Friends Over :)

The trio knew we needed a break. We longed for a vacation but as the “mom-dad thing” goes “no nightouts”. So we needed a place to chill out and not to be disturbed, GOSSIP is a FOCUSED thing. The closest we could get to is my place as my parents were on a road trip. The Day: Tuesday the 14. No Shopping done! My drivers were too busy with their road trip. Fridge – Not Stocked except for the 2 cucumbers and capsicum; Cant order! – Nothing close-by. Have to cook!!! Can’t let my friends starve! Has to be a veggie platter... Suhas cant eat meat and I am forced not to thrust-in anything which walked the earth!Poor Kalp; hates Capsicum, but no options available. So I come up with the following..

The Menu Of The Day :  A Welcome Drink – Khus Sharbat (Green Colored).  The Snack – Red & White Sandwiches (Brown Bread for the conscious ..: P)  Starters – Crispy Potatoes (Chinese Style - Watever. They taste good)  Salad One: Cucumber & Onions.  Salad Two: Salsa -Topped with thick Yoghurt.  Crispies - Papad.  Bread Pizza  Fried Garlic Rice  Dessert: Had Ras-Malai on mind but we forgot to eat that. Besan Ka Laddu did it all.

Thank you guyz for coming over. Would have spent more time if it wasn’t for the office. ..:)Happy that you guyz liked it. I love to cook for you guyz.. :)

The Recipes: Red & White Sandwiches : The simplest one: (Makes 12) • Brown Bread – 9 Slices. • Tomato Ketchup – 2tbsp • Finely chopped coriander ½ tsp • Aniseed -1 tsp. • Butter as needed. White Spread – Butter (Home Made) Red Spread – Tomato Ketchup + Chopped Coriander + Ground AniSeed(Saunf) The Procedure: Lay the buttered Slice on the preparing surface. Top it up with another slice. Spread the ketchup mix. Top it up with the third slice. Save. Finish the same with the remaining slices. Be lavish with the spread. Top all the three sandwiches, cut off the edges and slice them diagonally. Refrigerate for about 15 mins (Do not over-do, dries them) and are ready to eat. (Done when Kalp was stuck in the Rally)

Crispy Potatoes: Serves 5 • Potatoes – Medium sized (4) • Chilly Vinegar • Spices: Salt, Paprika. **Be creative with the spices. If they are available that is! • Corn Flour – 2 tbsp. • TOmato Ketchup – 2 tbsp. The Procedure: Boil the Potatoes. Deskin. Cut them into cubes/uneven pieces/wedges you enjoy to pick from. For the Marinade: Drizzle potatoes with vinegar, Paprika, Salt, Leave it for about 5-10 mins.Add ketchup.Sprinkle corn flour, and Deep fry. Serve with salsa dip or the evergreen the ketchup.

Fried Garlic Rice: Serves 4 • Cooked Rice – 5 Cups • Onions – 2 Finely Chopped • Garlic – Finely Chopped 4 Tbsp • Ginger – Finely Chopped 4 Tbsp • Green Chillies – 4 Cut Length-Wise • Capsicum - Finely Chopped (As per availability) • Salt to Taste. The Procedure: Heat oil in a wok; add in the ginger, garlic, green chillies. Do not let the garlic burn. The rice would taste bitter. Add in the onion, finely chopped, and then the capsicum. Stir fry, as the onions turn translucent add in the rice, sprinkle salt. Stir. And you are done! P.S: I had to depend on garlic and ginger for the flavor. Sorry if you guys found it bland. But I couldn’t think of anything else to go with the other things on the menu.

Bread Pizza: Serves 4 • Bread – 10 Slices (Cut Diagonally, Leave the edges on) • Tomatoes, Onions, Capsicum, Green Chillies – Finely Chopped. • Thick Cream • Semolina/Bread Crumbs (Powdered) For the Crunch. • Salt to taste. The Procedure: Mix the chopped veggies with cream. Add in the salt. Stir well. Add in the semolina. Spread the mixture on the diagonally sliced bread. Heat the pan, the bread side goes down first. Flip. Takes about 2-3 min to be done. The crunchy bread pizza is ready. I love the brown tinge on the bread.

Salad One: • Cucumber – 1 • Onions – ½ • Vinegar 2 Tbsp • Salt, sugar to taste • Green Chilly – 1 The Procedure: Add the salt & sugar to the vinegar. Wait until the sugar dissolves. Add in the green Chillies. Slice the cucumber into thin ribbon like stripes, onion into very thin rings. Add the onions to the vinegar mixture, stir well and then the cucumber. Refrigerate. Drain before serving. **In the fridge, when Kalp was @ Balanagar. Salad 2: Finely chopped Tomatoes, Onions, Coriander, green chillies. Add Salt. Leave the mix for about 15 mins. Add chilled thick yoghurt before serving.

That is All!! Hope you give it a try.