Monday, July 1, 2013

My kiddo pals

What could be better 'Perfect Moments' than when our kids think worthy of us to share their little hearts' secrets, gently prod us to go for makeovers, try different hairstyles, lipstick shades and snugly fitting clothes and then look on appreciatively?

Better still, 'Perfect Moment' are when our kids' friends from primary school who are now in universities, share a sweet rapport with us - parents, even though the kids have parted ways.

'Perfect Moments' are perfect for me when some of my daughter's friends, nieces, nephews and friends' children, forward messages, links, share recipes, tips, discuss movies, anything and everything.

My oldest kiddo pal is my niece, Puja who is an adult now and the youngest is my high school friend Meena's daughter Ria who is nine and whose jokes are worth publishing a book on.

Another kiddo pal is one of my daughter's friend, Jessica. She's been our savior since primary school. One 'Perfect Moment' I distinctly remember was in the first grade when the kids were taught 'Time'. 

Each student had to make a model of a clock. All had submitted their models except my silly girl. She hadn't even mentioned it at home. Jessica, who was around when I was mentioning to other moms in school, promptly made a neat little one on construction paper and gave it to my daughter the very next day. Another perfect moment was this summer. We were having difficulty in submitting college applications online and this same girl kindly obliged us.

I am posting one of her recipes which she learnt this summer in her cookery class. The images too were forwarded by her. I just edited her text a bit.

Ingredients to make the outer covering for koftas

  • 3 boiled potatoes (mashed)
  • ginger & green chilly paste 1 tsp each
  • 1 tbsp cornflour
  • 1 tbsp bread-crumbs

For the paneer (cottage cheese) stuffing:

  • 1/2 cup mashed paneer
  • salt to taste
  • ginger & chilly paste 1 tsp 
  • garlic paste 1 tsp
  • coriander (finely chopped)

Method to make koftas
1. Mix the mashed potatoes, corn flour, bread crumbs, green chilly & ginger paste and keep aside.
2. Mix the ingredients for the stuffing and keep aside.
3. Take a tablespoon of the mashed potato mixture on the palm of your hand and pat it into a disc shape.
4. Add a teaspoon of the stuffing mixture to the disc shaped mashed potato on your palm and gather the edges to form a round ball (kofta).
5. Continue to make the koftas till the potato and paneer mixture is used up.
6. Deep fry the koftas and keep aside..

Ingredients for the curry 

  • 5 tbs tomato puree 
  • 3 onions (grated or finely minced)
  • 5 garlic flakes or 1 tbs paste
  • 2 tbs grated coconut 
  • 1 tbs khus khus (poppy seeds)
  • 1/2 tsp jeera (cumin)
  • 5 each black pepper corns & cloves
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp red chilly powder
  • 1/2 inch piece cinnamon
  • 7 cashew nuts or 2 tbs cashew paste
  • 1 or 2 tbs cream 

Grind all the above ingredients except onions and tomato puree.

Method to make the curry 

  1. Heat 2 tbs oil & fry the onions. 
  2. Add the ground paste. Saute for a minute on very low flame. 
  3. Add the tomato puree. Saute for another minute.
  4. Add salt, 2 cups of water and let the gravy cook for 5 minutes on the lowest flame.
  5. When the gravy starts boiling add the fried koftas.
  6. Simmer gently and add cream just before switching off the flame. 
  7. Garnish with a tablespoon of finely chopped fresh coriander leaves

Note: The koftas and the gravy can be made ahead and kept separately. At the time of serving, heat the gravy on a slow flame and dunk the koftas in the warm gravy.

I wish all my kiddo pals a beautiful, fulfilling life ahead.

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Lori from lavenderluz.com says Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between.

On the last Monday of each month we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join in.

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