Comfort Food- Shrimp Patio

"Comfort Food- Just tend to make you feel better about life!!"

Another Thursday morning and I am ready for some meaningless chatter! This chatter never really drives me nuts. In fact it has always made me remember something or the other from my childhood.The time spent with My Mom and Ragini- I simply adored those bonding sessions (that is what I realize/understand now), but I remember clearly, how much I hated mothers instructions while being there in  her "Charming Retro Kitchen," tho I must admit-that the Do's and Don'ts were also rewarding and fun at the same time! 

From Help To Pride- let me share this incident with you my Friends about

 "MY TINY LIL' HELPER " - Ritvik !!!

Parth was working from home that day! Ritvik (pic on the left)must be a year and a half then. It was one of those lazy and lousy afternoons, when one craves for piping hot chai every half an hour. This must be our 3rd cuppa chai since morning. Just so you know, I like to have my tea with a dash of ground cardamom (it's a warmimg spice like nutmeg and cinnamon and is equally valued for it's aroma and flavor).

I went to the kitchen for the 4th time to make some tea for us. As I was getting the tea-pot ready with some water boiling, I realized, I was out of ground cardamom!  But I knew-I had some green cardamom pods on the top shelf of the cabinet (in the kitchen). Since I stand 5ft nothing :((:(( , I could not reach to the top shelf of the cabinet, so  I called out," Parth, I need YOUR help."  Parth who was busy, asked my lil' helper to look into the matter.

Next, I hear some soft footsteps approaching and my heart pounds to see a lil' shadow over on my kitchen wall. I turn around and look- It's Ritvik! He looks at me and wonders if I'd called and asks "(h)ELP?". I point my finger towards the top shelf and say" I need some green cardamom pods for my tea." Ritvik, then takes one glimpse at me(5 ft nothing :(( :(() and himself, and the top shelf- figures instantly that it's not our cuppa chai :-) and without sparing another minute calls out " PARTH hELP"!!

My Husband-Parth is 6"3...hmmm TALL :-) reaches out soon enough for our HELP! Need I say more:P ?

On a lazy afternoon all you need is One Hot Cuppa Chai to relax and feel magnificent! And on a Lazy evening, I'd say, simply follow this recipe as is! If you have a packet of Shrimps sleeping in the cold, its time to get them out folks...Time to give these Shrimpi's a lil' warm n' spicy spa treatment, a lil' oil dipping n' some fresh air!!

!!! This is a COPY CAT RECIPE !!!

I have followed this recipe closely from Monica Bhide's Cookbook, (A Gift From Parth's  Colleague)

"The Everything Indian Cookbook"...

Please Feel Free To Borrow:-)

Ingredients:-

4 dried red chilies
2 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
4 fresh garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 x 1-inch cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
1/4 cup white vinegar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large red onion, minced
1 1/2 lbs. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon jaggery or brown sugar
Table salt to taste

Method:-

1. In a spice grinder, grind together the red chilies, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cloves, black peppercorns and cinnamon, as finely as possible. Place in a glass bowl and add the turmeric, red chilies and vinegar and mix well. If you need more liquid, use water. Set aside

2. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil. Add the onions and sauté for about 7 - 8 minutes or until the onions are well browned. Add the spice paste (from Step 1) and cook for another minute. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 - 3 minutes.

3. Add the jaggery and salt to taste. Add about 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for two minutes.

4. Serve hot with Roti/Jeera Rice.