Poha

I abslutely adore Poha. It's spicy, it has potatoes, what's not to love? Poha are flattened rice flakes. I'd never heard of them before I started cooking Indian food, but Poha can be found at your local Indian or international grocery store.

Ingredients:

• 1 c Poha*
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1-2 green chilies
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tsp tumeric powder
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 large potato, cut into bite size pieces
• 2 limes
• salt to taste

Like I mentioned, Poha is flattened rice flakes. I've seen the store selling two kinds. Thick and thin. I honestly don't know the difference, but I always buy the thick kind!

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a pan with high sides. Once hot add the cumin and mustard seeds.

2. When the seeds start to pop, add the onion and green chilies. Cook until onions are translucent.

3. Add tumeric powder and cook a minute longer.

4. Add potato pieces and stir well to distribute the tumeric powder. If the pan seems a little dry you can add a little more oil. Keep an eye on this and stir every so often so it doesn't stick to the bottom.

5. While the potato's are cooking, dump your poha into a colander and rinse in water. Let it sit for at least five minutes (just wet from the rinse, not soaking).

6. Once the potato's are fork tender add the poha and let it cook for an additional five minutes. Squeeze in the juice of one lime and add salt to taste.

Your poha is ready! It is best eaten with some toppings. We add peanuts (that have been fried!), pyaaz (onion with lime juice added), and bhujia (they're like little crispy sticks). There are different kinds of bhujia you can buy as well!

Valentine's Day 2015

We had quite a lovely Valentines Day this year. Raj was in India for a month for his sister's wedding and to visit with his family. He got home on February 13th. Just in time!

Even though we live in Indianapolis, we make the long trek to Chicago O'Hare because he can fly out cheaper from there. We decided that instead of rushing back home that Friday, we would just stay in Chicago and spend our V-Day there!

I picked Raj up around 3 p.m. It was SO wonderful to FINALLY see him after a whole month. That was the longest we had been separated since we started dating. It's kind of a weird feeling at first, but we quickly got over that and was right back to normal!

Raj had booked us a nice hotel. We decided that since we were in Chicago, it was probably best to do our V-Day dinner that Friday instead of trying to fight the crowds on the actual 14th.

We went to Giordano's for some deep dish pizza (and margaritas!). Raj and I agree that it was the best pizza we'd ever eaten in our lives.

We decided on a medium deep dish with BBQ chicken and green peppers. OM NOM NOM. This made for amazing cold leftovers the next day.

After dinner we decided to go back to the hotel. Raj was pretty jet lagged and I was impressed he was even able to go out for dinner that night.

So, the actual V-Day was no less spectacular! Raj took me to the Willis Tower (previously known as Sears Tower). At first I wasn't too thrilled. I mean it didn't sound all too exciting, but I rather enjoyed myself. Aside from being ridiculously cold, we had a great time!

After that we spent a little time on Devon Street (otherwise known as "Little India". I'd never been and it was really cool seeing all the Sari shops and stores that sold Hindi movies. I finally got a marble chakla. The man selling it to us was like "you roll chapatti?" hahaha! If only he knew!

Then we had to make the looooong drive back home, but a three hour car ride with Raj after a month apart is nothing to complain about! =)

Dahi (yogurt)

When I first learned you could make yogurt at home I was mind-blown. I was even more mind-blown when I realized how ridiculously easy it is! While I am still learning to like this plain yogurt (I'm so addicted to my favored Chobani yogurt!) Raj loves it!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 gallon whole milk*
• 1/4 c. plain yogurt

It's very important that you use whole fat milk for this recipe. I've never tried using anything like 2%, but from what I've heard you shouldn't.

Directions:

1. Pour milk into a heavy bottom pot. 

2. Bring milk to a boil on medium heat. Stir it every so often. Be careful not to scald the milk, or let it boil for to long! As soon as it starts boiling and a foam appears, take it off the heat. 

