Sprouted Chickpea (Sprouted Chana)

Every legume is full of protein. My mom used to make a simple yet delicious recipe called “Vagharia”. We also used to consume steamed sprouted chickpea.

How to make sprouted chickpea? It is not difficult at all. And yaa, NO NEED TO BUY THOSE PROURT MAKERS.

If I want to consume it in the breakfast:

1. I take around 75 ml of chickpea (I use measuring cups, so it is ml),
2. Wash a couple of times and soak it in approximately 200 ml water.
3. Cover the container and let it stay overnight.

The next day morning, soaked chickpea seeds will swell.

I have never tried to soak it longer to get its root out. So you can google if you want to know more on it.

Note that if the room temperature is lower than 30 deg C, you need to soak it in lukewarm water and keep it over the fridge (I own a 165 ltr fridge, with coil at the back, so it is always warmer behind the fridge). So, it will remain warm.

How to Steam?

1. Drain the water and transfer the soaked chickpea into a small metal container.
2. Sprinkle some salt on it and mix well.
3. Put some water in the pressure cooker.
4. Put that chickpea container in the pressure cooker.
5. PUT A LEAD ON THE CONTAINER since we don’t want cooker water to come inside the container.
6. Close the cooker, without “siti” on it.
7. Turn on the gas to High.
8. When the cooker starts steaming, reduce the heat to low.  You can set 15-minute timer on your mobile phone and rest.
9. After 15 min, turn off the heat
10. KEEP THE COOKER AS IT IS FOR THE NEXT 15 – 30 MINs. And then open the cooker.
11. Take the container out.

Ok I enjoy it in four different ways:

• Enjoy as it is. Just salted.
• Sprinkle some Chat masala to make it tastier
• Mix it with curd (if you added more salt then needed he he he)
• Sprinkle a tsp sugar and a tsp of lime-juice on it. Mix well and enjoy.

Sprouted Moong

Since childhood, I have been enjoying moong sprouts. Google on health benefits of sprouts and you will come across ample of web sites that speak a lot lot about what sprouts are.

I like the taste of sprouted moong. So, I prefer to consume it raw. However you can steam it also.

How to make sprouted moong? Oh that is so easy. NO NEED TO BUY THOSE PROURT MAKERS!!

If I want to consume it in the breakfast:

1. I take around 75 ml of moong (I use measuring cups, so it is ml),
2. Wash a couple of times and soak it in approximately 200 ml water.
3. Cover the container and let it stay overnight.

The next day morning, soaked moong seeds will swell. Roots might not have come out. But this way also it can be consumed.

If you want root to come out, then you need to soak around 24 hours earlier. After 12 hours, drain the water and keep it as it is. By the next day, roots will come out.

Note that if the room temperature is lower than 30 deg C, you need to soak it in lukewarm water and keep it over the fridge (own a 165 ltr fridge, with coil at the back, so it is always warmer behind the fridge). So, it will remain warm.

How to Steam sprouted moong?

1. Drain the water and transfer the sprouted moong into a small metal container.
2. Sprinkle some salt on it and mix well.
3. Put some water in the pressure cooker.
4. Put that moong container in the pressure cooker.
5. PUT A LEAD ON THE CONTAINER since we don’t want cooker water to come inside the container.
6. Close the cooker, without “siti” on it.
7. Turn on the gas to High.
8. When the cooker starts steaming, reduce the heat to low.  You can set 15-minute timer on your mobile phone and rest.
9. After 15 min, turn off the heat
10. KEEP THE COOKER AS IT IS FOR THE NEXT 15 – 30 MINs. And then open the cooker.
11. Take the container out.

Ok I enjoy it in four different ways:

• Enjoy as it is. Just salted.
• Sprinkle some Chat masala to make it tastier
• Mix it with curd (if you added more salt then needed he he he)
• Sprinkle a tsp sugar and a tsp of lime-juice on it, mix well and enjoy.

