Flavors of India

Mutton Curry with Coconut 

Ingredients:
 

·    Mutton (preferably boneless ;

    cut in medium cube pieces): -                                           500gm.

·   Potato(medium size):-                                                    2 pieces

·   Coconut Pest:-                                                                   1cup

·   Onion (slice in fine pieces):-                                            3pieces 

·   Ginger paste: -                                                        2 tablespoon

·   Garlic paste :-                                                         2 tablespoon

·   Tomato(slice in four pieces):-                                           1 piece

·   Red Chili Powder (if you want):-                               1/2 teaspoon

·   Kashmiri red Chili Powder:-                                        1 teaspoon

·   Cumin Powder:-                                                         1 teaspoon

·   Coriander Powder:-                                                    1 teaspoon

·   Turmeric Powder:-                                                   1/2 teaspoon

·   Bay leaves:-                                                                 2 pieces

·   Cinnamon sticks:-                                                         2 pieces

·   Cloves:-                                                                    5-6 pieces

·   Green cardamoms:-                                                   3-4 pieces

·   Mustard / Refined Oil:-                                           1 Cup(150gm)

·   Sugar:-                                                                   1/3 teaspoon

·   Ghee:-                                                                       1teaspoon

·   Salt:-                                                                            to taste

Process:

1. Wash the mutton and marinate with all powders, onion, ginger, garlic, ½ of 1cup oil & Salt before cooking for at least 30mins.  Cut the potatoes in small cube pieces.

2.  Full heat the rest of oil in a heavy bottom pan& fry the potatoes till brownish and set aside.

3. In the same oil pour in the bay leaves and fry till it smell.

4. Add marinated mutton in it and cook for 5mins.

5. Add ¼ cup water, tomato and sugar in it & stir well. Cover with a lid and cook on slow heat for few minutes

6. When the mutton half cooked; add potatoes, coconut pest and 1cup of water and mix well. Cook for 4-5min. and don’t forget to stir.

7.  Now, add 1&1/2cup water in it and mix well. Cover and let it cook for 10-15 minutes on low flame.

8. Take it off the flame and add coarsely crushed cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom when the potato well cooked.

9. Drizzle spoonful ghee just before serving.

10. Serve hot with Rice or Polao or Indian plain Roti or Paratha.

* For Details about Ingredients, check your nearest Indian Store.

* You may use Pressure Cooker. In that case; wait for 2 whistles before add potato and 2 whistles after adding potato.Rest of the recipe remain same.

* Always use warm water to mutton; it will increase the taste.

Destination India

Orissa (PART-IX)

Sea-beaches of Orissa (Part-3)

Baliharachandi

Baliharachandi beach of Orissa is situated at a short distance of just 27 km from the famous place of Puri. Salubrious weather, vast stretches of sandy beach and turbulent sea represent the picturesque landscape of Baliharachandi.

One of the worth seeing Orissa beaches, Baliharachandi is famous for the revered religious shrine of Goddess Harachandi that draws several devotees from far and wide who visit the holy monument to seek divine blessings and eternal happiness. The sea side beach offers the tourists with a wonderful opportunity to experience the natural splendor of Orissa.

Paradeep

The importance of Paradeep and its beach is manifold. Besides being an attractive tourist spot, the Paradeep beach in Orissa is also one of the most important commercial sea-port of the country. Paradeep which is actually an estuary of the Mahanadi River, is one of the most popular beaches of Orissa. Covered by green forests and adorned with natural creeks and island, the Paradeep beach is a paradise for all marine lovers.

Located at a distance of 125Kilometers from the capital city of Bhubaneshwar, the Sea port of Paradeep is the oldest existing port of the state of Orissa. Paradeep attracts a number of tourists from all over the world and its shimmering golden beaches and aqua blue waters explain its popularity. The tropical sun and the long stretches of sandy beaches are the perfect place to soak oneself in the organic values of nature.

