Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Blog, page 3

Three Easy Delicious Indian Recipes from my Novel Before We Visit the Goddess

Here are three easy and delicious Indian recipes from my novel, Before We Visit the Goddess, where 3 generations of mothers and daughters in an immigrant family pass on--and transform--family recipes to suit their lifestyles. 

Food is important in all families, probably, but particularly crucial in immigrant families. We often pass on traditions along with recipes. My mother did that, and I think I do it, too, with my sons.

These three recipes are ones that I've tried and enjoyed many times. An appetizer (pakora) and two desserts. I hope you like them, too. Let me know what you think. 

Pakoras

 

Ingredients

1 cup lentil flour½ cup water1 cup canola oil1 tsp finely chopped ginger¼ tsp each: red chili, coriander, and cumin powder1 cup chopped spinach leaves (salt to taste)

Directions

Mix the lentil flour and water to make a thick paste (similar to pancake batter).Add in all other ingredients.Mix well.In a pan, heat the canola oil.Drop the mix by spoonfuls into the hot oil.Turn over when one side is done.Remove when golden brown on both sides.Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Easy Mango Ice Cream

 

Ingredients

4 scoops vanilla ice cream (thawed until soft)4 tsp cardamom powder8 oz canned mango pulp1 fresh mango (chopped small)

Directions

Mix the ice cream, cardamom powder, and mango pulp in a bowl.Cover and freeze for an hour.Scoop into individual dessert bowls and top with chopped mangos.

Chocolate Sandesh

 

Ingredients

½ lb paneer (indian cottage cheese—can be bought in an indian grocery store)½ cup sugar (you can add slightly more if you have a sweet tooth)2-3 tablespoons cocoa powder (the kind you use for hot cocoa mix)

Directions

Allow the paneer to come to room temperature. Mash it until smooth. In a nonstick pan, warm the paneer over low heat. When soft, add sugar and cocoa powder. Mix well until sugar has melted into the paneer (about five minutes). Take it off the stove. Cool the mix for 10 to 15 minutes. Make bit-sized balls with the mix. Refrigerate in a covered container and serve once it’s chilled. Sandesh can be stored in the refrigerator for a week.

 

 

My Other Mother

I wrote about my mother and how she influenced my writing in my previous post.

I'd like to dedicate this post to my mother-in-law, Sita Shastri Divakaruni, who also passed away a few years ago. Below is a photo of her at prayer, which is how I remember her most clearly. I don't recollect her ever missing a day of puja. 

MY MOTHER IN LAW AT A PRAYER CEREMONY

 

My mother-in-law was an amazing woman, an unsung heroine. She lost her husband when her youngest child was four years old. Although she only had a school-level education, she managed to inspire her family of eleven children and hold the family together through love and prayer. Her encouragement inspired all the children to excel and prosper. 

A FAMILY PHOTO ONE YEAR BEFORE MY FATHER-IN-LAW PASSED AWAY

Unlike the stereotypical mother-in-law of movies and T.V. serials, she was always very affectionate to me and encouraged me to write. In all the books I wrote while she was alive, I jointly thank her and my mother for their support. If my husband and I ever quarreled, my mother-in-law always took my side. How can you not love a woman like that!

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WITH MY SON ANAND AND ME

My mother-in-law was very good-natured. As a result, her children and grandchildren often joked with her or teased her. She never lost her patience even at their silliest jokes!  I think my husband Murthy gets his good temper from her. 

MY HUSBAND MURTHY WITH HIS MOM

 

I remember my mother-in-law every day when I sit for my own prayers. I know her blessings are with us always. 

 

Mother's Day Post: How My Mother Influenced My Writing

My mother, Tatini Banerjee, passed away some years back. I remember her all the time, with fondness, thanks, regret (I was often a bad daughter!) and some heartache. She was a big influence on my life and on my writing. 

 

On the occasion of Mother's Day, I wrote about her, and a surprising discovery I made after her death, here: http://www.bookreporter.com/blog/2017/05/05/chitra-banerjee-divakaruni-what-my-mother-said

I'd love to know what you think.

And please write a comment with anything you would like to share about your mothers. We honor them by remembering them.

Coming soon: a post on my other mother, my wonderful and kind mother-in-law, Sita Shastri Divakaruni.

MORE INDIA TOUR PHOTOS, PLUS A SPECIAL DISH I ATE WHILE I WAS THERE

The India trip was amazing, and left me with so many memories. I'm sharing a few with you, hoping you will enjoy them. Let me know. 

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ROSE ICE CREAM, JAIPUR 

First, the food! At the Jaipur Literature Festival Authors Reception, held at the amazing Rambagh Palace, I had the best ice cream ever, made with real rose petals. I'll have to work it into a novel sometime!

AT THE LALIT HOTEL, DELHI, WITH A BEAUTIFUL SATISH GUJRAL SCULPTURE

There was so much beautiful architecture in different places – from Humayun's Tomb in Delhi to the Mysore Palace. But some of the things I loved the best were modern sculptures, as in the photo above.

