Born a crime: Trevor Noah

 

A memoir by Trevor Noah. While it is full of hardships that Trevor encountered as he was growing up, Trevor manages to convey it in a fashion that is entertaining and humorous. He grew up in South Africa and had a Swiss father and a South African mother. Due to their races, their relationship was considered a crime. Hence the title of the book.

Trevor was raised by his mother. His mother was a force to reckon with and for many things an inspiration to women around the world. Living in those times in a place like South Africa, as black woman, she was an independent soul. She worked and earned her own living. It was not easy but she did it. She married a guy who was not the right father for Trevor. This impacted Trevor a lot. At one point, he was asked to leave the house and live on his own. From his very childhood, he was always getting into trouble. Living on his own meant he was getting into way bigger troubles. One way or another he managed to come out of them.

I would highly recommend this book. It was very interesting, had humor, and helped learn about the hardships that people face around the world. One might think they had a hard childhood and then when you read something like this you understand what does a rough childhood really mean. It also inspiring to see that somebody like that could rise up the economic ladder and be where they are today.

Kaju Paneer Masala (vegan)

I recently made this and it was delicious beyond words! Lip smacking  delicious! My family and friends simply loved it! It has a rich, creamy, silky, flavorful curry. The recipe is adapted from Kaju Paneer Masala by Pankaj Bhadouria. It does take a little bit of time but so worth it! You could also make the curry in a big batch and freeze some of it (without the tofu).

Ingredients

• Whole spices:
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 green cardamoms
• 4 cloves
• Shred or make a paste
• 2" ginger
• 2 tbsp minced garlic (if you have fresh garlic use that)
• 1 serrano pepper
• 1 Onion, finely chopped
• Powdered spices:
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp paprika (or kashmiri mirch)
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp pepper powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 can diced tomatoes, pureed
• ~2 cups Cashew
• 1 block Firm tofu, drained for 2-3 hours
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (vegan), I used the one from Trader Joes but any brand should work
• 2 tbsp kasuri Mekhi
• Salt to taste
• Oil

Method

1. Soak the cashews in water.
2. Heat 5 tsp oil in a pan on medium heat.
3. Sauté the whole spices till fragrant.
4. Add the onions and sauté. Sprinkle a little bit (~1/4 tsp) salt so that the onions cook faster. Sauté till they are pink and translucent. It will take around 10-12 minutes
5. In the mean time, preheat the air fryer to 400 F. Cut the tofu into cubes. Add 2 tsp oil and coat them. Air fry for 10 minutes on 400 F. 
1. If you don't have an air fryer, you can shallow fry the tofu in a pan as well. Or use it just like that.
6. Add the ginger, garlic and green chili paste. Sauté till the raw smell of garlic goes away. The onions should be pinkish brown.
7. Take the powdered spices in a small bowl and add 1/4 cup water to make a slurry/paste. Then add to the pan. Sauté till the oil comes on top.
8. Blend the cashews with some water to a fine paste.
9. Add the pureed tomatoes and sauté till the oil comes on top.
10. Add the cashew paste and 1/2 cup water. Mix well.
11. Add the tofu and cream. 
12. Add salt according to taste.
13. Simmer on low heat for 4-5 minutes.
14. Crush the kauri methi between your palms and add.
15. Mix well!

Holige or Puran Poli (vegan): Flatbread with sweet filling

 Holige/Puran poli

Holige is a sweet dish from Karnataka, India. It is also called Puran poli in some other states of India. This is a favorite of my husband and my kids have started liking it too! This was not something I've grown up seeing my mom make so it a few tries before it became relatively easy and I was successful at making it. So if you're in the same boat as me, step in knowing that your first try may not be easy and you may not be successful. However you'll get there :)

Even after making it so many times, there are moments of frustration since you are dealing with a sticky dough.

I use the recipe from Food and Remedy and it turns out very well. If you're new to making this, do watch her video on how to make it before you start the process.

Ingredients

For making dough:

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoon oil
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• little less than ½ cup water

For making sweet filling:

• 3/4 cup chana dal
• 1 1/2 cup jaggery
• 1/4 cup frozen coconut (thawed)
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

Some coconut oil

Method

1. Pressure cook the chana dal with twice the amount of water (1 1/2 cup).
2. Mix the dough with all ingredients except oil. You are not really kneading it. The dough will be very sticky. Top it with oil all over so that the surface doesn't dry. Let it rest for 2 hours or so.
3. Once the dal is cooked, drain the water. Cook it with jaggery and coconut on medium slow flame. Till it is slightly thick. Let the mixture cool.
4. After 2 hours, mix the oil with the dough.
5. Form lemon sized balls of the dal dough.
6. Heat a cast iron griddle on medium heat. If you don't have cast iron, use any other that you use for flatbreads.
7. Coat your palms with oil, take a small piece of dough and stretch it on your palm. Place the ball in the middle. Wrap the dough around. Using good amount of all purpose flour, roll it out into a thin circle. I use the counter top for rolling since that is much easier. The rolled out flatbread will be very delicate at all stages. So handle it carefully.
8. 
   Roast on the griddle.
9. 
   
   
   Take it off the flame and top it with coconut oil.
10. 
    
    
    
11. 
    
