My Affair With Grapes

As simple as it looks-take a bunch of grapes, add the required water, blitz it and later sieve and serve it fresh.

Sugar can be avoided as it has its natural sugar, if you require more, then add accordingly. I haven't! 

I continued my day with my grape therapy...decided to make a nice cool curd rice. Prepared the rice in advance. Later in a skillet, add a tbsp of oil ( I actually avoided the oil and the mustard in some mad hurry,sorry readers!), let a tsp of mustard crackle, add some finely chopped ginger, green chillies,curry leaves, asafoetida,pepper corns and salt.

Once they slightly brown, add it to your cooked rice and mix some fresh,cold curd and two tbs of milk as well. Give it all a nice mix with your fingertips, you may mash a few grains of rice with your fingers as well. Do taste for salt and if required, do add more.

To be garnished with finely chopped cilantro and any  fruits like pomegranate seeds,diced pineapple or grapes. I have just added two or three pieces of grapes, do not overdecorate with fruits.

Curd Rice is supposed to be eaten at the end of a very heavy South Indian (Tamilian) meal. It helps in digestion. It's a favourite at our home although prepare it once in a while. Do serve it with any spicy pickle or papad/ chips/vathal. I have just fried some store bought bittergourd vathal and decorated the rice with it. It was a nice combo!

The vegetable mishmash was red bell peppers,cottage cheese,grapes,onions,cucumbers etc all diced and cooked together in a Pav Bhaji masala powder with very less oil. Again garnish with finely chopped cilantro.Add salt to taste and keep the dish dry. The spice of the pickle as well as the spice and flavour of the veggies combined with the masala mix  was to die for and the hot and spicy dish went perfectly well with the cold curd rice.

Almost like a marriage made in my heavenly kitchen :p This is pure comfort food :)