Each year is the same story,I call my mom and ask her how to make the Peele Chawal…the fragrant sweet yello saffron rice…and every year I forget. This was a brainwave…I had to immortalize this recipe…every mom has a different recipe for these…
I may not have been very academically inclined when I was younger,and time has not played its tunes right with mne. I still am not academically inclined….daddy dear will vouch for that. He has been after my blood to take some exams…every year I postpone them.Kya Karen yeh brain hai ki manta hi nahin!Here’s hoping ,this year I manage to fulfill my dad’s aspirations….This is for Goddess Saraswati ,the goddess of learning . we dress in yellow and pray and offer the yellow rice and yellow flowers to her. We enjoy the rice for breakfast and hope that the coming year is good academically. This time my rice came out flawless and fragrant and fluffy. Hope it augurs well!
By the way..thats baby Krishna or Laddoo Gopal looking on at the rice offerings! The books and the pencil case...bless our knowledge and our writing...so the pen drive is also there with the pens.
I may not have been very academically inclined when I was younger,and time has not played its tunes right with mne. I still am not academically inclined….daddy dear will vouch for that. He has been after my blood to take some exams…every year I postpone them.Kya Karen yeh brain hai ki manta hi nahin!Here’s hoping ,this year I manage to fulfill my dad’s aspirations….This is for Godess Saraswati ,the goddess of learning . we dress in yellow and pray and offer the yellow rice and yellow flowers to her. We enjoy the rice for breakfast and hope that the coming year is good academically. This time my rice came out flawless and fragrant and fluffy. Hope it augurs well!हमको बुद्धि दो भगवन..(Give us our intelligence!)Without further ado...Basant Panchami –Meethe Chawal…Yellow Rice...You need1 cup basmati rice½ cup sugar1 tbsp milk1 pinch generous saffron1 tbsp slivered almonds1 tsp desi ghee/clarified butter3-4 green cardamom2 cups waterA few drops yellow food coloringBefore you start soak the rice for at least 30 minutes.
That’s the little ghee; even a teeny weenie amount adds an oomph to the dish, especially if it is sweet. Lightly sauté the almonds,you can add cashews too, even raisins are great…even the humble dried coconut is great…make it once and then make changes to suit your taste buds.
Now the drained rice. Lightly sauté, taking care, not to break the rice.Add one cup water to this rice and cover and cook on a low flame. Keep an eye on the rice because half the water is missing!
The other half of the water, with the sugar and the green cardamom pods.Bring to a boil.
I like to add some strands to the boiling sugar syrup too.
In the warm milk add the saffron.
Once the syrup boils and the milk has taken the color of the saffron, add the milk to it and give it rolling boil for 2-3 minutes.In the meanwhile the water in the other pan must be absorbed….time to pour the sugar solution into the rice and cover it to cook further.
A word…keeps a check. When the rice has just, a just a bite…turn the gas off and keep the pan covered. 10 minutes and you are done.Fluff up the rice ....
Go make the offering to the goddess before you bite into it.Enjoy!
See, spring is finally trying to come to Ranchi!
Managed the bokeh and the blurred backgrounds. All you gods of the dSLR_ what’s my status? Are my photography skills improving or am I still at the P&S stage? (P&S- Point and shoot!)
One prayer on my lips ...and one whisper of gratitude!
So what are you baking today???
