EXOTICA !!!!!!!!

{ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON :

2/27/10, 8:46 PM

India Standard Time}

Hello Everyone!!!!! Its THE time!!!! The time I started this blog last year...... Hmmm.... Time Flies!!!!! As always..... 

It feels like just yesterday...... and it is already a year now..... The time My Blog "ASRA"...ASHAON KA, celebrates its first anniversary..... I am so happy on this accomplishment....

When I started, little did I know, about blogging...... & that I would be blogging seriously..... & would be bonding to make few new relationships, part of my life too.... People I did not know existed......till then, are a part of me now....They are a part of my conversations with my hubby..... their works of perfection, simplicity, elegance, glamor & most importantly DELICIOUSLY SCRUMPTIOUS!!!!!!

Just like Rashmi & Ruchika.... I was a newbie then too..... But sincerely it took me sometime to understand all the HTML things & other matters that involved.......But they have grown up to be Genius now, within a short span of time.... I now enjoy reading what they post & love to write for them tooo (comments)..... I then wondered how would I be awarded & when done, how would I collect them & from where & how would I flaunt them on my space...... How very 'New'bie, of me??????

I felt very much like a newcomer.... Like a kid who attends her first day at school...... & would just keep looking around at the atmosphere there, her teachers, other kids like her & some really extraordinary..... the veterans who are very experienced & big, the way they carry themselves, their attire, the way they speak, looking at all this, thinking that she is a no one & wondering, would she able to cope with all of that outstanding aura.... around....And then after a thought, managing herself, making up an imaginary sculpture of a Guru (teacher) like Guru Dronacharya & confiding in herself that she would be an Ekalavya.... who would try to master that subject, to prove herself....... I do not know if I have been able to prove myself..... but yes I am satisfied that I have been able to gain appreciations, from peeps all around....... Their candid expressions & love that they all share on me & my work are moments for me to be treasured.....

To be truthful ..... I would like to tell you that LOVE is the ONLY part of my treasure & accounts.... I am really happy & proud of it....... The more I spend, the more it increases..... The foundation of course was laid by Kuku -  My Teenage Heart Throb, My Present Sweet Heart & My Future Love & support.......

Oh! I get carried away easily, though!!!! Traveling back with time..... Yes! It is anniversary time..... & I would take this opportunity to share about another newbie..... My lovey lovey newie...... Blog....... Dedicated for my crafty challenges..... I request all, to share your love on my new blog, supporting my Card Making Spree...too.....

Title : "HASTKALA"...ASHAON KA
URL : http://hastkala-oceanichope.blogspot.com/

Marking the Birthday of my Blog, I have made a card, to just symbolize & celebrate the day..... which is posted on my new blog.....

Any thoughts & suggestions.... to help me improve my space & my work....... is always a WELCOME!!!!! I would look forward to it eagerly.... on my toe...... ;-)

I could not do much yesterday to celebrate my Blog Anniversary..... I went hunting for my 'Card'inal paraphernalia...... So I missed on posting yesterday & even preparing something special to celebrate the occasion, unlike many others...... I know & have seen my fellow bloggers celebrating this blessed day...... with yummilicious cakes & such delicacies..... My hubby, on the way picked up some sweets to celebrate the day, though...... So I had a tiny get together.... with just me & Kuku......

After much thinking & rummaging my drafts, I found this dessert-not-posted.......... Hence thought of posting it today..... 'post' anniversary!!! - (Pun Intended ;-)

So here is the delicious Badam Halwa or the Almonds Pudding....... JUST FOR YOU!!!!!



BADAM EXOTICA

Ingredients:

Almonds (Badam, Baadaami) - 1 cup
Milk - 3/4 cup
Sugar - 3/4 cup or as desired
Cardamom(Elaichi) - 4 pieces
Cashew nut - 10
Raisins - 10
Ghee - 3tbsp
Saffron (Kesar, Kesari) - 1 tsp or A pinch, Optional




Method:

Soak almonds in water for minimum 4 hours. Then peel the skin & grind it to make a corse textured paste....... Boil the milk & keep aside.... Fry the cashew & raisins in a tsp of ghee, till golden brown & keep aside.....

