I am strong!

After a week of continuous crying and whining about USA and how I miss India in my posts (leading J to remark, "your blog is becoming cliched, all the posts have- India, wahh wahhh... and I hate USA") I have decided to pick myself up, dust myself off and begin again the work of remaking Masala Vade. For everywhere I look, there are events to participate and food to be prepared and pictures to be taken. I will take part in all (at least some ) of the events, call my two cooking guru's in India (there I go again!) and get authentic South Kanara dishes. And make it, click it and post it. I will keep making fun of Americans because its my birth right! I will provide stories about my childhood, the other half and the things we do.

All this I can do. All this I will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of my ambitions. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what I have already done - I have turned a blog with just 1 comment to one with a minimum of 5 comments.

Thank you. God bless you. God bless my blog, Masala Vade.

(You can go here for the original speech)

Today's dish goes to Harini for her Recipes for the rest of us-Starters event

Before I give the recipe lets see if I satisfy all her conditions:

1. Please avoid exact measurements. Please use very simple measurements like a handful or a pinch. - I gave very precise measurements. -1
2. Please avoid complicated steps.If the recipe takes over 5 steps to prepare, it would not be suitable for this event. - Less than 5 steps. +1
3. Please avoid recipes demanding a good deal of manual skill. - No complicated steps. Cutting, microwaving and use of a mixer and tawa is required. +1

4. Please avoid recipes demanding fancy kitchen equipment.- tawa and mixi do not fall under fancy kitchen equipments. +1
5. In short, it should be something a ten year old kid should be able to cook up.- If my husband can make this anyone can. +2

My total is, 4/5 -pass!! Here is the recipe.

Vegetable Cutlet: Source Amma

Step 1-

Cook 1/4 c chopped beetroot, 1/4 cup peas, 1/4 c chopped onions, 1/4 c chopped beans, 1/2 c chopped carrots, 1/2 c chopped cabbage (microwave 5 mins). Cook 1 potato till soft.

Step 2-

grind 2 cloves garlic, 3/4 tsp coriander seeds, 3/4 tsp cumin seeds, 3-4 green chillies, 1 inch ginger with 3-4 tbsp water.

Step 3-

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan. Add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp channa dal, 1tsp urad dal, 1/4 tsp tumeric. Once the dals turn golden add the ground paste and saute till the raw smell disappears. add the boiled vegetables and mix well. Mash the boiled and peeled potato and add to the above mixture. Add salt and mix well. Let it cool. You should be able to make balls out of this mixture. If it breaks and does not hold add another boiled potato.

Step 4-

Make small balls of the vegetable mixture and flatten them (like you do for masala vade) roll them around in bread crumbs. Heat a tawa and place the flattened vegetable mixture on the tawa and add 2 tbsp oil. Let it turn crisp on one side, then turn them over. Add another tbsp oil and remove once the other side is crisp. This is best done on a low flame.

Step 5-

Eat. Now you have two option,

You can eat it like style raja aka my other half i.e., cutlets arranged symmetrically with just a dollop of Heinz tomato ketchup and eat with a fork. Then wipe your mouth ever so gently with the edge of a napkin.

Or put it on a steel plate, with anna-saaru and slurp it with your hands. Burp.

Either ways it tastes good.

Ok ok..I know I cheated a bit- I did bend some rules. Should this go to the event or no? (please say yes- I will give you guys $10)