Apr 18, 2013

Oats Bisibelebath

Hello Everyone!

Wow...this is a new post in a long time. Things are looking slightly better in terms of my personal stuff and also work. So, I have a slight hope that I might be able to continue her regularly. I've been busy with many things but wanted to share one of the those things with you guys. I've been trying to eat healthy and exercise and lose weight. I've been a little successful too, I should say. But I realize that I need to make life changes if I want to maintain this. And I also worked at making my mind understand that. So far, it seems to have. I think its just that we have to be aware of what we are eating and when we are eating and how much we are eating. If you can answer all this and if the brain understands it, that's half the mission completed.

Somewhere in all this, I also learnt about juicing and even tried it a couple of times now. Oh how I love that flat stomach while juicing. And then I start eating solids and there comes back the bloat and bulge. Arrgh. Have any of you tried juicing? Let me know how you like it and what's ur favorite juices? It is good but I don't think one should do it longer than a 5 day period. I think the best option would be to do for 3 days every two weeks or so just to cleanse the body and kind of refresh the whole digestive system.

In my quest of eating healthy, here's a recipe that I've always heard from a friend but had never tried it myself. So, after a quick call to her (Sashi - this is you!), I got down to making it and just had to take pictures for a post. This is a wholesome meal for the entire family - its got the grains, fiber, protein, veggies, lentils, flavor, consistency and pretty much the works. And its a one pot dish. Just serve with some cool raitha and you are done!

Start with separately boiling veggies with some Toor Daal. I added potatoes, radish, carrots, green beans, green peas and 1/2 cup of toor daal and pressure cooked for about 3-4 whistles or until they are cooked well.

In a pan, add a tsp of oil. When the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, red chillies and curry leaves. Then, add a bunch of chopped onion and tomatoes and saute well. Then add about 6 cups of water (for 2 cups of oats that we will be adding).

Add tamarind water, salt, turmeric powder, sambar powder and 2 tsps of bisibelebath powder. Let this come to a boil.

When the liquid begins to boil, add about 2 cups of oats. Mix well. Now, add the cooked daal and veggies to this. Add salt to taste if needed.

I used Coach's Oats which is cracked and toasted oats which provides a good texture.

Cover with a lid and cook well stirring intermittently so the oats don't stick to the bottom. Let this cook for about 10 mins in simmer so the oats cook well. If it gets too thick, add a little water.

Add a little dollop of ghee on top while the Oats bisibelebath is hot and inviting. And just enjoy a bowl of wholesome goodness.

Serve with a cold cup of cucumber raitha on the side.

Enjoy. Peace Out.