Besan Ke Laddoo - Sweet balls of Chickpea Flour

I have a biig sweet tooth.  When I searched the net for besan laddoo recipes, I found many. But as a peson who don't like to cook, I went through all and tried to do it my way. This recipe may not be that "awesome!!!", but well, I made it for me, and I am happy. :-).

So when you put that small laddoo in your mouth, it starts as salty but gragually as it melts, you get that gentle sweetness of jaggery.

What you need: (I have used measuring cups, so even if the item is power or solid, I measure it in ml.)

• 75 ml Besan
• 30 - 40 ml finely chopped Jaggery up to 50 ml if you have a bigger sweet tooth
• 25 ml Ghee (I use Amul Cow Ghee)

For kids, eating is always a sheer waste of time, but we parents want them to get the best possible and I would say, natural nutrition. Besan is protein, Jaggery is energy plus a lot of minerals, and cow ghee is almost a medicine. You can also add around 25 ml of dried fruits pieces in the list of ingradients. The above measurements will make around 10 - 12 one-byte size balls.

So, the basic process is (read entire article first!!), mix besan, jaggery, and ghee, and then make byte-size balls (or bigger if you want) out of it.



Here you go with the actual process:

Take besan in a kadai, and heat it at a low flame. Stir continously. Idea is to let moisture escape from the flour and also to make besan a little crisp and also get rid of that typical smell that comes out of the raw besan.

After heating for a few minutes, you will start getting that roasting type of smell. That is the time to take the besan away from heat, and add ghee into it.

So, add ghee in it and mix it well so that ghee mixes with the entire quantity of the flour evenly. This should take a minute or two. And then, add jaggery and continue mixing. Jaggery will start dissolving in the mixture. When after mixing for 2 - 3 minutes, you feel that thre are no jaggery lumps remaining, it is time to quickly start making laddoos or balls.

Idea is to take around 20 ml of mixture and press it so hard that all the air escapes and we get a shape. Traditionally it is done with palm and fingers. If you can do it that way, great, but if you can't,  never mind, take two 10 ml mesuring cups, put mix in it and press them against each other. Or may be press it in ice tray to make squre "cakes". Because the kadai should be hot even now, the mixture will be warm if not hot, so be a bit more careful if you are using hands.

After converting the mix into laddoo (or cakes), let it rest for an hour or so. They will become more dry and firm.

By nature laddoo are highly sweet, such as motichur. Other laddoos like kuler or churmu, might be a bit less sweet, but this one, it will surprise you. By not frying the besan in ghee (the way we do in sukhadi / gol papdi), we have retained the physical properties of besan, which to me, gives a slight salty taste. Ghee acts as a binding agent. All the sweet you get is from nutrious jaggery that has blended will with besan. So when you put that small laddoo in your mouth, it starts as salty but gragually as it melts, you get that gentle sweetness of jaggery.

Ek hatu e-bike: the story of my e-bikes

I had two usages for a new bike: 1) take my 8-year-old son to pleasure drive every week-end, and 2) to make trips to shops in 2 - 3 km distance to buy supplies, pay bills, etc. Being a green lifestyle enthusiast, I did not want to go for a petrol bike.

I researched the 'Net and found that an e-byke called YoSmart was the bike that perfectly suited my need. I went for my first e-bike in July 2007. YOSmart, a slow speed bike, that is powered by 20 Ah battery pack and a 250W 48 Volt DC motor. It was running for 60+ km with single charge. It was a pleasure riding it. NO engine, so no engine sound, no vibration. You can even hear the sound of wind. My colleagues used to ask me "us ke horn ka to aavaz aata hai na? ke vo bhi silent hi hai?" Speed, up to 25 kmph, which is reaslly good speed for a lightweight two wheeler. Since it has 250W motor, no RTO registration and no license. Complete peace of mind.

Life was good.

After relocating from Indore to Vadodara, my requirements increased.  In addition to take me and my son on weekly pleasure rides, I needed a vehicle to take me, my wife and son, for social visits once or twice a month.  YOSmart is rated to carry load of 75 kg. So, it was out of picture. I was also sure that I shall be able to take this "triple savari" only for a year. After that, it would not be safe to go triple on a two wheeler - be it petrol or EV.

