A fresh start!

I have decided to blog again with an intention to document and share things that I enjoy..
I highly regret to not have blogged all my days in Jersey City and New York and all the memorable experiences. But I learn from my mistakes and here I go with my first blog.

A lot has happened since I moved to California! I was literally in the situation where the well-known dialogue "नया घर..नया जॉब..नयी बीवी (पती)..बढिया हैं!!" perfectly applied to me and I have decided to take complete advantage of each of these things. ;)

I now share a lovely home with my hubby-to-be and have spent some quality time decorating it (will post the pictures sometime). With my new home, I finally got my very own kitchen (no more sharing!) and hope to get back my love of baking and learning to cook healthy.
As for the new job, its more relaxed than my previous one and hence keeps my evenings mostly free. I have a lot of things on my mind and have already started on a few.

Last month we had our parents visiting us and for about a month our time was spent mostly around the family. We had a great time especially because I got to eat authentic dishes all made by my moms!

I have been spoiled with all the good food around me and now I am getting back on track with it! Exercise is one thing that I need to devote my time on and I have started off by joining a local Yoga class. Boy, they kick ass! Its a power yoga class wherein the room temperature is raised which apparently makes our body make smoother movements as well as helps in burning more calories. I hope I keep up with my planned schedule..which also includes healthier cooking.

As for cooking, yesterday I had made Masoor Pulao (Lentil Rice) and used brown rice instead of the usual white Basmati. It turned out pretty well but I really didn't wait to click pictures first because I was starving! I will remember to click them the next time I make it and I am sure there will be a next time for it.

Masoor Pulao (Lentil Rice)

Ingredients:
1.5 cups Brown Rice
3/4 cup - 1cup Whole Brown Lentils (Masoor) (soak them for about 2 hrs)
1 medium onion sliced
4-5 cloves garlic chopped
1-1.5 inch piece ginger chopped
4-5 cardamoms
8-10 cloves
2 small pieces cinnamon
1 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp red chili powder (or amount based on your liking)
1.5 tbsp garam masala powder or biryani masala or any other curry mix usually works.
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp oil

• I usually make this in a pressure cooker but you can make this in a stew pot too. Start with adding some oil to the pot and once it heats up add the cumin seeds,turmeric, followed by ginger and garlic. Saute the ginger garlic for a minute and add in the onions.
• Once the onions turn transparent,add the lentils and let them saute for a few minutes. Add in the spices and let them cook for a few minutes. Finally add the rice and let it saute for a few mins. Add 3 cups of water ( i.e. twice the amount of rice) and bring it to a boil.
  
• Once it starts boiling add salt to taste and keep it on the saltier side so that once its cooked it will be the right proportion.Place the lid and allow about 4-5 whistles or on a stew pot you can check to see if the rice is cooked.

I also made a tomato koshimbir (salad with yogurt) to accompany it which mainly involves chopping whatever veggies(tomato,onion,cucumber,beets..) I have and adding chilli powder,salt and a pinch of sugar to taste and bringing it all together with yogurt.

I have a bunch of things lined up to blog about and I already know what the next one is going to be. Thank you for visiting my blog and taking your time in reading my first post!

Stay tuned. :)