12. Do the same with rest.

 Chocolate caramel bars (vegan)

I got this recipe from Nourishing Amy; made just a few slight modifications based on the taste preferences of my family. Like skipping the tahini and salt on the top chocolate layer and a few others. Everybody just loved it! It is also very simple to make. So if you are looking for a simple dessert recipe this is the one! Due to the refrigeration time, it does take time though.

There are 3 layers as you can see.

Ingredients:

Base layer

• 100g oats
• 100g cashew nuts
• 40g dark chocolate chips
• 45g runny, smooth tahini - I stirred my refrigerated tahini to make it smooth.
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp melted coconut oil

Caramel layer

• 100g runny, smooth tahini
• 100ml maple syrup
• 65g melted coconut oil
  
• 1 tbsp Golden Milk powder (I substituted it with ginger, cinnamon and turmeric powder as suggested by the original recipe)
• A pinch of salt

Chocolate layer

• 100g dark chocolate, chopped small
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 20g runny, smooth tahini
• ½ tsp Golden Milk powder (or cinnamon)
• Flaky salt

Method:

1. Base layer: 

1. Process oats, cashews and chocolate chips in a food processor till very fine. Yes, I processed chocolate chips too since I didn't want big chunks in the base layer. You can leave them as it is if you want. Or even skip them.
2. Add coconut oil and maple syrup. Mix with spoon or hand. It should all come together.
3. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
4. Press the mixture into the pan. Keep in the fridge.

2. Caramel layer

1. Whisk all the ingredients together. I used a hand whisk.
2. Pour it on top of the base layer.
3. Refrigerate for an hour.

3. Chocolate layer

1. Add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir well. If not yet done, microwave for another 30 seconds and stir well.
2. Pour on top of caramel layer.
3. Refrigerate for an hour.

That's it! Simple and delicious!

Killers of the Flower Moon

Author: David Grann

I had always seen this book on the Top N list but somehow the title and the cover of the book didn't entice me enough to get started on it. Then recently, I was sick for a few days and had loads of time to read but not enough material. I decided to pick this one up. As I started reading it, I got so engaged that I couldn't keep it down till I had finished it. After reading "Walk in the park", I had increased interest in learning about the American Indian tribes as well.  

The book starts with the life of Mollie, her sisters and her mother; and interspersed are details of the life of the Osage Tribe in general. The unfair laws that they were governed with - they were not allowed complete autonomy over their own wealth, of course how they were robbed of their land, how the little children were forced into attending schools away from their families and so on. Weaved into this story are the murders as they happen, in and around Mollie's family. Sometimes investigations are made into the murders, sometimes not. Even if investigations are done, they are dropped for some reason or another. Sometimes the investigator themselves are murdered. Osage Indians continue to bring the attention of the government to these murders and eventually, J. Edgar Hoover establishes Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into these murders. Led by Tom White. They encounter many obstacles like lack of evidence, lack of witnesses, etc. As they're collecting evidence and bring in suspects, they realize they need some database to store the fingerprints of suspects so that they can match them later to future evidence. This is when the fingerprint database was established. After much running around, they have the suspects lined up and the case goes to court. This is when they (FBI) learn that the hardest part isn't over yet. 

I loved reading this book! Learning about the lives of the Osage Indians, the treatment they were meted out, how FBI came into being and so on. So many things to learn.

Carrie Soto is back

 Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

I'd read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo from the same author some time back and had loved it! So when somebody recommended this one I was all on board.

Reid has written four books following the same pattern where there is a female protagonist who's highly successful in her career. In "Carrie Soto is back", Carrie is the best ever tennis player. After she retires, she's at the risk of losing her record to another player Nicki Chan. This is not acceptable to her and she decides to come back from her retirement to take back her record. In a nutshell that's the outline of the book. Her father is her coach who she had removed from that position before she had retired, in her quest to win. Her goal in life was always to win and couldn't accept a loss. That was what propelled her, motivated her. For her return though, she wanted her father to be her coach once again. Further to add some romanic angle, one of the men's tennis player who she used to date back in the day, became the one whom she practiced with. 

After having read her other book, this was less entertaining. It's not bad but it's not great either! Initially it feels very energizing but slowly it becomes more of same old, same old.

Before we were yours

 

Author: Lisa Wingate

The story is engrossing, engaging and heart wrenching! What makes it more so is that it is loosely based on a true story/scandal.

The story alternates between past and present. The past is a family living happily on a boat on the Mississippi - father, mother and 5 kids. The eldest of them being Rill Foss. Then the fateful day arrives when their mother has to deliver a baby and due to complications she has to be taken to the hospital - away from home. While the mother and father are in the hospital, the kids are "taken away" by so called authorities and given to an orphanage run by Georgian Tann. As Rill keeps on trying of ways to go back to their home along with all her siblings, she can see her siblings being adopted one by one. Then one of her sisters is killed in the orphanage because she wouldn't listen. Rill herself faces sexual assault. Then she too is adopted by one of the families along with her sister.

The present day is a setting around a Senator's family. Avery is the daughter of the Senator who has cancer. She was a lawyer and came back home to be groomed into the position her father has if need arises. While doing one of the events for her father she runs into a woman who holds onto her hand and is not willing to leave her. The nurses had to take her away. She also took away her bracelet and claimed that was hers. This intrigues Avery much and she wants to find out the why behind it. She starts digging. The more she digs, the more questions she has. Along the way she meets people looking at whom makes her question her choices for her life.