GREEN MASALA POTATO CURRY

 

POTATOES IN GREEN MASALA CURRY

1/2 kg Potatoes peeled and cut into medium size pieces 

3 onions chopped finely

2 large tomatoes chopped

1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste

1 teaspoon cumin powder 

1 teaspoon coriander powder

1/4  teaspoon turmeric powder

2 small pieces of cinnamon

2 or 3 cloves

½ cup grated coconut

1 cup chopped coriander leaves

2 teaspoons chopped mint leaves

3 or 4 green chillies 

3 tablespoons oil

Salt to taste

Grind the coconut, coriander leaves, mint leaves and green chillies to a smooth paste.

Heat oil in a pan and fry the cinnamon, cloves and onions till golden brown. 

Add the ginger garlic paste and fry for a few minutes

Add the coriander powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder and tomatoes and keep frying till the tomatoes are reduced to pulp. 

Add the ground coconut paste and fry for about 5 minutes on low heat. 

Now add the potatoes and mix well. 

Add salt to taste and 2 cups of water and simmer till the potatoes are cooked and gravy is thick.  

Serve hot with rice or chapattis.

PANCAKES FOR SHROVE TUESDAY

 

PANCAKES 

Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, i.e. the day before the commencement of the season of Lent leading up to Easter Sunday. Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year. The name Shrove comes from the old English word "shrive" which means “to confess”. In the Middle Ages, people used to go to confession and confess their sins on Shrove Tuesday, so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time of fast and abstinence and of making sacrifices and giving things up. The Church liturgy lays much emphasis on eating very plain food and refraining from food that would give pleasure during the period of lent. In many cultures, this meant no meat, dairy, or eggs. So in earlier times, Shrove Tuesday became the last chance for people to indulge themselves in good food on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and to make use of the items of foods that were not allowed during Lent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Shrove Tuesday is more commonly known as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day, as it is customary to eat PANCAKES on this day. Pancakes thus became associated with the day preceding Lent, because it was a way to use up all the rich foodstuffs in the house such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent began.

Here is a simple recipe for some soft pancakes 

Ingredients 

3 cups plain flour 

2 eggs beaten well

2 tablespoons sugar                   

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 tablespoon butter 

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder       

2 cups milk

Mix all the ingredients together to get a thin smooth batter without lumps. 

Heat a non- stick pancake pan or frying pan.

When hot wipe all over with a piece of cloth or tissue dipped in a little oil. 

Pour a ladle of batter in each indent of the pan and cover with a suitable lid

(If using a single non-stick pan pour one ladle of batter with a swirling motion and then shake the pan so that the entire pan is covered)

Cook on both sides and remove. 

Serve hot with Maple syrup, Honey, Jam, Banana, Cream etc. The accompaniments are your choice)