 

those of my generation will still cherish this soo hearty song

 

*************************

 





Alright, back to work !

 

Sharing a  very simple recipe..quite common in our household .

 

 Snake Gourd - Scrambled Egg Burji.

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

3 tsp oil...
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 onion (finely chopped)
3 green chilies (finely chopped)
2 garlic pods (crushed)
Few curry leaves
200 grams snake gourd (chopped into small pieces)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
75 gms freshly grated coconut
Salt to taste
2 eggs

•Heat oil in a pan, add the mustard and cumin seeds, let them splutter for a minute.
• Add onion, garlic, green chilies, curry leaves and fry them until the onions becomes soft.
•Now add the snake gourd, turmeric powder, grated coconut, salt and mix well.
• Cover the lid and cook until they becomes soft and tender.
•Move the vegetable mix to a side, then break the eggs in same pan, mix well to break the egg yolks and keep mixing until the raw smell goes out from eggs.
•Finally add coriander powder and mix everything well and fry 2 more mins, then switch off the flame.

An easy side dish for rice.

 

...even decades later...CHIKI's keep poping up.

 

I wanna Chiggi wiggi  with you boy...

featuring another gorgeous lady all the way from Oz - Kylie Minogue

 

*************************

And what with all these CHIKKI songs ??

hee hee...nothing much..just that for my kids..scrambled eggs are "CHIKKI" eggs and so, just got in all the "chikki" songs too to compliment.

;)



 
 

LoR 05 - From Honey Creeps to my fav. childhood snack

Left over Remake - 05

One single mix and 3 different snacks! Isn't that great ??

From this..(honey crepes)

to this....(banana fritters)

and finally..my favourite right from childhood...well...no specific name for it. It something that my mom used to make with leftover crepe batter.
 

 

 

I think as kids..we are very much happy when our parents does things which we really like..as if they were just reading our minds. And it feels even better when the parents interchange their roles.

 

While we were small...and as occasional treats during vacations…our mother used to take us to the “Ernakulam Children’s Park” and we appreciated it even more…coz, it was mummy who wake taking us..unlike our dad, who always takes the “driver” role. The visits were definitely widely spaces on the timescale..so that very much added to the excitement factor. The mini jeeps, scooters and the signal lights to stop your vehicles on the mini roads that you drive them….we thoroughly used to enjoy each visit and badly look forward for the next. 

 

 From the park…the next destination would be the nearby “Indian Coffee House” and the same order each time – vegetable cutlets…which, better would be said as “beetroot” cutlets. They were really pink inside.

Fast forward…..location shifts to the middle-east….and its the next generation park goers.

Might be coz of how deeply I cherish those good times..( remember I said..parents interchanging roles) that I do love to do the same with my boys…and wishing within..that they too would (might) cherish these times when they are grown up too. Do take them to the play area just across the road and its got all the restaurants and coffee shops just side by side. An occasional visit to the Little Ceasers Pizza shop…its mom’s n kids day out. Of couse, we would have a take away ordered for the Dad too…or some doughnuts for the boys (a coffee free for the mom ! from Dunkins). ;)

 

A lazy weekend morning..Saturday..atleast I don’t have to work 6 days a week, unlike the Dad.

back to our childhood favourite evening snacks and this was how my mom used to get it done. From this...to that..and again that !!!

 
For the honey butter crepes -
All Purpose Flour - 2 cups
Egg - 1
Honey - just enough to make it sweet as per your taste
Milk - as much to make the batter loose and of pouring consistency

Mix all these together well and make crepes.

Can add a dash of butter to it and fold or roll.

Simply quick breakfast/snack.

Version 2 : Payampori - banana fritters.
 

Add a tsp of turmeric powder to the batter.

Cut bananas into half length wise and then half across.

Dip each banana cut in the batter and deep fry in oil.

Strain excess oil on paper towel

Batter still remaining and no more bananas? worry not..

 

Version 3: Just scoop a spoon full of the batter straight into the oil and fry on either sides till slightly golden brown.

 make a lovely tasty snack by itself..

Honey Butter Crepes

Payam pori

..and....

Batter fried pancakes (well..so i shall call it)

 

Click LoR - 04 to go to the previous post in this Leftover remake series.

Unakka Kappa Puyukku and a city to country side alliance

The story revinds back to about 9 years. The city girl gets married to the country side..all green...plantations...cattles...paddy. Wasn't she simply excited just being this close to things which till then , she had just watched on tv. Even a walk amidst the rubber trees seemed super duper cool!.(you get it right?..whom i am speaking..oops, writing about. i, me and myself...actually)

 

 After wedding, its customary that we pay a visit our new relatives, starting the very next day. It was one of those visits and my grand mother-in-law was with us as well. She takes me for a walk round the house...explaining about the different plants..their medicinal benefits..how their generation would live entirely on foods cultivated on their own land. Absolutely nothing purchased so..so..

 

 

Finally, the tour ends up near the stable and she starts on and on about cows....milking...kind of analysing by herself how this particular one would have reduced its milk output.

 

There i was ..not getting something right. My husband joins us and silently i asks him...."why is she speaking about milking this cow?? how in the world can male-cows give milk ??? "

 

His one look and i knew that i was upto some blunder.

 

"what makes you think that this is male and it cannot milk?" - "HE" asks..

 

Not wanting his grand mother to listen and definitely a bit cautious of what she would feel of the newly wed bride...silently whispers ...

 

..well it has horns!!! so, it should be a male....is it not ?? (elephants with tusks are males..so, cows with horns should be males as well....so i believed)

..oopps...!!!

 

years past...i am all used to their surroundings, foods..and this is one staple preparation from that part of the state (kottayam).

 

Unakka Kappa Puyukku

 

Unakka kappa is Tapioca peeled, washed, sliced or diced, boiled and dried in sun. This can be stored for years and when cooked gives out a totally different flavor. Dry tapioca kuzhachathu is prepared in the same way as fresh tapioca kuzhachathu but the taste is entirely different. It goes well with fish curry or red chilly chutney.

Ingredients:

Dry tapioca/Unakka kappa: 3 cups.

Coconut: 1 cup.

Kaantharimulaku: 6 - 7 (the mini red cillies which are super hot)

Garlic: 5 - 6 cloves.

Shallots:4-5.

Turmeric powder: 1 tsp.

Salt.

 

For the seasoning:

Coconut oil: 2 tbsp.

Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp.

Shallots: 3.

Dried red chilly flakes.

Curry leaves.

 

 

Method:
Wash thoroughly the dry tapioca and soak them in water overnight.

Grind coarsely coconut, dried chilies, garlic, shallots, and turmeric and keep aside.

Cook the tapioca in pressure cooker for about 2-3 whistles. Release the pressure by keeping the cooker under cold running water. Open and drain. Again put the cooker on low flame and mash the tapioca well and put in the coarsely grinded coconut and salt. Mix well.

 

 

Season with coconut oil, mustard seeds, red chilly flakes,  shallots, and curry leaves. Mix well.

 

 Serve hot with fish curry or chutney.

 

need some more glance into this city-village bond ???...

in here....@pick quicks