Wooed with food

2 things have made me very happy in less than 24 hours.

First, Zack came home early by 2 hours. Usually he comes home by 11, but yesterday I was more shocked than surprised to see him home at 9. When I asked him why was he grinning, I got the oh-god-let-me-bang-my-head-on-the-wall answer, “After so many months, I will finally get to see whats happening in the TV serial”

Second, today morning when I fixed him his favorite maida dosa for his breakfast, he remarked – “Visha, you can replace my mom in the cooking department. The taste in food is exactly like hers”. I countered – “I have my own cooking style.” “Oh yes you do, but in your dishes. The kind of food my mom makes – you have matched that. You are turning out to be a better cook day by day”.

Overlooking the fact that this guy hardly spends the days at home, I went into flashback mode thinking what made him say this.

Since the elders in the family have gone for a pilgrimage to North India, it’s just the both of us since Thursday. The nephew was with us till Saturday night and he is a maha-choosy guy, in the eating department. Our family loves oil and fried food like anything. And this guy hates oil like anything. Why I asked. Because I will get pimples, he said. But that is natural for a 19-year old, I replied. His answer – my college starts Monday and I don’t want to attend my new semester with a pimple on my face. I was speechless when I heard that. He usually resorts to curd rice or rasam when we make nice full meals.  

Thinking how could I make this guy veer away from his staple diet, I made a plain kurma with a side dish on Saturday. And methi roti for Friday night. The nephew ate both peacefully. On Sunday, Zack’s friends had come visiting in the evening. Two newly married couples. Now you cant be working in your room when your friends come visiting you, right? So Zack had no option but to stop doing his office work 😀

Time flew and suddenly we were staring at the clock with hungry stomach. Letting the guests chat away, I quickly made them aloo paratha and a capsicum sizzler. It was met with an enthusiastic response, with the hubby feeling proud of this wife.

So this is the reason – I am meeting approvals from the unlikeliest corners, my nephew( the maha-choosy guy), his friends( they don’t mince words when food is bad 😉 ) and hubby himself( who needs every dish to be perfect) in the food department. Who thought using less than 5 ingredients can give you a good cook label 😛

Now I wish to share my happiness. Here is the recipe of capsicum sizzler. You can have it as-is or with hot chappatis.

Ingredients:

Capsicum – 1
Tomato – 1
Onion(big) – 1
Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
Red chilli powder – 1 teaspoon
Salt as per taste

Method:

1.  Julienne the onion, capsicum and tomato.
2. In a kadai , heat 1 teaspoon of oil and add cumin seeds. When they start giving tiny splutters, add the onion.
3. Keep tossing them while catching the quick glance on how the hungry souls are faring.When the onions turn slightly golden, put in the tomatoes. Stir fry on high for 3 minutes..
4. When you observe the tomatoes turning slightly mushy, throw in the capsicums.
5. After a minute of stirring, add the red chilli powder and salt, stir for 5 minutes – tada, sizzler is ready! Call the people around to pounce on it.

In case you wonderful people try it out and it does not come well, kindly let me know. I will come and make it for you 🙂