Tuesday 8 May 2012

Anda Raita

Goodness abounds. Look around and you will find yourself surrounded by kind people. Practising random acts of kindness without expecting anything in return is the surest way of feeling good about the Self. Our Art of Living teacher had a word of caution, though. Be aware if the recipient is in need of your good deed. She had an episode to recount, to substantiate her point. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            In the last AOL batch, a participant finished the day's kriyas, brimming with joy at his enlightening experience. That day's home-work was to practise three random acts of kindness & report about the accompanying feelings in the next day's session. His first opportunity arose when he was about to cross the road. Seeing a frail, old lady standing next to him, he helped her cross the road too. And walked away without expecting a thanks. Before this amma could fathom what's happening, another AOL follower, sensing her bafflement, jumped to her aid & took her to the other side of the road. Visibly shaken, she wondered aloud why people were making her cross the road, she was just waiting there for her daughter!
                                                                                                                                                                                                              Obviously, the Chinese young man who helped Vineet hadn't attended any AOL course. When he saw Vineet trying to take the pushchair, with the little one in it, down the stairs at  Oxford, he lifted one end of it & helped him down. Picture this: father & child are at the landing posing for a photo; mother, Richa, is on the top of the staircase, positioning the camera. The smiles are just right & the Sony is about to be clicked when the good samaritan reappears, & amid protestations that they want to go no further, lifts the pushchair & takes it right down to the bottom of the staircase. Vineet has no choice but to hold one side & then thank the young man for his help
                                                                                                          We hold our sides as the couple regale us with this story over Vineet's promotion dinner. The Anda Raita the night before proved to be lucky. The news of his promotion came when we were hosting the couple the evening before. V relished the egg raita & said that this was a first for him. P loves eggs in any form; the curry patta seasoning on the creamy curd here only intoxicates him further. Try this recipe friends. All other forms of raita will take a back-seat till you tire of this one. And that wont be soon!
                                                                                                     Ingredients:
1. 4-5 boiled eggs - quartered
2. 1 1/2 cup yogurt
3. 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
4.1/2 tsp cumin seeds
5. 1/4 tsp asafoetida powder
6. 1 pinch turmeric powder
7. 4-5 dry red/fresh green chillies
8. 3-4 stems curry leaves
9. 3-4 tbsp refined oil
10. Salt to taste
                                                                                                                                          Method:
1. Arrange the egg pieces in a shallow bowl.
2. Whip curd with salt & pour it over the egg pieces, covering them.
3. In hot oil, add asafoetida, mustard & cumin seeds &  chillies & let them crackle for 2 mins.
4. Add turmeric powder & curry leaves & let leaves sizzle to a dark brown.
5. Pour this seasoning, with the oil, on the egg & curd.





Served cold, this heavenly dish goes with any North Indian meal you are having. For those staying away from roti/chawal, have a big bowl of only raita. Will keep you cool till your next appraisal :)  

Looking for a promotion? Have Anda Raita. Or get invited to a friend's who makes it! Tall claims? Naaah. Ask Vineet!






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