Vidya Niwas...Secret Recipes of the India ..Himalayas !!

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Vidya Niwas... Home baked Pizza topped with olives and wild baby mushrooms

My most memorable meals are the ones where, I can hardly remember what I ate...! I remember only the occasion and that is why I'm incredibly bad at giving recipes... I can still recall my college days eating 'Salzbury Steaks' at the nearby Hotel, Delhi while waiting with baited breath to get a glimpse of David Niven and Roger Moore(James Bond), for a film shoot, 'The Sea Wolves'!

By the end of the month, by the time we used to run broke, my African room-mate and me, would enjoy ourselves with, ..even omellettes and black tea, topped with African wine, listening to Neil Diamond and Kenny Rogers melodies.

Nevertheless, I will try my best not to mess up the recipes..and even if the recipes turn upside down remember, Laughter is the Best Medicine ...especially for Indigestion !!

Seasons to Enjoy...Moods to Remember !

Years ago, before Vidya Niwas was constructed, we decided to quit cooking for the day since it was a special occasion... There was an exciting cricket match between England vs India..plus my daughter, Naintara's Hindi Exams !
We went out and got some hot steamed 'Momos' packed, some apple cider and delicious Black Current creamy Ice-cream which was assumed to be our dessert for the night! The mood was just right, every single thing was going just right UNTIL...

...The unpredictable traffic jams of this small town.. where foreigners jump out to help, waving their hands, speaking in broken Hindi..There goes our Ice-Dreams...Oh ! our beautiful ice-cream melting into streams of milk...
My ten-year old daughter, was having a great time playing along with the Apple fizz like an excited monkey... Of course it went POP..!!Bye-Bye Apple Cider!..
On reaching home, we were still banking on those steamy 'momos'..The match had just started and the T.V set was on...
Woof! Woof!- what's that noise???..
In entered..our utterly satisfied Doggie (Julie), looking up at us with those extremely innocent eyes..smacking her pink tongue!Who wouldn't be satisfied with loads of 'momos' inside them ??!!!
OH MY GOD!!!! - Our ever hungry Julie, had eaten away the only remains of our hopeful dinner which had been left by my son, on his study table..in all the thrill of the match !
Ringing up the Momo shop for more we discovered that Dharamsala had run out on Non-Veg Momos!! Why now ???
A weekend full of veggie food was a living nightmare, especially for my daughter and son..!
So ,.. Office isn't the only place you can get stressed out..!!
The match had started with one player down of England..! A hungry family can be inspiring..so, I decided to cook our simple quick Chicken home recipe...aromatic and finger-licking Chicken 'Garam Masala'!!

Vidya Niwas...Home Recipes

Take some 'garam masala'(Elaichi,Javitri,Jaifal,Laung,Dal Chini and Kaali Mirch). Roast it on a 'tava' lightly, powder it and store it in an air tight jar.

**Stir fry, the chicken cut pieces in sunflower oil. Sprinkle some little masala...salt & chilly powder to taste. When the chicken turns brown.. add curd, finely chopped onions, garlic & ginger paste. Add a bit of 'desi ghee' for aroma and taste.

When the chicken is fully cooked..it starts leaving oil and the smell, fills the air with exotic aroma and appetite..!

This is the time when you add, finely chopped tomatoes and spring onions. PS: When table served, don't forget to add a little of the magical 'garam masala' again !!

**Now that we got over the protein part of the Menu we go over to some invigorating 'vitamins.'

Vidya Niwas...Home Recipes
While cooking, always keep a balance of the right diet and mixture. 'Greens'..go well with potatoes and there is nothing like a little bit of 'carbhohydrates' for growing kids in the home. We do that at our home - Vidya Niwas.
'Stuffed Capsicums' have both and it is an amazing sight of flavour and taste !

**Take some boiled potatoes and stir fry on a non-sticky pan in well cooked 'mustard oil'. Add a pinch of haldi, coriander powder and salt and chilly powder to taste. Flavour it, with a dash of cheese spread and 'amchur' when cooked and brown.
Put this stuffing, inside the garden green capsicums. Then cook it lightly in a an Indian 'kardai', sprinkle it with water and cover it for steaming. PS: Sprinkle the dish with a few drops of fresh lime juice for the lovely 'green effect'!

**Toss up a Garden fresh salad..! I like mine garnished with olive oil, green chillies, lemon juice and parsley leaves sprinkle.

Vidya Niwas...Home Recipes

Sons grow-up on 'Popeye' and daughters on 'Archies'! None the less 'Popeye' plays a significant ambassador for 'Spinach' as a health diet in the West.

Our home made 'Paalak Raita', is a hot favourite accompaniment, for an Indian meal.

**Take some boiled/minced Paalak,and mix it with plain yoghurt. Flambe' it with cummin seeds and red chilly powder..flavoured with black salt !!

PS: Complete this Meal with Hot 'Chappatis', Steamed Rice and fresh mint chutney..a sure Vidya Niwas Health Healer !

Vidya Niwas..Home recipes
***I don't remember what we drank that day..Wine or Beer ? We probably ended it with a 'fresh fruit salad' as a palate freshner!! Like I said it is the 'Occasion and the Company' which makes a meal special. The Euphoria of Saurav Ganguly throwing his shirt to the crowd..and making INDIA proud was what made it memorable !!

PS: TIPS OF HEALTHY COOKING AT Vidya Niwas...
1. Never worry about the proportion, flavour is all about Taste and Smell.
2. Never cook for yourself...enjoy cooking for others !!

Contact us for more on Himalayan recipes :
sangeeta@dalai-lama-dharma-dharamsala-miniguide.com
dharamsala_tours@yahoo.co.uk
..Cook your own spice stories at 'Vidya Niwas'..Click the Graphic below !

For more Vidya Niwas Recipes...Go to Dalai Lama, Dharamsala !.END=OM MANI PADME HUM.( 3 TIMES ).RESEARCH TIBET DHARMA BY VENERABLE GESHE TESERING TASHI.VIETNAMESE NUN.28/1/2012.