My Salute to the Indian Army/ NSG Commandos - War in Mumbai

I planned for Thanksgiving dinner and wanted to restart my cooking blog. I casually turned on TV and was shocked on watching live telecast of Mumbai Attacks in CNN. I hosted the guests as I already invited for dinner but did not enjoyed it at all. My sister turned off TV when she saw me crying. I cried because I couldnt do anything for country. I cried because our irritational, selfish, stupid, corrupt, multi millionaire politicians who are using this situation for their benefits, who wanted to divide people for their selfish needs. I cried because of our beloved stardom heros showed their cowardness and incapability in making their comments. I cried because most popular celebrities, politicians are still wanted to take advantage of caste, religion and region.
They should atleast open their eyes and learn from these simple and brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives. They did not ask or aware of which language or which caste or which region they are helping. For them its their country.

Our armed forces are one of the best in the world, we may not have as sophisticated gadgets as the US marines have but we score over the rest of the world in terms of bravery. We are proud to have such a good army, commandos and police. I salute every person - the commandos, the police and the general public, who rescued us from the national crisis. I pay highest respects to those who bravely sacrificed their lives to save innocent people.
"May Their Souls Rest In Peace".

Aloo Stir Fry (Potato Stir Fry)

Ingredients

Potatoes - 3 medium
red chili powder - 1 tsp
turmeric - 1/4 tsps
Salt for taste

For seasoning:
Mustard, Cumin, Chana dal Urad dal and curry leaves
One chopped garlic clove (Optional)


Preparation:

Peel the skin and slice the potatoes into small cubes. In a pan, add two tsps of oil and heat on medium heat. Season (Tadka or Popu) with chana dal, urad dal, jeera and mustard seeds. Add one chopped garlic clove (optional). Add sliced potatoes to the oil, add salt, turmeric. Stir and close the lid. Cook on low medium heat for 10 mins. Add few drops of water, stir and cook on medium heat for 5 mins. Add curry leaves, red chilli powder and stir fry on medium high heat till potatoes turn to golden brown in color. Serve hot.

ThanksGiving Dinner - Stuffed Turkey

Ingredients:

Turkey Breast
Vegetable Oil - 2 tbsp

For Stuffing:

Celery - 2 to 3 tender sticks
White Onions - 1 (big)
Carrots - 2
Bread Crumbs - half cup
Salt to taste
Fresh ground Pepper
Cinnamon - 3 sticks
Cloves - 6
Garlic - 20 cloves
Fresh Ginger - 1" (chopped into long pieces)
Turmeric - pinch
Chicken Stock
Orange zest - 1 tsp
Thyme leaves
RoseMary Leaves
Parsley - 1 cup (Chopped)

Seasoning:
Butter - 2 Cubes
Salt to taste
Lime - 3 to 4

Preparation:

Make small slits in the Turkey breast with sharp knife. Marinate the turkey breast with Lime, Salt and pinch of turmeric. Make sure to spread the lime mixture in the incessions. Keep it refrigirated for 8 hours.

Stuffing Preparation: Cut the Onions, Celery and Carrots into small pieces. Take a pan and heat 2 tsps of oil. Add celery, onions and Carrots with a pinch of salt to the oil and fry for 10 - 15 minutes under medium heat. Just before it gets golden brown , add bread crumbs, Thyme leaves, Rosemary leaves and Orange Zest and fry it for 5 minutes. Add 1 small cup of chicken stock to the mixture in the pan and fry it for 5 more minutes. Add chopped Parsley to the mixture. Remove the heat and keep the stuffing aside.

Take a fresh pan , add butter cubes to the heated Pan. Keep the Turkey in the Baking Tray. Apply the melted butter to the Turkey with a brush and to the Baking tray. Now take a sppon and lift the incessions and stuff the turkey with the stuffing prepared. Sprinkle Salt , pepper, Parsley and Lime Juice on the Turkey and spread it evenly. Put the chopped ginger, garlic cloves, remaining Thyme Leaves and Rose Mary Leaves around the Turkey in the Baking tray. Now cover the Baking tray with Aluminium foil. Preheat the Oven at 350 deg for 20 mins. Carefully keep the Baking tray with the Turkey in the oven and Bake it for 90 minutes. Remove the Turkey from the oven after it is cooked and add onions and fresh Parsley for garnishing.

Thanksgiving Dinner - Mashed Potatoes

Golden Brown Potatoes - 6 no.
Garlic Cloves - 3 or 4
Bay Leaves - 2 to 3
Butter - 2 cubes
Half & Half Milk - 1/2 gallon
Heavy Cream - 1/2 to 3/4 cup
Salt
Pepper -- For Garnish
Thyme Leaves - For Garnish


Peel the potatotes and cover with water sufficient to cover in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add little Salt, garlic cloves and bay leaves to the potatoes. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat slightly and simmer until potatoes are fork-tender. Drain potatoes and remove the Bay leaves. Return empty pan to heat and add butter, leaving until butter melts. In a separate pan, bring cream or milk to boil. Remove from heat immediately when it starts to Boil. Mash the pototoes. Add half and half milk, heavy cream and salt untill potatoes are smooth and fluffy. Sprinkle pepper powder on Potatoes and Garnish with with Thyme Leaves.