Pav Bhaji

- In a cooker, put adequate water and for 2 whistles of the cooker, cook cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and a small brinjal. Keep the water (stock) for later.

- Cut onions, capsicum and tomatoes

- Mash chopped ginger and garlic to make paste

- Fry onions and capsicum

- Add salt, chilli powder and pav-bhaji masala

- Add the ginger-garlic paste

- Add the tomatoes and fry more

- Add the mix-veg mixture and mix

- Add some of the water (stock) to get right consistency

- Bring to boil

- Done

- Garnish with chopped onion, coriander and lemon juice

Chilli pickle

Take green chillies (medium hot) and cut them into half-inch pieces

Add adequate amount of salt and Hing (asafoetida) powder

Roast methi seeds and mustard dal and grind to powder

Add lemon juice (1-2 lemons based on preferred sour-ness)

Add some hot oil with turmeric powder

Mix everything, store

A direction for life

I think I have found a guiding principle and direction for the rest of my life. It's Vedanta - the philosophy and practice.
The days of joblessness resulted in severe introspection, which led me to question & answer myself a thousand times. And eventually, I found clarity and deeper meaning in Vedanta. And I am grateful that I have found a direction and guiding principle in life, no matter where I am, and what I'm doing.
The job should happen soon. And life will continue to happen. But this time, it will all be governed by a direction, a principle...Vedanta.

Amman saaru (Mom's rasam)

Tamarind soaked in water
Add to water and boil (water based on quantity requirement of rasam)
Add ground jeera powder and ground pepper powder (1 teaspoon each) - or readymade rasam powder
Bring water to boil
Add 1 teaspoon jaggery and half teaspoon chilli powder
Add salt to taste
After boiling more, add one cup daal (steamed in pressure cooker)

Separately make tadka with one teaspoon ghee, curry leaves and hing

Add tadka to boiling rasam, boil more for more taste.
Done.

Recipe for 'pudina chutney'

Don't know where else to write it (basically, lazy), so writing it down here. I made some today, and it was yum - all thanks to guidance by Mom.

Pudina leaves
Coriander leaves
Green chillies
Ginger
Salt
Jeera powder
Dhania powder
Sugar (little)

Put all in mixer. Grind to paste. Done.