Is there a mental condition where you do exactly the opposite of what you’re supposed to do, completely ignoring the order of importance and the bearing it could have on your one, precious life? No?
Just checking. Sitting here with the laptop plonked on the ironing board, I’m doing exactly what I’m not supposed to do. Sure, I made myself a temporary home office, right outside the walk-in closet but that’s as productive as I get. For right on the other side of the irony board (I’m calling it that), is the bed and right under those covers is where I kind of want to be.
I don’t know if you remember but I’ve been testing my brain for a job. Right now, writing this is the opposite of what I need to do. Dudeboy says, “Do it on your break!”. Break=something you take when you’ve been working. In this case, I’m living it up. If this is the wrong thing to do then why o why is my brain just letting me go on? Last time I checked, I was 25 and a responsible human being.
Haha. It’s a little true.
Motivation is always difficult to find. I’m hardly a last-minute kind of person for a lot of stuff but when it comes to work, oh gosh. My eyelids are dropping just thinking about the bed I want to sleep in. I am trying to envision a paycheck but my fingers snap and 10 seconds later I’m so over it. It’s slightly nonsensical to say but I’m going to say it anyway: Why don’t they give us better incentives (not just money) to want to work? Let’s face it: A majority of the world is not working that dream job. There are a few here and there whose souls we’d like to steal and whose brains we’d like to drink from with a straw. All metaphors all day. While I’m working (or not) on a very realistic test, all I can think about is: “Why can’t it be easier?” We all do this, right?
Please say yes.
I hate being the odd one out.
Not to mistake this for discontent because I am happy. I got that dumb cold but I can walk myself to get a tissue and then turn my head and see sunlight streaming through the windows with the faint hum of traffic in my ears. I can also type this sentence and sip from a glass of clean water, in which a teabag found its way. There is some balance in my universe, I tell myself and my procrastination is normal.
Now… I mean tomorrow, I will work on my test. Today is for me and you and the pulao that I promised you last, last week.
Sharing this recipe has me feeling very vulnerable. I feel like I have to live up to some strange expectations that I set for myself while I was asleep 10 minutes ago. Here’s to not caring because it tasted good and that’s all that matters.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup basmati rice (cooked in 1 cup of water or vegetable stock)
- 1/3 cup peas
- 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine
- Whole cloves (about 13), cardamom (6 of them) and a cinnamon stick
- 1/2 large red onion, chopped fine
- 1/3 cup chopped carrot
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- Turmeric powder for colour
- Oil (I used peanut oil)
- Salt to taste
- Cilantro leaves to garnish
Wash and rinse the basmati rice in plain water. This will make it less sticky while cooking because it gets rid of some of the starch. Put the rice on the stove in 1 cup of water or stock on medium heat. If you’re using stock check the saltiness and then accordingly choose to add more salt or leave it out completely. As soon as the rice starts to simmer, cover the pot with a lid and turn down the heat slightly. Once all or most of the water is evaporated, use a fork and taste a bit of the rice. It shouldn’t have a grainy texture. If it does, add a little bit more water and watch it till it’s done. The rice should be ready in about 10-15 minutes. If there is still water in the rice after it’s cooked, don’t fret. Just use a colander and drain out all the excess water. Leave it in the colander and go on to the next steps.
Step two is boiling the peas. Bring water to boil in a pot and add the fresh peas to it. Cook for 2 minutes and drain out the water. You can add the drained peas to the rice in the colander or leave them aside to add to the vegetable mix we’ll be making next.
Now for the final masterpiece! In a medium-sized pot (or the same one in which you cooked the rice), heat about a tbsp of oil. To the hot oil, add the garlic and the spices (cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon stick). Stir for about 30 seconds and to that add the onions and fry them till they change colour and become translucent. This should take 3-5 minutes. Add the chopped carrots and cook for about 5 minutes. The carrots should still have some bite to them. If you’ve not mixed the peas in with the rice already, add it to this pot right now. Add the cumin powder and turmeric and stir to coat the rest of the ingredients. Your vegetable mix is now ready. You will now add the rice to this pot and mix it thoroughly. You can do this on or off the burner. The rice will take on the yellow colour of the turmeric and look like it does in that weirddd picture I took.
Garnish with cilantro leaves and serve hot with yogurt or some other spiced vegetable. If I have to recommend something, it would be this. I haven’t tried it myself but few things look more perfect in my Indian food-deprived head right now.
PS: You can pick out the cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick from the rice before eating it. In my world, there are few things that suck more than biting into a cardamom pod. However, my grandma used to pop those like chocolate. One man’s food…
PPS: You are my sunshine.
Yes, it’s normal (Im reading your blog when I should be working on my reference list for the assignment that’s due today. hmm). This looks yummy, and I have all the ingredients at home minus the cloves – maybe I can substitute with something? Coz this sounds like the perfect dinner. x
Maybe all-spice or star anise? Or you could just add one more stick of cinnamon. It’s okay if you don’t use it at all. We also add whole pepper but I didn’t have some at the time. Oops 🙂 I hope you like it. Go crazy!
