Tag: Blogging

Stew Your Way

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Having reached home late in the evening, sometimes it becomes difficult to decide on the “what to cook” part. When things don’t go as planned, we search for alternatives. But without agreeing to “order food” from outside, we may find the solutions at home itself.

There is no dearth of options when it comes to making sandwiches. Yes, just to be on the safer side, ensure that the fridge is stored with at least the basic vegetables. If eggs are there we stay worry free.

At one such time, I discovered that a vegetarian ‘stew’ can be a great option. A few potatoes and onions sautéed in oil are cooked in coconut milk with nothing but ginger cut to julianne, green chilies, salt and a sprinkle of pepper to taste. A tadka (incidentally ‘tempering’ is the suggested translation of the Hindi word) of mustard seeds and fresh curry leaves makes it perfect.

Since, I don’t have the habit of stocking coconut milk or coconut milk powder; my vegetables are cooked in water, and mixed with plain milk. The well mashed potatoes make the gravy thick and I find bread or buns to accompany it.

A pressure cooker does the job well. Microwaves also help to quicken the process.

In fact, stew is one of the most relished dishes in Kerala. Often, it is served as a side dish along with delicious aapams (made from a fermented batter of rice and coconut). An assortment of vegetables and garam masala (Indian spices) is a variation. An addition of poultry or meat to the onions and potatoes with masalas (Indian spices) and other condiments is yet another variety within the stew.

Interestingly, stew has a universal appeal. The method, preparation time and ingredients vary but, stew is a rather fulfilling accomplishment world over. And it has been regarded as “”comfort” foods, everyday dishes served to family or close friends in an intimate setting.”

What more can one ask for if a simple stew, cooked in less than 15 minutes and served hot in the comfort of the home. I relax to enjoy the complete meal.

Writing About Yourself?

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“Write about yourself in 250 words.” A task I gave myself a couple of months ago. “Ah! This is going to be really interesting”. I exclaimed. And I sat down to write in my diary.

A few minute of “I”, “me”, “I ‘m” and I found myself completely lost for words;  the words that came by easily and took the form I gave my writing. The humour was at bay, seriousness failed to stop by, and emotions withheld from display.

It was very easy to say “I am so and so” and “I did this and that” and crack a joke at your own cost. But when deciding to write about “yourself”, I began to ponder. “Who am I?” “Am I what my achievements are?” or “Am I what people told me, who they think I am” or “Am I the person who speaks to myself when in solitude?”

I could not arrive at an answer. With every situation I was finding a different “I”. While at work the search was for an academic “I”, at home “I became truly myself”, and in a group it was I who selected an “I” that the situation demanded.

I could not believe that even when it came to writing about myself, the true self seemed apprehensive about being a story teller. It surprised me. Making a bio-data was easy but “yourself” had significance beyond the perceived.

I scribbled a few sentences as if they were my first writing assignment in life. Expressed in simple and lucid language, the complications of “I” and the frills of exaggeration gained with time were erased effortlessly.Those few sentences were indeed “who I am”.

My heart goes out to all those who pen down their true self, honestly and sincerely.

Feeling of Blue

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“Monday Blues”. Every Monday someone or the other, without fail sends a message on “Monday Blues”. That’s exactly the time when I am thinking “it’s just another day”.

A search for “Monday Blues” returned to describe it “as a set of negative emotions that many people get at the beginning of the workweek”. Interestingly, the blue seems to be a contribution from “a type of music made popular by African Americans.”

“The ‘blues music’ deals with rather sad themes, and as a result leaves the listener feeling sad. This is the reason why the expressions ‘to have the blues’ and ‘feeling blue’ mean feeling sad or depressed.” (The Hindu, Education Plus, May 2006)

I could not help but think about blue, the primary colour; the colour of the sky and the sea; a shade associated with spirituality, peace and serenity.

My emotional connect with blue goes back to the day I stood before the paintings by renowned painter, Nicholas Roerich.

The various shades of blue spread over the canvas had a rhythmic pattern, and the painting appeared to blend the real and the divine. Of course, Roerich’s spiritual bend of mind reflected in his works. Yet, that may be just one of the reasons for the use of blue.

Though my knowledge in studying a “painting” has been limited, the artwork before me had captivated my thoughts with the blue. And I realised the beauty of its depth as unfathomable.

Apparently, the colour blue is said to have a positive effect on  our mind and body. “It invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming and exude feelings of tranquillity”. However, too much of blue can create negative feelings, melancholy and sadness among others.

Probably, Monday blues has nothing to do with the colour blue. It may be just a feeling of disconnect at the thought of getting back into the routine. Or it may be a reason for someone finding it difficult to report to a job that s/he does not enjoy.

Whether it is “Monday Blues” or “Feeling Blue”, the fascinating blue is a colour that induces and inspires. And Monday is just another day.

Chasing the Thoughts

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Wish I never sit to analyse my thoughts. At one moment my mind is busy gathering the ‘to-do’ list and helping to sort out the day’s activities, and at the same moment it also drags in thoughts that are ‘out of context’, especially at that given point of time.

These captured thoughts stay at some corner of the mind obsessively, and return at an apt moment to show “how significant they can be.”

Interestingly, each and every ‘uncalled thought’ that came by has contributed significantly. Probably, it was a concept feathering to take its unusual flight.

Rightly pointed out by a researcher, “naturalistic analysis shows how we can have some understanding of a concept without the ability to strictly define it.”

Indeed, “creativity is linked to fundamental qualities of thinking, such as flexibility and tolerance of ambiguity.”

But, how often do we appreciate our thought processes? I do agree that, it is not necessary for every thought to materialise into a concept.

It is even more difficult  when someone insists that they have never had a stray thought.

Some of us write down our thoughts that may vary from a single word to a paragraph. Some may even cite the page number from a book that had the ‘word’. And we sit to analyse the ‘thoughts’ at our leisure.

I have found it to be a  stimulating experience; or rather an interesting exercise as if playing a jigsaw puzzle or a scrabble. However, there is absolute chaos when it comes to brainstorming. But in the end, it takes a beautiful form with the right trims and the cuts.