Curd based delicious foods like mishit doi, boondi raita and lassi

Milk and milk products have a good balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate and are a very important source of essential nutrients. In some places, milk is taken in the raw and children hate the very thought of gulping it down. They need to be coaxed into drinking it and for this, the parents resort to various tactics. These include use of additives like chocolate. In order to do this effectively, ad agencies come into the picture and introduce children who boast about various after effects like become taller, stronger and more energetic than others. When it comes to elders in the family, milk and milk products take a different shape. Very few of them drink milk in the original form unless they fall sick and the doctor prescribes something like a ‘glass of warm milk’ at bedtime. Yogurt (or dahi or mishti doi) is an important byproduct of milk and it lends itself easily to a number of tasty food items. 11 Things You Can Make With Yogurt. Raita and lassi are easy to prepare and very popular.

Raita is usually a side dish and ingredients can vary. Ingredients for a vegetable raita are usually finely chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and chili. These are mixed in the bowl of curd with salt and sugar to create a heavenly taste. The combination is served in small containers for consumption on as required basis. Their addition to normal dishes helps to improve the overall taste. Another raita is of boondi. These are small roundals made of a mixture of besan (powdered chana dal) and water to make a batter. This batter is then passed through a sieve so that drops fall into hot oil and get fried. These end up as crisp roundals that are slightly larger in size than homeopathic globules. The process of making raita with this boondi is simple. Take a bowl of beaten curd along with additives like chopped green chili, coriander leaves, salt, powdered black pepper and a pinch of sugar. Once the mixture is ready, add a fistful of boondi and stir them to create a dish fit for the King. Some add pink pomegranate seeds to make the raita more colorful.

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Mahalaya is here and Durga is set for her annual trip (satire)

At last it was Mahalaya. The much awaited day had arrived and Goddess Durga was as excited as a child – waiting to go to her mother’s place for a few days of rest away from the humdrum of routine life. Suddenly Lakshmi came up to her.
‘Mummy,’ she looked worried. ‘I heard that mosquitoes are killing people down there. What should I do? I don’t want to get bitten by those pests and catch dengue.’
‘I know,’ Durga said. ‘It is a problem for not only you but for all of us. We will not die or fall sick but we can be bitten and that will hurt.’
‘Shall I get in touch with that yogi baba who creates magic potions?’
‘You mean Baba Someday?’
‘Yes. He can give us some sort of paste to rub on our body so that it acts as a shield against mosquito attack.’

Just then Lord Shiva came up to them.
‘That is why I feel you should stop this annual visit,’ he said. ‘The people down there do not bother about us. They have become selfish and are showoffs.’
‘I beg to differ,’ Durga objected. ‘You look at the women on Ashtami day. They fast and come to pray and get my blessings.’
Shiva smiled.
‘Actually they come to display their sarees and jewelry. There is no sincerity. They fast all right but, come for Anjali after booking a table at the restaurant.’
‘I agree with you,’ Ganesh said. He had also sauntered over to hear what was being discussed. ‘These people are so hungry. Immediately the anjali is over, they rush to enjoy the five course meal. Sorry – not five but it is a much longer meal.’
‘A twelve course meal,’ Shiva said. ‘It starts with begun bhaja, luchi and chholar dal and ends with rasogolla and mishti doi. In between comes the pulao, topshey fry, murgir theng, dab chingri, kasha mangsho, aloo bakhra chutney. That adds up to a twelve course meal, right?’
Durga nodded as did Ganesh.
‘Moreover the so-called devotees are more devoted to setting fashion trends,’ Shiva went on. ‘The puja is supposed to start on Saptami but, pujas ae inaugurated much before that. Do you know why?'
‘Yes, I know,’ she replied. ‘It is because celebrities are overworked. They have to inaugurate so many big budget pujas and they can’t do that in one day. So – they have to spread it out over a period of time.’
Shiva grinned.
‘I will not criticize your beloved devotees,' he said. ‘Have a happy journey and be careful of the potholes.’ (to be continued …)


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Didi off to Rome in search of goodies (satire)

It was an invitation from The Vatican she just could not miss. It was the canonization of Mother Teresa who was dear to not only Didi’s heart but to all downtrodden. And Didi seized the opportunity to move out of her known circle to visit an unknown land in the hope of bringing home some some goodies. Yes, she needed them badly.
Moo Cool met her at the airport before her departure.
‘Any good news,’ Didi asked him.
‘We are becoming a big force to reckon with,’ he whispered.
‘I know,’ she said. ‘I have decimated the opposition.’
‘Actually, there is no opposition,’ Moo Cool said. ‘You have put the fear of God into them and they have become meek lambs.’
‘What about our Delhi goals?’
‘We are getting recognition as a national party. That will boost our chances in 2019.’

Suddenly her mobile rang. It was Abhi Shake on the line – he informed her that the so-called bandh is fizzling out. There are buses on the roads, people are seen on the streets, and shops have opened. Didi was happy. She had taken a tough stand and it has paid off.
‘Most of the buses are empty,’ Abhi added.
‘That is not important,’ she said. ‘The fact is that there are buses plying.’
‘What about gully cricket matches?’ Didi asked.
‘I could not see any such activity,’ Abhi replied.
‘What a change,’ Didi sighed. ‘Bandh meant all activities were banned except gully cricket. I have changed that concept.’
The mobile rang again. It was now Dee Wreck on the line.
‘The staff in Nabanna are enjoying their picnic,’ he said. ‘The menu was fantastic. Fish fry, mutton curry, alu dum, luchi, rasogolla, mishit doi.’
‘Are they happy?’
‘They are. But, they want something more to remain happy.’
‘What do they want now?’
‘An extra holiday during the Puja festival.’
‘My naughty boys must have their fun,’ Didi grinned and moved towards the departure lounge. Her mind was busy with her future activities. She wanted to drop in on a few countries on the way back home. She wanted to woo a few investors. She had heard that Germany made small cars – and, she had links to Germany though Netaji. His wife was a German lady. Could Germany be persuaded to invest in Bangla? (to be continued …)


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