The attractions in Paradeep are not restricted to its beaches alone. There are a number of places that one can visit around Paradeep, these include:

• Temple of Baladeva
• Gahirmatha beach
• Jhankad
• Bhitarkanika National Park

Ramchandi

The Ramchandi is one of the virgin Orissa beaches that lie at a distance of 7 kilometers from Konark.Goddess Ramchandi, the presiding deity of the Konark region is worshiped here with reverence. The beach lies at the mouth where the River Kusabhadra meets the Bay of Bengal. The river is named after the presiding deity of the region, Kusabhadra who is worshiped with reverence by the local people. 

Ramchandi Temple

The Ramchandi Beach is not as populated as the other beaches of Orissa. The beach is formed at the confluence of the river and the Bay of Bengal and therefore the waters are not turbulent and do not form high rising waves. The beach is mostly visited by the local people in the weekends.

Talasari

Talasari is one of the less exploited Orissa beaches. The Talasari beach is not as frequently visited by the people as the other beaches of Orissa.

The Talasari beach is well connected by roads to the other cities of Orissa. It lies at a distance of 88 kilometers from the city of Balasore and 4 kilometers from Chandaneswar. The beach of Talasari can also be visited from the popular beach at Digha in the state of West Bengal. The beach lies at a short distance of 8 kilometers from Digha.

The waters of the sea at Talasari beach are not turbulent but calm and peaceful. Children enjoy gathering shells of different shapes and sizes that lie in abundance in the beach.

Talk about India, from India with you

Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening my friends, wherever you are! This is 3:00pm. 9^th December, Sunday in India. How are you friends? It is vary cool in West Bengal but many kind of food and festival is going on. So, the circumstance is very enjoyable here.

You know friends, in India; winter always comes with lots of festivals and fairs! Obviously other countries have the same. Beside Book Fair, Film Fair, Garment Fair etc. – here we have a special fair – Music Fair! Including West Bengal, almost every state of India organized this fair. Today,  I want to tell you one of these fairs – The Tansen Sangeet Samaroh (faire).

Tansen, a legendary exponent of the Hindustani classical music's dhrupad style, and member of emperor Akbar's Mughal court, was counted amongst one of the nine jewels of the royal court.

The famous Tansen Sangeet Samaroh is celebrated every year on the Tansen Tomb in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. It is organized by the government of MP, in association with the Academy of the department of culture in MP. Tansen Samaroh is a platform where artists from all over India, gather and participate to deliver vocal and instrumental performances. Complete environment during the festival turns mystical with melodious music echoing. Music lovers from far and wide make it a point to be a part of this. During the festival, music lovers and artists from all over the world gather here to offer their bit of tribute to the all time music maestro Tansen. Till date this festival has the honor of being the first and only musical sow that goes for days and nights. The academy offers honors to senior celebrities and junior artists by including them in the Samaroh through their musical performance. In all, the four day musical extravaganza called Tansen Samaroh is an audio as well as visual treat, seeing the exemplary and renowned music expertise in artists all over India dedicating their bit of honor to the greatest ever musical mentor Tansen. This annual music festival started way back in 1930's.

The Tansen Music festival or Tansen Samaroh is held every year in the month of December. The experience of melodious music with chilling weather of autumn makes it an ecstatic one. In 2012, Tansen Samaroh has been held from December 7th to December 10^th.

O.K. friends…. It’s the time to say good bye! Take very care of yourselves! May God bless you all. Have a good day/ afternoon/evening/night! Namaskar.


 * Image curtsy: https://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&newwindow=1&tbo=d&q=Tansen+Sangeet+Samaroh

Tips from the kitchen of an Indian homemaker

Today’s Tips

      1.  If gum dries up, add a little vinegar and stir.

2. Add a pinch of soda bicarb to the water to boil peas etc. faster and also to retain their bright green color.

Beauty Tips

 

1. To one tablespoon of cucumber juice, stir in a few drops of limejuice and a dash of turmeric powder. Mix well and apply over your face and neck. Leave it on for half an hour and then remove it with ordinary tap water. This lotion makes an excellent whitener for all types of skin. 

2.  Cut tomatoes in half and rub over the face. This is useful for toning up and whitening the skin and refining the pores.