3. Keeping the milk in the same pot, let it cool down until it is warm. This is very important, you don't want it to be too hot when you add the yogurt. 

4. Add the 1/4 c yogurt, and just stir until it's mixed. You may have to use store bought yogurt for the first time to get this started, but once you've made your own yogurt you can just use the last bit that's left to make a new batch!

5. Now all you have to do is wait. You want to store the yogurt some place warm. When it's really cold outside, I may set my oven to "warm" or the lowest setting and turn it off once your milk starts to boil. You want to store your yogurt somewhere warm.

6. Check your yogurt after about four hours, if it is solid, place it in the fridge until cold. If it's still liquid, just place it back in it's warm place (sometimes this process can take me up to eight hours).

I should have snapped a photo before digging in!

There you have it! Yogurt! The liquid is normal, don't mind it. I'm not sure if it's alright to drain it, but Raj likes for me to leave it in. 

You can leave it plain, which goes very well with Indian food, or you can even add flavor! I bet it would be good with a blueberry compote mixed in, or fresh fruit!

Enjoy =)

Indian Weddings are Beautiful pt. 2

I've been struggling to find words to go along with this post. Raj has been sending my photos of his sisters wedding and I so wanted to use them. Again, I still know so little about the tradition behind a Sikh wedding (and Raj acts like he hardly knows either!) that I'm afraid I can't be too insightful. What I can do, however, is share some beautiful photos! If you have questions please ask and I will do my best to find you an answer!

Such a beautiful dress, and an even more beautiful bride!

Raj's mom and dad!

Who could this dashing man be?!

Off to the honeymoon!

This was an arranged marriage. One of my earlier post talked about a love marriage and an arranged marriage. My next post I'll be talking about my thoughts on an arranged marriage! I hope you enjoyed these beautiful photos!

Indian Weddings are Beautiful pt. 1

I'd been sitting on this one for some time now. I don't yet know just enough about Indian Sikh weddings to write a detailed post, yet the photos from my Raj's sisters wedding are just too gorgeous. Over the next couple of days I'll mostly be sharing photos with tid bits of information that I do know about them.

So today, I'm sharing photos of Raj's sister getting her Mehndi done. Mehndi, what the heck is that? Well if you're an American you've probably seen booths at fairs offering Henna tattoos, it's very similar. From what I understand, there are other celebrations where mehndi may be applied, but its quite common during your wedding. Mehndi is a paste that is applied in eleborate patterns all over the hands, arms, legs, and feet.

Look closely at her hands, you'll find all the letters to spell out Ishneh, the name of the groom.

So beautiful right?!

This can stain the skin for many, many days. I've also heard that some think if it stains real dark, your husband will love you more. I hope since I'm white mine will come out super dark! Ha!

It's also not just the bride who has this done. She will have hers done more elaborately, but other members of the family will get it done also

Raj's mom and dad!

So, you won't be having an arranged marriage?

How did I manage to snag a man who comes from a world tied to the idea and tradition of arranged marriages? Honestly, I'm still asking myself how I managed to do so!

When I first started dating Raj, he told me very early on that this relationship could be very hard. His parents may not take well to the news of him having an American girlfriend. In his culture, dating is happening more and more, but it's still pretty taboo. It didn't help either that I was American.

Why? Why would it matter that I'm American? Several reasons really. Indian's have their stereotypes of American women. Most of them are easily understandable, but that doesn't mean it applies to all of us. In Indian society the bond between parent and child is like nothing I've ever seen. They are extremely close. Making ones parents unhappy is a huge no-no.

Raj and I were both so nervous about telling his parents. Early in our relationship I used to google silly things trying to find other American girls who have gone through similar situations. Many of them said to RUN from Indian boys who refused to ever tell their parents. A lot of times these girls would be with their Indian man for years, and perhaps even have a child together, never telling the parents. Then the boy would visit home and just one day come back (or not even come back) . . . having had an arranged marriage to an Indian girl.