Now heat ghee in a thick bottomed vessel or a wok. Add the ground almond paste & stir fry for minimum 5 minutes or till the color changes & a  sweet aroma is released...... 

NOTE: No attempting at escaping moments...... STIRRING HAS TO BE CONTINUOUS.... till the halwa is completely DONE...............






Now add the boiled or condensed milk & the cashews & raisins too......Stir fry further for 25 minutes, while the mixture bubbles or till all the milk is absorbed & the mixture leaves the sides of the vessel. Turn off the flame & add sugar.... Leave it 5 minutes to let the sugar dissolve.... When done mix it well & garnish. Serve it, ready to eat.....

So that was The Exotica from me to every single soul who shared their love on me & my blog........ 



I would like to make this a small Thanks Giving Ceremony......

First & foremost my Kuku, who bore all my delays, right from me preparing to prepare the food till the food was served...... He had to wait & wait, till I was all done with all my required arrangements & CLICKS!!!!!!! He would wait & I would just go Click! Click! Click! ;-) Many a times he had to even wait to bed, till I was done with all the punching of comments & appreciations on my fellow bloggers blogs...... And most of the preps that I have not only known but posted too, was because of his interest in cooking...... Thanks Kuku!!!!!

My brother Amrith, for making this space look so welcoming & NICE..... Breaking the ice of Monotony of a regular blog......He kinda customized it for me as far as possible, with few of his ideas & few of Ours..(both our heads put together :-) Thanks Amrith!!!!

My Amma for her shared recipes, some from Mangalorean Cuisine & some of her own..... My Badimaa (Dodamma) too for her share of preps...... My Maa in-law & Sisters in-law for all the Delicacies in-law, on my post..... If not for them, for the days I was with them & learn't few preps... most of my posts would not have happened...... Than Mangalorean preps, I have more of Bihari cuisine, listed & posted here..... for me as well as all...... Because all that I have learn't & cook is what they have shared & let me know..... Nothing of my own.....
Hence Thanks Amma, Dodamma, Maa, Bhabi & Deedi for all the support rendered!!!!!

Last but certainly not the least..... I owe all my thanks to this BLOGGYWOOD..... The Blog fraternity..... for all their time to time love, appreciations & comments ...... More than me, Kuku is so much addicted to reading them..... Early morning even before I would wake up, he would check my mail comments, when he checked his mails...... He would be so excited with all the words of admiration that people showered on me..... He felt happy that I had totally engaged myself in this..... He would just wait for me to wake up to share the comments with me.... & when he found no comments he would say, may be it is time for you to post your next...... He would not read them on my blog.... So, many a times even if I do with the comments on my blog, I would still leave the ones in my mail, untouched, only for him to read & relish!!!!!!!  So that is the role that my fellow bloggers play in my life...... 

Hence, Thanks to YOU ALL!!!!!!!

TOFA

It is also the time to flaunt few appreciations received from my blogger friends.......

Srilekha of Me & My Kitchen shared this beautiful TOFA, which I am really proud of, for participating in the EFM-Mutton Series, she held......



Jagruti from Joy Of Cooking shared this beautiful Smile, as a mark of her 50th post.....



& Suparna of Food Fascination shared these beautiful set of TOFAS...... I was quick to pick those pieces that were not a part of my 'Treasured Tofas' or 'Blogfares'........ Is it greedy????? Na! Nope....... I would say, it is just being aware of MY PICKS!!!!!! Is  it not???? I thought so...... too........ ;-)











And me would not wanna be just a recipient, but would love to be a donor too...... Ooo! What expressions I use sometimes???? It surprises me too..... that I can connect things..... Sometimes very cleverly... & sometimes very amusingly (not exact funnily, but weirdly too)..........

Dhan Tana!!!!! Here's this piece that I made as a token of my LOVE to YOU ALL........ Marking my time of celebration...... Kindly accept........ :-)



Another year of Colors & Joy!!!!! I wish everyone a very Happy Holi!!!!!

WISHING A LIFE FULL OF COLORS!!!!!

UNTIL NEXT, KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!