Erm that state of mind you described is EXACTLY where I was all of last week. Still am, to a large extent actually. Last week all I did was stay in bed, getting out only to whine, cook, whine some more and procrastinate. This week Im slightly better in that I am no longer languishing in bed. I am up and about, whining, cooking, procrastinating, but hey at least Im out of bed! Small victories, remember?
And ZOMG, that pulao looks delish. Im going to make it for lunch today. And and and, tell me the sausage-y version just has minced sausages cooked in place of the veggies? Tell me its really just that easy!
Actually it does (the sausage-y version). Just need to add tons of normal-sized onions and potatoes. Small victories!! I’ll always remember that.
Pulao is my favorite. I can relate to ur state of mind about work and pay, procrastination and getting myself down to work on stuffs. I keep postponing work and it screws you, trust me:(
Yeah, I know. It’s so easy to procrastinate though.
It’s strange, you know, Eddy, I’ve been feeling the same way too. No job right now, been at home for the past two months and while there are/were those dream jobs, there’s a lot that comes with it that I’ve experienced, grown wiser of, etc. that makes me contemplate every tiny offer that comes my way (just one I’ve had in this time so nothing great + it doesn’t bother me somehow). The incentives are very little. Money, I don’t hate to say it because it’s true, would be a better incentive. But then again it depends on the work. I don’t know! I think I’m going through menopause for the twenties-ish girl, if they ever diagnose a kind. I said the same thing to Minila only today. Blah blah-oo, I’m happy we’re blogging at least, it keeps me sane most of the time, but also insane when I’m being lazy and take ages to write just one dumb post. I’m sounded frustrated, aren’t I? I think I am. Your pictures are so nice! I like pulao-style rice a lot, so I might try it out. I have always liked rice you know, especially compared to bread or chapatis (except if Kerala parathas are involved – yummy!). I hope my comment didn’t put a dampener on you. But for what it is worth, I love your illustrations, mind, humour and writing. You’re cool. Big hearts! And you and your sisters remind me of me and my sisters. Sorry if the grammar in that sentence is wrong, I always get confused, me/I/ah… I will say my goodbyes! Love to you. 🙂
*sounding… whoopsie!
I think writing definitely helps. It is a good way to stay occupied and even when you’re stressed about blogging (or a lack of ideas), at least your mind is working on some cool ideas. You have a lot of great ideas and gosh, you actually make such cool art! Just stay true to everything and you’ll do amazing work. I’ll be here commenting like a crazy person.
I don’t have any aspirations to make money from the blog. All I want is an outlet to express myself, something that I find very hard to do in the real world (without writing!). I’ve had this test recently and that’s making me not want to do anything. It’s just hanging over my head and I need to finish it or I’m going to just be stuck in this house forever!! EEK.
Kerala parathas are called parothas! Haha I just remembered this fact. I love them too. There’s this amazing South Indian restaurant in town. I have no idea where exactly it is right now but it’s next to Fountain. You can ask Jane.
As for the sisters, yes, I like having them too. I used to wish my mother had more children when I was growing up but I’m glad she didn’t. You should do a post about you and your sisters’ style. Now I’m not sure if the grammar is right in that sentence.
Thank you for leaving such a longgggggggg comment. I enjoyed reading it. You’re the best. Xox
Yes, yes, me too! Not interested in making money from my blog too, it’s a happy place where I can write and share stuff. Getting advertisements and being sponsored somehow makes a personal blog lose itself (however, rare to find because there are still some profitable blogs I enjoy reading) but yes, I find it more of a headache than anything else. Plus I would hate calling it a website. Ah. I guess I’d rather sell Rosecraft products and be happy. Blog is blog! 🙂 Like Sreesha mentioned, I meant to say it too, the pea pod picture is WOW. Very nicely taken. I’m getting the hang of my camera – I don’t have a fancy one – just a digital camera but made in an old school style – very easy to use. I’ve had it for a year now but I’m still discovering it. One thing I would like to learn and accomplish is bokeh photography. I’ve bookmarked some blog posts that show you how but not yet tried any techniques out yet.
And the picture of spices. Speaking of which, I want to visit a traditional spice shop, and take lots of pictures, how nice would that be? 🙂
edlyn, the picture of the pea pod looks like a darling. i can’t stress enough on how your photography is getting so gooooooood. i’m going to try that pulao before leaving this london gnome. in the meanwhile, i’m going to eat all the packaged meals my food buyer hubster has stocked for us. which makes me even more lazy than usual. i relate to what your feeling in so many ways and i relate to what roanna is saying too. ah… hope your feeling better. colds are so useless. keep writing and postinggg. x
It does look a lot better but I still have no idea what I’m doing with the cam damera. So while I’d like to say thank you, I’m just going to whistle and look to the sky instead. You’re too nice, missy.
Just imagine, on this entire page, there are 4 of us all around the world feeling the exact same way! Sending a virtual group hug.
yes. that’s a pretty solid thing to imagine. i feel much better. virtual group hug back. going to work on my useless blog now. x