Indian Cuisine: Favorite Bread – Paratha

Paratha

Wholesome breakfast: Fresh pan fried whole wheat bread (Paratha), seasonal fruit, fresh homemade yogurt.

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Paratha [par-AA- THA] Hindi पराठा is one of the most popular types of unleavened flat breads in Punjabi North Indian Cuisine and Pakistan.

Prepared from pan frying whole wheat dough which usually has ghee (clarified butter) or cooking oil in it, parathas are often stuffed with vegetables such as mashed boiled potatoes or aloo, cauliflower (gobhi), radish (mooli), other vegetables and or paneer (fresh Indian cheese).

Parathas, particularly the stuffed ones, are simply eaten with pickles, chutneys and or yogurt on the side and make for a wholesome meal at any time of the day.

The Surface

Gem Lake

 The Surface

—o—

We operate

You and I

We nod, we converse, we agree

We go about our business

On the surface

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The chinks

They show on occasion

But we conceal them

Expertly shroud them

On the surface

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And those who dare

Peep beneath

They rear aghast

At the rife ugliness they see

A cauldron of noxious brews

`

Of voices falling on deaf ears

Of conflicting emotions

Of affections forgotten

Of relations trivialized

Of promises broken

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Yet it all appears just fine

On the surface

`

A Little Bit of Sunshine

RMNPA perfect day in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

—o—

Grumpy

After a long work night

Battling my instincts

To fall asleep at the wheel

Or run through the red light

 

No I can’t hit the bed yet

It’s friday still

 

School drop

And chores, endless chores

Milk’s run out

And yes apples,

Can’t do without those damn apples.

 

I prowl around

In a half daze

Dumping stuff

In my recyclable cloth bag

Green is my middle name

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 Then disaster strikes

At the checkout counter

With all my effects on the floor

On display for the world

To see and ridicule

 

And just when I was  ready

To pitch and scram

Before the tears sprout

Like from a ruptured dam

I felt a gentle tap on my arm

 

It was the grocery clerk

 

Always in attendance

With a warm smile on her face

I sighed with relief

Everything will be fine

Because of little Ms. Sunshine

Live life Bollywood Style!

‘Chaiya Chaiya’ song composed by Oscar winning composer A.R. Rehman sung by Sukhwinder Singh.

Featuring ShahRukh (the King) Khan and Malaika Arora

The song is also featured in the end credits of the Hollywood movie ‘The Inside Man.’

Could anything be more wistfully nostalgic?

Nothing can bring forth the flavor of iconic Bollywood like this song, which has captured and still captures the imagination of movie watchers not only in India but across the world.

Nothing is ridiculous or impossible especially when you are the flamboyant hero precariously balanced on top of a tiny blue mountain train singing and dancing to a foot tapping rhythm along with a beauteous village belle who leaves you stunned with her impossible contortions.

 Even today this number fills one with an unbound thirst for life.

Simple Pleasures

TongaThe Tonga (Horse drawn carriage) as seen on the streets of Agra, India

Simple Pleasures

—o—

I reminisce with immense fondness

 Memories of homeland shores

When life was unadulterated

And goals within reach

Such as…

Walking barefoot on the sand

Gorging cotton candy at the fair

Screaming hoarse along with the radio

And yes, the occasional pleasure ride around town

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Tonga or Tanga: तांगा Hindi meaning Hansom or Horse carriage