Increasingly the bailout is making a lot of responsible people feel like succors. By responsible I mean fiscally responsible - you did not buy a house that you could not afford, saved regularly and made sound financial choices. But you see your neighbor who made the exact opposite choices being helped by the stimulus whereas all you are left with is your shrinking net worth. If I sound resentful that is how a lot of people I have been talking to are feeling. Don't for a minute think I am suddenly Ann Coulter's best friend. And even though it is not a 100 days since we had our new president it feels like it has been ages. Does not help when you have an election cycle that runs for more than 2 years. I am not really sure I am going to be a very happy camper. At least with the previous president we always knew where his loyalties lay. And the fashionista exposure of the first lady makes me think she should be out there putting her weight behind more lets say weighty issues of which there are many. If you saw the Oscar awards yesterday you know exactly how many people are available to do what she has been doing recently. Sorry if I am jumping to conclusions too soon but I belong to a generation for which patience has never been a virtue. The Republicans who voted against the bill have been sounding like they are concerned about the future generations but the truth just a few months ago when they were in the majority, they did not any qualms about giving billions to their friendly contributors(read Wall Street) but now they seem to have become responsible and worried about the future generations. Well I am not exactly in a forgiving mood these days either and being reasonable is the furthest on my mind.
If I am in a bad mood blogging usually made me relax and calm down. I am talking about food after all. But the last few days I have been needing to seriously vent and I just did. Now that I am done I feel lighter already.
Let move on to more pleasant topics like this quick kofta curry. I always have some frozen ready to eat Falafel balls. They are available in Costco and I freeze them as soon as I get them home to be used in pita pockets, quesadillas or eat them as is as snacks with some ketchup on the side. I saw this wonderful recipe on Alka's Sindhi Rasoi and I didn't have the self control to resist trying it for too long. What pushed me further was how easy the gravy was. The premade falafel balls gave me hope for a quick end to the longing. I had only a few balls and the bag of fresh shelled peas came handy.
Recipe Source: Vegetable Kofta Curry
Quick Kofta Curry
1. 8 premade falafel balls
2. 2 Cups of Green Peas
3. 3/4 Red Onion Chopped fine
4. 2 Tomatoes chopped fine
5. 1/2 inch piece of ginger grated
6. 4 green chilies
7. 1 tsp red chili powder
8. 1/2 tbsp coriander powder
9. 2 tsp chicken or garam masala powder
10. salt to taste
11. 2 tsp oil
Method
1. In a pressure cooker heat oil, saute the onions till translucent
2. Add the ginger mix, coriander, chili powder and green chilies saute for a minute
3. Now add the tomatoes and saute till it is soft.
4. Add salt, masala powder and about a cup of water and close the lid and cook for 2 whistles
5. Let cool and with the back of a spoon or a hand blender make a smooth gravy.
6. Now add the green peas and let it cook till the peas are cooked.
7. Towards the end add the falafel balls check for salt and let it heat through for 2-3 minutes
Serve with chapatis or parathas. These were as tasty as koftas made with the traditional ingredients.
All I am concerned about is education reform since Tushar is ready for high school and my tax is surely going up (How much, I wonder?). Hope he keeps his promises regarding education and economy though.
ReplyDeleteFalafel is like Pakodas made of Chickpeas, so I can see they are going in Kadhi as well. Kofta curry looks yum! :)
Thats an excellent idea of making quick curry...looks simply delicious..
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea of using falafel for koftas!
ReplyDeleteI think the Prez is trying. Lots of kinks in the plan and you're right, it's not fair to everybody. And I too really get annoyed with the Republicans nay-naying just coz. They got us in this mess to begin with and the least they can do now is do some constructive thinking and help to make thinga better. But hey, politics was never a clean business.
But what could they have done without the stimulus, just poured more money into the greedy banks who would have gone out and bought more private jets ?
ReplyDeleteI am just hoping the stimulus works the way it should, generating jobs but there should be a strong tab on where exactly that money is going.
With a lot of people around here working in the NYC banks with fat bonuses, I could see they had gotten to belief that materialism was the way of life. All ppl talked about was buying bigger houses, better cars all on credit till that bonus came in. I was sick, sick of banks and bankers and their greed.
What I like about this bill it will go to the masses to some extent at least and will make it difficult for the banks to wiggle out through loopholes
About the First lady, maybe she has found another vocation, she is on the cover of Vogue I think and again why was she wearing "whatever she wore" yesterday, I bet she was cold ???
After that looooong comment need I say the Kofta Curry is very comforting:)
Asha, I am with you on that. Sometimes increasingly feels like we are caught between a rock and a hard place :(
ReplyDeleteVani, I surely support what he has been propsoing but the problem is he never points to a strategy and says, this is what I am going to do. So in the end I am confused about what exactly he is going to do.
