TWO FOOD ITEMS TO EAT WHEN YOUR POCKETS ARE NOT HEAVY

The living is an Art. This is a God’s given Art. For living one should eat. But not the contrary. The truth finally after a severe research and discussion finally leads to a conclusion that man can lead a happy life even with the least money in his pockets by choosing an appropriate food item. The search for those items that can be prepared with least effort and less money draw me towards UPMA  a nice dish one can substitute in place of rice. The other being STUFFED RICE.

Upma is known to everyone. There are varieties in it. It can be prepared according to the availability of vegetables. Even when there are no any vegetables it can be prepared using only the broken wheat or broken rice. This is the uniqueness of this food stuff. One can feel fuller after eating this. It can be consumed with various types of curries, powders, and finally even along with Curd. Ladies in India generally do not prefer it as it is meant for Widows only. It was their regular Dinner made generally using broken rice. The item was preferred adding buttermilk to this food item.

But, the days have changed. When ‘ eating something to keep stomach fuller ‘ has become the concept of minimum food a search has been made making it delicious adding some nicely cut pieces of vegetables with seasoning giving it a different name VEGETABLE UPMA. This can be prepared using broken wheat also.

If broken wheat is very nicely broken it is called KESARI RAVA.

image credit to: wikipedia.org

Upma prepared to add more tomatoes will ultimately be known as TOMATO BATH.

When the broken rice is added to the boiling sugar syrup it will be turned into a sweet dish which we call RAVA HALWA’. This is a sweet.

Whatever may be additions and names they all belong to the family of NO RICH and define the seeming rich status of an individual living in PROSPEROUS INDIA.

Another food falling into the category but even cheaper than UPMA is STUFFED RICE.

Stuffed rice is prepared by steaming the rice. They will be very light and occupy more volume which will be highly disproportional to the area. This is everybody’s food. Even the rich prefer it as a time-pass item during travel. Of course, with a different name.

During my journey to Varanasi, I was discussing with my co-traveler. I heard somebody shouting ‘BHEL/BHEL PURI’. I was just distracted. The voice was very freaky. I glanced through the container of the vendor who was sitting at a place in the compartment. He was not sitting but was not allowed to leave the place. Many travelers sending their choice of preparations through their kids and friends. He was preparing them adding sometimes more Onion pieces, sometimes more vegetables, and sometimes more chili powder and salt etc.,

 

image credit to: youtube.com

The main ingredient in ‘BHEL’ is stuffed rice. It is prepared by adding  the following ingredients to the stuffed rice;

Salt

Pepper

Nicely cut small Onion pieces

Some coriander leaves

Masala powder

curry leaves

Tomato slices

roasted Bengal gram

Groundnut pieces

Some lemon juice

The Vendor was making some cones out of paper. He was putting some stuffed rice in it. Later he was adding all the above stuff one by one and finally shaking the stuff by covering the paper cone. That’s all. The BHEL is ready. Everybody was eagerly waiting to collect their order anxiously. He could make a very good business for the day.

When you are alone, feeling hungry, with empty vesselS in the kitchen the only easiest stuff that comes to your rescue is THE CHILI MUR MURE’

Take Murmure in a large container, add some chili powder (2 gms) and salt 1/2 a gram and shake the mix. If it is not mixed properly add a spoon of any oil or Ghee. Your stuff is ready for the day. Some people add some Chutneys in place of chili powder and Salt. This is another stuff to eat leisurely for a time-pass. One can add some Onion pieces and salt also to give a different taste.

Food makes life and how to make it a meaningfully tasty one depends upon the person who prepares it.