SOUP-ercalifragalistic Ex-PEA-alidocious

I'm feeling very autumnal, even though I live in Mumbai and the temperature is in the 30's (that's Celsius not Fahrenheit). So how come I'm feeling this way? Well, it was Diwali this week, and it fell at the same time as Guy Fawkes Day (or Bonfire Night as we called it when I was little). Diwali is the festival of light, so everyone lets off fireworks and crackers.

On Friday night there were four hours (yes, FOUR- from 8pm to midnight) of uninterrupted bangs, booms and flashes of spectacular colour in every direction I could see from my window. And it didn't end there - the fireworks continued more sporadically for several hours after that. And as I work up thirsty this morning around half-five, I could still here more booms and bangs.

So as I sat at my window watching the fantastic display, the smell of gun-powder transported me back 15 years or so (crickey - I'm old) to my university days, where me and my friends put on the college fireworks display one year. That night will always be with me as one of the most exhilarating times of my life - after the display ended and all the other students made their way to the Autumn dance, me and my friends went to a quiet room to let the adrenaline wear off!

We were later congratulated on holding one of the best fireworks displays in the history of the college - everyone seemed mightily impressed with 'that fantastic firework, you know, the big one that went off at ground level' (otherwise known as 'the huge rocket that should have exploded 20 meters or so up in the air, but got stuck in it's holder and showered us all with sparks' or 'OhmyGod-I'mgonnadieinanastyexplosion').

I'm glad we impressed!

So yes, I'm feeling very autumnal. And to me that means warming, yummy soup.

I have two soups that I love to make, that are both souper easy to make (sorry, couldn't help myself). One is a Pea and Basil soup and the other is Carrot, Squash and Parsnip soup.

Pea and Basil soup

Peas & Basil

4-5 handfuls of peas
Enough Vegetable stock to cover the peas and a little bit more
Couple of handfuls of fresh basil

1. Cook the peas in the vegetable stock.
2. Remove the peas from the stock to let them cool for a few minutes. Keep the stock warm.
3. Blend the peas and basil with a splash of stock, until smooth.
4. Add stock until until you get the desired consistency.
5. Season to taste and serve.

This soup is a gorgeous, bright-green colour, with a delicate flavour. It doesn't matter whether you use fresh or frozen peas, it's still yummy. If you can't get your hands on basil, then you can do a more decadent version using a couple of spoonfuls of pesto and you'll get much bigger flavours.


Carrot, Squash and Parsnip soup

Carrots, Squash & Parsnips

2 carrots
2 parsnips
small squash
Enough Vegetable stock to cover the veg and a little bit more
cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon dhaniya (coriander) powder
1/4 teaspoon jeera (cumin) powder

1. Peel the carrots, parsnips and squash and cut into chunks.
2. Cook the veggies in the stock along with the spices until tender - this will take a good 15 mins or so.
3. Separate the veggies and stock and remove the cinnamon stick. Keep the stock warm.
4. Once the veggies have cooled for a few minutes, pop them into a blender with a splash of water and blend to a fine puree.
5. Add the stock slowly to get the desired consistency.
6. Season to taste and serve.

A proper warming soup. If you prefer a chunkier soup, then don't blend all the veggies - keep a few aside to add back in later. Sometimes I also add cooked chickpeas (kabuli channa) to the soup after it's blended, or I use other combinations of root vegetables.

Well, the booms and bangs of crackers are still sounding in my neighbourhood - so I wish a Happy Diwali to everyone :D

Have a great week!

Aloo Mutter and my crazy, pea-loving Dog

What a week it's been... Coco's boyfriend, Brownie, is becoming a permanent fixture outside my door, even though he's not so taken with her now because she's no longer in heat. He's a good guard dog - so much so that if any delivery boy comes to our floor, they end up hiding in the lift until they can be rescued!

As he hangs out with us all day I've tried to feed him, but it turns out that Brownie is very fussy about his food. He doesn't like Coco's plain chicken, rice and veg - no that's not good enough for him. His food has to be spicy, but not with any of those rubbish veggies in it. Coco, on the other hand, will eat just about anything, as previously documented in my blog.

One food that she always begs for is Aloo Mutter - she'll eat it straight out of the pan given chance, but prefers to be hand-fed Aloo Mutter with Chapatti. I have to be careful that she doesn't try to eat my fingers too!

It's also one of my favourites, and is simple to make too. I use fresh peas as I love to sit and shell them, but you could easily use frozen peas if you prefer. Coco loves helping to shell peas. She steals peapods at every chance. If they're young and fresh she eats them whole, otherwise she opens them up and chases the peas around the floor. Crazy, pea-loving dog!


Aloo Mutter

1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon jeera (cumin seeds)
1 teaspoon rai (mustard seeds)
pinch of hing
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
1 cup of peas
1/4 teaspoon haldi (turmeric powder)
1 teaspoon dhaniya (coriander powder)
1/2 teaspoon jeera powder (cumin powder)
1 teapoon chilli powder
salt to taste
water
Coriander leaves to garnish

1. Heat oil over medium flame. Add jeera, rai and hing.
2. When seeds start to splutter add potato and peas and stir until well mixed.
3. Add haldi, dhaniya, jeera, chilli powder and salt. Mix well.
4. Add a small amount of water - just enough to cook the potatoes and peas - you can always add more throughout the cooking.
5. Cook on a low heat until potatoes are cooked.
6. Garnish with chopped coriander and eat with chapattis.

This version is a 'dry' dish - not a gravy dish. I need to learn how to make some gravy dishes... So if you have any gravy versions, please let me know!

Coco's Favourite Foods

I've never owned a dog before, so I'm not entirely sure if Coco's eating habits are 'normal'. Anyway, she doesn't get any salt or sugar on a normal day and

she seems happy enough. I don't give her any pre-packed dog food if I can avoid it though she does get some in 'emergencies' like when I forget to buy chicken etc...

So what are Coco's favourite foods? Well right at the top of the list are Kebabs with Paratha and Tandoori Chicken - but these are for special occasions only, coz they're really not too good for her tummy (or health in general). But what about the rest?

Chicken
Cheese (yes!)
Eggs (scrambled, omlette, boiled, half-fry)
Peas (whole pods!)
Carrot
Potato
Tomato
Banana
Grapes
Green Chillies (stupid dog steals them when she gets the chance!)
Fresh Mint
Fresh Coriander
Rice
Khichdi
Chapatti (especially with Aloo Bhaji)
Curd
Milk
OJ
Vodka
Whisky (no she's not allowed the booze, but she is sneaky)
Bones (the rawhide variety)
Empty plastic bottles
Pillows
Newspapers
Plastic bags
Underwear
Furniture
Specs
Claire's favourite books






























Ok ok, the last few she doesn't really eat... she just chews and destroys them. It's an expensive hobby that she has!

Here's the recipe for Coco's Favourite Food:

Chicken (with or without bones)
2 Carrots
Few handfuls of French Beans
Some Dudhi or Brinjal (Aubergine) or Capsicum

1. Chop all the veg into smallish pieces
2. Put all veg and chicken in a big pot. Add enough water to cover everything.
3. Cook until everything is soft.
4. Remove bones (if any)

Serve with cooked brown rice















Coco's just stolen another pillow... looks like I'd better go and give her some attention!