I decided to test ride another e-bike - YoStyle. Same 250W motor, but stronger chessis fit to carry 2 adults, smaller wheels, and 24 aH batteries (4 ah more than YOSmart). Though YoStyle was also rated for 75 kg, I knew that smaller wheels and more powerful batteries would easily take load of we three without difficulties for a year at least, which was my requirement. And we went for YoStyle.

So, by March 2010, we had two e-bikes in our family.

I again relocated to Ahmedabad by year end. Family was to join me later.  My old YoSmart was with me at Ahmedabad.  It was 3 years old, time had come to change its batteries, which I did.

By May 2011, family joined me, and we again had both our bikes at Ahmedabad. YoStyle was my companion to office and return. Once when it was heavy rain, I even had to take it through road having 1 foot deep water. I had my doubts, but to my surprise, it went in and also came out!! LIfe was fine with YoStyle with me and YoSmart with wife. After meeting with an accident on her Luna tens of years back, YoSmart gave her confidence to drive a two-wheeler again.

Unfortunately, in April 2012 batteries of YOStyle went dead. Why so early?  Because of the charger.  The charger did not stop charging even after batteries were fully charaged. It kept on happening which was harming batteries and finally batteries died. I learnt a lesson hard way.  You should charge batteries for 1 hour for every 10 km of run.  So, if I run 30 km, I should charge no longer than 3 hours.  Don't wait for the charger to stop charging automatically.

Anyway, instead of spending Rs. 10000 on new batteries, I decided to use YOSmart's batteries with YOStyle, and exchange the YoSmart with new YoElectron. Technically, YOElectron is the same vehicle, but had some better features.  In April 2011, we said bye to YOSmart and brought home the new YoElectron.

Life was back to normal. Now, wife was taking son to School, saving us over Rs. 1200 a month and giving an awesome e-ride to son, which he always liked to have.

Life is still normal with YoStyle, and YOElectron.  Yes, soon, I shall change batteries of YoStyle, then of YOElectron, and we will be driving free of cost for next 2 years.

Be the change leader, or follower. It's your choice.

I have so many childhood memories related to kites which I will share sometime, but today a bit serious point. 

Long back when I was driving home on my scooter, some careless kite flier lost his control from the kite and kite came on road. Between the flyer and kite was me, the thread got scratched on my nose and I had an inch long cut on my nose. I fell down from the scooter, the cut was bleeding. Luckily my uncle's home was not very far, I rushed to their home, washed the wound, applied some medication and continued the drive extremely slowly to my home.

Friends, this Uttrayan, make sure you are not like that careless kite flier.

Try to enjoy the majestic flight of kite in the open sky. Enjoy the togetherness with your loved ones, show them how you can make your kite do what you want it to do, fly bigger and bigger kites, fly kites with longest tail, kites of different shapes that is how your people around you will notice you... not by the number of kites you cut...

Say bye bye to the way of trying to prove you better by cutting someone else's kite and counting how many kites you cut during this uttryan and how many cuts you had on your fingers. This will surely save life of those bikers whose neck get cut by kite thread.

And yes, make sure you have enough stock of kites for Jan 14 and 15.

Please commit to your loved one that even if for some reason your stock of kites is exhausted before Jan 15 evening, you will enjoy watching others flying kites, but not buy pre-owned and pre-flown kites from kids who run here and there on roads and catch a cut kite. They do so because we are there to pay them money and buy kites from them. They are not only safe for themselves but also for the traffic.

and ya, don't forget to post picture of that biggest kite and the kite with longest tail!!

Happy Uttrayan!

Two slices of bread

I had a meeting at five pm and it was already quarter to five. I hurriedly entered the small pantry at my office for a quick grabs. I took two slices of bread and put in the toaster, got the butter out of the refrigerator so that it gets softer by the time toasts pop out of the toaster and started conversation with two of the colleagues who were already there in pantry cooking maggi in the microwave.