Sandeepa, the stimulus is needed (though I don't know the exact details) but look at the folks who are incharge of this thing, all recycled people who know exactly how to play the game without doing anything. I am skeptical I know but I fervently hope whatever they are doing works out.
Exactly Sandeepa, that was what going in my mind whenever the cameras were on her.
I will leave the politics alone:-) since just thinking about it gets me all tensed up.
ReplyDeleteI love ur idea of using the ready made falafel balls. Thats smart & creates a lovely dish! Looks really good.
Stimulus plans are for the rich...whether it is Bush or Obama,the common man is not benefited. I have lost faith in our Indian politicians and the Americans are not better either.
ReplyDeleteKofta curry looks delicious. I have used Falafel as a snack ...will have to try this recipe.
Wow... thats a nice idea. Have to preserve some the next time i make falafels to try this kofta recipe.. Easy one!
ReplyDeletegreat idea to use falafel balls to the gravy..must have tasted great!
ReplyDeleteI have never loved falafel balls, because they seemed so dense and hard. Now you're naming a good source, perhaps I'll give them another go. That is surely much quicker than making koftas (I've only tried once!) and looks so delicious!
ReplyDeleteEconomic stimulus plan does sound precarious; as far as the new President goes -- my biggest disppointment of the day was learning that 1. the First Dog is *news*, evidently and 2. the First Dog is some sort of pure bred pup. Not that there's anything wrong with a purebred animal, but our president should be setting a good example, march those little gals of his down to the local humane society shelter, and adopt a pet!
Thanks for letting me vent too, ISG :)
Kofta with Falafel quite innovative.
ReplyDeleteNice idea ISG, looks very delicious :)
ReplyDeleteI saw the speech yesterday and kind of felt repulsive. It seemed so staged and superficial. I felt as if it were Oscars part II.
ReplyDeleteLoved the terrific idea of using the ready falafel balls in the gravy. Cool!
This looks so inviting and crave for the curry with warm phulkas right away.
ReplyDeleteThis looks so inviting and crave for the curry with warm phulkas right away.
ReplyDeleteWow! that's a great idea! I mean the using the falafel ofcourse.. I guess we can also use it for paruppu urundai kulambu or more urundai kulambu?
ReplyDeleteAbout the stimulus, well, I haven't been keeping with much news recently as life's getting a bit too busy. But that which I've been reading doesn't make me happy. And I don;t have an alternate solution for this.. I just hope they really know what they are doing and I hope it works.
That's a great idea to use ready-made falafels.. makes for a quick, yet grand meal.
ReplyDeleteIndo, do indian shops in this area typically carry kollu or is this something you bring from India? I'm interested in it because i've heard so much abt how it's great to treat colds.
Linda, that one got me too. I am tired of the side shows wasting so much time.
ReplyDeleteRC, exactly, sometimes it seems like he forgot that he is not campaigning anymore and we have heard enough of the Wolf is coming, it is here and do something about it quick.
Cilantro so true so true.
Laavanya, I saw it once at my local Indian store and not after that. I usually bring it with me from back home.
no.. it's not that hot here. but the weather is pleasant enough to have a juice :) anyway... i drink frozen drinks even during winter. hehehe.. i like cold drinks than hot drinks.
ReplyDeleteAll i wonder is his promises on education and economy.Yummy looking Koftas.I never knew we had frozen falafel balla readily available.
ReplyDeletei didn't know about ready made falafel ball..curry looks superb..nic pic
ReplyDeleteWell, had to stop back ISG and eat my earlier words -- heard today that the dog is being adopted from a rescue group. So while I may think economy is more important, I will take back what I said about adopting the First Dog ;)
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, to Laavanya, if you're talking about the dal kollu -- I have never seen it
for sale under that name, but under horsegram :)
Nithya, they are not exactly frozen ones but ready to eat kind. I buy them and freeze them.
ReplyDeleteLinda, good point. I have never found them sold here, just once and not after that.
I have only 2 words to say about politics and politicians....They suck......people felt new president could change everything miraculously into picture perfect,but i am sorry to say,that the hope is now dwindling,lets see how far this helps/destroys the economy of the world
ReplyDeleteRegarding kofta curry,they look awesome,and i can imagine how quick fix it would had been with ready to use falafels and shelled peas...i love such quick fix dish ,which is wholesome as well
Glad that u like the recipe of curry:-)
fabulous kofta curry :-) I with falafels? that is funny anf intersting... love it
ReplyDeletecan you please give me the name of the precooked frozen falafel balls that is sold in costco. thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteThe brand is Veggie Patch. They are not frozen and are in the ready to eat section I think.
ReplyDelete