I was horrified. There was no way I could handle something so painful!

BUT, I wouldn't have to. I found myself an honest, genuine person.

He told his family pretty early on. I think he told his sister first, then his dad, and then his mom. I'm not sure that he's ever really given me the full play by play of that conversation, and I'll probably never know how it blew over, but I think it must have been tense.

However, they've tolerated it. At least, as far as what Raj was telling me. Every once in awhile he would relay to me comments they had made and I felt really disheartened. Here I was falling crazy for this boy and I didn't know if we could be together. I fully understood that he comes from a culture entirely different from mine, and that if he had to do what he had to in order to please his parents, I would accept that the best I could.

When I finally got to meet his family, it was hard to say the least. I was terrified the whole time. It's not just the language, and cultural barrier. I was there with his mama bear! I had to tread very carefully. I know it was a hard trip for her, especially seeing us living together (this is something you almost NEVER see in India, it's not considered a good thing)

I did fall in love with his family though. I've never met a more united and close family in my life, and in heart they are all such goodhearted people. I don't know what happened or how, but it truly seems as though they've come around.

Raj is in India currently to attend his sister's wedding and just today he texted me that everyone is missing me and the relatives that know about us (only the close family knows so far) have been asking about me. That's such a wonderful, uplifting feeling! I've found myself really growing fond of his family. After all, if t wasn't for them I wouldn't have Raj!

I hope this can be of some encouragement. Just as Indians may have stereotypes of us American women, we too have our stereotypes of Indian men. Any type of stereotyping is wrong because in the end we are all human, some of us just bound to cultural tradition. Never let a steroetype or a bad story keep you from being with someone, because had I let that get to me, I'd be missing out on the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.

Butter Chicken

Butter chicken is a delicious, creamy, mildly spiced dish. Butter chicken is very popular in buffets at Indian restaurants in the states. To me, this is perfect comfort food. A big heap of butter chicken on top of basmati rice is perfection. My photo may not seem like much to look at, but this dish tastes amazing!

Ingredients: Chicken

• 1 lb boneless chicken, cut into bite size pieces
• 1/2 c. plain yogurt
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
• 1 tsp garlic, grated
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp salt

Ingredients: Gravy

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1.5 c pureed tomatoes (I used roma, and puree them myself. You can use store bought)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp ginger, grated
• 1 tsp garlic, grated
• 1-2 green chili's, chopped
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1/4 tsp fenugreek leaves
• chopped coriander leaves
• 1/4 c. heavy cream

Directions:

1. Place your chicken, yogurt, chili powder, and salt in a bowl and mix it all together. Try and let this marinate for an hour.

2. Pre-heat your oven to 475 degrees. Place your chicken on a baking sheet in a single layer (I recommend covering it with foil, makes clean-up so much easier!). 

3. Cook chicken for 15 min, or until no longer pink. Once the chicken is cooked all the way, I like to put it under the broiler until the top starts burning. That part is optional, but I think it makes it way better.

See what I mean about needing the foil? Once your chicken is done, set it aside so you can get started on the gravy!

4. In a pan with high sides, add the butter and oil on medium high heat.

5. When it's good and hot add add the cumin and mustard seeds. When they start popping add onion,ginger, garlic, and green chili's (I was out, but that's okay!)

6. Let this cook until the onions become translucent. Then add the red chili powder and garam masala, let this cook for about 30 seconds.

7. Add the pureed tomatoes and let cook for about 2 minutes. 

8. Add chicken to the gravy and mix it in.

9. Set this to simmer and put a lid on. Let this cook for 15 minutes.

10. After 20 minutes, add the fenugreek leaves, heavy cream, and cilantro leaves. Mix it all together and let it cook for about 5 more minutes on medium heat.

And we're done! I love eating this dish with basmati rice, but it would also go well with some roti.