GETTING READY TO SPEAK AT ETHIRAJ COLLEGE, CHENNAI

I particularly enjoyed my visits to colleges and universities. I was delighted to see how many places were teaching my books! I visited Ethiraj, Lady Shri Ram and IIT Madras.

CITY PALACE, JAIPUR, HOLDING PALACE OF ILLUSIONS, WHICH HAS THESE DOORS ON ITS COVER

It was a special pleasure to visit this gate in the City Palace of Jaipur. I had been wanting to see it ever since I realized that it was the inspiration for the cover of Palace of illusions!

BOOK SIGNING, JAIPUR

But the most important part of my trip was meeting so many of my readers. I appreciate every one of you! Thank you so much for coming to hear me speak and for buying my books! Please write to me here, on my FB page, or on Twitter, @cdivakaruni.

India Tour for Before We Visit the Goddess, in photos

I just came back from a wonderful visit to India to celebrate the launch of the paperback of my newest novel, Before We Visit the Goddess, the adventures of three generations of Indian women, spanning India and USA. You can read more about it here: http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/

Thanks to everyone who helped make the tour a success: my publisher Simon and Schuster India, especially my wonderful publicist Bharti Taneja; my agent Sandra Dijkstra and her associates; ZEE Jaipur Lit Fest, Tata Kalam Lit Meet Kolkata, and Times Lit Fest Bangalore; Crossword bookstores across the country; the colleges that invited me: Lady Shri Ram, Ethiraj, IIT Madras; INKTALKS, Bangalore;  the journalists who interviewed me so generously; and especially my wonderful readers in all the cities I visited. Couldn't have done it without you. 

Here are some photo highlights. More to come later.

 

DELHI LAUNCH OF BEFORE WE VISIT THE GODDESS PAPERBACK. ONSTAGE WITH JAYA BHATTACHARJEE ROSE

MY TALK AT THE JAIPUR LIT FEST, WITH MODERATOR SHRABANI BASU. OVER A THOUSAND ATTENDEES AT THIS EVENT!

AT THE TATA KALAM LITERARY MEET, KOLKATA, AT THE HISTORIC VICTORIA MEMORIAL, WITH DIYA KAR HAZRA OF PAN MACMILLAN INDIA. SHE WILL BE MY EDITOR FOR MY UPCOMING NOVEL ON SITA!

WITH READER NAMAN CHAHDHARY AT THE DELHI LAUNCH

WITH READER SHAMBHAVI SINGH AT LADY SHRI RAM COLLEGE, DELHI

WITH THE BROKE BIBLIOPHILES CHENNAI CHAPTER AT CROSSWORD BOOKSTORE, CHENNAI

Hope you enjoyed these. Will add more photos soon. Thanks again, everyone!

Healthy Eating: Indian Style Omelette, a Comfort Dish from My Childhood

A new book publication is always a hectic affair, and since the birth of Before We Visit the Goddess, things have been exciting but crazy. I’ve been rushing around on book tour, eating whatever I can grab on the run. So now that I am home for a few days, I thought I would make something healthy for myself and Murthy for our lunch.

I decided on an Indian style omelette, because it is tasty, easy to make, quick, healthy and low-carb. It's also a comfort-food out of my childhood. My mother used to make omelettes spiced with onions and chilies to be served with khichuri, a rice-and-lentil dish, on rainy days. We were not rich; she probably chose to make this meal because it was an easy and inexpensive way for her to get her family some protein. Still, I have many happy memories associated with omelettes.

I started by chopping up one red onion and a jalapeno pepper, because I like my omelette spicy. I chopped up an inch of ginger, one green bell pepper, and one red bell pepper. You can add garlic, also – I just wasn’t in the mood for any. I sautéed all this in 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick pan. I chopped some cilantro leaves and kept them aside. I used 1/4 cup, but you can adjust for taste. I added a little salt into the vegetables.

I beat up four large eggs, adding 1 tablespoon of water because I don’t like my egg mixture too thick. (I only use cage free eggs nowadays because I feel it’s more humane. I use eggs from pasture roaming hens when I can find them.) I added salt and pepper to taste.

I sprayed a non-stick skillet with olive oil spray, added the egg mixture, lowered the temperature to 3, and allowed the eggs to solidify without browning at the bottom. Once they were semisolid I lowered the temperature further (I don’t like crisped omelette!), added the sautéed veggies onto one half and sprinkled the whole thing with shredded cheese – shredded sharp cheddar works really well for me, but mozzarella is good, too. I topped the cheese with chopped cilantro and folded the omelette in half. I cut it into two pieces-- and lunch was ready!

I feel an omelette is a full meal in itself, so that was a good lunch for me. Murthy ate his with brown bread, and that, too, is a good way to eat omelettes!

