Vannakam Food!

By and large, South Indian cuisine is perhaps the hottest of all Indian food. Meals are centered around rice or rice-based dishes. Rice is combined with Sambaar (a soup-like lentil dish tempered with whole spices and chillies) and rasam (a hot-sour soup like lentil dish), dry and curried vegetables and meat dishes and a host of coconut-based chutneys and poppadums (deep-fried crispy lentil pancakes).

 

Madras coffee is popular in South Indian restaurants throughout the world.
The South Indian food is a brilliant blend of flavors, colors, seasoning, nutritional balance, fragrance, taste, and visual appeal.

 

A typical traditional meal
in South India is served on a "vazhaillai", a freshly cut banana leaf.
The Sappad or food that is served on a banana leaf (even the size of the leaf varies from one community to another) is displayed like an identity card.

 

 

 

Hyderabadi cuisine is a direct result from the kitchens of the Nizams or Muslim rulers.  The Hyderabadi cuisine is the amalgamation of Muslim techniques and meats with the vibrant spices and ingredients of the predominantly local Hindu people.  Hydrabadi cuisine is the ultimate in fine dining.  Its tastes range from sour and the sweet, the hot and the salty and studded with dry fruits and nuts. One of India's finest foods, the biryani or rice with meats and brinjal (or eggplant) or baghare baiganis are the jewels of Hyderabadi cooking.

Orissa Yatra!!

Indian cuisine is the general term for the wide variety of cooking styles from India. In reality, India hosts an even greater number of distinct regional cuisines than the entire European continent. Indian food is usually perceived as 'spicy' or 'hot', while that is sometimes true. Every state is blessed with its unique taste and a profound treasure of spices.

Lets unfold the magical dishes from the State of Temples - Orissa....

Foods from this area are rich and varied, while relying heavily on local ingredients. The flavors are usually subtle and delicately spiced, quite unlike the fiery curries typically associated with Indian cuisine. Fish and other seafood such as crab and shrimp are very popular. Chicken and mutton are also consumed, but somewhat occasionally.

Typically breads (Roti, Paratta) are served as the main course for breakfast, whereas rice soaked in water with yogurt and seasonings (Pakhala) during lunch and dinner.

 The breakfast consists of Chuda (Poha, flattened rice), Mudhi (Puffed rice), Chuda can be eaten either as fried or with Curd- Banana-Sugar (called as Chudaa Dahi).

 Mudhi is a famous snack in north Orissa. Different Pitha also form breakfast menu. The main course in lunch includes one or more curries, vegetables and pickles. Given the fondness for sweet foods, the dessert course may include generous portions of more than a single item.

Oriya desserts are made from a variety of ingredients, with milk, Chenna (a form of cottage cheese), coconut, rice, and wheat flour being the most common.

Great personalities like the former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdaul Kalam has mentioned his special attraction towards Orissa and its simply relishing cuisines.

Kebab Fiesta!!

Think India, think food and a thousand colors, aromas and textures appear to be at war to win your taste buds. As many as there are states and languages, there are a multitude of culinary styles to choose from. If you are Bengali brought up on your daily dose of Hilsa and Bhat, you might just jump at the thought of Makke di Roti and Sarson da Saag. But that’s what special about Indian cuisine; it’s so friendly to the tongue that we don’t jump out of shock, but rather out of happiness at discovering yet another palatable treat.

Another relished dish from India is Boti Kebab. Intensely marinated mutton pieces which can either be baked or grilled on a barbeque. These boti kebabs are a great dinner party option.A grilled lamb dish is a northern delicacy that serves as an excellent finger food.

 

‘Boti’ means a piece of meat…and since lamb or mutton is the most common red meat in India, a ‘Boti’ kebab would generally imply mutton kebabs. Though you can always use this marinade with lamb or mutton,

adding classic meat kebab ingredients like yogurt and onion along with almond and cardamom results in soft and delectable ‘Boti’ kebabs served hot right off the grill with simple and comforting Saffron Pulao. This meal is a feast fit for kings alright.

No Coward Soul is Mine

No coward soul is mine,
No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere:
I see Heaven's glories shine,
And faith shines equal, arming me from fear.

O God within my breast,
Almighty, ever-present Deity!
Life - that in me has rest,
As I, undying Life, have Power in Thee!

Vain are the thousand creeds
That move men's hearts: unutterably vain;
Worthless as withered weeds,
Or idlest froth amid the boundless main,

To waken doubt in one
Holding so fast by thine infinity;
So surely anchored on
The steadfast rock of immortality.

With wide-embracing love
Thy spirit animates eternal years,
Pervades and broods above,
Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates, and rears. 

Though earth and man were gone,
And suns and universes ceased to be,
And Thou wert left alone,
Every existence would exist in Thee. 

 There is not room for Death,
Nor atom that his might could render void:
Thou - Thou art Being and Breath,
And what Thou art may never be destroyed.

Heaven's Eye!!

One afternoon on a dusty road
I gazed up into the west ring sky:
Beheld therein methinks Heaven's eye!
Else 'twas but a wisp of cloud
'Round the sinking sun,
Day's battle with Night nearly lost and done. 

As a jet passed by that staring eye 
In the deepening sky of summer failing --
With a thunderous roar and air-sliced wailing --
I wondered if a kind God did watch,
Or that aerial notch was hole into Hell,
From which foul Night fell to drink and feast
Upon the land of Man and Beast. 

These and many things I thought:
What Good forgot and Evil forbode,
As I walked along the dusty road.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 

 And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I---
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference...

She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
  Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
  Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
  Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
  Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
  Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
  How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
  So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
  But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
  A heart whose love is innocent!