In a minute, breads was enough hot. I pressed "cancel" button on the toaster and the slices popped out. As I took one side out of the toaster, oops.. it slipped and fell down on the floor. My "gymnastical" way of rescuing it from falling down did not  help.

"Oh" I said to myself, picked the slice and started walking towards the trash can to throw it.

"It's ok its ok, no need to throw it!" One of the two colleagues told and almost hand held me from walking towards the trash can, ".. floor is clean... We don’t throw the food this way in trash at our home, right?" she added.

"am... yaa, but.." I was trying to gather myself from that awesomely surprisingly comment.

When food item falls down, we pick it and throw it in the trash, that is what we are taught and that is what we are “proud” to do. Floor is dirty, germs, stomach problems, hygiene, this, that and on the top of that, you also remember that school time leg-pooling jingle "Niche padelu kon khai, bavaji no beto khai".. that "what others would say" effect.

"Ya, at home I would see if it had fallen on wet part of the floor or dry part of the floor, or the fallen item is dry or wet and I would have acted accordingly.." I replied.

"It is food, Hemang. And we should not waste it. A lot of people sleep empty stomach in the world... If we were standing on road, I would have let you throw it away. But here floor is clean. I would have used it even if it had fallen down.." came the reply.

Oh... yaa... I was one of the chosen few how had access to hygienic food and there are people who don’t have access to even clean drinking water even.

"Yaa.. Pantry floor is dry and toast is also a dry thing.. he he he..." I was not very very sure, however, I replied "let me use it, last two slices and I am hungry.." I gave a big that "D" type theethy selfish smile, as I found a valid excuse for "not throwing the slice", applied butter on the slice and started enjoying it as we continued conversation on other interesting topics.

I am still not sure consuming that slice was right or wrong. May be by consuming it, I put my immune system to a small test? But next time when am working with a food item, I shall try to be extra careful making sure it does not fall down, and if at all it does, I shall give a second thought before throwing it in the trash can.

And ya, I finished it before 5 pm and reached the meeting room before the meeting started.

Curiocity Kills the Cat (and invite legal action too)

Be the least curious when you get an email from any of your contacts.

I received an email from one of my lovedone's email ID, which wrote:

Hope you get this on time, I made a trip to Spain, Madrid and had my bag stolen from me with my passport and credit cards in it. The embassy is willing to help by letting me fly without my passport, I just have to pay for a ticket and settle Hotel bills. Unfortunately for me, I can't have access to funds without my credit card, I've made contact with my bank but they need more time to come up with a new one. I was thinking of asking you to lend me some quick funds that I can give back as soon as I get in. I really need to be on the next available flight.


I can forward you details on how you can get the funds to me. You can reach me via email or hotel front desk phone, the numbers are, + 3 four 9 six 2 four 6 three 1 four 9 .

Let me know if you can be of any help.


(loved one's name)

The Email ID appeared authentic. Even the name was correct. I decided to reply but cautiously. I replied:

Did you contact your home? If not, I can surely make a call and ask them to get in touch with you ASAP...
 The person on the other side understood that I am not so stupid. So, the person replied:

I really appreciate your reply to my call for help, I need 1,550 euro to cover my expenses and get a flight ticket back home, You can have the funds sent at any Western Union agent location.


Here are the details you will need


(loved one's name)
Plaza callao 1,
Madrid,
Spain

Keep me posted

Thanks


It might sound embarrassing telling you that I don't have access to make or receive calls at the moment.
All I need now is for me to know whether you could help me or not


Even in 2nd email, the sender (appearantly my loved one, who know my name), asked me to send EURO 1550 (a lakh or rupees) did not address me with my name, and I was sure, this was a fake mail. In 1st mail the sender wants me to call on a number and in reply says, he/she does not have access to phone.

All I want to say is, lets not be curious. Remember curiocity kills the cat. Just search on google with the number in the mail and you will get a thread which confirms this is a fake mail.

Think twice before you answe a call from an uknown number, think 100 times before clicking a link in your email.

Thanks for reading, and please share this. Sending money out of India is also illegal.  You may invite FERA related issues.  Lets make sure our loved ones are safe.