 What is a favorite comfort dish for you out of your childhood? I'd love to know. 

 

Writing Characters of a Different Gender: Some Tips, via my Writer's Digest Article

With each of my novels, I try to set myself a new challenge.  While writing my newest, Before We Visit the Goddess, I set myself two: I would write a novel-in-stories, and I would use multiple voices to tell the three-generational tale of Sabitri, Bela, and Tara. Additionally, some of these voices would be male. (So maybe that's three challenges!)

The male voices were difficult. I won't pretend they weren't. Women's voices just come more naturally to me. I understand how they think. How they look at the world. Men – not so much.

 

But I worked at it, and I worked at it, and I worked at it some more. And I was really quite happy with the result. I learned a lot about writing as I went through the process, and I've put it all together in this article, link below. Take a look. Tell me what you think. And if you have other ideas, please share them with me. Questions are also welcome. 

The Four ‘R’s of Writing Characters of the Opposite Gender

Heritage Lessons Learned in Our Mothers' Kitchens

I’ve been thinking a lot about my mother recently, since the publication of my newest novel, Before We Visit the Goddess, which is about three generations of women – grandmother, mother, daughter – and what they learn, both positive and negative, from each other.

Or perhaps the novel came about because I’ve been thinking of my mother for the last five years, ever since she passed away.

My mother was the most important woman in my life. She taught me much of what I know about life, though I often resisted her lessons. I loved her deeply, but my love for her was tinged with many other complex emotions.

I think I’m not the only daughter, who feels this way.

In any case, I wrote the following piece for Redbook, pulling up memories of what she taught me in her kitchen.

Some of those lessons I’ve tried to pass on to my sons, though I’ve modified them to suit my own philosophy.

http://www.redbookmag.com/life/mom-kids/a43901/cooking-with-kids/

PAKORAS

As always, I’m interested in knowing your thoughts. What lessons did you learn from your parents? Which ones, among them, would you gift to the next generation?

 

Mother's Day Post: What I Want for All Mothers

On the occasion of the publication of my new novel, Before We Visit the Goddess, which is all about mothers and daughters and the complex bond between them, I wrote up a piece for Deccan Herald. I'm sharing my thoughts below:

"I wish for all mothers the enduring love of our children, from sweaty, sticky-fingered hugs when they are small to conversations late into the night, with laughter and tears, when they have grown and become our friends. Because the adventure of motherhood is always different, and changing, and precious at every age. I wish for us the ability to take care of our children and support them in the best possible way, and to let them soar away on their own when the time is right.

I wish for us the bustle of the day that tells us how necessary we are to the people around us, especially our children, and the quietness of evening to curl up with a book that makes our imagination take wing. Mothers need time for themselves, too, to heal the soul so that we can be strong for tomorrow. I wish for us to be secure in our own selves no matter what society might say, in our confidence in the sacred and challenging role of motherhood that we have taken on — and sometimes compromised or sacrificed our careers for. I want mothers, when they are asked what they do, to say proudly, I am a mother. Because of all the jobs we do, it is the toughest and most satisfying. And without mothers, this world would come to an end."

The above mother-and-child painting by Jamini Roy is one of my favorites.

Several other women contributed lovely thoughts to the same article. To read the whole thing, please go to http://www.deccanherald.com/content/544810/what-mothers-want.html

What are your wishes – for yourself, or for all mothers, on this Mother's Day? Please write in. I would love to know.

Chitra's Creative Cuisine: Stir-fried Tofu with Bean Sprouts, Cilantro and Ginger Root

In my upcoming novel, Before We Visit the Goddess, about three generations of women–a grandmother, mother and daughter who love, support and battle each other–Tara the daughter says that she likes cooking things that require only 20 minutes of time, from the chopping board to the table. I often feel that way, and on some of those days I create my own dishes. Today was one such day because I'm getting really busy with pre-publicity for the novel, which is coming out in April 2016. Below is the recipe I cooked up, stir-fried tofu with bean sprouts, cilantro, and ginger. I was really pleased with how this healthy low-carb dish turned out, and I hope you will be, too.

Ingredients:  One 16 ounce pack extra firm tofu, 16 ounces bean sprouts, half inch ginger root, grated, quarter cup chopped cilantro, four T peanut sauce, two T soy sauce (more for taste if you like soy sauce), one t Sriracha sauce, 1 T sesame oil, garlic powder, onion powder and salt to taste.

Cut the tofu long and thin, as in the photo above. Sauté for two minutes in a nonstick pan. Add all of the seasonings. Sauté for one more minute. Add the bean sprouts. Sauté for one minute. Take off the stove and mix in the cilantro and ginger.  Serve by itself if you want a low-carb dish. Otherwise serve over hot brown rice.

The whole thing took me 10 minutes!

Let me know if you try it and how you like it, and if you have your own favorite 10 to 20 minute dish, please post it below.